1. Njengabaphostoli, yini esifisa ukuyazi?

INKONZO kaJesu yasemhlabeni yayisizophela, futhi abafundi bakhe babefisa ukwazi ukuthi ikusasa libaphatheleni. Ngenxa yalokho, ezinsukwini ezimbalwa ngaphambi kokuba afe, abaphostoli abane bambuza: “Ziyokwenzeka nini lezi zinto, futhi siyoba yini isibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakho nesesiphelo sesimiso sezinto?” (Math. 24:3; Marku 13:3) UJesu wabaphendula ngokunikeza isiprofetho eside, esilotshwe kuMathewu izahluko 24 no-25. Kuleso siprofetho, uJesu wabikezela izenzakalo eziningi ezaziyophawuleka. Amazwi akhe anencazelo ebalulekile kithi ngoba nathi sinesithakazelo esikhulu sokwazi ukuthi ikusasa lisiphatheleni.

2. (a) Njengoba iminyaka ihamba, yini esiye safuna ukuyiqonda ngokucacile? (b) Imiphi imibuzo emithathu esizoxoxa ngayo?

² Njengoba iminyaka ihamba, izinceku zikaJehova bezilokhu zitadisha isiprofetho sikaJesu esiphathelene nezinsuku zokugcina ngosizo lomthandazo. Ziye zafuna ukuqonda ngokucacile ukuthi amazwi kaJesu ayeyogcwaliseka nini. Ukuze sibonise indlela ukuqonda kwethu okuye kwacaciswa ngayo, ake sixoxe ngemibuzo emithathu ephathelene nokuthi zaziyokwenzeka “nini” izenzakalo uJesu akhuluma ngazo. Luqala nini “usizi olukhulu”? UJesu uzahlulela nini ‘izimvu nezimbuzi’? UJesu ‘ufika’ noma uza nini?—Math. 24:21; 25:31-33.

3. Esikhathini esidlule, sasisiqonda kanjani isikhathi sokugcwaliseka kosizi olukhulu?

³ Kwaphela iminyaka ethile sicabanga ukuthi usizi olukhulu lwaqala ngo-1914 ngeMpi Yezwe I nokuthi uJehova ‘wazifinyeza lezo zinsuku’ ngo-1918 lapho kuphela impi ukuze insali ibe nethuba lokushumayela izindaba ezinhle kuzo zonke izizwe. (Math. 24:21, 22) Lapho umsebenzi wokushumayela usuphelile, umbuso kaSathane wawuzobhujiswa. Ngakho, kwakucatshangwa ukuthi usizi olukhulu lwaluyoba nezigaba ezintathu: Kwakuyoba nesiqalo salo (1914-1918), lolo sizi lwaluyophazanyiswa (kusukela ngo-1918 kuqhubeke), futhi lwaluyophela nge-Armagedoni.

4. Ukuqonda ini okwaholela ekusiqondeni ngokucacile isiprofetho sikaJesu esiphathelene nezinsuku zokugcina?

 ⁴ Nokho, ukusihlola ngokwengeziwe isiprofetho sikaJesu kwasenza saqonda ukuthi ingxenye yaso ephathelene nezinsuku zokugcina yayinokugcwaliseka okukabili. (Math. 24:4-22) Ukugcwaliseka kokuqala kwaba ngekhulu lokuqala C.E., eJudiya, futhi kwakuzoba nokunye okwakuzokwenzeka emhlabeni wonke osukwini lwethu. Lokho kuqonda kwaholela ekucacisweni kwezinto eziningi. *

5. (a) Iyiphi inkathi enzima eyaqala ngo-1914? (b) Leyo nkathi yokucindezeleka ifana nayiphi inkathi ekhulwini lokuqala C.E.?

