1. Shano sibonelo lesikhombisa kutsi kungani kubalulekile kunaka sikhatsi kanye naloko lokwentekako endzwaweni lesikuyo? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesihloko.)

NJENGOBE sibona leliwashi lelikule-TV lenkhulu libala, siyati kutsi sesiyasondzela sikhatsi sekutsi sihlale phansi kute silalele umculo lodlalwa ngaphambi kwekutsi kucale umhlangano. Sesikhatsi sekutsi silalelisise umculo lomnandzi we-Watchtower orchestra, futsi lokubaluleke kakhulu kutsi ulungiselele tingcondvo netinhlitiyo tetfu kuze tikwati kulalela letinkhulumo letitawulandzela. Kodvwa kutsiwani nangabe labanye bantfu basengakakulungeli, babonakale bahambahamba nobe bacoca nebangani babo, bangaboni kutsi luhlelo lwemhlangano seluyacala? Kusebaleni kutsi bayehluleka kuhlala balindze sikhatsi nekutsi kwentekani lapho. Sihlalo sewusendzaweni yesikhulumi, umculo uyachubeka uyadlala futsi naletinye tilaleli setihleli phansi. Lesimo lesi singasisita kutsi sinake “sikhatsi” sesentakalo lesikhulu kunalesi, lesitakwenteka esikhatsini lesitako futsi lokufanele sisilindze ngalabovu. Kodvwa ngusiphi lesantakalo leso?

2. Kungani Jesu atjela bafundzi bakhe kutsi ‘bahlale balindzile’?

² Nakakhuluma ‘ngekuphela kwalelive,’ Jesu Khristu wakhutsata  bafundzi bakhe watsi: “Hlalani nicaphele futsi nihlale nilindzile, ngobe anati kutsi sinini sikhatsi lesibekiwe.” Ngemuva kwaloko, Jesu wabecwayisa emahlandla watsi: “Hlalani nilindzile.” (Mat. 24:3; fundza Makho 13:32-37.) Kulandzisa kwaMatewu ngendzaba lefanako kuveta kutsi Jesu wecwayisa balandzeli bakhe kutsi bahlale baphapheme, watsi: “Ngako-ke hlalani nilindzile ngobe anilati lilanga iNkhosi yenu letawufika ngalo. . . . Hlalani nilungele, ngobe iNdvodzana yemuntfu itawufika ngeli-awa leningalicabangi.” Waphindze futsi watsi: “Ngako-ke, hlalani nilindzile ngobe anilati lilanga nobe li-awa.”​—Mat. 24:42-44; 25:13.

3. Kungani silalelisisa secwayiso saJesu?

³ Njengobe siBoFakazi BaJehova, sisitsatsa njengalesibalulekile sicondziso saJesu. Siyati kutsi siphila kuso kanye “sikhatsi sekugcina,” nekutsi sesincane sikhatsi lesisele ngaphambi kwekutsi kucale ‘kuhlupheka lokukhulu.’ (Dan. 12:4; Mat. 24:21) Emhlabeni wonkhe sibona timphi leticindzetelako, kwandza kwekutiphatsa lokubi nekungabi nemtsetfo, kudideka kwetenkholo, kweswelakala kwekudla, kugula kanye nekutamatama kwemhlaba. Siyati kutsi kwenteka umsebenti lomangalisako lokushumayela tindzaba teMbuso, lowentiwa bantfu baJehova yonkhe indzawo. (Mat. 24:7, 11, 12, 14; Luk. 21:11) Sikulindzele ngalabovu loko lokutawushiwo kuta kweNkhosi kitsi nekugcwaliseka kwenjongo yaNkulunkulu.​—Mak. 13:26, 27.

4. (a) Yini lesenta setsembe kutsi Jesu sewuyati kutsi itawucala nini i-Amagedoni? (b) Ngisho nobe singati kutsi kuhlupheka lokukhulu kutawucala nini, yini lesingaciniseka ngayo?

⁴ Siyati kutsi incenye nencenye emhlanganweni inesikhatsi lesitsite lelindzeleke kutsi icale ngaso. Nobe kunjalo, singetama kamatima kutfola lilanga nobe li-awa nobe umnyaka longuwonawona lokutawucala ngawo kuhlupheka lokukhulu, kodvwa angeke sikhone. Ngesikhatsi aseselamhlabeni Jesu watsi: “Macondzana nalelo langa neli-awa, kute lowatiko, tingilosi ezulwini atati ngisho neNdvodzana ayati, kodvwa nguBabe kuphela lowatiko.” (Mat. 24:36) Kodvwa Khristu sewuniketwe emandla ezulwini kute alwe nelive laSathane. (Semb. 19:11-16) Ngaleyondlela, kunengcondvo kuphetsa ngekutsi Jesu sewuyati kutsi i-Amagedoni itawucala nini. Kodvwa tsine asati. Kubalulekile kutsi sihlale silindzile kuze kufike sikhatsi sekucala kwekuhlupheka lokukhulu. Akukase kwenteke kutsi Jehova angaciniseki kutsi lelilanga litawufika nini. Uncumile kutsi lelilanga litawufika nini. Sewubala emalanga ekucala kwekuhlupheka lokukhulu futsi ‘ngeke kwephute!’ (Fundza Habakhuki 2:1-3.) Singaciniseka njani ngaloku?

