Ukuhlala Silindile Sekuphuthuma Nakakhulu

“Ngakho-ke, hlalani nilindile ngoba anazi ukuthi iNkosi yenu iza ngaluphi usuku.”—MATHEWU 24:42.

1, 2. Yini ebonisa ukuthi siphila esiphelweni salesi simiso sezinto?

“IKHULU lamashumi amabili lithintwe kakhulu impi ngaphezu kwanoma yini enye,” kusho umlobi uBill Emmott. Nakuba evuma ukuthi kuwo wonke umlando abantu bebelokhu behlukunyezwa izimpi nobudlova, uyanezela: “Ikhulu lamashumi amabili belingahlukile, obekuhlukile izinga [lezimpi nobudlova]. Libé ikhulu leminyaka lokuqala ukuba nempi yomhlaba wonke ngempela . . . Futhi, njengokungathi lenzela ephuzwini, alibanga nempi yomhlaba wonke eyodwa kuphela, kodwa libé nezimbili.”

² UJesu Kristu wayezibikezele izimpi ezihilela ‘isizwe esivukela isizwe nombuso ovukela umbuso.’ Nokho, ziyisici esisodwa nje ‘sesibonakaliso sokuba khona kukaKristu nesesiphelo sesimiso sezinto.’ Kulesi siprofetho esibalulekile, uJesu wabala nendlala, izifo eziwumshayabhuqe, nokuzamazama komhlaba. (Mathewu 24:3, 7, 8; Luka 21:6, 7, 10, 11) Ngezindlela eziningi, izinhlekelele ezinjalo ziye zadlanga futhi zaba namandla kakhulu. Ububi bomuntu bedlulele, njengoba kubonakala ngesimo sakhe sengqondo ngoNkulunkulu nangomakhelwane. Ukuwohloka kwesimilo nokwanda kobugebengu nobudlova kusobala. Abantu sebethanda imali kunokuthanda uNkulunkulu, behlanyiswa injabulo. Konke lokhu kufakazela ukuthi siphila ‘ezikhathini ezibucayi.’—2 Thimothewu 3:1-5.

3. Kufanele zisithinte kanjani “izibonakaliso zezikhathi”?

³ Ukubheka kanjani wena ukonakala kwezinto ezindabeni zesintu? Abaningi abakhathazeki, empeleni akuthí diki kubo, ngezenzakalo zezwe zanamuhla ezibangela usizi. Abantu abavelele nabangongqondongqondo ezweni abaqondi ukuthi zisho ukuthini “izibonakaliso zezikhathi”; kanti nabaholi benkolo abazange banikeze siqondiso esifanele kulokhu. (Mathewu 16:1-3) Kodwa uJesu wakhuthaza abalandeli bakhe: “Hlalani nilindile ngoba anazi ukuthi iNkosi yenu iza ngaluphi usuku.” (Mathewu 24:42) UJesu lapha akasikhuthazi ukuba silinde nje, kodwa usikhuthaza ukuba ‘sihlale silindile.’ Ukuze sihlale silindile, kumelwe sihlale siphapheme futhi siqaphile. Lokhu kudinga okungaphezu kokumane sivume ukuthi siphila ezinsukwini zokugcina, okungaphezu kokuqaphela ukuthi izikhathi zinzima. Kumelwe siqiniseke ngokugcwele ukuthi “ukuphela kwezinto zonke sekusondele.” (1 Petru 4:7) Yileyo ndlela kuphela esiyokwazi ngayo ukulinda ngomuzwa wokuphuthuma. Ngakho, umbuzo okumelwe sizindle ngawo yilona: ‘Yini eyosisiza ukuba siqiniseke nakakhulu ukuthi ukuphela kuseduze?’

4, 5. (a) Yini eyosenza siqiniseke nakakhulu ukuthi ukuphela kwalesi simiso esibi kuseduze, futhi ngani? (b) Isiphi isici sokuqala usuku lukaNowa olufana ngaso nokuba khona kweNdodana yomuntu?

