Ukukhanyisa Ukuba-Khona KukaKristu
Ukukhanyisa Ukuba-Khona KukaKristu
“Kepha nxa iNdodana yomuntu iza ngenkazimulo yayo‚ . . . [iyohlukanisa] abanye kwabanye.”—MATHEWU 25:31, 32.
1. Abefundisi beLobukholwa baye bachaza amazwi akuMathewu 24:3 njengasho ukuthini?
EZINSUKWINI ezintathu ngaphambi kokufa kukaJesu, abane babafundi bakhe beza kuye bambuza ngobuqotho: “Sitshele ukuthi lokhu kuyakuba-nini‚ nesibonakaliso sokuza [ngesiGreki, pa·rou·siʹa] kwakho nesokuphela kwezwe siyakuba-yini na?” Emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka abefundisi nababhali beLobukholwa baye bachaza lamazwi akhulunywa kuJesu kuMathewu 24:3 njengasho ukuthi uyophinde abonakale enyameni ukuze abonwe yiso sonke isintu. Ngakho, baye bafundisa ukuthi ukubuya kukaKristu kuyoba umbukiso omkhulu nobukhazikhazi obubonakalayo. Babhekisela kukho ngokuthi ukuza kwesibili kukaKristu. Kodwa ingabe ukucabanga kwabo kunembile?
2, 3. (a) Yimuphi umehluko uMqulu wesibili we-Studies in the Scriptures owawenza phakathi kwegama elithi “ukuza” nelithi “ukuba-khona”? (b) Yini abantu bakaJehova abafinyelela ekuyiqondeni ngokuphathelene nencazelo ye-pa·rou·siʹa kaKristu?
2 Ngo-1889, abagcotshiwe bakaJehova, njengabaphathi bokukhanya bekhulu le-19, kakade base bethole ukulungiswa endabeni yokubuya kukaKristu. EMqulwini wesibili we-Studies in the Scriptures, amakhasi 158 kuya ku-161, uCharles T. Russell, umongameli wokuqala we-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, wabhala: “I-parousia . . . ibonisa ukuba-khona, futhi akufanele ihunyushwe ngokuthi ukuza, njengaseBhayibhelini lesiNgisi elivamile . . . I-‘Emphatic Diaglott,’ inguqulo ebaluleke kakhulu yeTestamente Elisha, ihumusha u-parousia ngokufanelekile, ngokuthi ukuba-khona . . . , hhayi ngokuthi ukuza, njengokungathi usendleleni, kodwa ngokuthi ukuba-khona, njengoba ngemva kokuba efikile [uJesu] uthi, ‘Njengasemihleni kaNowa‚ iyakuba-njalo i-parousia [“ukuba-khona,” NW] yeNdodana yomuntu.’ Phawula ukuthi akuqhathaniswa ukuza kukaNowa nokuza kweNkosi yethu . . . Khona-ke, kuqhathaniswa isikhathi sokuba-khona kukaNowa phakathi kwabantu ‘ngaphambi kukazamcolo,’ nesikhathi sokuba-khona kukaKristu ezweni, ekufikeni kwakhe kwesibili, ‘ngaphambi komlilo’—inkathazo enkulu yoSuku lweNkosi [uJehova] lenkathi ephela ngalo.”—Mathewu 24:37.
3 Ngakho abantu bakaJehova bekhulu le-19 bakuqonda kahle ukuthi i-pa·rou·siʹa kaKristu yayiyoba engabonakali. Futhi bafinyelela ekuqondeni ukuthi ukuphela kweZikhathi Zabezizwe kwakuyokwenzeka ekwindla ka-1914. Njengoba ukukhanyiselwa okungokomoya kwakuqhubeka, kamuva baqonda ukuthi uJesu Kristu wabekwa esihlalweni sobukhosi ezulwini njengeNkosi yoMbuso ngawo lowonyaka, u-1914.—IzAga 4:18; Daniyeli 7:13, 14; Luka 21:24; IsAmbulo 11:15.
“Ukuba-khona KweNkosi Yethu”
4. “Ukuba-khona kweNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu” kubhekiselaphi?
