1, 2. Nguyiphi imphi lenkhulu letako, futsi nguyiphi imibuto lephakamako mayelana nayo? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesehluko.)

SEKUPHELE tinkhulungwane teminyaka lomhlaba ungcoliswa yingati yebantfu lecitseka etimphini, lokufaka ekhatsi ingati leyacitseka ngemphi yelive yekucala neyesibili ngelikhulu lesi-20 leminyaka. Nobe kunjalo, kuseta imphi lenkhulu kakhulu lengakaze seyibe khona kuwo wonkhe umlandvo webantfu, futsi lemphi angeke kube nguleyo leliwa bantfu nobe tive ngenca yebugovu. Kunaloko, lemphi kutawuba ‘yimphi yelilanga lelikhulu laNkulunkulu Somandla.’ (Semb. 16:14) Lemphi itawususwa kutsi sitsa lesitigcabhako sihlasele live leliligugu kuNkulunkulu; lokuhlasela kutawenta kutsi iNkhosi Lephakeme Jehova ikhulule emandla ayo lamakhulu ekubhubhisa langazange sekabonwe emhlabeni.

² Loko kusenta sitibute nayi imibuto lebalulekile: Singubani lesitsa? Nguliphi lelive lesitalihlasela? Sitalihlasela nini lelive, silihlasele leni futsi kanjani? Kubalulekile kutsi sitati timphendvulo talemibuto ngobe letintfo letitawenteka tiyasitsintsa njengobe natsi sitikhonti taJehova letihlantekile letilamhlabeni. Letimphendvulo singatitfola esiphrofethweni lesimangalisako lesibhalwe kuHezekeli sehluko 38 na-39.

3. Chaza emaphuzu labalulekile lasesiphrofethweni saHezekeli lesimayelana naGogi wakaMagogi.

 ³ Fundza Hezekeli 38:1, 2, 8, 18; 39:4, 11. Nawa emaphuzu labalulekile lakulesiphrofetho: “Encenyeni yekugcina yeminyaka,” sitsa lesibitwa ngekutsi ‘nguGogi . . . wakaMagogi’ sitawuhlasela “live” lebantfu baNkulunkulu. Kodvwa lokuhlasela lokunesibhuku kutawubangela kutsi ‘intfukutselo yaJehova lenkhulu’ iphakame, futsi Jehova utawungenela, ancobe Gogi. * Ngemuva kwekutsi Jehova sekancobe lesitsa kanye nabo bonkhe labatawube banaso, utawubese ubanikela kutsi babe “kudla kwemangce nekwetilwane tesiganga.” Ekugcineni, Jehovah utawubese uniketa Gogi “indzawo yekungcwatjwa.” Kuze sicondze kutsi lesiphrofetho sitawugcwaliseka njani esikhatsini lesitako, kudzingeka sicale sati kutsi ungubani Gogi.

4. Yini lesiyifundzako kulesigaba mayelana naGogi wakaMagogi?

⁴ Ungubani vele Gogi wakaMagogi? Kuloko lokuchazwa nguHezekeli, singaphetsa ngekutsi Gogi usitsa setikhonti letihlantekile. Gogi ligama lelisiphrofetho lelisho Sathane yini, lositsa lesikhulu sekukhonta kweliciniso? Sekuphele iminyaka leminyenti tincwadzi tetfu tisho njalo. Nanobe kunjalo, kusihlolisisa kabanti lesiphrofetho saHezekeli kwente kutsi kube nelushintjo endleleni lesisicondza ngayo lesiphrofetho. Sicongosekulindza sachaza kutsi leligama lelitsi Gogi wakaMagogi alisho sidalwa semoya lesingabonakali, kodvwa lisho sitsa lesibonakalako, lokulicembu letive letihlangene letitawulwa nekukhonta lokuhlantekile. * Ngaphambi kwekutsi sibukete sizatfu lesisente safinyelela kuleso siphetfo, ase sicale sihlole emaphuzu lamabili lakulesiphrofetho saHezekeli latasikhombisa kutsi Gogi akasiso sidalwa semoya.

5, 6. Kulesiphrofetho saHezekeli, yini lekhombisa kutsi Gogi wakaMagogi akasiso sidalwa semoya?

