1, 2. Izinceku zikaJehova zinasiphi isimo sengqondo?

IZINCEKU zikaJehova ziye zakulinda ngesineke ukugcwaliseka kweziprofetho. Ngokwesibonelo, uJeremiya wayelindele ukuba abaseBhabhiloni babhubhise uJuda, futhi nebala kwenzeka ngo-607 B.C.E. (Jeremiya 25:8-11) U-Isaya waprofetha ukuthi uJehova wayezowabuyisela kwaJuda amaJuda adingisiwe, wathi: “Bayajabula bonke abahlala bemlindele.” (Isaya 30:18) NoMika wayelindele ukugcwaliseka kwezithembiso zikaJehova, wathi: “Ngizohlala ngibheke uJehova.” (Mika 7:7) Kwaphela amakhulu eminyaka izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ziqiniseka ukuthi uMesiya othenjisiwe, noma uKristu, wayezofika.—Luka 3:15; 1 Petru 1:10-12. * (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.)

² Namuhla, nathi silindele ukugcwaliseka kweziprofetho eziphathelene noMbuso kaJehova. NjengeNkosi yalowo Mbuso, maduze uJesu uzokhulula izinceku zikaNkulunkulu kuleli zwe eliyingozi. Uzobhubhisa abantu ababi, aqede konke  ukuhlupheka. (1 Johane 5:19) Ngakho, kumelwe siqhubeke silindele ukuba usuku lukaJehova lufike noma nini futhi senze konke esingakwenza ukuze silulungele.

3. Uma sekuyisikhathi eside silindele ukuba ukuphela kufike, yini okungenzeka sizibuza yona?

³ Asive simagange ukubona usuku lapho intando kaNkulunkulu iyokwenziwa emhlabeni. (Mathewu 6:10) Kodwa uma sekuyiminyaka eminingi silindele ukuba ukuphela kufike, kungenzeka siqale ukuzibuza, ‘Kungani kufanele siqhubeke silindele ukuphela ukuba kufike maduze?’

4. Kungani kubalulekile ukuba ‘sihlale silindile’?

⁴ UJesu wayala abalandeli bakhe ukuba ‘bahlale belindile’ futhi ‘bahlale bephapheme.’ Yingakho kubalulekile ukuba siqhubeke silindele ukuba ukuphela kufike maduze. (Mathewu 24:42; Luka 21:34-36) Ngaphezu kwalokho, inhlangano kaJehova isikhumbuza njalo ukuba ‘silindele futhi sikukhumbule njalo ukufika kosuku lukaJehova’ nokuba sihlale sigxile ezithembisweni zikaJehova zezwe elisha.—Funda eyesi-2 Petru 3:11-13.

5. Isiphi esinye isizathu esinaso sokuqhubeka silindele usuku lukaJehova?

⁵ Uma abalandeli bakaJesu bekhulu lokuqala kwakudingeka bahlale belindele usuku lukaJehova, khona-ke kubaluleke nakakhulu kithi namuhla. Ngani? Ngoba isibonakaliso uJesu asinikeza sibonisa ukuthi ubelokhu eyiNkosi yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu kusukela ngo-1914 nokuthi siphila ezinsukwini zokugcina, noma ‘esiphelweni sesimiso sezinto.’ Ngokwesibonelo, njengoba nje uJesu aprofetha, izimo zezwe ziya ziba zimbi nakakhulu futhi izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso zishunyayelwa kuwo wonke umhlaba. (Mathewu 24:3, 7-14) UJesu akashongo ukuthi izinsuku zokugcina zaziyoba zinde kangakanani, ngakho kumelwe silindele ukuba ukuphela kufike noma nini.