4 Khona-ke, osukwini lwethu asho ukuthini amazwi eBhayibheli athi “ukuba-khona kweNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu”? (1 Thesalonika 5:23, NW) Omunye umthombo uphawula ukuthi igama elithi “ukuba-khona,” pa·rou·siʹa, “liye laba igama elingokomthetho elichaza ukuhambela komuntu osesikhundleni esiphakeme, [ikakhulukazi] kwamakhosi nababusi behambela isifundazwe.” Ngakho lamazwi abhekisela ekubeni-khona kukaJesu Kristu kobukhosi njengeNkosi, kusukela ngo-1914 nangemva kwakhe, ngemva kokubekwa kwakhe esihlalweni sobukhosi ezulwini. Ukhona ngokungabonakali ukuze ‘abuse phakathi kwezitha zakhe,’ ebusa ngokuqondile njengeNkosi ukuze agcwalise lomyalo ongokwesiprofetho. (IHubo 110:2) Eminyakeni engaba ngu-79, abantu emhlabeni bebelokhu bebona imiphumela yokuba-khona kukaKristu okungabonakali ebukhosini.
5. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezenzeka phakathi ne-pa·rou·siʹa okuzoxoxwa ngazo ezihlokweni ezintathu ezifundwayo zalomagazini?
5 Kuloluchungechunge lwezihloko ezintathu, sizobukeza ubufakazi obuphawulekayo balokho okufezwa uMbuso kaKristu phakathi nalenkathi. Okokuqala, sizokwethula iziprofetho zeBhayibheli eziningana ezibikezela izenzakalo esezenzekile kakade noma ezenzekayo ngisho kwamanje. Okwesibili, sizochaza umsebenzi omkhulu ofezwa yisigaba senceku ethembekileyo neqondayo uJesu asisebenzisayo phakathi nayo yonke lenkathi yokuba-khona kwakhe ebukhosini. (Mathewu 24:45-47) Isihloko sesithathu sizosichazela isiphetho esisabekayo, inkathi ‘yosizi olukhulu.’ Leso isikhathi lapho uJesu eza njengoMbhubhisi kaJehova ezobhubhisa abantu abangalungile futhi akhulule abalungileyo. (Mathewu 24:21, 29-31) Lesosikhathi sembubhiso sichazwa umphostoli uPawulu njengesilethela “nina enihluphekayo ukuphumula kanye nathi ekwambulweni kweNkosi uJesu‚ evela ezulwini‚ enezingelosi zamandla akhe, elangabini lomlilo‚ ephindisela kwabangamazi uNkulunkulu nakwabangalaleli ivangeli leNkosi yethu uJesu.”—2 Thesalonika 1:7, 8.
Isibonakaliso
6. Yisiphi isibonakaliso esiyinhlanganisela esichazwa kuMathewu izahluko 24 no-25?
6 Eminyakeni engamakhulu ayishumi nesishiyagalolunye edlule, abafundi bakaJesu abaphethe ukukhanya bacela ukuba abanike isibonakaliso, noma ubufakazi, bokuba-khona kwakhe kwesikhathi esizayo emandleni oMbuso. Impendulo yakhe, elotshwe ezahlukweni 24 no-25 zikaMathewu, yanikeza isibonakaliso esiyinhlanganisela, izici zaso zonke ezigcwalisekayo manje ngezinga lomhlaba wonke. Ukugcwaliseka kwalesosibonakaliso kusho isikhathi sokucindezeleka nesovivinyo olukhulu. UJesu waxwayisa: “Qaphelani ningadukiswa-muntu. Ngokuba kuyakuza abaningi ngegama lami‚ bathi: Mina nginguKristu‚ badukise abaningi. Niyakuzwa izimpi namahemuhemu ezimpi. Bhekani ningethuki‚ ngokuba kumelwe ukuba kwenzeke‚ kepha ukuphela koba kungakafiki.”—Mathewu 24:4-6.