⁵ “Utawuba kudla kwemangce.” (Hez. 39:4) ImiBhalo ivamise kusebentisa emangce ladla sidvumbu kuze abe secwayiso sesehlulelo lesivela kuNkulunkulu. Nkulunkulu waniketa sive sema-Israyeli kanye naletinye tive tecwayiso letinjalo. (Dut. 28:26; Jer. 7:33; Hez. 29:3, 5) Nobe kunjalo, naka kutsi letecwayiso lebetivela kuNkulunkulu betinganiketwa tidalwa temoya, kepha betiniketwa bantfu labayinyama nengati. Ngetulu kwaloko, emangce kanye netilwane tesiganga tidla inyama, hhayi umoya. Ngako lesecwayiso lesivela kuNkulunkulu lesisesiphrofethweni saHezekeli siveta kutsi Gogi akasiso sidalwa semoya.

⁶ “Ngiyawunika Gogi indzawo yekungcwatjwa ka-Israyeli.” (Hez. 39:11) Kute lapho sifundza khona emiBhalweni kutsi tidalwa temoya tingcwatjwa emhlabeni. Kunaloko sifundza kutsi Sathane nemadimoni akhe batawufakwa emgodzini longenamkhawulo iminyaka lengu-1 000, futsi ngemuva kwaloko batawujikijelwa echibini lemlilo lelingumfanekiso, lelisho kubhujiswa kwaphakadze. (Luk. 8:31; Semb. 20:1-3, 10) Njengobe kutsiwa Gogi utawuniketwa “indzawo yekungcwatjwa” emhlabeni, singaphetsa ngekutsi akasiso sidalwa semoya.

7, 8. “Inkhosi yasenyakatfo” itawufika nini esiphetfweni sayo, futsi loko kufana njani naloko lokutawenteka kuGogi wakaMagogi?

 ⁷ Uyini nobe ungubani-ke Gogi, nangabe angasiso sidalwa semoya, njengobe asitsa lesitawuhlasela tikhonti letihlantekile kwekugcina? Ase sihlole tiphrofetho letimbili letiseBhayibhelini letitasisita sibone kutsi ungubani Gogi wakaMagogi.

⁸ “Inkhosi yasenyakatfo.” (Fundza Danyela 11:40-45.) Danyela waphrofetha ngemibuso yemhlaba lebeyitawuvela kusukela ngesikhatsi sakhe kuze kube ngulamuhla. Lesiphrofetho saphindze sakhuluma ngetitsa letimbili letibanga kubusa, ‘lokuyinkhosi yaseningizimu nenkhosi yasenyakatfo,’ lebetisolo tishintjashintja kulamakhulu eminyaka leyendlulile njengobe tive letehlukahlukene betilwela kuphatsa umhlaba. Akhuluma ngekuhlasela kwekugcina kwenkhosi yasenyakatfo “esikhatsini sekuphela,” Danyela watsi: “Itawuphuma itfukutsele kakhulu kuze icotfule labanyenti futsi ibabhubhise.” Tikhonti taJehova tititsa letihamba embili tenkhosi yasenyakatfo. * Kodvwa njengaGogi wakaMagogi, lenkhosi yasenyakatfo itawufika “esiphetfweni sayo” ngemuva kwekuhluleka ekuhlaseleni kwayo bantfu baNkulunkulu.

9. Ngukuphi kufana lokukhona kulokwenteka kuGogi wakaMagogi naloko lokwenteka ‘emakhosini emhlaba wonkhe’?

⁹ ‘Emakhosi emhlaba wonkhe.’ (Fundza Sembulo 16:14, 16; 17:14; 19:19, 20.) Incwadzi yeSembulo yaphrofetha ‘ngemakhosi emhlaba’ latawulwa ‘neNkhosi yemakhosi,’ lokunguJesu losezulwini. Kodvwa angeke akhone kuhlasela Jesu ngobe usezulwini, ngako atawuhlasela bantfu labasemhlabeni labasekela uMbuso. Lamakhosi emhlaba atawubese ayancotjwa nge-Amagedoni. Naka kutsi atawufika esiphetfweni sawo ngemuva kwekuhlasela bantfu baJehova. Loku kuyafana naloko lokushiwo ngaGogi wakaMagogi. *

