1, 2. (a) Yibuphi ubufakazi obutshengisa ukuthi iNkosi yethu ibibusa kusukela ngo-1914? (b) Sizahlolani esahlukweni lesi?

KUSIQINISE kakhulu ukholo ukuhlola lokho uMbuso kaNkulunkulu osukufezile phakathi kwezitha zawo. (Hubo. 110:2) INkosi yethu isiqoqe ibutho labantu abatshumayela ngokuzithandela. Isicenge njalo yahlambulula ukukhonza lokuziphatha kwabalandeli bayo. Kanti njalo kungelani lokuthi izitha zoMbuso bezizama ukusehlukanisa, siyakujabulela ukuba ngabazalwane abamanyeneyo emhlabeni wonke. Lokhu kanye lokunye esixoxe ngakho ebhukwini leli osekufezwe nguMbuso, kusinika ubufakazi obungaphikekiyo bokuthi iNkosi yethu ibibusa phakathi kwezitha zoMbuso kusukela ngo-1914.

² UMbuso usuzakwenza lezinye izinto ezimangalisayo esikhathini esiseduze nje. ‘Uzakuza’ ‘uzobhidliza’ izitha zawo zize ‘ziphele.’ (Mat. 6:​10; Dan. 2:​44) Kodwa singakafiki lesosikhathi, kulezinye izehlakalo eziqakathekileyo ezizakwenzakala. Yiziphi? Kuleziphrofetho zeBhayibhili ezinengi eziphendula umbuzo lo. Ake sihlole ezinye zakhona ukuze sibone ukuthi yiziphi izehlakalo esezizakwenzakala.

3. Yisiphi isenzakalo sokuqala esisilindeleyo?

³ Isimemezelo sokuthula. Encwadini umphostoli uPhawuli ayibhalela abaseThesalonika, wachaza isenzakalo sokuqala esisilindeleyo. (Bala u-1 Thesalonika 5:​2, 3.) Encwadini le, uPhawuli ukhuluma ‘ngosuku lweNkosi’ uJehova, oluzaqalisa ngokuhlaselwa ‘kweBhabhiloni eNkulu.’ (Isam. 17:5) Kodwa nxa sekusele isikhatshana nje ukuthi usuku lukaJehova luqalise, izizwe zizabe zisithi, “Ukuthula lokuvikeleka!” Umutsho lo ungatsho isimemezelo esisodwa kumbe izimemezelo ezinengi ezilandelanayo ezizabe zicacile ebantwini. Abakhokheli bezinkolo labo bazamemezela yini? Njengoba bengabomhlaba, kungenzeka ukuthi bazancedisana lezizwe ekumemezeleni ukuthi, “Ukuthula!” (Jer. 6:​14; 23:​16, 17; Isam. 17:​1, 2) Lokhu kumemezela ukuthula lokuvikeleka kuzakuba luphawu lokuthi usuku lukaJehova seluzaqalisa. Izitha zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu ‘kaziyikuphunyuka.’

4. Kusinceda ngani ukuzwisisa ukuthi isiphofetho sikaPhawuli esiphathelane lesimemezelo sokuthula lokuvikeleka sitshoni?

 ⁴ Kusinceda ngani ukuzwisisa ukuthi isiphofetho lesi sitshoni? UPhawuli uthi: “Kalikho emnyameni ukuba usuku lolu lulijume njengesela.” (1 Thes. 5:​3, 4) Kasifanani labanye abantu ngoba siyakuzwisisa ukuthi izinto ezenzakala khathesi zizaphetha ngani. Sizagcwaliseka njani sibili isiphrofetho lesi esiphathelane lokuthula lokuvikeleka? Kumele silinde sibone ukuthi kuzakwenzakalani. Ngakho-ke, “kasiphaphameni njalo sizithibe.”​—1 Thes. 5:6; Zef. 3:8.

