1. Ngutiphi tintfo letenteka ngemnyaka wanga-66 C.E.? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesihloko.)

TICABANGE ungumKhristu lobekaphila eJerusalema ngemnyaka wanga-66 C.E. Kunyenti lobekwenteka. Siphatsimandla saseRoma lesinguFlorus besebe emathalenta langu-17 emnikelweni wasethempelini. Ngekushesha nje, emaJuda atfukutsela kakhulu. Abulala emasotja lamanyenti aseRoma futsi afuna kukhululeka embusweni waseRoma. Kodvwa baseRoma batsatsa sinyatselo ngekushesha. Kungakapheli netinyanga letintsatfu, emasotja langu-30 000 labeholwa nguCestius Gallus atungeleta iJerusalema. EmaJuda labevukela abhaca etindvongeni telithempeli, kodvwa emasotja aseRoma asondzela eceleni kwaletindvonga futsi etama kungena eJerusalema. Bonkhe bantfu kulelidolobha bacala kwetfuka kakhulu. Bewungativa njani nawubona konkhe loku?

2. Yini emaKhristu lobekufanele ayente nakabona emasotja aseRoma atungelete iJerusalema, futsi loko bekungenteka njani?

² Eminyakeni leyendlulile, Jesu abebacwayisile bafundzi bakhe ngaloku lokwenteka eJerusalema futsi wabayala, watsi: “Nanibona  iJerusalema itungeletwe ngemabutfo, yatini kutsi kubhujiswa kwayo sekusondzele. Labo labaseJudiya babobalekela etintsabeni, futsi labo labangekhatsi kuyo babophuma, nalabo labasemaphandleni abangangeni kuyo.” (Lukha 21:20, 21) Bekungenteka njani kutsi balalele imiyalo yaJesu yekutsi baphume eJerusalema abe emasotja atungelete lelidolobha? Kwenteka intfo lesimanga. Kungakalindzeleki, libutfo lemaRoma lahamba eJerusalema. Njengobe Jesu abeshito, lokuhlaselwa ‘kwafinyetwa.’ (Matewu 24:22) Njengobe beselihambile lelibutfo, kwasekulitfuba lekutsi emaKhristu letsembekile alalele Jesu ngekutsi abalekele etintsabeni ngekushesha. * (Fundza umbhalo longentansi.) Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, ngemnyaka wanga-70 C.E., libutfo lelisha lemaRoma labuyela eJerusalema. Nalifika, lalibhubhisa lelidolobha. Kodvwa bonkhe labalalela imiyalo yaJesu basindza.

3. Ngusiphi simo lesifanana nalesenteka esikhatsini lesendlulile emaKhristu latawuba kuso ngekushesha, futsi yini lesitawucoca ngayo kulesihloko?

³ Secwayiso saJesu nemiyalo yakhe kuyasebenta nakitsi lamuhla. Ngekushesha sitawube sisesimeni lesifanako. Jesu wasebentisa loko lokwenteka ngelikhulu lekucala kute achaze loko lokutawenteka nakucala ‘kuhlupheka lokukhulu.’ (Matewu 24:3, 21, 29) Njengobe kunemaKhristu letsembekile lasindza nakubhujiswa iJerusalema, kutawuba ‘nesicumbi lesikhulu’ lesitawusindza nakubhujiswa umhlaba. (Fundza Sembulo 7:9, 13, 14.) Kubaluleke kakhulu kukucondza loko liBhayibheli lelisitjela kona ngalokutawenteka esikhatsini lesitako. Kungani kubalulekile? Kungobe loko kusho kuphila kwetfu. Ase sicoce ngekutsi loko lokutawenteka kutasitsintsa njani.

4. Kutawucala njani kuhlupheka lokukhulu?

⁴ Kutawucala njani kuhlupheka lokukhulu? Kutawucala ngekutsi kubhujiswe tonkhe tinkholo temanga. EBhayibhelini, inkholo yemanga ibitwa ngekutsi “IBhabhulona Lenkhulu, unina wetingwadla.” (Sembulo 17:5-7) Kungani inkholo yemanga ibitwa ngekutsi yingwadla? Kungobe bafundisi bayo abaketsembeki kuNkulunkulu. Esikhundleni sekutsi basekele Jesu neMbuso wakhe ngekwetsembeka, basekele bohulumende bebantfu futsi bangatinaki timfundziso teliBhayibheli kute babe nencenye kulabohulumende. Indlela yabo yekukhonta Nkulunkulu ayifanani nendlela lehlantekile yekumkhonta leyentiwa ngulabagcotjiwe. (2 Khorinte 11:2; Jakobe 1:27; Sembulo 14:4) Kodvwa ngubani lotawubhubhisa iBhabhulona Lenkhulu? Jehova utawubangela kutsi ‘timphondvo letilishumi’ ‘tesilo sasendle lesibovu’ “tente injongo yakhe.” ‘Lesilo sasendle lesibovu’ simelela Mhlabuhlangene, futsi ‘timphondvo letilishumi’ timelela yonkhe imibuso lenemandla lemsekelako.—Fundza Sembulo 17:3, 16-18.