7. Yiziphi izici zesibonakaliso esiye sazibona zigcwaliseka kusukela ngo-1914?
7 UJesu waqhubeka waprofetha ukuthi kwakuyoba khona izimpi ngezinga elingakaze libonwe. Ekugcwalisekeni, ezimbili zalezizimpi ziye zabizwa ngokuthi izimpi zezwe, eyokuqala yaqala ngo-1914 kuya ku-1918, eyesibili yaqala ngo-1939 kuya ku-1945. Ngaphezu kwalokho, wathi kwakuyoba khona ukusweleka kokudla nokuzamazama komhlaba izindawo ngezindawo. AmaKristu eqiniso ayeyoshushiswa kanzima. Ngokuvumelana nalesisiprofetho, oFakazi BakaJehova, abaphathi bokukhanya banamuhla, baye babhekana nokushushiswa emashumini ayisishiyagalombili eminyaka adlule lapho beshumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu “ezweni lonke, kube-ngubufakazi ezizweni zonke.” (Mathewu 24:7-14) I-Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses ngayinye inezela ebufakazini bokuthi lezizici zesibonakaliso ziyagcwaliseka.
8, 9. (a) Yini ukuba-khona kukaJesu kobukhosi okuyihilelayo? (b) Yini isiprofetho sikaJesu esiphathelene noKristu bamanga esiyibonisayo ngokuqondene nendawo nendlela ayoba-khona ngayo?
8 Njengoba ubukhosi bukaJesu buhlanganisa umhlaba wonke, ukukhulekela kweqiniso kuyanda kuwo wonke amazwekazi. Ukuba-khona (pa·rou·siʹa) kwakhe kobukhosi kuyisikhathi sokuhlolwa kwembulunga yonke. (1 Petru 2:12) Kodwa ingabe ikhona inhloko-dolobha, noma isikhungo, lapho kungaxhunyanwa khona noJesu? UJesu waphendula lokhu ngokubikezela ukuthi lapho kulindelwe ukuba-khona kwakhe, kwakuyovela oKristu bamanga. Waxwayisa: “Uma bethi kini: Bhekani‚ [uKristu] usehlane‚ ningaphumi; noma bethi: Bhekani‚ usendlini‚ ningakholwa; ngokuba njengonyazi luphuma empumalanga‚ lubonakale kuze kube-sentshonalanga‚ kuyakuba-njalo [ukuba-khona, NW, (pa·rou·siʹa)] kweNdodana yomuntu.”—Mathewu 24:24, 26, 27.
9 UJesu, ‘iNdodana yomuntu,’ wayazi kangcono kunanoma ubani emhlabeni, ukuthi wayeyoba kuphi lapho ukuba-khona kwakhe kuqala ngokoqobo. Wayengeke abe lapha noma laphaya nanoma kuyiphi indawo ekhethekile emhlabeni. Wayengeke abonakale endaweni ethile engayodwa, “ehlane,” ukuze kuthi labo abafuna uMesiya bakwazi ukubonana naye bengabonwa iziphathimandla zikahulumeni walelozwe, indawo ethile lapho abalandeli bakhe babengase baqeqeshwe khona ngaphansi kobuholi bakhe, belungiselela ukugadla ngegalelo elikhulu lezombangazwe bese bemmisa njengoMbusi wezwe wobuMesiya. Ngaphezu kwalokho, wayengeke azifihle “endlini” ethile, leyondawo akuyo yaziwe abambalwa kuphela abakhethiwe, ukuze kuthi njengoba elapho, engabonwa muntu futhi engenakutholwa muntu, abophe uzungu futhi enze amalungiselelo ayimfihlo nabasizi bakhe okuketula ohulumeni bezwe futhi enze ukuba agcotshwe njengoMesiya othenjisiwe. Cha!
10. Ukukhanya kweqiniso leBhayibheli kuye kwabaneka kanjani kuyo yonke lembulunga?
10 Ngokuphambene nalokho, kwakungeke kube nalutho lokufihlwa ngokuza kukaJesu njengeNkosi, ekuqaleni kokuba-khona kwakhe kobukhosi. Njengoba uJesu abikezela, kuyo yonke imbulunga, ukukhanya kweqiniso leBhayibheli kuyaqhubeka kubaneka ezindaweni ezibanzi kusukela ezingxenyeni ezisempumalanga kuya ezingxenyeni ezisentshonalanga. Ngempela, njengabaphathi bokukhanya banamuhla, oFakazi BakaJehova babonakala ‘bengukukhanya kwabezizwe, ukuze insindiso [kaJehova] ifinyelele emkhawulweni womhlaba.’—Isaya 49:6, qhathanisa ne-NW.