5. Kuzaqalisa njani ‘ukuhlupheka okukhulu’?

⁵ Ukuhlaselwa kwenkolo. Khumbula ukuthi uPhawuli wabhala wathi: “Abantu besathi, ‘Ukuthula lokuvikeleka,’ incithakalo izakwehlela phezu kwabo ngokujuma.” Njengoba nje ukuphazima kombane kuhle kulandelwe yikukhwaza kwezulu, isikhathi sokumemezela “Ukuthula lokuvikeleka” laso sizalandelwa masinyane yikujuma ‘kwencithakalo.’ Kuyini okuzabhujiswa? Okuzaqala ukubhujiswa ‘yiBhabhiloni eNkulu,’ engumbuso womhlaba wonke wenkolo yamanga, eyaziwa langokuthi ‘yisiphingi.’ (Isam. 17:​5, 6, 15) Lokhu kubhujiswa kwamasonto azenza awesiKhristu kanye lazo zonke ezinye izinhlanganiso zenkolo yamanga kuzabe kuyikuqalisa ‘kokuhlupheka okukhulu.’ (Mat. 24:​21; 2 Thes. 2:8) Abanengi bazakwethuka kakhulu ngesehlakalo lesi. Ngenxa yani? Ngenxa yokuthi isiphingi sizabe silokhu sizibona “njengendlovukazi” ‘engasoze ilile’ kuze kufike lesosikhathi. Kodwa masinyane sizananzelela ukuthi ukuzethemba kwaso kakusizi ngalutho. Sizasuswa ngokuphangisa njengokungathi “ngosuku olulodwa.”​—Isam. 18:​7, 8.

6. Ngubani loba kuyini okuzahlasela “iBhabhiloni eNkulu”?

⁶ Ngubani loba kuyini okuzahlasela “iBhabhiloni eNkulu”? Izahlaselwa ‘yinyamazana’ ‘elezimpondo ezilitshumi.’ Incwadi yeSambulo itshengisa ukuthi inyamazana le yiNhlanganiso Yomanyano Yamazwe Omhlaba (i-United Nations kumbe i-UN). Izimpondo ezilitshumi zimela yonke imibuso yezombusazwe ekhona lamuhla esekela ‘inyamazana ebomvu gebhu.’ (Isam. 17:​3, 5, 11, 12) Ukuhlasela lokhu kuzabe kukukhulu kangakanani? Izizwe ezingamalunga e-UN zizachithiza inotho yalesisiphingi, zisidabudabule njalo “zisitshise ngomlilo.”​—Bala iSambulo 17:​16. *

7. Amazwi kaJesu akuMathewu 24:​21, 22 agcwaliseka njani ngekhulu lokuqala C.E., njalo azagcwaliseka njani esikhathini esizayo?

⁷ Ukuphungulwa kwezinsuku. INkosi yethu yakuveza lokho okuzakwenzakala ngalesisikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu. UJesu wathi: “Ngenxa yabakhethiweyo lezozinsuku zizaphungulwa.” (Bala uMathewu 24:​21, 22.) Amazwi kaJesu agcwaliseka ngesilinganiso esincane ngo-66 C.E. lapho uJehova ‘ephungula’ ukuhlasela kwebutho lamaRoma eJerusalema. (Mak. 13:​20) Ukuphungulwa lokhu kwasiza amaKhristu ayeseJerusalema laseJudiya ukuthi asinde. Kodwa kuyini okuzakwenzakala emhlabeni wonke ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka  okukhulu okuzayo? UJehova uzasebenzisa iNkosi yethu ukuthi ‘iphungule’ ukuhlasela kwe-United Nations lapho isihlasela inkolo, ukuze inkolo yeqiniso ingatshabalaliswa ndawonye lenkolo yamanga. Yikho-ke lanxa izinhlanganiso zenkolo yamanga zizabhujiswa, inkolo eyodwa engeyeqiniso izasinda. (Hubo. 96:5) Khathesi asikhangeleni ezinye izehlakalo ezizakubakhona lapho sekwedlule ingxenye le yokuhlupheka okukhulu.

8, 9. Kungenzeka ukuthi uJesu wayekhuluma ngaziphi izenzakalo eziyisimangaliso, njalo abantu bazakwenzani ngalokho abazakubona?

⁸ Isiphrofetho sikaJesu esiphathelane lezinsuku zokucina sitshengisa ukuthi kuzakuba lezenzakalo ezinengi eziqakathekileyo nxa sekuseduze ukuthi i-Amagedoni ifike. Izenzakalo ezimbili zokuqala esizazihlola kukhulunywa ngazo eVangelini likaMathewu, likaMakho lelikaLukha.​—Bala uMathewu 24:​29-​31; Mak. 13:​23-​27; Luk. 21:​25-28.

