1. Njengabaphostoli, kuyini esifisa ukukwazi?

 UJESU wayesezaqeda inkonzo yakhe emhlabeni njalo abafundi bakhe babefuna ngabomvu ukwazi ukuthi ikusasa lizabe linjani. Yikho-ke sekusele amalanga amalutshwana ukuthi afe, abaphostoli bakhe abane bambuza bathi: “Kuzakwenzakala nini lokhu na, njalo kuzakuba lesiboniso bani sokuza kwakho [“ukuba khona kwakho,” NW] lokucina kwesikhathi na?” (Mat. 24:3; Makho 13:3) UJesu wabaphendula esebenzisa isiphrofetho esasihlanganisa izinto ezinengi esitholakala kuMathewu izahluko-24 lo-25. Esiphrofethweni leso, uJesu wabikezela izehlakalo ezinengi eziqakathekileyo. Amazwi kaJesu aqakatheke kakhulu kithi ngoba lathi siyafisa kakhulu ukwazi ukuthi ikusasa lizabe linjani.

2. (a) Eminyakeni edlulileyo, besidinga ingcazelo ecacileyo mayelana lani? (b) Sizahlola yiphi imibuzo emithathu?

² Eminyakeni edlulileyo, izinceku zikaJehova bezithandaza zikhathi zonke, zichwayisisa ngesiphrofetho sikaJesu esiphathelane lezinsuku zokucina. Zizame ngamandla ukudinga ingcazelo ecacileyo mayelana lesikhathi sokugcwaliseka kwamazwi kaJesu. Ukuze sibone ukuthi ukuzwisisa kwethu kucaciswe njani, ake sihlole imibuzo emithathu ethi “nini.” “Ukuhlupheka okukhulu” kuqalisa nini? UJesu uzahlulela nini “izimvu” ‘lezimbuzi’? UJesu ‘uza’ nini kumbe ufika nini?​—Mat. 24:21; 25:31-33.

3. Eminyakeni edlulileyo, besisizwisisa njani isikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu?

³ Okweminyaka eminengi edlulileyo, sasicabanga ukuthi ukuhlupheka okukhulu kwaqalisa ngo-1914 eMpini Yomhlaba Wonke Yakuqala, lokuthi ‘lezozinsuku zaphungulwa’ nguJehova ngo-1918 lapho impi iphela ukuze abaseleyo kwabagcotshiweyo bathole ithuba lokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle ezizweni zonke. (Mat. 24:21, 22) Ngemva kokugqitshwa komsebenzi lo wokutshumayela, umbuso kaSathane wawuzatshabalaliswa. Yikho-ke kwakucatshangwa ukuthi ukuhlupheka okukhulu kulezigaba ezintathu: Kwakuzakuba lesiqalo (1914-1918), kwakuzamiswa okwesikhatshana (kusukela ngo-1918 kusiya phambili), njalo kwakuzaphela lapho kufika i-Amagedoni.

4. Yikuphi ukuhlolisisa okwenza sazwisisa ngendlela ecacileyo isiphrofetho sikaJesu mayelana lezinsuku zokucina?

 ⁴ Kodwa ngemva kokunye ukuhlolisiswa kwesiphrofetho sikaJesu sathola ukuthi ingxenye yesiphrofetho sikaJesu mayelana lezinsuku zokucina igcwaliseka kabili. (Mat. 24:4-22) Okwakuqala, sagcwaliseka eJudiya ngekhulu lokuqala C.E., njalo kuzakuba lokunye ukugcwaliseka kwaso emhlabeni wonke ezinsukwini zalamuhla. Ukuhlolisisa lokhu kwenza saphuma lezingcazelo ezithile. *

5. (a) Yisiphi isikhathi esinzima esaqalisa ngo-1914? (b) Isikhathi leso sobuhlungu bokuhelelwa sihambelana lasiphi isikhathi sekhulu lokuqala C.E.?

⁵ Okunye esakuzwisisayo yikuthi ingxenye yokuqala yokuhlupheka okukhulu kayiqalisanga ngo-1914. Ngani? Ngoba isiphrofetho esiseBhayibhilini siveza ukuthi ukuhlupheka okukhulu kuzaqalisa ngokuhlaselwa kwenkolo yamanga hatshi ngempi yokuhlaselana kwezizwe. Yikho-ke, okwenzakala ngo-1914 kwakungayisikho kuqalisa kokuhlupheka okukhulu kodwa ‘kwakuyikuqalisa kobuhlungu bokuhelelwa.’ (Mat. 24:8) Lokhu ‘kuqalisa kobuhlungu bokuhelelwa’ kuhambelana lalokho okwenzakala eJerusalema kanye laseJudiya kusukela ngo-33 C.E kusiya ku-66 C.E.