10. Singaphetsa ngekutsi ungubani Gogi wakaMagogi?

¹⁰ Kuloko lesesicoce ngako langenhla, singaphetsa ngekutsi ungubani Gogi? Kwekucala, Gogi akasiso sidalwa semoya. Kwesibili, Gogi usho tive letisemhlabeni letitawuhlasela bantfu baNkulunkulu esikhatsini lesitako. Siyaciniseka kutsi ngandlela-tsite letive titawuhlangana tibe munye. Kungani? Njengobe bantfu baNkulunkulu batfolakala emhlabeni wonkhe, letive kutawudzingeka tibe nenjongo yinye futsi tente intfo yinye kuze tibahlasele. (Mat. 24:9) Kusebaleni kutsi konkhe loku kutawube kuhlelwe nguSathane. Sekuphele sikhatsi lesidze solo enta tive kutsi timelane nekukhonta kweliciniso. (1 Joh. 5:19; Semb. 12:17) Kodvwa emavi aHezekeli lasiphrofetho lamayelana naGogi wakaMagogi akhuluma ngendzima letawudlalwa tive letisemhlabeni letitawuhlasela bantfu baJehova. *

11. Siphrofetho saHezekeli silichaza njani “live” lelitawuhlaselwa nguGogi?

¹¹ Njengobe sifundzile  esigabeni 3, Gogi wakaMagogi utawuvusa intfukutselo yaJehova lenkhulu ngekutsi ahlasele live leliligugu kuJehova. Liyini lelive? Asibuyele esiphrofethweni saHezekeli. (Fundza Hezekeli 38:8-12.) Lesiphrofetho sitsi Gogi “utawuhlasela live bantfu balo lababuyisiwe,” kanye nesive “lesibuyiswe etiveni.” Naka  naloko lesikushoko mayelana netikhonti letibuyiselwe kulelive futsi letihlala kulo: ‘tihlala ngekulondzeka’; tihlala etindzaweni “letite lubondza lwekuvikela, nemishudo kanye nemagede”; futsi ‘tandzise umcebo wato.’ Leli ngulelive lelihlala tikhonti taJehova letihlantekile emhlabeni wonkhe. Singalibona kanjani lelive?

12. Ngukuphi kubuyiselwa lokwenteka eveni laka-Israyeli ngetikhatsi teliBhayibheli?

¹² Kutasisita kuhlolisisa kubuyiselwa lokwenteka ka-Israyeli wasendvulo, lebekulive lelihlala bantfu baNkulunkulu labakhetsiwe, basebenta futsi bakhontela Nkulunkulu kulo iminyaka leminyenti. Ngesikhatsi ema-Israyeli akhombisa kutsi aketsembeki, Jehova wasebentisa Hezekeli kuze aphrofethe kutsi lelive belitawubhujiswa futsi kube bete lohlala kulo. (Hez. 33:27-29) Nobe kunjalo, Jehova waphindze waphrofetha kutsi ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi labasele lebebaphendvukile bebatawubuya eBhabhulona futsi bafike babuyisele kukhonta lokuhlantekile kulelive. Ngenca yekutsi belitawubusiswa nguJehova, lelive laka-Israyeli belitawushintjwa libe lihle “njengengadze yase-Edeni.” (Hez. 36:34-36) Lokubuyiselwa kwacala nga-537 B.C.E., ngesikhatsi emaJuda lebekatfunjiwe abuyela eJerusalema futsi abuyisela kukhonta kweliciniso eveni lawo lebekalitsandza.

13, 14. (a) Liyini live laNkulunkulu? (b) Kungani lelive liligugu kuJehova?

