“Usuku Olukhulu Lukajehova Luseduze”

“Usuku olukhulu lukaJehova luseduze. Luseduze, lushesha kakhulu.”—ZEFANIYA 1:14.

1, 2. (a) Iluphi usuku olukhethekile amaKristu alulindele? (b) Imiphi imibuzo okudingeka siyibuze, futhi ngani?

INTOKAZI ejabule ikubheke ngabomvu ukufika kosuku lwayo lomshado. Umama okhulelwe uphuphuma uthando njengoba ebheke phambili ekuzalweni komntanakhe. Isisebenzi esitubekile sesithi nje liqala nini iholidi laso. Bafana ngani laba bantu? Bonke balindele usuku olukhethekile—usuku oluzothinta ukuphila kwabo. Banemizwa ejulile kodwa ehlukene kakhulu. Usuku abalulindele luzogcina lufikile, futhi lapho lufika, bathemba ukuthi bazobe belulungele.

² AmaKristu eqiniso namuhla nawo alindele ngokulangazela ukufika kosuku olukhethekile. ‘Usuku olukhulu lukaJehova.’ (Isaya 13:9; Joweli 2:1; 2 Petru 3:12) Luyini lolu “suku lukaJehova” oluzayo, futhi ukufika kwalo kuyosithinta kanjani isintu? Ngaphezu kwalokho, singaqinisekisa kanjani ukuthi sikulungele ukufika kwalo? Kubaluleke kakhulu ukuba sifune izimpendulo zale mibuzo manje ngoba ubufakazi bubonisa ukuthi ayiqiniso la mazwi eBhayibheli: “Usuku olukhulu lukaJehova luseduze. Luseduze, lushesha kakhulu.”—Zefaniya 1:14.

“Usuku Olukhulu LukaJehova”

3. Luyini “usuku olukhulu lukaJehova”?

³ Luyini “usuku olukhulu lukaJehova”? Kuyo yonke imiBhalo, inkulumo ethi “usuku lukaJehova” ibhekisela ezikhathini ezikhethekile lapho uJehova akhipha khona isahlulelo ezitheni zakhe, wakhazimulisa igama lakhe elikhulu. Abantu abangathembekile bakwaJuda naseJerusalema nezakhamuzi ezicindezelayo zaseBhabhiloni naseGibhithe bonke babhekana nolunye ‘lwezinsuku zikaJehova’ lapho bethola isahlulelo sakhe. (Isaya 2:1, 10-12; 13:1-6; Jeremiya 46:7-10) Nokho, “usuku lukaJehova” olukhulu kunazo zonke luseza. ‘Luwusuku’ lapho labo abaye bahlambalaza igama likaJehova beyothola isahlulelo sakhe. Luyoqala ngokubhujiswa ‘kweBhabhiloni Elikhulu,’ umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga, luphele ngokubhujiswa kwaso sonke isimiso sezinto esibi empini ye-Armagedoni.—IsAmbulo 16:14, 16; 17:5, 15-17; 19:11-21.

4. Kungani iningi lesintu kufanele lilwesabe usuku lukaJehova olusondela ngokushesha?

⁴ Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi isintu siyazi noma cha, iningi laso kufanele lilwesabe lolu suku olusondela ngokushesha. Ngani? Esebenzisa umprofethi uZefaniya, uJehova uyaphendula: “Lolo suku luwusuku lokufutheka, usuku lokucindezeleka nobuhlungu, usuku lwesivunguvungu nokuchitha, usuku lobumnyama nesigayegaye, usuku lwamafu nobumnyama obukhulu.” Luyesabeka ngempela! Ngaphezu kwalokho, lo mprofethi uthi: “Ngiyobangela ukucindezeleka esintwini . . . ngoba sonile kuJehova.”—Zefaniya 1:15, 17.