5, 6. Kungani sitsi kubhujiswa kweBhabhulona Lenkhulu akusho kutsi onkhe emalunga ayo atawubulawa?

⁵ Atawubulawa onkhe yini emalunga enkholo yemanga nakubhujiswa iBhabhulona Lenkhulu? Cha. Jehova waphefumulela umphrofethi Zakhariya kutsi abhale loko lokutawenteka. Ngaleso sikhatsi, lotsite lobekake waba senkholweni yemanga utawutsi: “‘Angisiye umphrofethi, ngingumlimi;  kusukela ebusheni bami seloku ngisebentana nemhlaba.’ Nangabe abutwa ngumuntfu, atsi: ‘Pho, lamanceba lasemtimbeni wakho ngewani?’ uyawuphendvula atsi: ‘Lamanceba ngawatfola endlini yebangani bami.’” (Zakhariya 13:4-6) Ngako-ke, ngisho nebaholi betinkholo batawenta shengatsi abakholwa futsi batawuphika kutsi bake baba yincenye yenkholo yemanga.

⁶ Yini letawenteka kubantfu baNkulunkulu ngaleso sikhatsi? Jesu uyachaza: “Ngako-ke, ngaphandle kwekutsi lawo malanga afinyetwe, kute umuntfu labengasindza, kodvwa ngenca yalabo labakhetsiwe, lawo malanga ayawufinyetwa.” (Matewu 24:22) Ngelikhulu lekucala leminyaka, kuhlupheka lobekuseJerusalema ‘kwafinyetwa.’ Loko kwenta kutsi ‘labo labakhetsiwe,’ lokungemaKhristu lagcotjiwe, babaleke. Ngendlela lefanako, incenye yekucala yekuhlupheka lokukhulu ‘itawufinyetwa’ ngenca ‘yalabo labakhetsiwe.’ Imibuso lenemandla, ‘lokutimphondvo letilishumi,’ ngeke ivunyelwe kutsi ibhubhise bantfu baNkulunkulu. Esikhundleni saloko, kutawuba nesikhashana sekuthula ngemuva kwekuhlasela kwekucala.

7, 8. Nguliphi litfuba lelitawuba khona ngemuva kwekubhujiswa kwenkholo yemanga, futsi ngaleso sikhatsi bantfu baNkulunkulu batawehluka njani kulabanye bantfu?

⁷ Yini letawenteka nasekubhujiswe inkholo yemanga? Kutawuba sikhatsi sekukhombisa kutsi yini lesetinhlitiyweni tetfu. Ngaleso sikhatsi, bantfu labanyenti batawetama kutfola sivikelo nelusito etinhlanganweni tebantfu, letifanana ‘nemadvwala lasetintsabeni.’ (Sembulo 6:15-17) Kodvwa bantfu baJehova batawetsembela kuye kuze abavikele. Ngesikhatsi kuhlaselwa ‘kufinyetwa’ ekhulwini lekucala, leso kwakungasiso sikhatsi sekutsi onkhe emaJuda agucukele enkholweni yebuKhristu. Esikhundleni saloko, bekusikhatsi sekutsi labo lebebasavele bangemaKhristu baphume eJerusalema njengobe Jesu abeyalile. Ngendlela lefanako, ‘nakufinyetwa’ kuhlaselwa kweBhabhulona Lenkhulu esikhatsini lesitako, ngeke silindzele kutsi bantfu labanyenti bagucukele enkholweni yeliciniso. Esikhundleni saloko, lesi kutawuba sikhatsi sekutsi onkhe emaKhristu eliciniso akhombise lutsandvo lwawo ngaJehova futsi asekele labagcotjiwe.—Matewu 25:34-40.

