1. Singazi kanjani ukuthi ikusasa lisiphatheleni?

KUKE kwenzeka yini wabuka noma walalela izindaba emsakazweni wabe usuzibuza, ‘Ingabe izinto ziyoke zilunge kodwa?’ Kunezinhlekelele nobubi obuningi kangangokuthi abanye abantu bakholelwa ukuthi umhlaba usuzobhubha. Ingabe lokho kuyiqiniso? Ingabe ikhona indlela yokwazi ukuthi ikusasa lisiphatheleni? Yebo ikhona. Abantu ngeke bakwazi ukusitshela ukuthi ikusasa lisiphatheleni kodwa uJehova angasitshela. EBhayibhelini, usitshela ngekusasa lethu nangalokho okuzokwenzeka ngomhlaba.—Isaya 46:10; Jakobe 4:14.

2, 3. Yini abafundi bakaJesu ababefuna ukuyazi, futhi uJesu wabaphendula wathini?

² Lapho iBhayibheli lithi umhlaba uzobhujiswa, lisuke lingakhulumi ngomhlaba esihlala kuwo, kodwa lisuke likhuluma ngokubhujiswa kwabantu ababi. UJesu wafundisa abantu ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uzobusa umhlaba. (Luka 4:43) Abafundi bakaJesu babefuna ukwazi ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uzofika nini, ngakho babuza uJesu: “Ziyokwenzeka nini lezi zinto, futhi siyoba yini isibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakho nesesiphelo sesimiso sezinto?” (Mathewu 24:3) UJesu akabatshelanga usuku oluthe ngqo uMbuso kaNkulunkulu owawuyofika ngalo, kodwa wabatshela ukuthi yini eyayizokwenzeka ngaphambi nje kokuba kufike imbubhiso. Lokho uJesu ayethe kuyokwenzeka, kuyenzeka namuhla.

³ Kulesi sahluko sizoxoxa ngobufakazi obubonisa ukuthi sekuseduze ukuba ukuphela kufike. Ukuze sazi ukuthi  kungani izinto zizimbi kangaka emhlabeni, kumelwe sifunde ngempi eyaba sezulwini.

4, 5. (a) Kwénzekani ezulwini ngokushesha nje ngemva kokuba uJesu ebe yiNkosi? (b) NgokwesAmbulo 12:12, yini eyayizokwenzeka emhlabeni ngemva kokuba uSathane ephonswe khona?

⁴ ESahlukweni 8 sifunde ukuthi uJesu waba yiNkosi ezulwini ngo-1914. (Daniyeli 7:13, 14) Incwadi yesAmbulo iyasitshela ukuthi yini eyenzeka: “Kwagqashuka impi ezulwini: UMikayeli [uJesu] nezingelosi zakhe balwa nodrako [uSathane], nodrako nezingelosi zakhe balwa.” * USathane namademoni akhe bahlulwa, base bephonswa phansi emhlabeni. Cabanga ukuthi izingelosi zajabula kanjani! Kwénzekani kubantu emhlabeni? IBhayibheli lithi abantu babezoba nezinkinga eziningi. Kungani? Ngoba uSathane uthukuthele kakhulu, ‘uyazi ukuthi unesikhathi esifushane.’—IsAmbulo 12:7, 9, 12.

⁵ UDeveli wenza konke angakwenza ukuze abangele izinkinga emhlabeni. Udiniwe ngoba usalelwe isikhathi esincane ngaphambi kokuba uNkulunkulu amyekise ukudukisa umhlaba. Asihlole lokho uJesu athi kwakuyokwenzeka ezinsukwini zokugcina.—Bheka uMbhalo Osekugcineni 24.

6, 7. Amazwi kaJesu mayelana nezimpi nendlala agcwaliseka kanjani namuhla?

⁶ Izimpi. UJesu wathi: “Isizwe siyovukela isizwe nombuso uvukele umbuso.” (Mathewu 24:7) Baningi kakhulu abantu abafe ezimpini kusukela ngo-1914 kunanini ngaphambili. I-Worldwatch Institute ibika ukuthi  kusukela ngo-1914 izimpi sezibulale abantu abangaphezu kwezigidi eziyikhulu. Abantu ababulawa ezimpini kusukela ngo-1900 kuya ku-2000 baningi kakhulu kunalabo ababulawa ngaphambi kuka-1900. Cabanga ubuhlungu abantu ababuzwile ngenxa yezimpi.

⁷ Indlala. UJesu wathi: “Kuyoba khona ukusweleka kokudla.” (Mathewu 24:7) Nakuba kukhiqizwa ukudla okuningi kakhulu kunanini ngaphambili, abantu abaningi abakutholi ukudla okwanele. Kungani? Ngoba abanayo imali eyanele yokuthenga ukudla noma indawo abangalima kuyo. Abantu abangaphezu kwezigidi eziyinkulungwane abanayo imali eyanele usuku. I-World Health Organization ithi kufa izigidi zezingane unyaka ngamunye, ngoba azikutholi ukudla okwanele.