5. Imuphi umbono omuhle izigidi ezinawo ngosuku lukaJehova, futhi ngani?

⁵ Nokho, izigidi zabanye abantu zikulindele ngokulangazela ukufika kosuku lukaJehova. Ngani? Ziyazi ukuthi luyisikhathi sensindiso nesokukhululwa kwabalungileyo, usuku uJehova ngokwakhe ayophakanyiswa ngalo kungcweliswe negama lakhe elikhazimulayo. (Joweli 3:16, 17; Zefaniya 3:12-17) Ukuthi  abantu bayalwesaba noma balulindele ngokulangazela yini lolo suku kuxhomeke kakhulu ekutheni benzani ngokuphila kwabo manje. Wena ukubheka kanjani ukusondela kwalolo suku? Ingabe ukulungele? Ingabe ukuba seduze kosuku lukaJehova kuyayithonya indlela ophila ngayo nsuku zonke manje?

“Kuyofika Abahleki Bosulu Nokuhleka Kwabo Usulu”

6. Iningi labantu lilubheka kanjani “usuku lukaJehova,” futhi kungani lokhu kungawamangazi amaKristu eqiniso?

⁶ Naphezu kokuphuthuma kwesimo, iningi labantu emhlabeni alinandaba ‘nosuku lukaJehova’ olusondelayo. Liyabagcona futhi libahleka usulu labo abaxwayisa ngokuthi luseduze kakhulu. Lokhu akuwamangazi amaKristu eqiniso. Ayasikhumbula isixwayiso somphostoli uPetru: “Okokuqala niyakwazi lokhu, ukuthi ezinsukwini zokugcina kuyofika abahleki bosulu nokuhleka kwabo usulu, beqhubeka ngokwezifiso zabo siqu bethi: ‘Kuphi lokhu kuba khona kwakhe okuthenjisiwe? Phela, kusukela osukwini okhokho bethu abalala ngalo, zonke izinto ziqhubeka ngokufana ncamashí nasekuqaleni kwendalo.’”—2 Petru 3:3, 4.

7. Yini eyosisiza ukuba silondoloze umuzwa wokuphuthuma?

⁷ Yini eyosisiza ukuba simelane nokungabaza okunjalo, ngaleyo ndlela silondoloze umuzwa wokuphuthuma? UPetru uyasitshela: “[Ngivusa] amandla enu okucabanga ngokucacile, ngendlela yokunikhumbuza, ukuba nikhumbule amazwi akhulunywa ngaphambili abaprofethi abangcwele nomyalo weNkosi noMsindisi enawuthola ngabaphostoli benu.” (2 Petru 3:1, 2) Ukunaka izixwayiso eziyisiprofetho kuyosisiza ukuba ‘sivuse amandla ethu okucabanga ngokucacile.’ Mhlawumbe sekukaningi sizizwa lezi zikhumbuzo, kodwa kubalulekile ukuba manje kunanini ngaphambili siqhubeke silalela lezi zixwayiso.—Isaya 34:1-4; Luka 21:34-36.

8. Kungani abaningi bengazinaki izikhumbuzo zeBhayibheli?

⁸ Kungani abanye bengazinaki lezi zikhumbuzo? UPetru uyaqhubeka: “Ngokwesifiso sabo, leli qiniso liyabaphunyuka, lokuthi ayekhona amazulu kusukela kudala nomhlaba omi ubumbene uvelé emanzini futhi uphakathi kwamanzi ngezwi likaNkulunkulu; ngawo izwe langaleso sikhathi labhujiswa lapho limbozwa amanzi.” (2 Petru 3:5, 6) Yebo, kukhona abangafisi ukuba usuku lukaJehova lufike. Abafuni ukuphila kwabo kuphazamiseke. Abafuni ukulandisa kuJehova ngokuphila kwabo kobugovu! Njengoba uPetru esho, baphila “ngokwesifiso sabo.”

9. Isiphi isimo sengqondo esaboniswa abantu ezinsukwini zikaNowa nezikaLoti?

⁹ Ngenxa ‘yesifiso sabo,’ laba bahleki bosulu bakhetha ukunganaki ukuthi uJehova uye wangenela ezindabeni zesintu esikhathini esidlule. Bobabili uJesu Kristu nomphostoli uPetru bathinta izenzakalo ezimbili ezinjalo—‘izinsuku zikaNowa’ ‘nezinsuku zikaLoti.’ (Luka 17:26-30; 2 Petru 2:5-9) Ngaphambi kukaZamcolo, abantu abasinakanga isixwayiso esasinikezwa uNowa. Ngokufanayo, ngaphambi kokubhujiswa kweSodoma neGomora, uLoti “wabonakala njengomuntu ontelayo” kubakhwenyana bakhe.—Genesise 19:14.