6. Kuyini okuzakuba yisiboniso sokuqalisa kokuhlupheka okukhulu?

⁶ Kuyini okuzakuba yisiboniso sokuqalisa kokuhlupheka okukhulu? UJesu wabikezela ukuthi: “Nxa libona kumi endaweni engcwele ‘amanyala aletha incithakalo’ okwakhulunywa ngomphrofethi uDanyeli, ofundayo kezwisise, lapho-ke akuthi labo abaseJudiya babalekele ezintabeni.” (Mat. 24:15, 16) Ekugcwalisekeni kokuqala, ‘ukuma endaweni engcwele’ kwenzakala ngo-66 C.E. lapho ibutho lamaRoma (‘amanyala’) lihlasela iJerusalema lethempeli lalo (indawo eyayingcwele ngokubona kwamaJuda). Ekugcwalisekeni okukhulu, ‘ukuma’ kuzakwenzakala nxa iNhlanganiso Yomanyano Wamazwe Omhlaba, i-United Nations (“amanyala” alezinsuku) ihlasela amasonto azithi ngawesiKhristu (angcwele ngokubona kwabantu abazithi bangamaKhristu) kanye lazozonke izingxenye zeBhabhiloni  eNkulu. Ukuhlasela lokhu kuchazwa kuSambulo 17:16-18. Isehlakalo leso sizakuba yikuqalisa kokuhlupheka okukhulu.

7. (a) Ekhulwini lakuqala, kwenziwani ukuze amaKhristu ‘aphephe’? (b) Kuyini esingakhangelela ukuthi kuzakwenzakala ngesikhathi esizayo?

⁷ UJesu wabikezela lokuthi: “Lezozinsuku zizaphungulwa.” Ekugcwalisekeni kokuqala, lokhu kwenzakala ngo-66 C.E. lapho ibutho lamaRoma ‘liphungula’ ukuhlasela kwalo. Ngemuva kwalokhu, amaKhristu agcotshiweyo ayeseJerusalema kanye laseJudiya abaleka ukuze ‘aphephe.’ (Bala uMathewu 24:22; Mal. 3:17) Yikho-ke kuyini esingakhangelela ukuthi kuzakwenzakala ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu okuzayo? UJehova ‘uzaphungula’ ukuhlaselwa kwenkolo yamanga, ihlaselwa yi-United Nations, esenzela ukuthi inkolo yeqiniso ingatshabalaliswa kanye lenkolo yamanga. Lokhu kuzakwenza ukuthi abantu bakaNkulunkulu basinde loba sekutheni.

8. (a) Kuzakwenzakalani nxa ingxenye yokuqala yokuhlupheka okukhulu isidlulile? (b) Kukhanya angani ilunga lokucina labayi-144 000 lizawamukela nini umvuzo walo wasezulwini? (Khangela inothi elisekucineni)

 ⁸ Kuzakwenzakalani nxa ingxenye yokuqala yokuhlupheka okukhulu isidlulile? Amazwi kaJesu atshengisa ukuthi kuzakuba lesikhathi esithile esizaqhubeka kuze kuqalise i-Amagedoni. Kuyini okuzakwenzakala ngaleso sikhathi? Impendulo ibhalwe kuHezekheli 38:14-16 lakuMathewu 24:29-31. (Bala.) * Ngemuva kwalokho, sizayibona i-Amagedoni, ezabe itshengisa ukuthi ukuhlupheka okukhulu sekufike komlindi uyacina, okufanana lokubhujiswa kweJerusalema ngo-70 C.E. (Mal. 4:1) Ngempi ye-Amagedoni eyabe itshengisa ukuthi ukuhlupheka okukhulu okuzayo sekuphela, ukuhlupheka okukhulu lokhu kuzabe kumangalisa, kuyisehlakalo ‘esingakaze sibe khona kulokhu kwadabuka umhlaba.’ (Mat. 24:21) Nxa isidlulile, ukubusa kukaKhristu kweminyaka eyinkulungwane kuzaqalisa.

9. Isiphrofetho sikaJesu mayelana lokuhlupheka okukhulu sibathinta njani abantu bakaJehova?

 ⁹ Isiphrofetho leso esimayelana lokuhlupheka okukhulu siyasiqinisa. Ngani? Ngoba senza sibe leqiniso lokuthi sizaphumelela loba kungaze kube laziphi izinhlupho, siphume ekuhluphekeni okukhulu siliqembu labantu bakaJehova. (Isam. 7:9, 14) Okusithokozisa ukwedlula konke yikuthi ngesikhathi se-Amagedoni, uJehova uzalwela ubukhosi bakhe njalo enze ukuthi ibizo lakhe elingcwele lihlonitshwe.​—Hubo. 83:18; Hez. 38:23.