8, 9. Yini ebonisa ukuthi kuyenzeka lokho uJesu akuprofetha mayelana nokuzamazama komhlaba kanye nezifo?

⁸ Ukuzamazama komhlaba. UJesu waprofetha: “Kuyoba khona ukuzamazama okukhulu komhlaba.” (Luka 21:11) Sekujwayelekile ukuthi unyaka nonyaka kube nokuzamazama komhlaba okuningi  okunamandla. Kusukela ngo-1900, ukuzamazama komhlaba sekubulale abantu abangaphezu kwezigidi ezimbili. Nakuba ezobuchwepheshe ziye zasiza ukuba kubonakale kusekude ukuthi kuzoba nokuzamazama komhlaba, abantu abaningi basafa ngenxa yako.

⁹ Izifo. UJesu wabikezela ukuthi kuyoba “khona izifo eziwumshayabhuqe.” Izifo eziyingozi zaziyosakazeka ngokushesha futhi zibulale abantu abaningi. (Luka 21:11) Nakuba odokotela sebekwazi ukulapha izifo eziningi, zikhona ezinye abahlulekayo ukuzilapha. Empeleni kubikwa ukuthi izigidi zabantu ziyafa unyaka ngamunye ngenxa yezifo ezifana ne-TB, umalaleveva nekholera. Ngaphezu kwalokho, odokotela bathole ukuthi kunezifo ezintsha ezingaba ngu-30, ezinye zazo azilapheki.

10. Kuyenzeka yini namuhla lokho okushiwo kweyesi-2 Thimothewu 3:1-5?

¹⁰ Kweyesi-2 Thimothewu 3:1-5, iBhayibheli lithi: “Ezinsukwini zokugcina kuyofika izikhathi ezibucayi okunzima  ukubhekana nazo.” Umphostoli uPawulu wachaza ukuthi abantu babeyoziphatha kanjani ezinsukwini zokugcina. Wathi abantu

• babengeke babacabangele abanye

• babeyothanda imali

• babengeke babalalele abazali babo

• babengeke bathembeke

• babengeke bayithande imindeni yabo

• babeyohluleka ukuzithiba

• babeyothanda ukulwa, babe nolaka

• babeyothanda injabulo kakhulu kunoNkulunkulu

• babeyokwenza sengathi bayamthanda uNkulunkulu kodwa bangafuni ukumlalela

11. IHubo 92:7 lithi yini ezokwenzeka kubantu ababi?

¹¹ Baziphatha ngale ndlela yini abantu abaningi endaweni ohlala kuyo? Emhlabeni wonke, abantu abaningi baziphatha ngale ndlela. Maduze uNkulunkulu uzokulungisa lokho. Uyasithembisa: “Lapho ababi behluma njengezimila, nabo bonke abakwenza  umkhuba okulimazayo beqhakaza, kungenjongo yokuba babhuqwe [babhujiswe] kuze kube phakade.”—IHubo 92:7.

12, 13. Usifundiseni uJehova ezinsukwini zokugcina?

¹² IBhayibheli labikezela ukuthi ezinsukwini zokugcina kwakuyogcwala ubuhlungu nokuhlupheka emhlabeni. Nokho, liphinde lithi kwakuyokwenzeka nezinto ezinhle.

¹³ Ukuqonda lokho iBhayibheli elikushoyo. Umprofethi uDaniyeli wabhala lokhu mayelana nezinsuku zokugcina: “Ulwazi lweqiniso luyoba luningi.” (Daniyeli 12:4) UNkulunkulu wayeyokwenza abantu bakhe bakuqonde kahle lokho okushiwo iBhayibheli. UJehova ukwenzile lokhu, ikakhulukazi kusukela ngo-1914. Ngokwesibonelo, usifundise ukubaluleka kwegama lakhe, lokho akuhlosile ngomhlaba, iqiniso ngesihlengo, lokho okwenzekayo uma sesifile nokuthi abafile bazovuka. Sifunde ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu kuphela ongaxazulula zonke izinkinga zethu. Sifunde nokuthi singayithola kanjani injabulo nokuthi singaphila kanjani ngendlela ejabulisa uNkulunkulu. Izikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu zenzani ngalolu lwazi? Esinye isiprofetho sisinikeza impendulo yalo mbuzo.—Bheka uMbhalo Osekugcineni 21 no-25.