⁴ Cabanga ngezimo zangenkathi eyandulela isenzakalo esiyingqayizivele emlandweni wesintu—uZamcolo omkhulu wosuku lukaNowa. Abantu babebabi kangangokuthi uJehova “wezwa ubuhlungu enhliziyweni yakhe.” Wathi: “Ngizobaqeda nyá ebusweni bomhlaba abantu engibadalile.” (Genesise 6:6, 7) Yilokho kanye akwenza. Eveza ukufana phakathi kwaleso sikhathi nesamanje, uJesu wathi: “Ngoba njengoba nje zazinjalo izinsuku zikaNowa, kuyoba njalo nokuba khona kweNdodana yomuntu.”—Mathewu 24:37.

 ⁵ Kunengqondo ukucabanga ukuthi indlela uJehova azizwa ngayo ngezwe lamanje iyafana nayezizwa ngayo ngezwe langaphambi kukaZamcolo. Njengoba aliqeda izwe losuku lukaNowa elalingamhloniphi, nakanjani uzolibhubhisa nezwe elibi lanamuhla. Ukukuqonda kahle ukufana kwaleso sikhathi nosuku lwethu kufanele kusenze siqiniseke nakakhulu ukuthi ukuphela kwaleli zwe kuseduze. Kuyini lokho kufana? Kunezici okungenani eziyisihlanu. Esokuqala ukuthi kwanikezwa isixwayiso esicacile sembubhiso eyayiseza.

Waxwayiswa ‘Ngezinto Ezazingakabonwa’

6. Yini uJehova ayezimisele ukuyenza osukwini lukaNowa?

⁶ Osukwini lukaNowa, uJehova wathi: “Umoya wami ngeke usebenze njalo kumuntu lokhu futhi eyinyama. Ngakho izinsuku zakhe zizoba iminyaka eyikhulu namashumi amabili.” (Genesise 6:3) Ukukhishwa kwalesi simemezelo saphezulu ngo-2490 B.C.E., kwasho ukuqala kwesiphelo salelo zwe elalingamhloniphi uNkulunkulu. Cabanga nje ukuthi lokho kwakusho ukuthini kulabo ababephila ngaleso sikhathi! Kwase kusele iminyaka engu-120 kuphela, bese uJehova eletha ‘uzamcolo wamanzi phezu komhlaba ukuba achithe phansi kwamazulu yonke inyama okukhona kuyo amandla okuphila.’—Genesise 6:17.

7. (a) Wasabela kanjani uNowa esixwayisweni sikaZamcolo? (b) Kufanele sisabele kanjani esixwayisweni sokuphela kwalesi simiso?

⁷ UNowa wasithola kusasele amashumi eminyaka isixwayiso sembubhiso eyayiza, futhi ngokuhlakanipha wasebenzisa leso sikhathi ukuze alungiselele ukusinda. Umphostoli uPawulu uthi: “Ngemva kokunikwa isixwayiso saphezulu sezinto ezingakabonwa, [uNowa] wabonisa ukwesaba kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu wakha umkhumbi wokusindisa indlu yakhe.” (Hebheru 11:7) Kuthiwani ngathi? Sekudlule iminyaka engaba ngu-90 kusukela izinsuku zokugcina zalesi simiso sezinto zaqala ngo-1914. ‘Sisesikhathini sokuphela’ impela. (Daniyeli 12:4) Kufanele sisabele kanjani esixwayisweni esinikwe sona? IBhayibheli lithi: “Lowo owenza intando kaNkulunkulu uhlala kuze kube phakade.” (1 Johane 2:17) Ngakho, manje yisikhathi sokwenza intando kaJehova ngomuzwa ojulile wokuphuthuma.

8, 9. Iziphi izixwayiso eziye zakhishwa ezikhathini zanamuhla, futhi zimenyezelwa kanjani?