⁹ Izenzakalo ezimangalisayo emkhathini. UJesu waphrofetha wathi: “Ilanga lizafiphala lenyanga kayiyikukhanya; izinkanyezi zizakuwa esibhakabhakeni.” Kusegcekeni ukuthi abantu kabasoze bayedinga ukukhokhelwa kubafundisi bezinkolo ngoba bayabe bengaselakho ukukhanya. UJesu wayesitsho lokuthi kuzakuba lezenzakalo eziyisimanga emkhathini yini? Mhlawumbe yikho ayekutsho. (Isaya. 13:​9-​11; Jow. 2:​1, 30, 31) Abantu bazakwenzani ngalokho abazakubona? ‘Bazakuba phakathi kosizi’ ngenxa ‘yokudideka.’ (Luk. 21:​25; Zef. 1:​17) Yikho-ke izitha zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, kusukela ‘emakhosini kusiya ezigqilini,’ ‘zizaphela amandla ngokwesaba, zinqinekiswa yilokho okuzayo’ njalo zizaphaphatheka zidinga indawo yokucatsha. Kodwa kazisoze ziyithole indawo ephephileyo ezingacatshela kuyo ulaka lweNkosi yethu.​—Luk. 21:​26; 23:​30; Isam. 6:​15-17.

10. Yisiphi isahlulelo esizakhitshwa nguJesu, njalo kuyini okuzakwenziwa ngabasekeli boMbuso kaNkulunkulu kanye lezitha zawo?

¹⁰ Ukukhitshwa kwesahlulelo. Ngemva kwalokho, zonke izitha zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu zizabona isenzakalo esizangezelela ubuhlungu eziyabe zibuzwa zifuna zingafuni. UJesu wathi: “Bazayibona iNdodana yomuntu isiza emayezini ilamandla amakhulu lenkazimulo.” (Mak. 13:​26) Lokhu kubonakaliswa kwamandla okuyisimangaliso kuzabe kutshengisa ukuthi uJesu usezokhipha isahlulelo. Kwenye ingxenye yesiphrofetho lesi sezinsuku zokucina, uJesu wacacisa okunengi mayelana lesahlulelo esizakhitshwa ngalesisikhathi. Lokhu sikuthola emzekelisweni wezimvu lezimbuzi. (Bala uMathewu 25:​31-​33, 46.) Abasekeli boMbuso kaNkulunkulu abathembekileyo bazakwahlulelwa ‘njengezimvu’ njalo ‘bazaphakamisa amakhanda [abo],’ benanzelela ukuthi ‘ukuhlengwa kwabo sekusondela.’ (Luk. 21:​28) Kodwa izitha zoMbuso zizakwahlulelwa ‘njengezimbuzi’ njalo ‘zizalila,’ sezinanzelela ukuthi zilindelwe ‘yikujeziswa kwaphakade.’​—Mat. 24:​30; Isam. 1:7.

11. Kuyini okumele sikukhumbule ngesikhathi sihlola izenzakalo ezizayo?

 ¹¹ Ngemva kokuba uJesu esekhiphe isahlulelo sakhe kuzo “zonke izizwe,” kulezinye izehlakalo eziqakathekileyo ezizakwenzakala impi ye-Amagedoni ingakaqalisi. (Mat. 25:​32) Sizahlola ezimbili zakhona: ukuhlasela kukaGogi, lokuqoqwa kwabagcotshiweyo. Njengoba sihlola izehlakalo lezi ezimbili, kumele sikhumbule ukuthi iLizwi likaNkulunkulu kalisitsheli ukuthi izehlakalo lezi zizatshiyana ngesikhathi esingakanani. Kodwa kukhanya angathi esinye kungenzeka siqalise esinye sakhona singakapheli.

12. USathane uzawuhlasela njani uMbuso okokucina?

¹² Ukuhlasela kokucina. UGogi welizwe laseMagogi uzahlasela insalela yabagcotshiweyo kanye labanye babo bezinye izimvu. (Bala uHezekheli 38:​2, 11.) Lapha uSathane uzabe ehlasela ukubusa koMbuso omisiweyo, njalo kuzabe kuyikuhlasela kwakhe kokucina empini abelokhu eyilwa labagcotshiweyo abasesemhlabeni kusukela waxotshwa ezulwini. (Isam. 12:​7-​9, 17) USathane uzame ukubhidliza ukholo lwabagcotshiweyo, ikakhulu kusukela baqalisa ukuqoqelwa ebandleni lobuKhristu elivuselelweyo, kodwa kazange aphumelele. (Mat. 13:​30) Lapho zonke izinhlanganiso zenkolo yamanga sezingasekho, njalo abantu bakaNkulunkulu sebekhanya behlezi “bengelamithangala, njalo bengela masango lemigoqo,” uSathane uzakuthi zimbiwe ngulinda. Uzasebenzisa ohulumende babantu abalolunya ukuthi babahlasele ngamandla abo onke labo abasekela uMbuso.

