1. Iziphi izenzakalo ezenzeka ngonyaka ka-66? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

ZICABANGE ungumKristu ohlala eJerusalema ngonyaka ka-66. Kunezinto eziningi ebezilokhu zenzeka. Isikhulu esingumRoma okuthiwa uFlorus sebe amathalenta angu-17 emabhokisini emali yasethempelini. AmaJuda athukuthele kakhulu. Abulale amasosha amaningi amaRoma futhi amemezela ukuthi asezimele, awasekho ngaphansi kwamaRoma. Kodwa amaRoma athathe isinyathelo ngokushesha. Kuthe kungakapheli nezinyanga ezintathu, kwatheleka amasosha angu-30 000 eholwa uCestius Gallus azungeza iJerusalema. AmaJuda avukelayo acashe enqabeni yethempeli, kodwa amasosha amaRoma agcina efinyelele odongeni olungaphandle lwethempeli futhi azama ukulufohla. Bonke abasemzini sebeqale ukwethuka. Ubuyozizwa kanjani lapho ubona konke lokhu?

2. Yini okwakudingeka amaKristu ayenze lapho ebona amasosha amaRoma ezungeze umuzi wawo, futhi akwazi kanjani ukuyenza?

² Eminyakeni eminingi ngaphambili, uJesu wayexwayise abafundi bakhe ngalesi senzakalo futhi wabayala: “Lapho  nibona iJerusalema lihaqwe amabutho akanisile, khona-ke yazini ukuthi ukuchithwa kwalo sekusondele. Khona-ke labo abaseJudiya mababalekele ezintabeni, abaphakathi kwalo baphume, abasemaphandleni bangangeni kulo.” (Luka 21:20, 21) Babeyokwazi kanjani ukulalela umyalo kaJesu wokuphuma eJerusalema libe lihaqwe amasosha? Kwenzeka into emangalisayo. Ibutho lamaRoma lahamba kungazelelwe eJerusalema! Njengoba nje uJesu ayeshilo, lokho kuhlasela ‘kwafinyezwa.’ (Mathewu 24:22) Lathi lingahamba ibutho, kwavuleka ithuba lokuba amaKristu athembekile alalele uJesu ngokubalekela ezintabeni ngokushesha. * (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.) Kamuva, ngonyaka ka-70, elinye ibutho lamaRoma labuya eJerusalema. Kulokhu, umuzi wabhujiswa. Kodwa bonke abalalela umyalo kaJesu basinda.

3. Isiphi isimo esithi asifane amaKristu asezobhekana naso, futhi sizoxoxa ngani kulesi sihloko?

³ Isixwayiso nomyalo kaJesu kuyasebenza nanamuhla. Sekuseduze kakhulu sibhekane nesimo esithi asifane. UJesu wasebenzisa izenzakalo zangekhulu lokuqala ukuchaza lokho okuzokwenzeka lapho “usizi olukhulu” luqala ngokuzumayo. (Mathewu 24:3, 21, 29) Njengoba nje kwakunamaKristu athembekile asinda ekubhujisweni kweJerusalema, kuyoba ‘nesixuku esikhulu’ esiyosinda enhlekeleleni ezayo yomhlaba wonke. (Funda isAmbulo 7:9, 13, 14.) Kubaluleke kakhulu ukuqonda lokho iBhayibheli elisitshela kona ngalezi zenzakalo eziseza. Ngani? Ngoba ukuphila kwethu kuxhomeke ekuziqondeni. Ngakho, ake sixoxe ngendlela lezi zenzakalo eziyosithinta ngayo ngabanye.

4. Luyoqala kanjani usizi olukhulu?

⁴ Luyoqala kanjani usizi olukhulu? Ngokubhujiswa kwayo yonke inkolo yamanga. EBhayibhelini, inkolo yamanga ibizwa ngokuthi “iBhabhiloni Elikhulu, unina wezifebe.” (IsAmbulo 17:5-7) Kungani inkolo yamanga ibizwa ngesifebe? Kungenxa yokuthi abefundisi bayo abazange bathembeke kuNkulunkulu. Kunokuba basekele uJesu noMbuso wakhe ngobuqotho, baye basekela ohulumeni babantu futhi bazishaya indiva izimfundiso zeBhayibheli ukuze babe nethonya elengeziwe. Ukukhulekela kwabo akufani nokukhulekela okuhlanzekile kwabagcotshiweyo. (2 Korinte 11:2; Jakobe 1:27; IsAmbulo 14:4) Kodwa ubani oyobhubhisa iBhabhiloni Elikhulu? UJehova uyobangela ‘izimpondo eziyishumi’ ‘zesilo sasendle esinombala obomvu’ “ukuba zifeze umqondo wakhe.” ‘Isilo sasendle esinombala obomvu’ simelela iZizwe Ezihlangene, futhi ‘izimpondo eziyishumi’ zimelela yonke imibuso yezombusazwe esekela iZizwe Ezihlangene.—Funda isAmbulo 17:3, 16-18.