⁵ Saqonda nokuthi ingxenye yokuqala yosizi olukhulu ayizange iqale ngo-1914. Kungani? Isiprofetho seBhayibheli sibonisa ukuthi usizi olukhulu luyoqala ngokuhlaselwa kwenkolo yamanga, hhayi ngempi eyoba phakathi kwezizwe. Ngakho, izenzakalo ezaqala ngo-1914 ‘zaziwukuqala kwemihelo yokucindezeleka,’ hhayi kosizi olukhulu. (Math. 24:8) Le “mihelo yokucindezeleka” ifana nalokho okwenzeka eJerusalema naseJudiya kusukela ngo-33 C.E. kuya ku-66 C.E.

6. Yini eyobonisa ukuqala kosizi olukhulu?

⁶ Yini eyobonisa ukuqala kosizi olukhulu? UJesu wabikezela: “Lapho nibona isinengiso esibangela incithakalo, njengoba kwakhulunywa ngaso ngoDaniyeli umprofethi, simi endaweni engcwele, (ofundayo makasebenzise ukuqonda,) khona-ke labo abaseJudiya mabaqale ukubalekela ezintabeni.” (Math. 24:15, 16) Ekugcwalisekeni kokuqala, ‘ukuma endaweni engcwele’ kwenzeka ngo-66 C.E. lapho ibutho lamaRoma (“isinengiso”) lihlasela iJerusalema nethempeli lalo (indawo engcwele emehlweni amaJuda). Ekugcwalisekeni okukhulu, lokho ‘kuma’ kuyokwenzeka lapho iZizwe Ezihlangene (“isinengiso” sosuku lwanamuhla) zihlasela eLobukholwa (elingcwele emehlweni amaKristu okuzisholo) nalo lonke iBhabhiloni Elikhulu. Ukuhlasela okufanayo kuchazwe encwadini yesAmbulo 17:16-18. Leso senzakalo siyoba ukuqala kosizi olukhulu.

7. (a) ‘Inyama yasinda’ kanjani ekhulwini lokuqala? (b) Yini esingalindela ukuba yenzeke esikhathini esizayo?

 ⁷ UJesu wabikezela nalokhu: “Lezo zinsuku ziyofinyezwa.” Ekugcwalisekeni kokuqala, lokhu kwenzeka ngo-66 C.E. lapho ibutho lamaRoma ‘lifinyeza’ ukuhlasela kwalo. Ngaleso sikhathi, amaKristu agcotshiwe aseJerusalema naseJudiya abaleka, okwenza ukuba ‘inyama, noma ukuphila kwawo kusinde.’ (Funda uMathewu 24:22; Mal. 3:17) Ngakho, yini esingalindela ukuba yenzeke phakathi nosizi olukhulu oluzayo? UJehova ‘uyofinyeza’ ukuhlasela kweZizwe Ezihlangene inkolo yamanga, angavumi ukuba inkolo yeqiniso ibhujiswe kanye neyamanga. Lokhu kuyoqinisekisa ukuthi abantu bakaNkulunkulu bayasinda.

8. (a) Iziphi izenzakalo eziyokwenzeka ngemva kokuba ingxenye yokuqala yosizi olukhulu isidlulile? (b) Kubonakala sengathi liyowuthola nini umvuzo walo wasezulwini ilungu lokugcina labangu-144 000? (Bheka iphuzu elisekugcineni.)

 ⁸ Yini eyokwenzeka ngemva kokuba ingxenye yokuqala yosizi olukhulu isidlulile? Amazwi kaJesu abonisa ukuthi kunenkathi eyoqhubeka kuze kuqale i-Armagedoni. Iziphi izenzakalo eziyokwenzeka phakathi naleso sikhawu? Impendulo ikuHezekeli 38:14-16 nakuMathewu 24:29-31. (Funda.) * Ngemva kwalokho, kuyoba ne-Armagedoni, umvuthwandaba wosizi olukhulu, ofana nokubhujiswa kweJerusalema ngo-70 C.E. (Mal. 4:1) Njengoba umvuthwandaba walo kuyimpi ye-Armagedoni, lolo sizi olukhulu oluzayo luyoba ingqayizivele—isenzakalo ‘esingakaze sibe khona kusukela ekuqaleni kwezwe.’ (Math. 24:21) Lapho isidlulile, kuyoqala ukuBusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane.