5. Niketa sibonelo lesikhombisa kutsi tiphrofetho taJehova tihlala tigcwaliseka ngesikhatsi lesifanele.

⁵ Tiphrofetho taJehova tihlale tigcwaliseka ngesikhatsi lesifanele. Cabanga ngesikhatsi lesifanele lakhulula ngaso ema-Israyeli eGibhithe. Mosi nakabhekisela ku-Nisan 14, 1513 B.C.E., watsi: “Tonkhe letive tema-Israyeli taphuma eveni laseGibhithe mhlazana kuhlangana leminyaka lengema-430.” (Eks. 12:40-42) “Leminyaka lengema-430” yacala ngesikhatsi sivumelwano saJehova sicala kusebenta nga-1943 B.C.E. (Gal. 3:17, 18) Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi Jehova watjela Abrahama watsi: “Yati ngempela kutsi situkulwane sakho siyawuba sihambi eveni lekungesilo laso; siyawuba sigcili sakulelo live, sigcilateke iminyaka lengema-400.” (Gen. 15:13; Imis. 7:6) Leminyaka “lengema-400” yekuhlupheka kusebaleni kutsi yacala nga-1913 B.C.E. ngalesikhatsi Ishmayeli ahlupha Isaka lobekasandza kulunyulwa,  yaphela ngesikhatsi ema-Israyeli acalisa luhambo lwawo lwekuphuma eGibhithe nga-1513 B.C.E. (Gen. 21:8-10; Gal. 4:22-29) Eminyakeni lengemakhulu lamane ngaphambi kwaloko, Jehova besekasibekile sikhatsi sekukhululwa kwebantfu bakhe!

6. Kungani singaciniseka kutsi Jehova utawuhlale abakhulula bantfu bakhe?

⁶ Joshuwa, longulomunye walabo labakhulwa eGibhithe, wakhumbuta onkhe ema-Israyeli watsi: “Nani niyati ngenhlitiyo yenu yonkhe nangemphefumulo wenu wonkhe kutsi kute nome sinye setsembiso lesingazange sifezeke kuto tonkhe letetsembiso letinhle Simakadze Nkulunkulu wenu laninike tona. Tonkhe tetsembiso takhe tifezekile; kute nasinye lesingazange sifezeke.” (Josh. 23:2, 14) Ngako singaciniseka kutsi setsembiso saJehova sekusikhulula ekuhluphekeni lokukhulu ngeke sehluleke nganobe nguyiphi indlela. Nobe kunjalo, nasifuna kusindza nakubhujiswa lelive kufanele sihlale silindzile.

7, 8. (a) Bewuyini umsebenti wabogadzi etikhatsini tasendvulo, futsi loko kusifundzisani? (b) Niketa sibonelo sekutsi kungentekani nangabe gadzi alala nakasemsebentini wakhe.

⁷ Kubantfu basendvulo, singafundza sifundvo sekutsi kubalulekile kuhlala silindzile. Ngaleto tikhatsi, linyenti lemadolobha lamakhulu lafaka ekhatsi iJerusalema, abekakwe tindvonga letiphakeme. Letindvonga betibavikela etitseni tabo futsi betibenta bakwati kubuka tindzawo letibomakhelwane naletikhashane. Bogadzi bebema eceleni kwaletindvonga kanye nasemagedeni, busuku nemini. Bekufanele becwayise bonkhe labahlala kulelidolobha ngengoti lesondzelako. (Isa. 62:6) Bekusho kufa nekuphila kutsi labogadzi bahlale baphapheme nabakuletindawo lebebagadza kuto.​—Hez. 33:6.

⁸ Sati semlandvo lesingumJuda lokutsiwa nguJosephus satsi nga-70 C.E. libutfo laseRoma lafike latsatsa lombhoshongo lebewubitwa ngekutsi nguMbhoshongo wa-Antonia, lobowuhlanganisa letindvonga taseJerusalema, ngenca yekutsi bogadzi lebebasemagedeni bebalele. Ngemuva kwaloko lelibutfo laseRoma lagijimela ethempelini lafike lalilumeka ngemlilo, lokwaholela kumvutfwandzaba welusizi lolukhulu lolungazange selubonwe ngemaJuda nobe selenteke eJerusalema.