⁸ Ezikhathini zanamuhla, abafundi beBhayibheli abaqotho baye bafunda emiBhalweni ephefumulelwe ukuthi lesi simiso sibheke ekubhujisweni. Siyakukholelwa yini lokhu? Phawula lokho uJesu Kristu akusho ngokucacile: “Kuyoba khona usizi olukhulu olungakaze lube khona kusukela ekuqaleni kwezwe kuze kube manje, cha, futhi olungasayikuphinde lube khona.” (Mathewu 24:21) UJesu wathi futhi wayeyofika njengoMahluleli kaNkulunkulu omisiwe, ahlukanise abantu njengomalusi ehlukanisa izimvu nezimbuzi. Labo abayotholakala bengafaneleki “bayomuka baye ekunqunyweni kwaphakade, kodwa abalungileyo baye ekuphileni okuphakade.”—Mathewu 25:31-33, 46.

⁹ UJehova uye wenza abantu bakhe bahlala beziqaphela lezi zixwayiso ngokunikeza izikhumbuzo ezifika ngesikhathi ngokudla okungokomoya  okuvela ‘encekwini ethembekileyo neqondayo.’ (Mathewu 24:45-47) Ngaphezu kwalokho, zonke izizwe, izinhlanga, izilimi, nabantu kuthiwa ‘mabesabe uNkulunkulu bamnike inkazimulo, ngoba ihora lokwahlulela kwakhe selifikile.’ (IsAmbulo 14:6, 7) Ingxenye ebalulekile yesigijimi soMbuso esishunyayelwa oFakazi BakaJehova emhlabeni wonke iyisixwayiso sokuthi maduze uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uzosusa ohulumeni babantu. (Daniyeli 2:44) Lesi sixwayiso akufanele sithathwe kalula. UNkulunkulu uMninimandla Onke uyakufeza njalo akushilo. (Isaya 55:10, 11) Wakufeza osukwini lukaNowa, uzokufeza nasosukwini lwethu.—2 Petru 3:3-7.

Ukonakala Ngokobulili Kuyadlanga

10. Kwakunjani ukonakala ngokobulili osukwini lukaNowa?

¹⁰ Isikhathi sethu sifana nesosuku lukaNowa nangesinye isici. UJehova wayeyale indoda nowesifazane bokuqala ukuba ‘bagcwalise umhlaba’ ngabantu, bewasebenzisa ngendlela ehloniphekile amandla abo obulili abawanikwe uNkulunkulu elungiselelweni lomshado. (Genesise 1:28) Osukwini lukaNowa, izingelosi ezingalaleli zangcolisa isintu ngobulili obungeyona imvelo. Zehlela emhlabeni, zagqoka imizimba yenyama, zahlala nabesifazane abahle, zaveza inzalo engabantu kodwa futhi engamademoni—amaNefili. (Genesise 6:2, 4) Isono salezi zingelosi ezazishiswa inkanuko sifaniswa nokukhohlakala kwaseSodoma naseGomora. (Jude 6, 7) Ngenxa yalokho, ukonakala ngokobulili kwakuthé chithi saka ngalezo zinsuku.

11. Isiphi isimo sokuziphatha esenza isikhathi sethu sifane nezinsuku zikaNowa?

¹¹ Sinjani isimo sokuziphatha namuhla? Kulezi zinsuku zokugcina, ukuphila kwabaningi kugxile ebulilini. UPawulu ubachaza ngokucacile abanjalo ethi ‘abasenawo nhlobo umuzwa wokuziphatha okuhle’; abaningi baye bazinikela ‘ekuziphatheni okubi ukuze benze zonke izinhlobo zokungcola ngokuhaha.’ (Efesu 4:19) Izithombe ezingcolile zobulili, ubulili ngaphambi komshado, ukunukubezwa kwabantwana ngokobulili, kanye nobungqingili kuyinsakavukela. Abanye kakade “bamukela kubo ngokwabo imbuyiselo egcwele” eyizifo ezidluliselwa ngobulili, ukuwohloka kokuphila komkhaya, nezinye izinkinga zomphakathi.—Roma 1:26, 27.