⁸ Asikwati ngalokucondzile lokutawenteka ngalesikhatsi sekuvivinywa. Nobe kunjalo, silindzele kutsi kuphila kungabi melula futsi kutawudzingeka sitidzele. Ngelikhulu lekucala, emaKhristu kwadzingeka kutsi ashiye emakhaya awo futsi abeketelele bumatima kute asindze. (Makho 13:15-18) Kufanele sitibute: ‘Ngikulungele yini kulahlekelwa ngumcebo wami? Ngitimisele yini kwenta konkhe lokudzingekako kute ngihlale ngetsembekile kuJehova?’ Cabanga ngaloku! Ngaleso sikhatsi, kutawube kungitsi kuphela labalandzela sibonelo semphrofethi Danyela ngekuchubeka sikhonta Nkulunkulu  wetfu ngisho nobe kungentekani.—Danyela 6:10, 11.

9, 10. (a) Ngesikhatsi sekuhlupheka lokukhulu, ngumuphi umlayeto bantfu baNkulunkulu labatawumemetela? (b) Yini letawentiwa titsa tebantfu baNkulunkulu?

⁹ Kuhlupheka lokukhulu kutawube kungasiso sikhatsi sekushumayela ‘tindzaba letimnandzi teMbuso.’ Sikhatsi sekushumayela sitawube sesengcile. Kutawube sekufike sikhatsi ‘sekuphela.’ (Matewu 24:14) Bantfu baNkulunkulu batawumemetela ngesibindzi umlayeto lonemandla wekwehlulelwa lotawutsintsa bonkhe bantfu. Kungenteka lomlayeto utawube utsi live lelibi laSathane selitawubhujiswa ngalokuphelele. LiBhayibheli lifananisa lomlayeto nesangcotfo nalitsi: “Kwaba nematje lamakhulu esangcotfo, lilinye belingangesisindvo selithalenta, awela kubantfu avela ezulwini, labantfu bahlambalata Nkulunkulu ngenca yalesishayo sesangcotfo, ngobe besisikhulu ngendlela lengaketayeleki.”—Sembulo 16:21.

¹⁰ Titsa tetfu titawuva lomlayeto lonemandla. Jehova waphefumulela umphrofethi Hezekeli kutsi achaze indlela licembu letive lelibitwa ngekutsi nguGogi wakaMagogi eBhayibhelini, lelitawenta ngayo: “Naku lokushiwo yiNkhosi Simakadze, itsi: ‘Ngalelo langa kuyawufika imizindlo engcondvweni yakho, uyawukwakha lisu lelibi.’ Uyakutsi: ‘Ngitawungenela live lelitabelo talo tingakabiyelwa, ngiyawuhlasela sive lesinekuthula, sive lesingakacapheli lutfo, bonkhe bahlala ebaleni bangakavikeleki, abanamasango namicabo. Ngiyawubaphanga, ngibemuke timphahla, bese ngijikisela sandla sami kuletindzawo lebetidzilitiwe lesetakhiwe kabusha, nakulabantfu lababutfwe etiveni ngetive, sive lesesifuye kakhulu, kantsi sinetimphahla letinyenti futsi, bantfu labahlala enkhabeni yelive.’” (Hezekeli 38:10-12) Bantfu baNkulunkulu batawehluka kubo bonkhe bantfu, kutawuba shengatsi ‘bahlala enkhabeni yelive.’ Tive titawehluleka kutibamba. Titawufuna kuhlasela labagcotjiwe baJehova nalabo lababasekelako.

11. (a) Yini lokufanele siyikhumbule mayelana nendlela tintfo letitawenteka ngayo ngesikhatsi sekuhlupheka lokukhulu? (b) Yini bantfu labatayenta nababona letibonakaliso?

¹¹ Ngemuva kwaloko yini letawenteka? LiBhayibheli alisitjeli ngalokucondzile kutsi letintfo letitawenteka titawulandzelana njani, kodvwa letinye tintfo kungenteka titawenteka ngesikhatsi sinye. Esiphrofethweni sakhe lesimayelana nekuphela kwalelive, Jesu watsi: “Kuyawuba netibonakaliso elangeni, enyangeni, nasetinkhanyetini, futsi emhlabeni tive tiyawucindzeteleka tingati kutsi kufanele tente njani ngenca yekubhodla kwelwandle nangenca yemagagasi alo. Bantfu bayawukwesaba kakhulu ngenca yaloko labatawube balindzele kutsi kwenteke emhlabeni, ngobe tintfo letinemandla tasezulwini tiyawunyakatiswa. Ngemuva kwaloko, bayawubona iNdvodzana yemuntfu ita isemafini, inemandla nenkhatimulo lenkhulu.” (Lukha 21:25-27; fundza Makho 13:24-26.) Kugcwaliseka kwalesiphrofetho kutawufaka ekhatsi tibonakaliso letetfusako netintfo letitawenteka esibhakabhakeni yini? Kutawudzingeka silindze kuze kusicacele loku. Nobe kunjalo, siyati kutsi titsa taNkulunkulu  titawetfuka futsi tesabe natibona letibonakaliso.