Umsebenzi Wezingelosi
11. (a) Izixuku zezingelosi zisetshenziswa ngayiphi indlela ekukhipheni ukukhanya koMbuso? (b) Kunini lapho amalungu esigaba samabele eye aqoqwa khona futhi eqoqelwa kuliphi iqembu?
11 Eminye imibhalo ephathelene nokuba-khona kukaJesu imchaza njengohambisana, noma ‘othuma,’ izixuku zezingelosi. (Mathewu 16:27; 24:31) Emfanekisweni wamabele nokhula, uJesu wathi “insimu yizwe” futhi “ukuvuna kungukuphela kwezwe; nabavuni yizingelosi.” Nokho, lokhu akusho ukuthi phakathi nokuba-khona kwakhe emandleni nasenkazimulweni yoMbuso, usebenzisa izithunywa eziyizingelosi kuphela ekufezeni imisebenzi yasemhlabeni. Kusukela ngo-1919, izingelosi ngaphansi kokuqondisa kukaJesu zahlukanisa isigaba samabele sabagcotshiwe abazelwe ngomoya emhlabeni, ababesakazwe yizenzakalo zeMpi Yezwe I, futhi laba benziwa balungela umsebenzi oqhubekayo egameni leNkosi. (Mathewu 13:38-43) Ngawo-1920 ezinye izinkulungwane zabantu zathatha ukuma kwazo ngasohlangothini loMbuso kaNkulunkulu omisiwe futhi zagcotshwa ngomoya kaNkulunkulu. Laba abagcotshiwe banezelwa ngokuphumelelayo ezinhlwini zensali yokuqala. Bebonke, bakha isigaba senceku ethembekileyo neqondayo sosuku lwethu.
12. Izingelosi ziye zahlanganyela kukuphi ukuhlanza, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela emhlabeni?
12 Esinye isibonelo sokuhlanganyela kwezingelosi phakathi nokuba-khona kukaJesu ngemva kokubekwa kwakhe esihlalweni sobukhosi ngo-1914 silotshwe kusAmbulo 12:7-9: “UMikayeli [uJesu Kristu] nezingelosi zakhe balwa nodrako. Nodrako walwa enezingelosi zakhe, kepha kabaze banqoba‚ nendawo yabo kayabe isafunyanwa ezulwini. Wayesephonswa phansi udrako omkhulu‚ inyoka endala ethiwa uMhlebi noSathane‚ odukisa izwe lonke‚ waphonswa phansi emhlabeni‚ nezingelosi zakhe zaphonswa kanye naye.” Ngakho, amazulu phezulu manje asehlanziwe, kusele indawo yoMbuso yasemhlabeni kuphela okusamelwe ihlanzwe ngokuphelele ukuze kungcweliswe igama likaJehova. Kulonyaka ka-1993, lesixwayiso saphezulu siyaqhubeka sisebenza: “Maye kuwe-mhlaba . . . ngokuba uSathane wehlele kini enolaka olukhulu‚ azi ukuthi unesikhathi esifushane!”—IsAmbulo 12:12.
Uvuko Lwasezulwini
13, 14. (a) Yini imiBhalo ebonisa ukuthi ibilokhu iqhubeka kusukela ngo-1918 kuye phambili? (b) Yini uPawulu noJohane abayembulayo ngokuphathelene nensali egcotshiwe namuhla?