5, 6. Kungani sithi ukubhujiswa kweBhabhiloni Elikhulu akusho ukufa kwawo wonke amalungu alo?

⁵ Ingabe wonke amalungu enkolo yamanga ayobulawa lapho iBhabhiloni Elikhulu libhujiswa? Cha. UJehova waphefumulela umprofethi uZakariya ukuba alobe ngalokho okuyokwenzeka. Ngaleso sikhathi, umuntu owayekade eyilungu lenkolo yamanga uyothi: “‘Angiyena umprofethi. Ngingumuntu olima inhlabathi, ngoba umuntu wasemhlabeni wangithola kusukela ebusheni bami.’ Umuntu uyothi kuye, ‘Ayini la manxeba akuwe ezandleni zakho?’ Kuyomelwe athi, ‘Yilawo engiwathole endlini yabangithanda kakhulu.’” (Zakariya  13:4-6) Ngakho, ngisho nabaholi benkolo bayokwenza sengathi abasonti futhi bayophika nokuthi bake baba amalungu alezo zinkolo zamanga.

⁶ Kuyokwenzekani kubantu bakaNkulunkulu phakathi naleso sikhathi? UJesu uyachaza: “Eqinisweni, ukube lezo zinsuku azifinyezwanga, akukho nyama ebiyosinda; kodwa ngenxa yabakhethiweyo lezo zinsuku ziyofinyezwa.” (Mathewu 24:22) Ngekhulu lokuqala, usizi lwaseJerusalema ‘lwafinyezwa.’ Lokhu kwavulela “abakhethiweyo,” amaKristu agcotshiwe, ithuba lokubaleka. Ngokufanayo, ingxenye yokuqala yosizi olukhulu “iyofinyezwa” ngenxa “yabakhethiweyo.” Imibuso yezombusazwe, “izimpondo eziyishumi,” ngeke ivunyelwe ukuba ibhubhise abantu bakaNkulunkulu. Kunalokho, kuyoba nenkathi emfushane yokuthula ngemva nje kokuphela kokuhlasela kokuqala.

7, 8. Iliphi ithuba eliyoba khona ngemva kokubhujiswa kwenkolo yamanga, futhi abantu bakaNkulunkulu bayohluka kanjani kubo bonke abanye abantu ngaleso sikhathi?

⁷ Kuyokwenzekani ngemva kokubhujiswa kwenkolo yamanga? Kuyoba isikhathi sokubonisa ukuthi yini ngempela esezinhliziyweni zethu. Ngaleso sikhathi, iningi labantu liyozama ukuthola usizo nesivikelo ezinhlanganweni zabantu, ‘amadwala asezintabeni.’ (IsAmbulo 6:15-17) Kodwa abantu bakaJehova bayofuna isivikelo kuye. Lapho ukuhlasela ‘kufinyezwa’ ekhulwini lokuqala, kwakungesona isikhathi sokuba wonke amaJuda aguqukele masinyane ebuKristwini. Kunalokho, kwakuyisikhathi sokuba labo abase bengamaKristu kakade baphume eJerusalema njengoba uJesu ayeyalile. Ngokufanayo, esikhathini esizayo lapho ukuhlaselwa kweBhabhiloni Elikhulu ‘kufinyezwa,’ asinakulindela ukuba abantu abaningi baguqukele masinyane ebuKristwini beqiniso. Kunalokho, kuyoba ithuba lokuba bonke abakhulekeli beqiniso babonakalise uthando lwabo ngoJehova futhi basekele abagcotshiweyo.—Mathewu 25:34-40.

⁸ Asikwazi ngokuthe ngqo okuyokwenzeka phakathi naleso sikhathi sovivinyo. Noma kunjalo, sikulindele ukuthi ukuphila ngeke kube lula nokuthi kuyodingeka sizidele ngandlela-thile. Ngekhulu lokuqala, amaKristu kwadingeka ashiye imizi yawo futhi akhuthazelele ubunzima ukuze aqhubeke ephila. (Marku 13:15-18) Kufanele sizibuze: ‘Ingabe ngikulungele ukudela izinto ezibonakalayo? Ingabe ngizimisele ukwenza noma yini edingekayo ukuze ngihlale ngiqotho kuJehova?’ Cabanga nje! Ngaleso sikhathi, yithina kuphela esiyobe sikhulekela uNkulunkulu wethu kumnyama kubomvu, njengoba kwenza umprofethi uDaniyeli.—Daniyeli 6:10, 11.