¹³ Esikhatsini salamuhla, tikhonti taNkulunkulu letihlantekile nato tabuyiselwa ngendlela lefanako. Njengobe sifundzile eSehlukweni 9 salencwadzi, nga-1919 bantfu baNkulunkulu bakhululwa ekutfunjweni yiBhabhulona Lenkhulu lebesekutsetse sikhatsi lesidze. Ngaloyo mnyaka, Jehova wabuyisela bantfu bakhe eveni lakhe. Lelo live lisho  umndeni waNkulunkulu, lokusho simo sekutiva ulondzekile nobe sekuba nebuhlobo lobuhle naNkulunkulu lesijatjulelwa ngulabo labamkhontako. Kulelo live, sihleti ndzawonye ngekulondzeka futsi sinekuthula kwengcondvo. (Taga 1:33) Sitfola imfundvo lenyenti levela kuNkulunkulu, futsi sinemsebenti lomnyenti losenetisako wekumemetela ngeMbuso waNkulunkulu. Sibona ngalokucacile kutsi siliciniso lesaga lesitsi: “Sibusiso saJehova ngiso lesenta umuntfu anjinge, futsi akamletseli buhlungu etikwaso.” (Taga 10:22) Ngisho nobe sihlala kuphi emhlabeni, sikulelive laNkulunkulu lelakhiwa ngumndeni wakhe, yingci nje nasisekela kukhonta lokuhlantekile ngemavi nangetento.

¹⁴ Lelive liligugu kuJehova. Kungani? Kungobe emehlweni akhe, bantfu bakhona bafana netintfo “letiligugu tato tonkhe tive,” lokubantfu labadvonsele ekukhonteni lokuhlantekile. (Hag. 2:7; Joh. 6:44) Betama ngekutimisela kugcoka buntfu lobusha, lobuveta buntfu baNkulunkulu lobuphakeme. (Ef. 4:23, 24; 5:1, 2) Njengobe batikhonti letihlantekile, batinikela ngalokuphelele emsebentini waJehova, futsi loko bakwenta ngetindlela letimkhatimulisako naletiveta indlela labamtsandza ngayo. (Rom. 12:1, 2; 1 Joh. 5:3) Singacabanga nje ngendlela Jehova lajabula ngayo nakabona tikhonti takhe tisebenta ngekutimisela kute tente lelive libe lihle kakhulu. Cabanga nje: Nawenta kukhonta lokuhlantekile kute kucala ekuphileni kwakho, awugcini nje ngekwenta lelive laNkulunkulu kutsi libe lihle, kepha uphindze ujabulise nenhlitiyo yaJehova.—Taga 27:11.

15, 16. Gogi wakaMagogi utalihlasela nini live letfu lelibuyiselwe?

¹⁵ Kwati kutsi madvutane lelicembu letive temhlaba letihlangene litawuhlasela live letfu leliligugu, kusenta sicabangisise. Sifuna kwati lokwengetiwe ngalokuhlasela lokwaphrofethwa ngako ngobe kuyasifaka natsi njengobe sitikhonti taJehova letihlantekile. Cabanga nganayi imibuto lemitsatfu lephakamako.

¹⁶ Gogi wakaMagogi utalihlasela nini lelive letfu lelibuyiselwe? Lesiphrofetho siyaphendvula: “Encenyeni yekugcina yeminyaka wena utawuhlasela live.” (Hez. 38:8) Loku kutawenteka esikhatsini lesingasekupheleni kwalelive. Khumbula kutsi kuhlupheka lokukhulu kutawucala ngekutsi kubhujiswe iBhabhulona Lenkhulu, lokungumbuso welive wenkholo yemanga. Ngemuva kwekutsi tinhlangano tenkholo yemanga setibhujisiwe, nangaphambi kwekutsi kucale i-Amagedoni, Gogi utawuphuma liwonkhe, atihlasele kwekugcina tikhonti teliciniso.

17, 18. Jehova utaticondzisa njani tintfo ngesikhatsi sekuhlupheka lokukhulu?

¹⁷ Kungani Gogi atawuhlasela live lelibuyiselwe letikhonti taJehova letihlantekile? Siphrofetho saHezekeli siveta emaphuzu lamabili, lekucala, indlela Jehova lacondzisa ngayo tintfo, kantsi lesibili, tisusa letimbi taGogi.