10. UJehova usabela kanjani kulabo abanganaki?

 ¹⁰ Kwenzeka okufanayo nanamuhla. Nokho, phawula indlela uJehova asabela ngayo kulabo abanganaki: “Ngiyowanaka amadoda ajiya enhleseni yawo futhi athi enhliziyweni yawo, ‘UJehova ngeke akwenze okuhle, futhi ngeke akwenze okubi.’ Umcebo wabo uyoba yimpango nezindlu zabo zibe yihlane eliyincithakalo. Bayokwakha izindlu, kodwa ngeke bahlale kuzo; bayotshala izivini, kodwa ngeke baliphuze iwayini lazo.” (Zefaniya 1:12, 13) Abantu bangase baqhubeke benza imisebenzi yabo “evamile” yansuku zonke, kodwa ngeke bathole nzuzo ehlalayo ekusebenzeni kwabo kanzima. Ngani? Ngoba usuku lukaJehova luyofika kungazelelwe, futhi noma iyiphi ingcebo okungenzeka bayobe beyiqongelele ngeke ibasindise.—Zefaniya 1:18.

‘Hlala Ululindele’

11. Isiphi isiyalo okufanele sisikhumbule?

¹¹ Ngokungafani nezwe elibi elisizungezile, kumelwe sisilalele isiyalo esalotshwa umprofethi uHabakuki: “Umbono usengowesikhathi esimisiwe, ulokhu uphuthuma ekupheleni, futhi ngeke uqambe amanga. Ngisho noma ungase ulibale, hlala uwulindele; ngoba nakanjani uzogcwaliseka. Ngeke wephuze.” (Habakuki 2:3) Ngisho noma lolo suku lungase lubonakale lulibala ngokombono wethu njengabantu abangaphelele, kumelwe sikhumbule ukuthi uJehova akephuzi. Usuku lwakhe luyofika ngesikhathi esimisiwe, ngehora abantu abangalilindele.—Marku 13:33; 2 Petru 3:9, 10.

12. Yini uJesu axwayisa ngayo, futhi lokhu kuhluke kanjani ezenzweni zabalandeli bakhe abathembekile?

¹² Egcizelela ukubaluleka kokuhlala silindele usuku lukaJehova, uJesu waxwayisa ngokuthi ngisho nabanye babalandeli bakhe babeyolahlekelwa umuzwa wokuphuthuma. Wabikezela ngabo: “Uma kungenzeka leyo nceku embi ithi enhliziyweni yayo, ‘Inkosi yami ilibele,’ bese iqala ukushaya izinceku ezikanye nayo futhi idle iphuze nezidakwa, inkosi yaleyo nceku iyofika ngosuku engalulindele nangehora engalazi, iyijezise kanzima kakhulu.” (Mathewu 24:48-51) Ngokuphambene, isigaba senceku ethembekileyo neqondayo silondoloza umuzwa waso wokuphuthuma ngobuqotho. Isigaba senceku siye sahlala silindile futhi sazibonakalisa sikulungele. UJesu usimise “phezu kwakho konke [okungokwakhe]” lapha emhlabeni.—Mathewu 24:42-47.

Isidingo Sokuphuthuma

13. UJesu wasigcizelela kanjani isidingo sokuba nomuzwa wokuphuthuma?

¹³ Kwakubaluleke kakhulu ukuba amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala alondoloze umuzwa wawo wokuphuthuma. Kwakudingeka athathe isinyathelo ngokushesha abaleke eJerusalema lapho ebona lowo muzi ‘uhaqwe amabutho akanisile.’ (Luka 21:20, 21) Lokho kwenzeka ngonyaka ka-66 C.E. Phawula indlela uJesu agcizelela ngayo isidingo sokuphuthuma kumaKristu ngaleso sikhathi: “Umuntu ophezu kwendlu makangehli ayokhipha izimpahla endlini yakhe; futhi umuntu osensimini makangabuyeli endlini ayothatha ingubo yakhe yangaphandle.”  (Mathewu 24:17, 18) Njengoba umlando ubonisa ukuthi iJerusalema laqhubeka limile iminyaka emine eyengeziwe, kungani amaKristu kwakudingeka awalalele ngokuphuthuma okungaka amazwi kaJesu ngo-66 C.E.?