13. UJehova uzangenela njani ukuze alwele abantu bakhe?

¹³ UHezekheli uchaza okuzakwenzakala. Isiphrofetho sakhe sikhuluma ngoGogi sisithi: “Uzakuza uvela endaweni yakho khatshana le enyakatho, wena kanye lezizwe ezinengi ezilawe, zonke zigade amabhiza, ixuku elikhulukazi, ibutho elilamandla. Uzaqhubeka umelana labantu bami u-Israyeli njengeyezi elisibekele ilizwe.” (Hez. 38:​15, 16) UJehova uzakwenzani ngokuhlasela lokhu okukhanya angathi akulamuntu ongakuvimbela? UJehova uthi, “Ulaka lwami oluvuthayo luzavuka.” Uphinda athi, “Ngizalaya inkemba.” (Hez. 38:​18, 21; bala uZekhariya 2:8.) UJehova uzangenela alwele izinceku zakhe ezisemhlabeni. Ukungenela lokhu yimpi ye-Amagedoni.

14, 15. Yisiphi esinye isenzakalo esizakwenzakala lapho uSathane eseqalisile ukuhlasela abantu bakaNkulunkulu okokucina?

¹⁴ Singakakhangeli ukuthi uJehova uzabalwela njani abantu bakhe empini ye-Amagedoni, ake siqale sihlole esinye isenzakalo esiqakathekileyo. Sizakwenzakala lapho uSathane eseqalisile ukuhlasela kwakhe kokucina kodwa uJehova engakaqalisi ukulwela abantu bakhe e-Amagedoni. Njengoba sibonile endimeni 11, isenzakalo lesi sesibili siyikuqoqwa kwabagcotshiweyo abazabe besesemhlabeni ngalesosikhathi.

¹⁵ Ukuqoqwa kwabagcotshiweyo. UMathewu loMakho babhala amazwi kaJesu aphathelane ‘labakhethiweyo,’ loba amaKhristu agcotshwe ngomoya, ngesikhathi elandisa ngezenzakalo ezazizalandelana, i-Amagedoni ingakaqalisi. (Khangela indima 7.) UJesu waphrofetha ngalokho ayezakwenza  eseyiNkosi wathi: “Izathuma izingilosi zayo ziqoqe abakhethiweyo bayo kuyo yonke imimoya yomine, kusukela emikhawulweni yomhlaba kusiya emikhawulweni yamazulu.” (Mak. 13:​27; Mat. 24:​31) UJesu ukhuluma ngakuphi ukuqoqwa lapha? Kakhulumi ngokubekwa uphawu kokucina okuzakwenziwa kumaKhristu agcotshiweyo azabe esesemhlabeni, ngoba lokhu kuzakwenzakala sekusele isikhatshana nje ukuthi ukuhlupheka okukhulu kuqalise. (Isam. 7:​1-3) Kodwa uJesu ukhuluma ngokuzakwenzakala phakathi kokuhlupheka okukhulu okuzayo. Yikho-ke kukhanya angathi ngesikhathi uSathane eseqalisile ukuhlasela abantu bakaNkulunkulu okokucina, abagcotshiweyo abazabe besesemhlabeni bazaqoqwa baye ezulwini.

16. Kuyini okuzakwenziwa ngabagcotshiweyo abazabe sebevusiwe ngesikhathi sempi ye-Amagedoni?

¹⁶ Ukuqoqwa kwabagcotshiweyo abaseleyo kungenelana njani lesenzakalo esilandelayo, i-Amagedoni? Isikhathi sokuqoqwa kwabagcotshiweyo sitshengisa ukuthi bonke bazabe sebesezulwini impi kaNkulunkulu ye-Amagedoni ingakaqalisi. Sebesezulwini, abangu-144 000 abazabusa loKhristu bazaphiwa amandla okuthi bancedise uJesu ekuphakamiseni ‘intonga yensimbi’ yokubhubhisa zonke izitha zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. (Isam. 2:​26, 27) Ngemva kwalokho abagcotshiweyo abazabe sebevusiwe, kanye lezingilosi ezilamandla bazalandela uKhristu, iNkosi eliQhawe, ngesikhathi ephuma esiyahlasela “ibutho elilamandla” lezitha eselizahonqolozela abantu bakaJehova. (Hez. 38:​15) Lapho eqalisa ukulwisana lebutho leli, impi ye-Amagedoni izabe isiqalisile!​—Isam. 16:16.