12. Kungani kufanele sihlakulele ukuzonda okubi?

¹² Osukwini lukaNowa, uJehova wathumela uZamcolo omkhulu waliqeda lelo zwe elalihlanyiswa ubulili. Akumelwe neze sikhohlwe ukuthi lezi zinsuku zinjengoba nje zazinjalo ngempela izinsuku zikaNowa. “Usizi olukhulu” oluzayo luzozishanela emhlabeni ‘izifebe, iziphingi, amadoda agcinelwe izinjongo ezingezona ezemvelo, namadoda alala namadoda.’ (Mathewu 24:21; 1 Korinte 6:9, 10; IsAmbulo 21:8) Yeka indlela okuphuthuma ngayo ukuba sihlakulele ukukuzonda okubi nokugwema izimo ezingaholela ekuziphatheni okubi!—IHubo 97:10; 1 Korinte 6:18.

Umhlaba ‘Ugcwala Ubudlova’

13. Osukwini lukaNowa, kungani umhlaba ‘wawugcwele ubudlova’?

¹³ Liveza esinye futhi isici sosuku lukaNowa, iBhayibheli lithi: “Umhlaba wonakala emehlweni kaNkulunkulu weqiniso futhi umhlaba  wagcwala ubudlova.” (Genesise 6:11) Ubudlova empeleni babungebusha. Indodana ka-Adamu uKhayini yabulala umfowabo olungile. (Genesise 4:8) Ebonisa umoya wobudlova wosuku lwakhe, uLameka waqamba inkondlo eqhosha ngokuthi wayebulele insizwa ethile, ethi wayezivikela. (Genesise 4:23, 24) Okwakukusha osukwini lukaNowa kwakuyizinga labo ubudlova. Lapho amadodana kaNkulunkulu ayizingelosi angalalelanga eshada nabesifazane emhlabeni futhi eba nabantwana—amaNefili—ubudlova banda bafinyelela izinga elalingaziwa ngaphambili. I-New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References ibonisa ukuthi igama lokuqala lesiHebheru elibhekisela kule midondoshiya enobudlova lisho “abaWisi”—“labo abenza abanye bawe.” (Genesise 6:4) Ngenxa yalokho, umhlaba ‘wawugcwele ubudlova.’ (Genesise 6:13) Cabanga izinkinga okumelwe ukuba uNowa wabhekana nazo lapho ekhulisa umkhaya wakhe endaweni enjalo! Nokho, uNowa waba ‘olungile phambi kukaJehova phakathi kwaleso sizukulwane.’—Genesise 7:1.

14. Izwe lanamuhla liye ‘lagcwala kanjani ubudlova’?

¹⁴ Ubudlova bebulokhu bukhona esintwini. Kodwa njengoba kwakunjalo ezinsukwini zikaNowa, nasesikhathini sethu bandé ngezinga elingakaze libonwe. Njalo sizwa ngobudlova basekhaya, izenzo zobuphekula, imikhankaso yokuqothula isizwe, nokubulawa kwenqwaba yabantu kungabonakali sisusa esitheni, ibulawa abantu abaphethe izibhamu. Ngaphezu kwalokhu, kukhona ukuchitheka kwegazi okubangelwa izimpi. Umhlaba usuphinde wagcwala ubudlova. Kungani? Yini ebangele lokhu kwanda? Impendulo iveza esinye isici sokufana kosuku lwethu nosuku lukaNowa.

15. (a) Yini eye yaba nomthelela ekwandeni kobudlova ezinsukwini zokugcina? (b) Yini esingaqiniseka ukuthi iyogcina yenzekile?