14, 15. Kungani kwakubaluleke kakhulu ukuba amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala angazindeli lapho ebona iJerusalema lihaqwe amabutho akanisile?

¹⁴ Nakuba kuyiqiniso ukuthi amabutho amaRoma aze alibhubhisa ngo-70 C.E. iJerusalema, leyo minyaka emine yayingenakho neze ukuthula. Yayigcwele ubudlova nokuchitheka kwegazi. Esinye isazi-mlando sichaza isimo saseJerusalema ngaleso sikhathi, sithi “kwakunempi yombango eyachitha igazi ngendlela esabekayo, ihambisana nezenzo zonya oluyinqaba.” Izinsizwa zazibuthwa ziyoqinisa izinqaba, ziyokulwa futhi ziyosiza empini. Nsuku zonke zaziviva. Labo ababengahambisani nezinyathelo ezeqisayo babebhekwa njengamambuka. Ukube amaKristu awaphumanga kulowo muzi, ngabe azithola esesimweni esiyingozi kakhulu.—Mathewu 26:52; Marku 12:17.

¹⁵ Kufanele siphawule ukuthi uJesu wathi “labo abaseJudiya,” hhayi nje abaseJerusalema, kwakufanele baqale ukubaleka. Lokhu kwakubalulekile ngoba ezinyangeni ezimbalwa ehoxile eJerusalema, amabutho amaRoma aphinde awuqala umkhankaso wawo wempi. Aqale anqoba iGalile ngo-67 C.E., ayeselinqoba kancane kancane iJudiya ngonyaka olandelayo. Lokhu kwabangela usizi olukhulu yonke indawo engaphandle kwaseJerusalema. Kwaya kuba nzima futhi ukuba amaJuda abaleke eJerusalema uqobo. Emasangweni omuzi kwakunabaqaphi, futhi noma ubani owayezama ukubaleka wayebhekwa njengohlubukela kumaRoma.

16. Isiphi isimo sengqondo amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala okwakudingeka abe naso ukuze asinde kuleso sikhathi sosizi?

¹⁶ Sicabanga ngazo zonke lezi zici, singaqonda ukuthi kungani uJesu agcizelela ukuphuthuma kwesimo. Kwakudingeka ukuba amaKristu azimisele ukudela okuthile, angazivumeli ukuba aphazanyiswe yizinto zawo ezibonakalayo. Kwakudingeka azimisele ‘ukuvalelisa kukho konke anakho’ ukuze alalele isixwayiso sikaJesu. (Luka 14:33) Lawo alalela ngokushesha futhi abalekela ngale kweJordani asinda.

Ukulondoloza Umuzwa Wethu Wokuphuthuma

17. Kungani kufanele siqinise umuzwa wethu wokuphuthuma?

¹⁷ Iziprofetho zeBhayibheli zibonisa ngokucacile ukuthi singene shí esikhathini sokuphela. Manje kunanini ngaphambili, kudingeka siqinise umuzwa wethu wokuphuthuma. Ngesikhathi sokuthula, isosha alikuzwa ukushuba  kwesimo sempi nokuba yingozi kwayo. Noma kunjalo, uma lokho kulenza lingakuboni kubalulekile ukuhlale liqaphile bese libizelwa empini lingazelele, lingase litholakale lingayilungele, kuholele ekufeni. Kunjalo nangomqondo ongokomoya. Uma sivumela umuzwa wethu wokuphuthuma ukuba unciphe, singase sitholakale singakulungele ukuzivikela ekuhlaselweni esibhekana nakho futhi usuku lukaJehova lusizume lapho lufika ekugcineni. (Luka 21:36; 1 Thesalonika 5:4) Uma kukhona asebeye “bahlehla nyovane ekulandeleni uJehova,” manje yisikhathi sokuba baphinde bamfune.—Zefaniya 1:3-6; 2 Thesalonika 1:8, 9.