17. Kuzakwenzakalani ‘ezimbuzini’ ngesikhathi se-Amagedoni?

¹⁷ Ukubhujiswa kwabagwetshelwe ukufa. Impi ye-Amagedoni izakuba yisiphetho sokuhlupheka okukhulu. Ngalesosikhathi, uJesu uzakwenza omunye futhi umsebenzi. Phezu kokuba nguMahluli wazo “zonke izizwe,” uzaphinda abhubhise izizwe ezigwetshelwe ukufa, okutsho bonke abantu ayebahlulele ‘njengezimbuzi.’ (Mat. 25:​32, 33) INkosi yethu izasebenzisa “inkemba ebukhali” ukuze ‘igalele ngayo izizwe.’ Yikho-ke abanjengezimbuzi, kusukela ‘emakhosini’ kuze kuyefika ‘ezigqilini,’ ‘bazakuya ekujezisweni kwaphakade.’​—Isam. 19:​15, 18; Mat. 25:46.

18. (a) Izinto zizantshintsha njani kulabo ‘abayizimvu’? (b) UJesu uzakuqedisa njani ukunqoba kwakhe?

¹⁸ Khathesi izinto zizabe sezintshintshile kulabo uJesu ayebahlulele ‘njengezimvu’! Esikhundleni sokuthi kusale kancane ukuthi ‘ixuku elikhulukazi’ ‘lezimvu’ ezikhanya zingavikelekanga libhuqwe libutho likaSathane elilamandla ‘lezimbuzi,’ lizasinda kulokhu kuhlaselwa kwesitha njalo ‘lizaphuma ekuhluphekeni okukhulu.’ (Isam. 7:​9, 14) Nxa uJesu esebanqobile njalo wabasusa bonke abantu abayizitha zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, uzaphosela uSathane lamadimoni akhe emgodini ongelamkhawulo. Kulapho abazagcinwa khona bengathi  bafile, bengelamandla okwenza loba yini okweminyaka eyinkulungwane.​—Bala iSambulo 6:2; 20:​1-3.

19, 20. Singazisebenzisa njani izifundo eziku-Isaya 26:20, lo–30:21?

¹⁹ Kuyini esingakwenza ukuze silungele izenzakalo lezi ezimangalisayo ezizakwenzakala? Eminyakeni eyadlulayo, iNqabayokulinda yathi: “Ukuze umuntu asinde kumele alalele.” Ngenxa yani? Impendulo itholakala kulokho uJehova akuxwayisa amaJuda ayethunjiwe eBhabhiloni yasendulo. Wayephrofethe ukuthi iBhabhiloni yayizanqotshwa, kodwa abantu bakaNkulunkulu kwakumele benzeni ukuze bahlale belungele isenzakalo lesi? UJehova wathi: “Hambani bantu bami, ngenani ezindlini zenu, lizivalele phakathi; lizifihle okwesikhatshana. Ulaka lwakhe luze luphele.” (Isaya. 26:​20) Nanzelela ukuthi evesini le kusetshenziswe amabala athi: “hambani,” “ngenani,” “lizivalele,” “lizifihle.” Wonke ayebatshela ukuthi benze okuthile; kwakuyimilayo. AmaJuda ayezalalela imilayo le ayezahlala ezindlini zawo angayi ezitaladini lapho okwakulamasotsha anqobayo khona. Ngakho ukuze asinde kwakumele alalele iziqondiso zikaJehova. *

²⁰ Thina sifundani? Njengezinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezaphila endulo, kumele lathi silalele iziqondiso zikaJehova nxa sifuna ukusinda ezenzakalweni ezizayo. (Isaya. 30:​21) Amabandla yiwo asetshenziswayo ukuthi sithole iziqondiso lezi. Ngakho sifuna ukufunda ukuzilalela ngenhliziyo yonke iziqondiso esiziphiwayo. (1 Joh. 5:3) Nxa singenza njalo khathesi, kuzakuba lula ukuthi silalele ngenhliziyo yonke lasesikhathini esizayo, okuzakwenza ukuthi sithole isivikelo sikaBaba wethu osezulwini uJehova, kanye leNkosi yethu uJesu. (Zef. 2:3) Isivikelo lesi esivela phezulu sizakwenza ukuthi sizibonele ngawethu indlela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ozasusa ngayo izitha zawo ngokupheleleyo. Isenzakalo lesi kasisoze sisikhohlwe loba sekutheni!