13 Esinye isenzakalo esimangalisayo phakathi nokuba-khona kukaKristu ukuqala kovuko lwasezulwini. Umphostoli uPawulu wabonisa ukuthi lawomaKristu agcotshiwe ayesenesikhathi eside elele emathuneni ayeyovuswa kuqala futhi aphile noKristu Jesu endaweni yomoya. Phakathi neminyaka edlule kuye kwanikezwa ubufakazi obubonisa ukuthi lokhu kubonakala kuye kwenzeka kusukela ngo-1918 kuye phambili. UPawulu uyabhala: “KuKristu bonke bayakuphiliswa. Kepha yilowo nalowo ngesigaba sakhe: uKristu kuqala‚ besekuba-ngabangabakaKristu [ekubeni-khona, NW, (pa·rou·siʹa)] kwakhe.” (1 Korinte 15:22, 23) Ukuvuswa kwabagcotshiwe phakathi nokuba-khona kukaKristu kuqinisekiswa kweyoku-1 Thesalonika 4:15-17: “Lokho sikusho kini ngezwi leNkosi ukuthi thina‚ esisekhona sisasele kuze kube [sekubeni-khona, NW, (pa·rou·siʹa)] kweNkosi‚ asiyikubandulela nempela abaleleyo . . . Nabafileyo kuKristu bayakuvuka kuqala‚ khona thina‚ esisekhona sisasele siyakuhlwithwa kanye nabo emafwini, sihlangabeze iNkosi emoyeni.” Kunabangu-144 000 abangabakaKristu njengabagcotshiwe labo ekugcineni abamukela lomvuzo omangalisayo.—IsAmbulo 14:1.
14 Njengoba uPawulu ebonisa, labo bensali egcotshiwe abaphilayo namuhla abangeni eMbusweni ngaphambi kwalabobafel’ ukholo nabafundi abangamaKristu agcotshiwe athembekile okuqala. Umphostoli uJohane uqhubeka achaze labo babagcotshiwe abafa namuhla ngalendlela: “Babusisiwe abafileyo abafele eNkosini kusukela kulesisikhathi. Yebo‚ usho uMoya‚ ukuze baphumule ekukhandlekeni kwabo; ngokuba imisebenzi yabo iyabalandela,” okungukuthi, ekuphileni kwabo sebevusiwe. (IsAmbulo 14:13) Futhi uPawulu uthi: “Bhekani‚ ngiyanitshela imfihlakalo; asiyikulala sonke‚ kepha siyakuguqulwa sonke‚ ngesikhashanyana‚ ngokuphazima kweso‚ ngecilongo lokugcina; ngokuba icilongo liyakukhala‚ abafileyo bavuswe bengenakubola‚ thina siguqulwe.” (1 Korinte 15:51, 52) Yeka isimangaliso esikhexisa umlomo!
15, 16. (a) Yimuphi umfanekiso uJesu awunikeza kuLuka 19:11-15, futhi ngenxa yasiphi isizathu? (b) Lesiprofetho besigcwaliseka kanjani?
15 Ngesinye isikhathi lapho uJesu eshumayela esixukwini sabalandeli bakhe ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, wasebenzisa umfanekiso ukuze abasize balungise imibono yabo eyiphutha. Ukulandisa kufundeka kanje: “Bebethi umbuso kaNkulunkulu uzakubonakala masinyane. Wathi-ke: Umuntu othile wohlanga olukhulu waya ezweni elikude eyozithathela umbuso‚ abuye. Wayesebiza izinceku zakhe eziyishumi‚ wazinika omina abayishumi‚ wathi kuzo: Hwebani ngabo‚ ngize ngibuye . . . Kwathi esebuyile ekuthatheni umbuso‚ wathi azibizelwe kuye lezozinceku abezinike imali ukuba azi ukuthi yileyo naleyo izuzeni ngokuhweba.”—Luka 19:11-15.
16 UJesu ‘wayeyilowomuntu’ owaya ezulwini, ‘izwe elikude’ lapho ayezothola khona umbuso. LowoMbuso wawuthola ngo-1914. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, uKristu njengeNkosi wenza ukuba labo ababethi bangabalandeli bakhe balandise ukuze abone ukuthi yini ababeyenzile ekunakekeleni izithakazelo zoMbuso ababeziphathisiwe. Idlanzana elithembekile lakhethwa ukuba lamukele lokhu kutusa kwenkosi yalo: “Kuhle-ke‚ nceku enhle; lokhu ufunyanwé uthembekile kokuncinyane‚ uzakubusa phezu kwemizi eyishumi.” (Luka 19:17) Lenkathi yokuba-khona kukaKristu ihilela umsebenzi omkhulu oqhubekayo wokushumayela ngoMbuso, kuhlanganise nesimemezelo sezahlulelo zikaNkulunkulu phezu kwababi, futhi ukunakekela lomsebenzi kwahlanganiswa egunyeni elaphathiswa ‘inceku enhle.’