14. Obani abashumayela izindaba ezinhle futhi bazishumayela kuphi?

¹⁴ Ukushumayela emhlabeni wonke. UJesu washo lokhu mayelana nezinsuku zokugcina: “Lezi zindaba ezinhle zombuso ziyoshunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke owakhiwe.” (Mathewu 24:3, 14) Izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso zishunyayelwa emazweni angaphezu kwangu-230, ngezilimi ezingaphezu kwezingu-700. Emhlabeni wonke oFakazi BakaJehova abavela kuzo “zonke izizwe  nezinhlanga,” basiza abantu baqonde lokho uMbuso kaNkulunkulu oyikho, nalokho ozokwenzela abantu. (IsAmbulo 7:9) Futhi lokhu bakwenza mahhala. Njengoba uJesu aprofetha, nakuba abantu abaningi bebazonda futhi bebahlukumeza oFakazi BakaJehova, ayikho into engavimba umsebenzi wokushumayela.—Luka 21:17.

15. (a) Uyakholelwa yini ukuthi siphila ezinsukwini zokugcina? Kungani usho kanjalo? (b) Kuyokwenzekani kulabo abalalela uNkulunkulu nakulabo abangafuni ukumlalela?

¹⁵ Uyakholelwa yini ukuthi siphila ezinsukwini zokugcina? Izinto eziningi iBhayibheli elathi zaziyokwenzeka ezinsukwini zokugcina, ziyenzeka manje. Maduze, uJehova uzobayekisa oFakazi BakaJehova ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle, bese “ukuphela” kuyafika. (Mathewu 24:14) Kuyini ukuphela? Ukuphela, yisikhathi lapho uNkulunkulu eyoqeda khona ububi obusemhlabeni ngempi i-Armagedoni. UJehova uzosebenzisa uJesu nezingelosi ezinamandla, ukuba babhubhise noma ubani ongafuni ukulalela Yena neNdodana yakhe. (2 Thesalonika 1:6-9) USathane namademoni akhe ngeke besabadukisa abantu ngemva kwalokho. Bonke abalalela uNkulunkulu futhi basekele uMbuso wakhe, bayozibona zonke izithembiso zakhe zigcwaliseka.—IsAmbulo 20:1-3; 21:3-5.

16. Njengoba ukuphela kusondela, yini okufanele uyenze?

¹⁶ Leli zwe elibuswa uSathane lizobhujiswa maduze. Ngakho kubalulekile ukuba ngamunye wethu azibuze, ‘Yini okumelwe ngiyenze?’ UJehova ufuna ufunde okuningi eBhayibhelini. Kufanele usithande isifundo sakho seBhayibheli. (Johane 17:3) OFakazi BakaJehova bayahlangana masonto onke ukuze basize abantu baqonde iBhayibheli. Zama ukuya njalo emihlanganweni yabo. (Funda eyamaHebheru 10:24, 25.)  Uma ufunda, bese ubona ukuthi kufanele wenze izinguquko, ungasabi ukuzenza. Njengoba uqhubeka wenza izinguquko ekuphileni kwakho, ubungane bakho noJehova buzoqina.—Jakobe 4:8.

17. Kungani imbubhiso iyofika abaningi bengayilindele?

¹⁷ Umphostoli uPawulu wathi imbubhiso iyofika ngesikhathi abantu abaningi bengayilindele, “ngokufana ncamashí nesela ebusuku.” (1 Thesalonika 5:2) UJesu wathi, abaningi bayokhetha ukungabunaki ubufakazi bokuthi siphila ezinsukwini zokugcina. Wathi: “Ngoba njengoba nje zazinjalo izinsuku zikaNowa, kuyoba njalo nokuba khona kweNdodana yomuntu [izinsuku zokugcina]. Ngoba njengoba babenjalo ngalezo zinsuku zangaphambi kukazamcolo, bedla, bephuza, amadoda eshada nabesifazane bendiswa, kwaze kwaba usuku uNowa angena ngalo emkhunjini futhi benganakanga kwaze kwafika uzamcolo, wabakhukhula bonke, kuyoba njalo nokuba khona kweNdodana yomuntu.”—Mathewu 24:37-39.

18. Isiphi isixwayiso uJesu asinikeza sona?

¹⁸ UJesu wasixwayisa ukuba singaphazanyiswa “ukuminza nokuphuza kakhulu nezinkathazo zokuphila.” Wathi futhi ukuphela kuzofika, “njengogibe.” Waphinde wathi ‘kuyofikela bonke abahlala kuwo wonke umhlaba.’ Wabe esenezela: “Hlalani niphapheme, ngaso sonke isikhathi ninxusa ukuba niphumelele ekuphunyukeni kuzo zonke lezi zinto ezimiselwe ukwenzeka, nasekumeni phambi kweNdodana yomuntu.” (Luka 21:34-36) Kungani kubalulekile ukulalela isixwayiso sikaJesu? Ngoba maduze, leli zwe likaSathane elonakele lizobhujiswa. Yilabo abamukelwa uJehova noJesu kuphela abayosinda lapho leli zwe libhujiswa, futhi baphile phakade emhlabeni.—Johane 3:16; 2 Petru 3:13.