9. Isiprofetho sikaJesu mayelana nosizi olukhulu sibathinta kanjani abantu bakaJehova?

⁹ Lesi siprofetho esiphathelene nosizi olukhulu siyasiqinisa. Kungani? Ngoba sisiqinisekisa ngokuthi noma yibuphi ubunzima esingase sibhekane nabo, abantu bakaJehova njengeqembu bayosinda osizini olukhulu. (IsAm. 7:9, 14) Ngaphezu  kwakho konke, siyajabula ngoba e-Armagedoni, uJehova uyolwela ubukhosi bakhe futhi angcwelise igama lakhe elingcwele.—IHu. 83:18; Hez. 38:23.

10. Esikhathini esedlule sasisiqonda kanjani isikhathi sokwahlulelwa kwezimvu nezimbuzi?

¹⁰ Manje cabangela isikhathi sokugcwaliseka kwenye ingxenye yesiprofetho sikaJesu—umfanekiso wokwahlulelwa kwezimvu nezimbuzi. (Math. 25:31-46) Esikhathini esedlule sasicabanga ukuthi ukwahlulelwa kwabantu njengezimvu noma izimbuzi kuyokwenzeka phakathi nayo yonke inkathi yezinsuku zokugcina kusukela ngo-1914 kuqhubeke. Saphetha ngokuthi labo abenqaba isigijimi soMbuso futhi abafa ngaphambi kokuqala kosizi olukhulu babezofa njengezimbuzi—bengenalo ithemba lovuko.

11. Kungani kungenakwenzeka ukuthi ukwahlulelwa kwabantu njengezimvu noma izimbuzi kwaqala ngo-1914?

¹¹ Maphakathi nawo-1990, INqabayokulinda yaphinde yahlola uMathewu 25:31, othi: “Lapho iNdodana yomuntu ifika enkazimulweni yayo, nazo zonke izingelosi kanye nayo, khona-ke iyohlala phansi esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi esikhazimulayo.” Kwaphawulwa ukuthi uJesu waba iNkosi yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu ngo-1914, kodwa akazange ‘ahlale phansi esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi esikhazimulayo’ njengoMahluleli ‘wazo zonke izizwe.’ (Math. 25:32; qhathanisa noDaniyeli 7:13.) Nokho, umfanekiso kaJesu wezimvu nezimbuzi uchaza uJesu ngokuyinhloko njengoMahluleli. (Funda uMathewu 25:31-34, 41, 46.) Njengoba uJesu ayengakabi uMahluleli wezizwe ngo-1914, akunakwenzeka ukuthi ukwahlulela kwakhe abantu njengezimvu noma izimbuzi kwaqala ngalowo nyaka. * Khona-ke, ukwahlulela kukaJesu kuyoqala nini?

12. (a) UJesu uyoqala nini ukusebenza njengoMahluleli wezizwe okokuqala ngqa? (b) Iziphi izenzakalo ezichazwe kuMathewu 24:30, 31 nakuMathewu 25:31-33, 46?

 ¹² Isiprofetho sikaJesu esiphathelene nezinsuku zokugcina sembula ukuthi uyosebenza njengoMahluleli wazo zonke izizwe okokuqala ngqa ngemva kokubhujiswa kwenkolo yamanga. Njengoba kuchaziwe  esigabeni 8, ezinye zezenzakalo eziyokwenzeka phakathi naleso sikhathi zilotshwe kuMathewu 24:30, 31. Lapho uhlola lawo mavesi, uyophawula ukuthi uJesu ubikezela izenzakalo ezithi azifane nalezo akhuluma ngazo emfanekisweni wezimvu nezimbuzi. Ngokwesibonelo, iNdodana yomuntu iza ngenkazimulo ikanye nezingelosi; zonke izizwe ziyabuthwa; labo abahlulelwa njengezimvu ‘baphakamisa amakhanda abo’ ngoba bezothola ‘ukuphila okuphakade.’ * Labo abahlulelwa njengezimbuzi ‘bayazishaya belila,’ ngoba beqaphela ukuthi balindelwe ‘ukunqunywa kwaphakade.’—Math. 25:31-33, 46.