Ukushumayela Emhlabeni Wonke
17. Iyiphi injabulo ephawula i-pa·rou·siʹa?
17 Yini enye eyayiyokwenzeka phakathi nale-pa·rou·siʹa? Kwakuyoba isikhathi senjabulo enkulu emsebenzini wokushumayela nasekusizeni abasanda kuhlanganyela ukuba balungiselele ukusinda osizini olukhulu oluzayo. Laba ‘besixuku esikhulu,’ abasiza insali, baba ‘izincwadi zokuncoma.’ (IsAmbulo 7:9; 2 Korinte 3:1-3) UPawulu ukhuluma ngenjabulo yalomsebenzi wokuvuna lapho ethi: “Liyini ithemba lethu‚ nokuthokoza‚ nomqhele wokuzibonga phambi kweNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu [ekubeni-khona, NW, (pa·rou·siʹa)] kwakhe‚ kungeyinina na?”—1 Thesalonika 2:19.
Hlala Uhlanzekile Futhi Ungenacala
18. (a) Yimuphi umthandazo kaPawulu obhekisela kuyi-pa·rou·siʹa? (b) Yimuphi umoya sonke okumelwe siwubonise phakathi nalesikhathi, futhi ngaziphi izindlela?
18 UPawulu futhi wathandazela ukuba kungcweliswe labo abaphila phakathi nalesikhathi sokuba-khona kukaKristu: “Kepha uNkulunkulu wokuthula‚ yena uqobo‚ makaningcwelise ngokupheleleyo‚ kulondolozwe umoya wenu wonke nomphefumulo nomzimba‚ kungabi-nacala [ekubeni-khona, NW, (pa·rou·siʹa)] kweNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu.” (1 Thesalonika 5:23) Yebo, namuhla, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi singabensali egcotshiwe noma benani elikhulu lezinye izimvu, umoya wokubambisana usihlanganisa ndawonye ngokwethembeka ukuze siqhubeke sihlanzekile futhi singenacala kulesikhathi esiyingqayizivele. Ngokufanayo, kudingeka sibonise ukubekezela. UJakobe wabhala: “Ngakho bekezelani‚ bazalwane‚ ize [ibe-khona, NW, (pa·rou·siʹa)] iNkosi. . . . Niqinise izinhliziyo zenu‚ ngokuba [ukuba-khona, NW, (pa·rou·siʹa)] kweNkosi kusondele.”—Jakobe 5:7, 8.
19. Yisiphi isixwayiso uPetru asinikeza ngokuphathelene ne-pa·rou·siʹa, futhi kufanele sisabele kanjani?
19 Umphostoli uPetru naye wayenokuthile kokusitshela khona thina esiphila kulenkathi yamanje. Wasixwayisa ngabahleki bosulu, abaningi abakhona kuzo zonke izingxenye zomhlaba. UPetru uthi: “Nazi kuqala lokhu ukuthi ngezinsuku zokugcina kuyakufika abahleki abahleka usulu‚ behamba ngezinkanuko zabo‚ bethi: Siphi isithembiso [sokuba-khona, NW, (pa·rou·siʹa)] kwakhe na? Ngokuba kuselokhu obaba balala‚ konke kumi kunjalo njengakwasekuqaleni kokudalwa.” (2 Petru 3:3, 4) Naphezu kokuvama kwabahleki bosulu phakathi nokuba-khona kukaKristu, abantu bakaJehova bayaqhubeka bekhanya njengokukhanya kwezwe, ukuze kusinde abaningi.
Imibuzo Yokubukeza
□ Abantu bakaJehova baye bakhanyiselwa kanjani ngokuqhubekayo ngokuphathelene ne-pa·rou·siʹa?
□ UMathewu 24:4-8 ubelokhu egcwaliseka kanjani?
□ Izingelosi ziye zabambisana kanjani noKristu obekwe esihlalweni sobukhosi?
□ Yisiphi isimangaliso esikhexisa umlomo esibonakala sihambisana ne-pa·rou·siʹa?
□ Iyiphi injabulo ejatshulelwa phakathi nalesikhathi, futhi obani abahlanganyela kuyo?
[Imibuzo Yesifundo]