18, 19. Yini eyosisiza ukuba sikukhumbule njalo “ukufika kosuku lukaJehova”?

¹⁸ Shono umphostoli uPetru esiyala ukuba sikukhumbule njalo “ukufika kosuku lukaJehova”! Singakwenza kanjani lokhu? Enye yezindlela iwukuba matasa “ezenzweni zokuziphatha ezingcwele nasezenzweni zokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu.” (2 Petru 3:11, 12) Ukuzigcina simatasa emisebenzini enjalo kuyosisiza sikulindele ngokulangazela ukufika ‘kosuku lukaJehova.’ Ngokwezwi nezwi, igama lesiGreki elihunyushwe ngokuthi “nikukhumbula njalo” lisho ukuthi “nikusheshisa.” Asinakusisheshisa ngokoqobo isikhathi esisasele ngaphambi kokufika kosuku lukaJehova. Nokho, njengoba sisalulindele, isikhathi siyobonakala sihamba ngokushesha kakhulu uma simatasa enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu.—1 Korinte 15:58.

¹⁹ Ukuzindla ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu nangezikhumbuzo ezikulo nakho kuyosenza sikwazi ukwenza lokhu—“ukukulangazela ngobuqotho (ukukulindela nokukusheshisa) ukufika” kwalolo suku, yebo, “sihlale sikulindele.” (2 Petru 3:12, The Amplified Bible; The New Testament, kaWilliam Barclay) Kulezi zikhumbuzo kukhona neziprofetho eziningi ezingabikezeli nje kuphela ukufika kosuku lukaJehova, kodwa nokwenala yezibusiso eziyothululelwa labo ‘abahlala belindele uJehova.’—Zefaniya 3:8.

20. Isiphi isiyalo okufanele sisilalele?

²⁰ Ngempela, manje yisikhathi sokuba sonke silalele isiyalo esanikezwa ngomprofethi uZefaniya: “Kungakafiki phezu kwenu intukuthelo kaJehova evuthayo, lungakafiki phezu kwenu usuku lwentukuthelo kaJehova, funani uJehova, nonke nina abamnene bomhlaba, enisigcinile isinqumo saKhe sokwahlulela. Funani ukulunga, funani ubumnene. Mhlawumbe ningase nisitshekelwe ngosuku lwentukuthelo kaJehova.”—Zefaniya 2:2, 3.

21. Kulo nyaka ka-2007, yini abantu bakaNkulunkulu abazimisele ukuyenza?

²¹ Ngakho, yeka indlela ofaneleka ngayo umbhalo okhethwe njengombhalo wonyaka ka-2007: “Usuku olukhulu lukaJehova luseduze.” Abantu bakaNkulunkulu bayaqiniseka ukuthi “luseduze, lushesha kakhulu.” (Zefaniya 1:14) ‘Ngeke lwephuze.’ (Habakuki 2:3) Ngakho, njengoba silindele lolo suku, masihlale siphapheme kulezi zikhathi esiphila kuzo, siqaphela ukuthi ukugcwaliseka kokugcina kwalezi ziprofetho kuseduze kakhulu!

Ungaphendula?

• Luyini “usuku olukhulu lukaJehova”?

• Kungani abaningi bengakunaki ukuphuthuma kwezikhathi?

• Kungani amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala kwakudingeka athathe isinyathelo enomuzwa wokuphuthuma?

• Singawuqinisa kanjani umuzwa wethu wokuphuthuma?

[Imibuzo Yesifundo]

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 19]

Umbhalo wonyaka ka-2007 uthi: “Usuku olukhulu lukaJehova luseduze.”—Zefaniya 1:14.

[Izithombe ekhasini 16, 17]

Njengasosukwini lukaNowa, ukuthatha kukaJehova isinyathelo kuyobazuma abahleki bosulu

[Isithombe ekhasini 18]

Kwadingeka ukuba amaKristu angazindeli lapho ebona iJerusalema “lihaqwe amabutho akanisile”