9, 10. (a) Isiphi isigijimi abantu bakaNkulunkulu abayosimemezela phakathi nosizi olukhulu? (b) Izitha zabantu bakaNkulunkulu ziyosabela kanjani?

⁹ Usizi olukhulu ngeke lube isikhathi sokushumayela ‘izindaba ezinhle  zombuso.’ Isikhathi sokushumayela leso sigijimi siyobe sidlulile. Kuyobe sekufike isikhathi ‘sokuphela’! (Mathewu 24:14) Abantu bakaNkulunkulu bayomemezela ngesibindi isigijimi sokwahlulelwa esinamandla esiyothinta bonke abantu. Kungenzeka leso sigijimi siyobe sithi izwe likaSathane elibi selizobhujiswa ngokuphelele. IBhayibheli lifanisa lesi sigijimi nesichotho lapho lithi: “Kwehlela isichotho esikhulu phezu kwabantu sivela ezulwini itshe ngalinye linesisindo esicishe sibe ngangethalenta, futhi abantu bahlambalaza uNkulunkulu ngenxa yenhlupho yesichotho, ngoba inhlupho yaso yayinkulu ngokungajwayelekile.”—IsAmbulo 16:21.

¹⁰ Izitha zethu ziyosizwa lesi sigijimi esinamandla. UJehova waphefumulela umprofethi uHezekeli ukuba achaze indlela iqembu lezizwe, eBhayibhelini elibizwa ngokuthi uGogi wakwaMagogi, eliyosabela ngayo: “Yilokhu iNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova ekushilo, ‘Ngalolo suku kuyofika izinto enhliziyweni yakho, ngokuqinisekile uyosongoza icebo elibi; uyothi: “Ngizokhuphukela ezweni lasemaphandleni elingabiyelwe. Ngizothelekela labo abangenasiphazamiso, abahleli belondekile, bonke behleli bengenaludonga, futhi abanamigoqo ngisho nazicabha.” Kuyoba ngenjongo yokuphanga kakhulu neyokuthola impango enkulu, ukuze ubuyisele isandla sakho ezindaweni ezibhuqiwe ezakhiwe kabusha naphezu kwesizwe esibuthwe ezizweni, esiqongelela umcebo nempahla, esihlala enkabeni yomhlaba.’” (Hezekeli 38:10-12) Abantu bakaNkulunkulu bayohluka kubo bonke abanye abantu, njengokungathi ‘bahlala enkabeni yomhlaba.’ Izizwe ziyobe zingasakwazi ukuzibamba. Ziyoshabashekela ukuhlasela abagcotshiweyo bakaJehova nalabo ababasekelayo.

11. (a) Yini okudingeka siyikhumbule ngendlela izenzakalo eziyolandelana ngayo phakathi nosizi olukhulu? (b) Abantu bayosabela kanjani lapho bebona izibonakaliso?

¹¹ Kuyobe sekwenzekani? IBhayibheli alisitsheli ukuthi izenzakalo ziyolandelana kanjani ngokuthe ngqo, kodwa cishe ezinye zazo ziyokwenzeka ngesikhathi esisodwa. Esiprofethweni sakhe esiphathelene nesiphelo sesimiso sezinto, uJesu wathi: “Kuyoba khona izibonakaliso elangeni nasenyangeni nasezinkanyezini, kube khona usizi lwezizwe emhlabeni, zingayazi indlela yokuphuma ngenxa yokuduma kolwandle nokuyaluza kwalo, kuyilapho abantu beba nesinxi ngenxa yokwesaba nokulindela izinto ezehlela umhlaba owakhiweyo; ngoba amandla amazulu ayonyakaziswa. Khona-ke bayobona iNdodana yomuntu iza ngefu inamandla nenkazimulo enkulu.” (Luka 21:25-27; funda uMarku 13:24-26.) Ingabe ukugcwaliseka kwalesi siprofetho kuyohlanganisa izibonakaliso nezenzakalo ezesabisayo esibhakabhakeni? Sizolinda sibone. Nokho, siyazi ukuthi lapho izitha zikaNkulunkulu zibona lezi zibonakaliso, ziyokwesaba futhi ziyokwethuka.