6. Sazi kanjani ukuthi izimo zezwe zizoba zimbi nakakhulu njengoba sisondela ekupheleni?

⁶ Kungenzeka yini ukuthi inkulumo ethi ‘isiphelo sesimiso sezinto’ ibhekisela esikhathini esiseza lapho izwe lizoba libi nakakhulu? IBhayibheli lithi abantu bazoba babi nakakhulu “ezinsukwini zokugcina.” (2 Thimothewu 3:1, 13; Mathewu 24:21; IsAmbulo 12:12) Ngakho, nakuba izinto zizimbi impela manje, siyazi ukuthi zizoqhubeka ziba zimbi nakakhulu.

7. UMathewu 24:37-39 usifundisani ngezimo zezwe phakathi nezinsuku zokugcina?

⁷ Abanye bangase bacabange ukuthi ngaphambi ‘kosizi olukhulu,’ kuyoba nezimpi kuwo wonke amazwe futhi iningi labantu liyobe ligula noma libulawa indlala. (IsAmbulo 7:14) Kodwa uma bekungenzeka lokho, bekuyoba sobala kuwo wonke umuntu ukuthi kugcwaliseka iziprofetho zeBhayibheli. Bekuyocacela ngisho nabantu abangenasithakazelo kulokho iBhayibheli elikushoyo. Khumbula ukuthi uJesu wathi ezinsukwini zokugcina iningi labantu ngeke ‘linake.’ Liyobe liziphilela ukuphila kwalo okuvamile bese lishaqeka lapho kufika usuku lukaJehova. (Funda uMathewu 24:37-39.) Kusobala ukuthi akufanele silindele ukuba izimo zezwe zibe zimbi kakhulu ngaphambi ‘kosizi olukhulu’ kangangokuthi abantu bayophoqeleka ukuba bakholelwe ukuthi ukuphela kuseduze.—Luka 17:20; 2 Petru 3:3, 4.

8. Ngenxa yokuthi sisiphaphamele isibonakaliso sikaJesu, yini esiqiniseka ngayo?

 ⁸ Isibonakaliso uJesu asinikeza sasihloselwe ukunikeza abalandeli bakhe isixwayiso esicacile mayelana nesikhathi ababeyobe bephila kuso. Abalandeli bakaJesu baye bahlala bephapheme. (Mathewu 24:27, 42) Kusukela ngo-1914, izingxenye ezihlukahlukene zesibonakaliso sikaJesu bezilokhu zigcwaliseka. Siyaqiniseka ukuthi ngempela siphila ezinsukwini zokugcina, ‘esiphelweni sesimiso sezinto.’ UJehova usenqumile ukuthi uzolibhubhisa nini izwe elibi likaSathane.

9. Kungani kumelwe siqhubeke silindele ukuba ukuphela kufike maduze?

⁹ Ngakho, kungani kumelwe siqhubeke silindele ukuba ukuphela kufike maduze? Kungenxa yokuthi silalela uJesu Kristu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, sibona ngokucacile ukuthi isibonakaliso uJesu asinikeza mayelana nezinsuku zokugcina siyagcwaliseka. Siyakholwa ukuthi ukuphela kuseduze, hhayi ngoba sethemba noma yini esiyizwayo, kodwa ngoba siqiniseka ukuthi iziprofetho zeBhayibheli ziyagcwaliseka. Kumelwe sihlale siphapheme futhi sikulungele ukufika kokuphela.

10, 11. (a) Kungani uJesu atshela abafundi bakhe ukuba ‘bahlale belindile’? (b) UJesu watshela abalandeli bakhe ukuba benzeni uma ukuphela kungafiki ngokushesha njengoba belindele? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

¹⁰ Abaningi bethu sebeneminyaka bekhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka futhi bekulindele ngokulangazela ukufika kosuku lwakhe. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sesilinde isikhathi esingakanani, kumelwe siqhubeke silindele ukuba lolo suku lufike ngokushesha. Kudingeka sibe sikulungele lapho uJesu efika ezobhubhisa izwe likaSathane. Khumbula lokho uJesu atshela abalandeli bakhe ukuba bakwenze: “Hlalani nibhekile, nihlale niphapheme, ngoba anazi ukuthi sinini isikhathi esimisiwe. Kunjengomuntu owashiya indlu yakhe waya kude, wanika izinceku zakhe igunya, ngayinye wayinika umsebenzi wayo, wayala umlindisango ukuba ahlale elindile. Ngakho-ke hlalani nilindile, ngoba anazi ukuthi inkosi yendlu iyobuya nini, ilanga selishonile noma phakathi kwamabili noma ekukhaleni kwezinkukhu noma ekuseni kakhulu; ukuze kuthi lapho ifika kungazelelwe, inganitholi nilele. Kodwa lokho engikusho kini ngikusho kubo bonke, Hlalani nilindile.”—Marku 13:33-37.