 ¹⁸ Indlela Jehova lacondzisa ngayo tintfo. (Fundza Hezekeli 38: 4, 16.) Naka naku lokushiwo nguJehova kuGogi: ‘Ngitawufaka emahhuka emihlatsini yakho’ futsi “ngitakuletsa umelane nelive lami.” Lamavi asho kutsi Jehova utawuphocelela tive kutsi tihlasele tikhonti takhe yini? Akusinjalo! Nkulunkulu angeke abangele bubi kutsi behlele bantfu bakhe. (Jobe 34:12) Kodvwa Jehova uyatati titsa takhe, uyati kutsi titabazonda bantfu bakhe labahlantekile futsi angeke tiliyekele litfuba lekwetama kubacotfula. (1 Joh. 3:13) Jehova utawube acondzisa tintfo kuze tenteke ngendlela levumelana nentsandvo yakhe futsi tenteke ngesikhatsi sakhe. Loko kutawuba shengatsi ufake emahhuka emihlatsini yaGogi futsi uyamcondzisa. Ngesikhatsi lesitsite, ngemuva kwekubhujiswa kweBhabhulona Lenkhulu, Jehova angase ente tive kutsi tifeze loko losekuvele kusetinhlitiyweni tato. Ngaleyondlela, utawenta kutsi kube nekuhlasela lokutawuholela ku-Amagedoni, lokuyimphi yemhlaba lenkhulu kakhulu. Ngemuva kwaloko, utawukhulula bantfu bakhe, aphakamise bukhosi bakhe futsi angcwelise ligama lakhe lelingcwele.—Hez. 38:23.

19. Yini letawubangela Gogi kutsi etame kutitsatsela kukhonta lokuhlantekile?

¹⁹ Tisusa taGogi letimbi. Tive titawakha “licebo lelibi.” Titawukhipha intfukutselo yato lebetisolo tiyifukamele, nenzondo letinayo  ngetikhonti taJehova. Bantfu baNkulunkulu batawubonakala bete umsiti, kube shengatsi “bahlala etindzaweni letite lubondza lwekuvikela, nemishudo kanye nemagede.” Letive titawuphindze titimisele “kutitsatsela tintfo letinyenti” kulabo ‘labandzise umcebo wabo.’ (Hez. 38:10-12) Uyini ‘lomcebo’? Bantfu baJehova bacebile nakutiwa endleleni labakhonta ngayo Nkulunkulu; intfo leligugu kakhulu kitsi kukhonta kwetfu lokuhlantekile lesikunika Jehova kuphela. Tive titawufuna kutitsatsela lokukhonta lokuhlantekile, hhayi ngobe tikutsandza, kodvwa ngenca yekutsi tiyakwenyanya futsi tenyanya nalabo labakukhutsatako.

20. Gogi utalihlasela njani live laNkulunkulu?

²⁰ Gogi utalihlasela njani lelive letfu? Tive titawetama kuphatamisa indlela yetfu yekuphila futsi tetame kusiyekelisa kukhonta kwetfu. Kuze tente loko, kungenteka titawetama kuphatamisa indlela lesitfola ngayo imfundvo levela kuNkulunkulu, kusivimbela kutsi singasahlangani ndzawonye, kwephula bunye betfu futsi tetame nekusiyekelisa kushumayela umlayeto waNkulunkulu ngenkhutsalo. Konkhe loku kutintfo lesitijabulelako kulomndeni waNkulunkulu lesingaphansi kwawo. Sathane utawugcugcutela tive kutsi tetame kucotfula tikhonti teliciniso kanye nekukhonta lokuhlantekile emhlabeni.

21. Kungani ubonga ngekutsi Jehova usecwayisile ngaloko lokutawenteka madvutane?

²¹ Lokuhlasela kwaGogi wakaMagogi lokutako kutawutsintsa tonkhe tikhonti teliciniso letihlala kulelive laNkulunkulu. Sibonga kakhulu ngekutsi Jehova usecwayisile ngaloko lokusetawenteka! Kwanyalo, njengobe siselindzele kuhlupheka lokukhulu, shengatsi singatimisela kubambelela ekukhonteni lokuhlantekile, futsi sikwente kute kucala ekuphileni kwetfu. Nasenta njalo, sitawube sifaka sandla kuze lelive lelibuyiselwe libe lihle kakhulu. Sitawube sitibeka nasetfubeni lekubona naku lokujabulisako lokutawenteka ngekushesha: Indlela Jehova latawumelela ngayo bantfu bakhe neligama lakhe lelingcwele nge-Amagedoni. Loku sitawucoca ngako esehlukweni lesilandzelako.