12, 13. (a) Kuyokwenzekani lapho uJesu eza ‘enamandla amakhulu nenkazimulo’? (b) Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ziyosabela kanjani ngaleso sikhathi?

¹² Kuyokwenzekani lapho uJesu eza ‘enamandla amakhulu nenkazimulo’? Uyovuza abathembekile, ajezise abangathembekile.  (Mathewu 24:46, 47, 50, 51; 25:19, 28-30) UJesu wasebenzisa umfanekiso ukuze akuchaze ngokuningiliziwe lokhu. Wathi: “Lapho iNdodana yomuntu ifika enkazimulweni yayo, nazo zonke izingelosi kanye nayo, khona-ke iyohlala phansi esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi esikhazimulayo. Zonke izizwe ziyobuthelwa phambi kwayo, futhi iyohlukanisa abantu omunye komunye, njengoba nje umalusi ehlukanisa izimvu ezimbuzini. Iyobeka izimvu ngakwesokunene sayo, kodwa izimbuzi ngakwesobunxele sayo.” (Mathewu 25:31-33) Kuyokwenzekani ngezimvu nangezimbuzi? Ziyokwahlulelwa. Izimbuzi noma abangathembekile, “bayomuka baye ekunqunyweni kwaphakade.” Kodwa izimvu noma abathembekileyo bayothola ukuphila okuphakade.—Mathewu 25:46.

¹³ Ziyosabela kanjani izimbuzi lapho ziqaphela ukuthi zizobhujiswa? ‘Ziyozishaya zilila.’ (Mathewu 24:30) Kodwa bayosabela kanjani abagcotshiweyo nalabo ababasekelayo? Bayokwenza lokho uJesu akusho: “Njengoba lezi zinto ziqala ukwenzeka, yimani niqonde futhi niphakamise amakhanda enu, ngoba ukukhululwa kwenu kuyasondela.”—Luka 21:28.

14, 15. Imuphi umsebenzi wokubutha oyokwenziwa ngemva kokuqala kokuhlasela kukaGogi wakwaMagogi, futhi uyokwenzeka kanjani?

¹⁴ Yini eyokwenzeka ngemva kokuba uGogi wakwaMagogi eqale ukuhlasela abantu bakaNkulunkulu? IBhayibheli lithi iNdodana yomuntu “iyothuma izingelosi zibuthele ndawonye abakhethiweyo  bayo bevela emimoyeni yomine, kusukela emkhawulweni womhlaba kuye emkhawulweni wezulu.” (Marku 13:27; Mathewu 24:31) Lo msebenzi wokubutha awubhekisele esikhathini lapho amaKristu agcotshiwe eqala ukukhethwa. Awubhekisele nasekubekweni uphawu okokugcina kwabagcotshiweyo abayobe besesemhlabeni. (Mathewu 13:37, 38) Lokho kubekwa uphawu okokugcina kwenzeka ngaphambi nje kokuqala kosizi olukhulu. (IsAmbulo 7:1-4) Pho, lo msebenzi wokubutha ubhekisele kumuphi? Ubhekisela esikhathini lapho abagcotshiweyo abayobe besesemhlabeni beyothola ngaso umvuzo wabo baye ezulwini. (1 Thesalonika 4:15-17; IsAmbulo 14:1) Lesi senzakalo siyokwenzeka esikhathini esithile ngemva kokuba uGogi wakwaMagogi eqale ukuhlasela. (Hezekeli 38:11) Ngaleso sikhathi, njengoba nje uJesu asho, “abalungileyo bayokhanya ngokukhazimulayo njengelanga embusweni kaYise.”—Mathewu 13:43. * (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.)

¹⁵ Ingabe lokhu kusho ukuthi abagcotshiwe ‘bayohlwithwa’? Abantu abaningi beLobukholwa bakholelwa ukuthi amaKristu ayothathwa ayiswe ezulwini ngomzimba wenyama. Bacabanga nokuthi bayobona uJesu ebuya ngokubonakalayo ezobusa umhlaba. Nokho, iBhayibheli libonisa ngokucacile ukuthi ukubuya kukaJesu kuyoba okungabonakali lapho lithi: “Isibonakaliso seNdodana yomuntu siyobonakala ezulwini,” nalapho lithi, uJesu uyoza ‘ephezu kwamafu ezulu.’ (Mathewu 24:30) IBhayibheli lithi futhi “inyama negazi akukwazi ukuzuza ifa lombuso kaNkulunkulu.” Ngakho, labo abayothathwa bayiswe ezulwini kuyodingeka baqale ‘bashintshwe, ngomzuzwana, ngokuphazima kweso, phakathi necilongo lokugcina.’ * (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.) (Funda eyoku-1 Korinte 15:50-53.) Asisebenzisi igama elithi “ukuhlwithwa” ekuchazeni lesi senzakalo ngenxa yokuhlobana kwalo nemfundiso yamanga yeLobukholwa. Noma kunjalo, abagcotshiweyo abathembekile abayobe besesemhlabeni bayobuthelwa ndawonye ngokuphazima kweso.