¹¹ Lapho abalandeli bakaJesu beqonda ukuthi wayeqale ukubusa ngo-1914, baqaphela ukuthi ukuphela kwakungafika noma nini. Ngakho, bakulungela ngokwenza okwengeziwe emsebenzini wokushumayela. UJesu wathi wayengase afike isikhathi sesidlule kakhulu kunalokho ababekulindele, “ekukhaleni kwezinkukhu noma ekuseni kakhulu.” Uma kwenzeka lokho, yini abalandeli bakhe okwakuyodingeka bayenze? UJesu wathi: “Hlalani nilindile.” Ngakho, ngisho noma sinomuzwa wokuthi  sekuyisikhathi eside silindile, lokhu akusho ukuthi ukuphela kusekude noma ukuthi ngeke kufike kulesi sikhathi esiphila kuso.

12. Yini uHabakuki ayibuza uJehova, futhi uNkulunkulu wamphendula wathini?

¹² Umprofethi uHabakuki walinda ngesineke ebe eshumayela ngokubhujiswa kweJerusalema. Nabanye abaprofethi bangaphambi kwakhe babeshumayele leso sigijimi iminyaka eminingi. UHabakuki wayebona ukuthi ububi nokungabi nabulungisa kwakukukhulu kunanini ngaphambili. Wancenga uJehova ecela usizo, wambuza: “O Jehova, kuyoze kube nini ngikhalela usizo?” Nakuba uJehova engashongo ukuthi ukuphela kwakuyofika nini, wamthembisa: ‘Ngeke kwephuze.’ UJehova wamtshela nokuba ‘ahlale ekulindele.’—Funda uHabakuki 1:1-4; 2:3.

13. Yini uHabakuki ayengase ayicabange, futhi kungani lokho kwakungaba ingozi?

¹³ Cabanga nje ukube uHabakuki wakhathala ukulinda ukuphela, wabe esethi: ‘Sekuyiminyaka ngilindele ukuba iJerusalema libhujiswe. Kusazothatha isikhathi eside ngaphambi kokuba ukuphela kufike. Akudingeki ukuba ngilokhu ngishumayela ngakho. Bakhona abanye abangashumayela.’ Kwakuyokwenzekani ukube wacabanga kanjalo? Wayeyolahlekelwa umusa kaJehova. Uma ukuphela kwakungafika engakulungele, wayengalahlekelwa nawukuphila kwakhe.

14. Kungani siyombonga uJehova ngokuthi uye wasixwayisa ukuba sihlale sikulindele ukuphela?

¹⁴ Zicabange ususezweni elisha. Zonke izenzakalo ezaprofethwa mayelana nezinsuku zokugcina zenzeke njengoba nje uJehova ayeshilo. Umethemba kunanini uJehova, futhi uqiniseka nakakhulu ukuthi konke okunye akuthembisile uzokwenza. (Funda uJoshuwa 23:14.) Umbonga kakhulu uJehova ngokuthi wabeka isikhathi esifanele sokuletha ukuphela nangokuthi wabaxwayisa abantu bakhe ukuba bahlale bekulindele.—IzEnzo 1:7; 1 Petru 4:7.

15, 16. Kungani kufanele senze konke esingakwenza emsebenzini wokushumayela kulesi sikhathi sokuphela?