¹⁵ Lapho kumiswa uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ophethwe uMesiya ezulwini ngo-1914, iNkosi ebekiwe, uJesu Kristu, yathatha isinyathelo esaqopha umlando. USathane uDeveli waxoshwa ezulwini waphonswa emhlabeni. (IsAmbulo 12:9-12) Ngaphambi kukaZamcolo, izingelosi ezingalaleli zashiya izikhundla zazo zasezulwini ngokuzithandela; nokho, ezikhathini zanamuhla zikhishwe ngempoqo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, azisakwazi manje ukugqoka imizimba yabantu emhlabeni ukuze zizitike ngezinjabulo zenyama ezingemthetho. Ngakho ngenxa yokukhungatheka, intukuthelo, nokwesaba isahlulelo esiseduze, zithonya abantu nezinhlangano ukuba benze izenzo ezinonya zobugebengu nobudlova ezidlula ngisho nezosuku lukaNowa. UJehova waliqothula izwe langaphambi kukaZamcolo ngemva kokuba izingelosi ezingalalelanga nenzalo yazo zigcwalise umhlaba ngobubi. Ungaphazami,  uJehova uzokwenza okufanayo osukwini lwethu! (IHubo 37:10) Nokho, labo abahlala belindile namuhla bayazi ukuthi ukukhululwa kuseduze.

Kuyashunyayelwa

16, 17. Isiphi isici sesine izinsuku zikaNowa ezifana ngaso nosuku lwethu?

¹⁶ Isici sesine sokufana kosuku lwanamuhla nezwe langaphambi kukaZamcolo sibonakala ngomsebenzi uNowa athunywa ukuba awenze. UNowa wakha umkhumbi omkhulukazi. ‘Wayengumshumayeli’ futhi. (2 Petru 2:5) Isiphi isigijimi ayesishumayela? Ukushumayela kukaNowa ngokusobala kwakuhlanganisa nesimemo sokuphenduka kanye nesixwayiso sembubhiso eyayiza. UJesu wathi abantu bosuku lukaNowa ‘abanakanga kwaze kwafika uzamcolo, wabakhukhula bonke.’—Mathewu 24:38, 39.

¹⁷ Ngokufanayo, njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova bewufeza ngenkuthalo umsebenzi wokushumayela abawunikiwe, isigijimi soMbuso kaNkulunkulu simenyezelwa emhlabeni wonke. Cishe kuzo zonke izingxenye zomhlaba, abantu bangezwa futhi bafunde isigijimi soMbuso ngolimi lwabo. Umagazini INqabayokulinda, omemezela uMbuso kaJehova, usakazwa ngamakhophi angaphezu kuka-25 000 000 futhi unyatheliswa ngezilimi ezingaphezu kuka-140. Ngempela, izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu zishunyayelwa “emhlabeni wonke owakhiwe ngenjongo yobufakazi ezizweni zonke.” Lapho lowo msebenzi usufezwe ngezinga elanelisa uNkulunkulu, ukuphela kuyofika nakanjani.—Mathewu 24:14.

18. Indlela abaningi abasabela ngayo emsebenzini wethu wokushumayela ifana kanjani neyeningi labantu osukwini lukaNowa?

¹⁸ Uma sicabanga ngokuntuleka kwengokomoya nesimilo ezinsukwini ezandulela uZamcolo, singaqonda ukuthi kungani umkhaya kaNowa waba inhlekisa komakhelwane ababengafuni ukuzwa futhi wethukwa. Kodwa ukuphela kona kwafika. Ngokufanayo, kulezi zinsuku zokugcina baningi “abahleki bosulu nokuhleka kwabo usulu.” “Nokho usuku lukaJehova luyofika njengesela,” kusho iBhayibheli. (2 Petru 3:3, 4, 10) Luyofika nakanjani ngesikhathi esimisiwe. Ngeke lwephuze. (Habakuki 2:3) Yeka indlela okuwukuhlakanipha ngayo ukuba sihlale silindile!

Kusinda Abambalwa Kuphela

19, 20. Ikuphi ukufana esingakuphawula phakathi kukaZamcolo nembubhiso yesimiso sezinto samanje?