16, 17. Yini okumelwe yenzeke ngaphambi komshado weWundlu?

¹⁶ Lapho nje bonke abagcotshiweyo abangu-144 000 sebesezulwini, asengaqala-ke amalungiselelo okugcina omshado weWundlu. (IsAmbulo 19:9) Kodwa kunokuthile okumelwe kwenzeke ngaphambi kwaleso senzakalo esivusa amadlingozi. Khumbula ukuthi uGogi uyohlasela abantu bakaNkulunkulu insali yabagcotshiweyo isesemhlabeni. (Hezekeli 38:16) Bayosabela kanjani abantu bakaNkulunkulu? Bayolalela lezi ziqondiso: “Ngeke kudingeke ukuba nina nilwe kulokhu. Yimani ezindaweni zenu, yimani futhi nibone insindiso uJehova anenzela yona. . . . Ningesabi noma nethuke.” (2 IziKronike 20:17) Esikhathini esithile ngemva kokuqala kokuhlasela kukaGogi, bonke abagcotshiweyo abayobe besesemhlabeni bayothathwa bayiswe ezulwini. IsAmbulo 17:14 sibe sesisitshela ngesinyathelo esiyothathwa ezulwini ngalokho kuhlasela kukaGogi. Izitha zabantu bakaNkulunkulu ‘ziyokulwa neWundlu, kodwa, ngenxa  yokuthi liyiNkosi yamakhosi noMbusi wababusi, iWundlu liyozinqoba. Labo ababiziweyo nabakhethiweyo nabathembekileyo abakanye nalo, nabo bayozinqoba.’ Ngakho, uJesu kanye namakhosi agcotshiwe angu-144 000 ezulwini, bayokhulula abantu bakaNkulunkulu abasemhlabeni.

¹⁷ Lokho kukhululwa kuyoholela empini ye-Armagedoni, eyokhazimulisa igama likaJehova elingcwele. (IsAmbulo 16:16) Bonke abahlulelwa njengezimbuzi, noma abangathembekile, bayobhujiswa. Ububi ngeke busaba khona emhlabeni, futhi “isixuku esikhulu” siyosinda e-Armagedoni. Ekugcineni, kuyobe sekuyisikhathi sesiphetho esivusa amadlingozi sencwadi yesAmbulo, umshado weWundlu! (IsAmbulo 21:1-4) * (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.) Bonke abasindile emhlabeni bayokwamukeleka phambi kukaNkulunkulu futhi bajabulele uthando nokuphana kwakhe okukhulu. Silangazelela ukusibona leso sikhathi. Yeka indumezulu yomshado okuyoba yiyo!—Funda eyesi-2 Petru 3:13.

18. Njengoba sekuseduze ukuba izenzakalo ezivusa amadlingozi ezabikezelwa zenzeke, yini okufanele sizimisele ukuyenza?

¹⁸ Njengoba sekuseduze ukuba lezi zenzakalo ezivusa amadlingozi zenzeke, yini okufanele ngamunye wethu abe eyenza kwamanje? UJehova waphefumulela umphostoli uPetru ukuba alobe: “Njengoba zonke lezi zinto ziyoncibilika kanjalo, yeka ukuthi luhlobo luni lwabantu okufanele nibe yilo ezenzweni zokuziphatha ezingcwele nasezenzweni zokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu, nilindele futhi nikukhumbula njalo ukufika kosuku lukaJehova . . . Ngakho, bathandekayo, njengoba nilindele lezi zinto, yenzani konke okusemandleni enu ukuba ekugcineni anithole ningenabala, ningenasici futhi nisekuthuleni.” (2 Petru 3:11, 12, 14) Ngakho-ke, masizimisele ukugcina ukukhulekela kwethu kuhlanzekile, kungahlangene ngalutho nenkolo yamanga futhi sisekele iNkosi Yokuthula, uJesu Kristu.