¹⁵ Inhlangano kaJehova izolokhu isikhumbuza ukuba sigxilise ukuphila kwethu ekumkhonzeni. Lezi zikhumbuzo azisisizi kuphela ukuba sihlale simatasa ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu kodwa nokuba sibone ngokucacile ukuthi isigijimi sethu siyaphuthuma.  Siyaqiniseka ukuthi isibonakaliso uJesu asinikeza siyagcwaliseka kwamanje nokuthi ukuphela kuzofika maduze. Ngakho, sibeka uJehova kuqala ekuphileni kwethu futhi siyaqhubeka sishumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso.—Mathewu 6:33; Marku 13:10.

¹⁶ Lapho sishumayela izindaba ezinhle kwabanye, sibasiza ukuba basinde ekubhujisweni kwezwe likaSathane okuzokwenzeka maduze. Enye yezinhlekelele zasolwandle ezimbi kakhulu yenzeka ngo-1945 lapho kucwila umkhumbi i-Wilhelm Gustloff. Kwafa izinkulungwane zabantu. Udade othile nomyeni wakhe batakulwa kulowo mkhumbi. Ukhumbula ukuthi ngisho nangesikhathi umkhumbi usucwila, owesifazane othile wayelokhu ekhala: “Izikhwama zami! Izikhwama zami! Ubucwebe bami! Bonke ubucwebe bami bulé egumbini elisezansi. Ngilahlekelwe yikho konke!” Kodwa abanye abagibeli baqonda ukuthi yini eyayibaluleke kakhulu futhi bazikhandla besindisa ukuphila kwabanye abantu. Namuhla, ukuphila kwabantu kusengozini. Nathi sifuna ukuba njengalabo bagibeli abangenabugovu, sigxile ekuphuthumeni komsebenzi wethu wokushumayela. Kudingeka senze konke esingakwenza ekusizeni abantu basinde ekupheleni kwalesi simiso.

17. Kungani kufanele sikholelwe ukuthi ukuphela kungafika noma nini?

¹⁷ Sibona ngokucacile ukuthi iziprofetho zeBhayibheli ziyagcwaliseka  nokuthi ukuphela kwalesi simiso esibi kuseduze kakhulu. Silindele ukuba “izimpondo eziyishumi” kanye “nesilo sasendle” zijikele inkolo yamanga, iBhabhiloni Elikhulu. (IsAmbulo 17:16) Akufanele sicabange ukuthi lokho kuyodinga isikhathi eside ukuba kwenzeke. Ungakhohlwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ‘uyokufaka ezinhliziyweni zazo’ ukuba zihlasele inkolo yamanga nokuthi lokhu kungenzeka ngokushesha futhi noma nini! (IsAmbulo 17:17) Ukuphela kwezwe likaSathane elibi kuseduze. Ngakho, kufanele silalele isixwayiso sikaJesu: “Qaphelani ukuba izinhliziyo zenu zingalokothi zisindwe ukuminza nokuphuza kakhulu nezinkathazo zokuphila, ngokungazelelwe lolo suku lunifice ngaso leso sikhathi, njengogibe.” (Luka 21:34, 35; IsAmbulo 16:15) Masihlale siphapheme futhi simatasa enkonzweni kaJehova, siqiniseka ukuthi ‘uyasithatha isinyathelo ngenxa yalowo ohlala emlindele.’—Isaya 64:4.

18. Imuphi umbuzo ozophendulwa esihlokweni esilandelayo?

¹⁸ Njengoba sisalinde ukuphela kwaleli zwe elibi, kufanele silalele iseluleko somfundi uJude: “Bathandekayo, ngokuzakha okholweni lwenu olungcwelengcwele, nangokuthandaza ngomoya ongcwele, zigcineni othandweni lukaNkulunkulu, nibe nilindele isihe seNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu ninombono wokuphila okuphakade.” (Jude 20, 21) Kodwa singabonisa kanjani ukuthi silindele ukuba izwe elisha likaNkulunkulu lifike maduze nokuthi siyalilangazelela? Lokhu sizoxoxa ngakho esihlokweni esilandelayo.