12, 13. (a) Yini letawenteka ngesikhatsi Jesu eta ‘anemandla nenkhatimulo lenkhulu’? (b) Tinceku taNkulunkulu titawenta njani ngaleso sikhatsi?

¹² Yini letawenteka ngesikhatsi Jesu eta ‘anemandla nenkhatimulo lenkhulu’? Utabanika umvuzo labo labetsembekile bese uyabajezisa labo labangaketsembeki. (Matthew 24:46, 47, 50, 51; 25:19, 28-30) Jesu wasebentisa umfanekiso kute achaze loku ngalokwenabile. Watsi: “Lapho iNdvodzana yemuntfu ifika inemandla lamakhulu netingilosi tonkhe tikanye nayo, iyawuhlala esihlalweni sayo lesikhulu. Tonkhe tive tiyawubutsana embikwayo, bese yehlukanisa bantfu, njengemelusi ehlukanisa timvu etimbutini. Iyawubeka timvu ngesekudla sayo, bese kutsi timbuti itibeke ngesencele sayo.” (Matewu 25:31-33) Yini letawenteka kulabo labatimvu nakulabo labatimbuti? Batawehlulelwa. Timbuti, nobe labangaketsembeki, “bayawubhujiswa ngalokuphelele.” Kodvwa timvu, nobe labetsembekile, batawutfola kuphila lokuphakadze.—Matewu 25:46.

¹³ Yini letawentiwa timbuti natibona kutsi setitawubhujiswa? ‘Titawukhala tilile.’ (Matewu 24:30) Batawenta njani labagcotjiwe nalabo lababasekelako? Batawenta loko lokwashiwo nguJesu, nakatsi: “Naticala kwenteka letintfo, nibosukuma, niphakamise tinhloko tenu, ngobe kusindziswa kwenu kutawube sekusedvute.”—Lukha 21:28.

14, 15. Ngumuphi umsebenti wekugcogcela ndzawonye lotawenteka ngemuva kwekucala kwekuhlasela kwaGogi wakaMagogi, futsi loko kutawenteka nini?

¹⁴ Kutawentekani ngemuva kwekutsi Gogi wakaMagogi acale kuhlasela bantfu baNkulunkulu? LiBhayibheli litsi iNdvodzana  yemuntfu “iyawutfumela tingilosi tayo tiphume, futsi tigcogcele ndzawonye labo labakhetsiwe, emagumbini omane emhlaba; kusukela emhlabeni kuze kube sezulwini.” (Makho 13:27; Matewu 24:31) Lomsebenti wekugcogcela ndzawonye awusho sikhatsi emaKhristu lagcotjiwe lacala kukhetfwa ngaso. Awusho nesikhatsi sekubekwa luphawu lwekugcina kulabagcotjiwe labasesemhlabeni. (Matewu 13:37, 38) Lokubekwa luphawu kutawenteka ngaphambi nje kwekucala kwekuhlupheka lokukhulu. (Sembulo 7:1-4) Ngako-ke, uyini lomsebenti wekugcogcela ndzawonye? Usikhatsi lapho labagcotjiwe labasesemhlabeni labatawutfola ngaso umvuzo wabo futsi baye ezulwini. (1 Thesalonika 4:15-17; Sembulo 14:1) Loko kutawenteka cishe ngemuva kwekutsi Gogi wakaMagogi acale kuhlasela. (Hezekeli 38:11) Ngemuva kwaloko, kutawugcwaliseka emavi aJesu latsi “labalungile bayawukhanya njengelilanga eMbusweni weYise.”—Matewu 13:43. * (Fundza umbhalo longentansi.)

¹⁵ Loko kusho kutsi labagcotjiwe “batawuhlwitfwa” yini? Bantfu labanyenti eTinkholweni Letitsi TebuKhristu bakholelwa kutsi emaKhristu atawutsatfwa ayiswe ezulwini anemitimba yenyama. Bacabanga nekutsi batambona ngemehlo Jesu nakabuya atewubusa lamhlabeni. Kodvwa liBhayibheli likhombisa ngalokucacile kutsi kubuya kwaJesu ngeke sikubone ngemehlo nalitsi: “Kuyawubonakala sibonakaliso seNdvodzana yemuntfu ezulwini” futsi Jesu utawuta ‘asemafini.’ (Matewu 24:30) LiBhayibheli liphindze litsi “inyama nengati ngeke kuwutfole uMbuso waNkulunkulu.” Ngako-ke labo labatawutsatfwa bayiswe ezulwini kufanele ‘baguculwe, ngekushesha nangekucwabita kweliso ngelicilongo lekugcina.’ * (Fundza umbhalo longentansi.) (Fundza 1 Khorinte 15:50-53.) Asilisebentisi ligama lelitsi “kuhlwitfwa” nasichaza loko lokutawenteka, ngesizatfu sekutsi Tinkholo Letitsi TebuKhristu tilisebentisa kabi natifundzisa emanga. Ngako-ke, labagcotjiwe labasesemhlabeni batawugcogcelwa ndzawonye ngekushesha.