13. (a) UJesu uyobahlulela nini abantu njengezimvu noma izimbuzi? (b) Lokhu kuqonda kuwuthinta kanjani umbono wethu ngenkonzo yethu?

¹³ Khona-ke, singaphetha ngokuthini? UJesu uyokwahlulela abantu bazo zonke izizwe njengezimvu noma izimbuzi lapho eza phakathi nosizi olukhulu. Khona-ke, e-Armagedoni, umvuthwandaba wosizi olukhulu, abanjengezimbuzi ‘bayonqunywa’ phakade. Lokho kuwuthinta kanjani umbono wethu ngenkonzo yethu? Kusisiza ukuba sibone ukubaluleka komsebenzi wethu wokushumayela. Kuze kube yilapho kuqala usizi olukhulu, abantu bayobe besenethuba lokushintsha ukucabanga kwabo futhi baqale ukuhamba endleleni enyinyekile “eholela ekuphileni.” (Math. 7:13, 14) Yebo, kwamanje abantu bangabonisa isimo sengqondo sokuba izimvu noma izimbuzi. Noma kunjalo, kufanele sikhumbule ukuthi ukwahlulelwa kokugcina okuyobonisa ukuthi obani abayizimvu futhi obani abayizimbuzi  kuyokwenziwa phakathi nosizi olukhulu. Ngakho-ke, kumelwe nakanjani siqhubeke sinikeza abantu abaningi ngangokunokwenzeka ithuba lokuzwa nokusabela esigijimini soMbuso.

14, 15. Imaphi amavesi amane abhekisela ekuzeni kukaKristu esikhathini esizayo njengoMahluleli?

 ¹⁴ Ingabe ukusihlola ngokwengeziwe isiprofetho sikaJesu kubonisa ukuthi kufanele silungise ukuqonda kwethu isikhathi sezinye izenzakalo eziphawulekayo? Impendulo siyithola esiprofethweni ngokwaso. Ake sibone ukuthi kanjani.

¹⁵ Engxenyeni yesiprofetho sakhe ekuMathewu 24:29–25:46, uJesu ugxila ngokuyinhloko kulokho okuyokwenzeka phakathi nalezi zinsuku zokugcina naphakathi nosizi olukhulu oluzayo. Kula mavesi, uJesu ubhekisela ‘ekuzeni,’ noma ekufikeni kwakhe izikhathi ezingu-8. * Ngokuphathelene nosizi olukhulu, uthi: “Ziyobona iNdodana yomuntu iza iphezu kwamafu ezulu.” “Anazi ukuthi iNkosi yenu iza ngaluphi usuku.” “INdodana yomuntu iza ngehora eningalicabangi.” Emfanekisweni wakhe wezimvu nezimbuzi, uJesu uthi: “INdodana yomuntu ifika enkazimulweni yayo.” (Math. 24:30, 42, 44; 25:31) Ngalinye lala mavesi libhekisela ekuzeni kukaKristu esikhathini esizayo njengoMahluleli. Siwathola kuphi esiprofethweni sikaJesu amanye amavesi amane abhekisela kulokhu?

16. Imaphi amanye amavesi akhuluma ngokuza kukaJesu?

¹⁶ Ngokuphathelene nenceku ethembekileyo neqondayo, uJesu uthi: “Iyajabula leyo nceku okuyokuthi lapho inkosi yayo ifika iyithole yenza kanjalo.” Emfanekisweni wezintombi, uJesu uthi: “Zisaye kothenga, umkhwenyana wafika [“weza,” Kingdom Interlinear].” Emfanekisweni wamathalenta, uJesu uyalandisa: “Ngemva kwesikhathi eside inkosi yalezo zinceku yafika.” Kuwo lowo mfanekiso inkosi ithi: “Lapho ngifika bengiyokwamukela lokho okungokwami.” (Math. 24:46; 25:10, 19, 27) Abhekisela kusiphi isikhathi la mavesi amane akhuluma ngokuza noma ngokufika kukaJesu?