9. Yini bantfu labanyenti lamuhla labangayati?

⁹ Emave lamanyenti ‘anabogadzi’ labagadza emagede langena emaveni abo nemakhamera ebucwephesha besimanjemanje. Labogadzi babuka kungena kwebantfu ngalokungekho emtsetfweni emishinini lesetjentiselwa kubuka, baphindze babuke netitsa letingenako kute tihlasele live labo. Nobe kunjalo, ‘labogadzi’ bakhona kubona kuphela tingoti letingabangelwa bohulumende bebantfu, nobe tingoti letingabangelwa bantfu. Abati lutfo ngeMbuso waNkulunkulu netintfo lotatenta ngaKhristu kanye nendzima lotayidlala nawuletsa sehlulelo lesisondzela ngekushesha kuto tonkhe tive. (Isa. 9:6, 7; 56:10; Dan. 2:44) Kodvwa tsine, kuhlala kwetfu silindzile etintfweni letiphatselene naNkulunkulu, kutasenta sikulungele kufika kwelilanga lekwahlulela.​—Hla. 130:6.

10, 11. (a) Yini lokufanele siyicaphele futsi leni? (b) Yini lekwenta uciniseke kutsi Develi ukhohlise bantfu kute bangasinaki siphrofetho lesiseBhayibhelini?

¹⁰ Asesitsi gadzi bekasolo aphapheme njengobe agadzile busuku bonkhe. Uyetela, abese uyalala ngaphambi kwekutsi nje kufike sikhatsi sekutsi ashayise. Ngendlela lefanako, njengobe sisondzela ekupheleni kwalelive, titawuba tinyenti tinkinga letingenta kubematima kuhlala siphapheme.  Cabanga kutsi kungaba buhlungu kanganani nakungenteka sehluleke kuhlala silindzile! Asesicoce ngetintfo letintsantfu letingasenta silale nasingakacapheli.

¹¹ Develi wenta bantfu bangatiphaphameli tintfo letiphatselene naNkulunkulu. Ngaphambi kwekutsi afe, Jesu wecwayisa bafundzi bakhe tikhatsi letintsatfu, mayelana “nembusi walelive.” (Joh. 12:31; 14:30; 16:11) Jesu bekati kutsi Develi utawenta bantfu babesebumnyameni etingcondvweni tabo kute bangasiboni simo lesiphutfumako lesiphatselene netiphrofetho taNkulunkulu ngelikusasa. (Zef. 1:14) Sathane uvala tingcondvo tebantfu asebentisa umbuso welive wenkholo yemanga. Yini loke wayicaphela njengobe ucoca nalabanye bantfu? Develi sewuvele ‘uvale tingcondvo’ talabangakholwa mayelana nekuphela kwalelive kanye nekutsi Khristu sewuyabusa eMbusweni waNkulunkulu. (2 Khor. 4:3-6) Sekukangakhi nawushumayela umuntfu atsi; “Anginaso sikhatsi”? Ngalokuvamile abasinaki nangabe sibatjela kutsi sekudvutane kubhujiswa kwalelive.

12. Kungani kungakafaneli sivumele Develi asikhohlise?

¹² Ungakuvumeli kungalaleli kwalabanye kukudvumate nobe kukwente ungasachubeki nekuhlala ulindzile. Wena wati kancono. Pawula wabhalela emaKhristu labekanye nawo watsi: “Nani nati kahle kutsi lilanga laJehova lita ngendlela lefana ncamashi neyelisela ebusuku.” (Fundza 1 Thesalonika 5:1-6.) NaJesu wasecwayisa watsi: “Nani hlalani nilungele, ngobe iNdvodzana yemuntfu itawufika ngesikhatsi leningakasilindzeli.” (Luk. 12:39, 40) Madvutane, Sathane utawukhohlisa bantfu labanyenti kutsi bemukele emanga latsi ‘sekunekuthula nekulondzeka.’ Loko kutawubese kubenta bacange kutsi konkhe kuhamba kahle emhlabeni. Kutsiwani ngatsi? Lelolanga lekwahlulela akukafaneli ‘lifike singakalilindzeli njengelisela,’ ngako “asihlale siphapheme futsi sisangulukile etingcondvweni.” Kungako kufanele sifundze liVi laNkulunkulu onkhe malanga futsi sizindle ngaloko Jehova lasitjela kona.