16, 17. Yini lokufanele yenteke ngaphambi kwemshado weliWundlu?

¹⁶ Emalungiselelo ekugcina emshado weliWundlu atawucala ngesikhatsi bonkhe labangu-144 000 labagcotjiwe sebasezulwini. (Sembulo 19:9) Kodvwa kunalokutsite lokufanele kwenteke ngaphambi kwaleso sikhatsi. Khumbula kutsi Gogi utawuhlasela bantfu baNkulunkulu ngesikhatsi labagcotjiwe baseselamhlabeni. (Hezekeli 38:16) Yini letawentiwa bantfu baNkulunkulu? Batawulalela lemiyalo lelandzelako: ‘Singeke sibe khona sidzingo sekuyilwa lemphi. Tihleleni, nime ngetindzawo tenu; manini nicine nitewubona kusindzisa kwaSimakadze. . . . Ningesabi, futsi ningapheli emandla.’ (2 Tikhronike 20:17) Ngemuva kwesikhatsi lesitsite sekucalile kuhlasela kwaGogi, bonkhe labagcotjiwe labasaphila emhlabeni batawutsatfwa bayiswe ezulwini. Sembulo 17:14 sisitjela ngaloko lokutawenteka ezulwini ngenca yekuhlasela kwaGogi. Titsa tebantfu baNkulunkulu ‘titawulwa neliWundlu, kodvwa litatincoba ngobe liyiNkhosi yemakhosi neMbusi  webabusi. Labo labakanye nalo lababitiwe, labakhetsiwe futsi labetsembekile, nabo batawuncoba.’ Ngako Jesu akanye nemakhosi akhe lagcotjiwe langu-144 000 lasezulwini, batawusindzisa bantfu baNkulunkulu lamhlabeni.

¹⁷ Lokukhulula kutawuphumela emphini ye-Amagedoni, letawuletsa ludvumo egameni laJehova lelingcwele. (Sembulo 16:16) Bonkhe labatawehlulelwa njengetimbuti nobe njengalabangaketsembeki, batawubhujiswa. Bubi butawuphela lamhlabeni futsi “sicumbi lesikhulu” sitawusindza e-Amagedoni. Ekugcineni, kutawubese kuba nesiphetfo lesijabulisako lesichazwa yincwadzi yeSembulo, lokungumshado weliWundlu! (Sembulo 21:1-4) * (Fundza umbhalo longentansi.) Bonkhe labatawusindza batawujabulela umusa waNkulunkulu futsi babone nelutsandvo lwakhe lolukhulu kanye nekupha lanako. Sisibuke ngalabovu leso sikhatsi. Kuyawuba lidzili lelikhulu lemshado!—Fundza 2 Phetro 3:13.

18. Ngenca yetintfo letijabulisako letabiketelwa letitawenteka madvute, yini lokufanele sitimisele kuyenta?

¹⁸ Ngenca yaloko lokujabulisako lokutawenteka madvute, yini lokufanele siyente nyalo? Jehova waphefumulela umphostoli Phetro kutsi abhale atsi: “Njengobe tonkhe letintfo titawuncibilika ngalendlela, cabangani kutsi kufanele nibe luhlobo luni lwebantfu ngekutiphatsa lokungcwele nangetento tekutinikela kuNkulunkulu, nibe nilindzile futsi nihlale nikhumbula kuba khona kwelilanga laJehova . . . Ngako-ke bazalwane labatsandzekako, njengobe nilindzele letintfo, yentani konkhe lokusemandleni enu kutsi ekugcineni anitfole ningenasici, ningasoleki futsi ninekuthula.” (2 Phetro 3:11, 12, 14) Ngako-ke, asitimisele kutsi sigcine kukhonta kwetfu kuhlantekile, kungahlangani nekukhonta kwemanga futsi sisekele iNkhosi Yekuthula, Jesu Khristu.