17. Yini esiye sayisho ngokufika okukhulunywa ngakho kuMathewu 24:46?

¹⁷ Esikhathini esidlule, ezincwadini zethu siye sathi la mavesi amane okugcina abhekisela ekufikeni noma ekuzeni kukaJesu  ngo-1918. Ngokwesibonelo, bheka amazwi kaJesu aphathelene ‘nenceku ethembekileyo neqondayo.’ (Funda uMathewu 24:45-47.) Ukuqonda kwethu bekuwukuthi ‘ukufika’ okukhulunywa ngakho evesini 46 kwakuhlobene nesikhathi uJesu eza ngaso ukuzohlola isimo esingokomoya sabagcotshiweyo ngo-1918 nokuthi ukumiswa kwenceku phezu kwazo zonke izinto zeNkosi kwenzeka ngo-1919. (Mal. 3:1) Nokho, ukusihlola ngokwengeziwe isiprofetho sikaJesu kubonisa ukuthi kudingeka silungise indlela ebesiqonda ngayo isikhathi sokwenzeka kwezici ezithile zesiprofetho sikaJesu. Kungani kunjalo?

18. Ukuhlola umongo wesiprofetho sikaJesu kusiholela kusiphi isiphetho mayelana nokuza kukaJesu?

¹⁸ Emavesini andulela uMathewu 24:46, igama elithi “iza” libhekisela ngokungaguquguquki esikhathini sokufika kukaJesu ezokhipha isahlulelo phakathi nosizi olukhulu. (Math. 24:30, 42, 44) Ngaphezu kwalokho, njengoba sibonile  esigabeni 12, ‘ukufika’ kukaJesu okukhulunywa ngakho kuMathewu 25:31 kusabhekisela kuso leso sikhathi sokwahlulela esiseza. Ngakho kunengqondo ukuphetha ngokuthi ukufika kukaJesu ezomisa inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo phezu kwakho konke okungokwakhe, okukhulunywa ngakho kuMathewu 24:46, 47, nakho kubhekisela ekuzeni kwakhe esikhathini esizayo, phakathi nosizi olukhulu. * Ngempela, ukusihlola sonke isiprofetho sikaJesu kwenza kucace ukuthi ngalinye lala mavesi ayisishiyagalombili akhuluma ngokuza kwakhe, libhekisela esikhathini esizayo sokwahlulela phakathi nosizi olukhulu.

19. Iziphi izinto esesiziqonda ngenye indlela esiye saxoxa ngazo, futhi imiphi imibuzo ezophendulwa ezihlokweni ezilandelayo?

¹⁹ Sesibukeza, yini esiyifundile? Ekuqaleni kwalesi sihloko, siphakamise imibuzo emithathu mayelana nokuthi ziyogcwaliseka “nini” izici ezithile zesiprofetho. Siqale sadingida ukuthi usizi olukhulu aluzange luqale ngo-1914 kodwa luyoqala lapho iZizwe Ezihlangene zihlasela iBhabhiloni Elikhulu. Sibe sesibukeza ukuthi kungani ukwahlulela kukaJesu izimvu nezimbuzi kungazange kuqale ngo-1914 kodwa kuyokwenzeka phakathi nosizi olukhulu. Ekugcineni, siye sahlola ukuthi ukufika kukaJesu ezomisa inceku ethembekileyo phezu kwakho konke okungokwakhe akuzange kwenzeke ngo-1919 kodwa kuyokwenzeka phakathi nosizi olukhulu. Ngakho-ke, yonke le mibuzo emithathu mayelana nokuthi ziyogcwaliseka “nini” izici zesiprofetho ibhekisela enkathini efanayo yesikhathi esizayo—usizi olukhulu. Lo mbono olungisiwe ukuthinta kanjani ngokwengeziwe ukuqonda kwethu umfanekiso wenceku ethembekileyo? Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukuthinta kanjani ukuqonda kwethu eminye imifanekiso noma imizekeliso kaJesu egcwaliseka phakathi nalesi sikhathi sokuphela? Le mibuzo ebalulekile izodingidwa ezihlokweni ezilandelayo.