13. Umoya welive ubatsintsa njani bantfu, futsi singayigwema njani ingoti lenjalo?

¹³ Umoya welive ungabanga kutsi singatiphaphameli tintfo letiphatselene naNkulunkulu. Labanye banake kakhulu tindzaba tabo telilanga nelilanga kangangekutsi ‘abatinakisisi tintfo letiphatselene  naNkulunkulu.’ (Mat. 5:3) Bahehwa ngumcebo walelive lokhulisa ‘sifiso senyama nesifiso semehlo.’ (1 Joh. 2:16) Netekutijabulisa tiheha bantfu ‘ngekutsandza injabulo’ kantsi naletilingo tekutijabulisa tiyakhula umnyaka nemnyaka. (2 Thim. 3:4) Kungaleso sizatfu-ke Pawula wecwayisa emaKhristu watsi: “Ningakuhleli kusengaphambili kwenelisa tifiso tenyama,” letingabangela kungatiphaphameli tintfo letiphatselene naNkulunkulu.​—Rom. 13:11-14.

14. Ngusiphi secwayiso lesisitfola kuLukha 21:34, 35?

¹⁴ Esikhundleni semoya welive, tsine semukela umoya waNkulunkulu ekuphileni kwetfu losenta kutsi sibe nekucondza mayelana naloko lokutawenteka esikhatsini lesitako. ^[1] (1 Khor. 2:12) Siyabona kutsi kwetela etintfweni letiphatselene naNkulunkulu kuyintfo leyenteka melula. Tintfo letetayelekile tingakwetelisa nangabe utivumela kutsi titsatse indzawo yekukhonta Nkulunkulu. (Fundza Lukha 21:34, 35.) Labanye bangahlekisa ngatsi ngobe sihlala silindzile, kodvwa asikho sizatfu sekutsi singasabi nemuva wekuphutfuma. (2 Phet. 3:3-7) Esikhundleni saloko kufanele sitihlanganise njalo nalamanye emaKhristu emihlanganweni yelibandla, ngobe kulapho kunemoya waNkulunkulu khona.

15. Yini leyenteka kuPhetro, Jakobe, kanye naJohane, futsi loko kungenteka njani nakitsi?

¹⁵ Imitimba yetfu lenesono ingakunciphisa kutimisela kwetfu kuhlala silindzile. Jesu bekati kutsi umuntfu lonesono kuyenteka ehluleke kumelana nebutsakatsaka benyama. Cabanga ngaloko lokwenteka ngebusuku bangaphimbi kwekutsi Jesu abulawe. Kwadzingeka kutsi acele emandla kuBabe wakhe wasezulwini kute agcine bucotfo bakhe. Jesu wacela Phetro, Jakobe, kanye naJohane kutsi ‘bahlale balindzile,’ njengobe ayothantaza. Nobe kunjalo abazange babone kutsi loko lebekutawenteka bekubaluleke kangakanani. Esikhundleni sekutsi bagadze iNkhosi yabo, bavumela imitimba yabo kutsi ibente balale. Nobe Jesu naye bekadziniwe, bekaphapheme athantaza ngekutimisela kuBabe wakhe futsi nguloko kanye nebangani bakhe lobekufanele ngabe bebakwenta.​—Mak. 14:32-41.

16. Ngekusho kwaLukha 21:36, Jesu wasiyala njani kutsi ‘sihlale siphapheme’?

¹⁶ ‘Kuhlala silindzile’ etintfweni letiphatselene naNkulunkulu kusho lokungetulu kwekumane sibe netisusa letinhle. Emalangeni lambalwa ngaphambi kwaloko lokwenteka ensimini yaseGetsemane, Jesu watjela labobafundzi kutsi bancuse kuJehova. (Fundza Lukha 21:36.) Ngako-ke, kute sihlale siphapheme ebuhlotjeni betfu naNkulunkulu, natsi kufanele sihlale sikuphaphamele kuthantaza.​—1 Phet. 4:7.

17. Singakhombisa njani kutsi sikulungele loko lokutakwenteka esikhatsini lesitako?

¹⁷ Njengobe Jesu atsi kuphela kutawufika “ngeli-awa [lesingalicabangi],” lesi akusiso sikhatsi sekwetela etintfweni letiphatselene naNkulunkulu futsi akusiso sikhatsi sekufisa tintfo letingekho kanye nekuba nemaphupho lakhangiswa nguSathane nelive lakhe, nalafunwa yinyama yetfu. (Mat. 24:44) EBhayibhelini, Nkulunkulu naKhristu basitjela ngaloko labatasentela kona madvutane, nekutsi singahlala njani siphapheme. Kufanele sibunakisise budlelwane betfu naNkulunkulu kanye nekubeka uMbuso kucala. Kufanele sihlale sinake sikhatsi netentakalo kuze sitewuhlale sikulindzele loko lokutako. (Semb. 22:20) Loko kusho kuphila kwetfu!