¹⁹ Ukufana kosuku lukaNowa nosuku lwethu akugcini ngobubi babantu nokubhujiswa kwabo. Njengoba kwaba khona abasindayo kuZamcolo, bayoba khona futhi abayosinda ekupheleni kwalesi simiso sezinto. Abasinda kuZamcolo kwakungabantu abathobekile ababengaphili njengeningi labantu. Basilalela isixwayiso sikaNkulunkulu bazigcina behlukile ezweni elibi langaleso sikhathi. IBhayibheli lithi: “UNowa wathola umusa emehlweni kaJehova. . . . Akabanga naphutha phakathi kwabantu besikhathi sakhe.” (Genesise 6:8, 9) Kuso sonke isintu, umkhaya owodwa kuphela, “abantu abambalwa, okungukuthi, imiphefumulo eyisishiyagalombili, bathwalwa ngokuphepha emanzini.” (1 Petru 3:20) Futhi uJehova uNkulunkulu wabanika lo myalo: “Zalani nande nigcwalise umhlaba.”—Genesise 9:1.

²⁰ IZwi likaNkulunkulu liyasiqinisekisa ukuthi kuyoba khona “isixuku esikhulu” ‘esiyophuma osizini olukhulu.’ (IsAmbulo 7:9, 14) Bayoba bangaki abakha isixuku esikhulu? UJesu ngokwakhe wathi: “Lincane isango futhi inyinyekile indlela eholela ekuphileni, bambalwa abayitholayo.” (Mathewu 7:13, 14) Uma beqhathaniswa nezinkulungwane zezigidi ezisemhlabeni manje, abayosinda osizini olukhulu oluzayo bayoba mbalwa. Kodwa bangase babe nelungelo elithi alifane nalelo elanikwa abasinda kuZamcolo.  Isikhathi esithile, abasindile bangase bakwazi ukuba nezingane eziyoba ingxenye yomphakathi omusha wasemhlabeni.—Isaya 65:23.

“Hlalani Nilindile”

21, 22. (a) Ukuhlola ukulandisa kukaZamcolo kukuzuzise kanjani? (b) Sithini isihloko sonyaka sika-2004, futhi kungani kufanele sisilalele iseluleko saso?

²¹ Nakuba uZamcolo ubonakala uyinto yakudala namuhla, unikeza isixwayiso esicacile okungamelwe sisishalazele. (Roma 15:4) Ukufana kosuku lukaNowa nosuku lwethu kufanele kusenze sikuqaphele nakakhulu lokho okushiwo izenzakalo futhi kusiphaphamisele ukufika kukaJesu njengesela ezokhipha isahlulelo kwababi.

²² Namuhla, uJesu Kristu uqondisa umsebenzi omkhulu wokwakha okungokomoya. Ukuze abakhulekeli beqiniso balondeke futhi basinde, kukhona ipharadesi elingokomoya elinjengomkhumbi. (2 Korinte 12:3, 4) Ukuze silondwe sidlule osizini olukhulu, kumelwe sihlale kulelo pharadesi. Lelo pharadesi elingokomoya lizungezwe izwe likaSathane, elilungele ukushwabadela noma ubani owozelayo ngokomoya. Kubaluleke kakhulu ukuba ‘sihlale silindile,’ silungele usuku lukaJehova.—Mathewu 24:42, 44.

Uyakhumbula?

• Isiphi isikhuthazo uJesu asinikeza mayelana nokuza kwakhe?

• UJesu usifanisa nani isikhathi sokuba khona kwakhe?

• Izikhathi zethu zifana ngaziphi izici nezinsuku zikaNowa?

• Ukuzindla ngokufana kosuku lukaNowa nosuku lwethu kufanele kuwuthinte kanjani umuzwa wethu wokuphuthuma?

[Imibuzo Yesifundo]

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 18]

Isihloko sonyaka sika-2004 sizothi: “Hlalani nilindile . . . Yibani abakulungele.”—Mathewu 24:42, 44.

[Isithombe ekhasini 15]

UNowa wasilalela isixwayiso sikaNkulunkulu. Ingabe nathi siyasilalela?

[Izithombe ekhasini 16, 17]

“Njengoba nje zazinjalo izinsuku zikaNowa, kuyoba njalo nokuba khona kweNdodana yomuntu”