10. Eminyakeni eyadlulayo, sasisizwisisa njani isikhathi sokwahlulela izimvu lezimbuzi?

¹⁰ Khathesi ake sihlole ukuthi enye ingxenye yesiphrofetho sikaJesu igcwaliseka nini, umzekeliso wokwahlulelwa kwezimvu lezimbuzi. (Mat. 25:31-46) Kuqala sasicabanga ukuthi ukwahlulelwa kwabantu njengezimvu kumbe izimbuzi kuzakwenzakala kuso sonke isikhathi sezinsuku zokucina, kusukela ngo-1914 kusiya phambili. Sasiphethe ngokuthi labo abangavumanga ukwamukela umlayezo woMbuso besebesifa ukuhlupheka okukhulu kungakaqalisi babezabe befe bezimbuzi okutsho ukuthi bengelathemba lokuphinda bavuswe.

11. Kungani ukwahlulelwa kwabantu njengezimvu kumbe izimbuzi kwakungeke kuqalise ngo-1914?

¹¹ Phakathi laphakathi kweminyaka yabo-1990, iNqabayokulinda yaphinda yahlola uMathewu 25:31 othi: “Nxa iNdodana yoMuntu isisiza ngenkazimulo yayo ikanye lezingilosi zonke, izahlala esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi ilenkazimulo yasezulwini.” Kwananzelelwa ukuthi uJesu waba yiNkosi yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu ngo-1914, kodwa kazange ‘ahlale esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi’ esenguMahluli ‘wezizwe zonke.’ (Mat. 25:32; qathanisa loDanyeli 7:13.) Lanxa kunjalo, umzekeliso wezimvu lezimbuzi uchaza ukuthi uJesu nguMahluli. (Bala uMathewu 25:31-34, 41, 46.) Ukwahlulela kukaJesu abantu njengezimvu kumbe izimbuzi kwakungeke kuqalise ngo-1914 ngoba uJesu ngalowomnyaka wayengakaqalisi umsebenzi wakhe wokuba nguMahluli wezizwe. * Pho-ke, uJesu uqalisa nini ukwahlulela?

12. (a) UJesu uzaqalisa nini ukwenza umsebenzi wakhe wokuba nguMahluli wezizwe? (b) Yiziphi izehlakalo ezichazwa kuMathewu 24:30, 31 lakuMathewu 25:31-33, 46?

¹² Isiphrofetho sikaJesu mayelana lezinsuku zokucina siveza ukuthi uzaqalisa ukwenza umsebenzi wakhe wokuba nguMahluli wezizwe zonke ngemva kokutshabalaliswa kwenkolo yamanga. Njengoba kutshiwo  kundima-8 ezinye izehlakalo ezizabakhona ngaleso sikhathi zibhalwe kuMathewu 24:30, 31. Nxa uhlola amavesi lawo, uzananzelela ukuthi uJesu ubikezela izehlakalo ezifanana lalezo eziqanjwe emzekelisweni wezimvu lezimbuzi. Ngokwesibonelo, iNdodana yomuntu iza ngenkazimulo kanye lezingilosi; izizwana zonke lezizwe zibuthaniswa ndawonye; labo abahlulelwa ukuthi bayizimvu ‘baphakamisa amakhanda [abo]’ ngenxa yokuthi bathola ‘ukuphila okungapheliyo.’ * Labo abahlulelwa ukuthi bayizimbuzi ‘bazalila’ sebebona ukuthi sebesiya ‘ekujezisweni kumbe ekuqunyweni kwaphakade.’​—Mat. 25:31-33, 46.

13. (a) UJesu uzabahlulela nini abantu njengezimvu kumbe izimbuzi? (b) Ukuzwisisa lokhu kwenza siyibone njani inkonzo yethu?

¹³ Nxa sesikhangele konke lokhu, singaphetha ngokuthini? Ekuhluphekeni okukhulu nxa uJesu esefikile uzakwahlulela abantu bezizwe zonke njengezimvu kumbe izimbuzi. Ngemva kwalokho, abanjengezimbuzi ‘bazajeziswa kumbe bazaqunywa’ phakade ngesikhathi se-Amagedoni, ezabe itshengisa ukuthi ukuhlupheka okukhulu sekuphela. Ukuzwisisa lokhu kwenza siyibone njani inkonzo yethu? Kuyasinceda ukuthi sibone ukuthi umsebenzi wokutshumayela uqakatheke kakhulu. Abantu baseselesikhathi sokuntshintsha indlela abacabanga ngayo besebeqalisa ukuhamba endleleni elukhonjwana “eya ekuphileni,” ukuhlupheka okukhulu kungakaqalisi. (Mat. 7:13, 14) Liqiniso ukuthi khathesi abantu bangakhanya angathi bayizimvu kumbe  bayizimbuzi. Lanxa kunjalo, kumele sikhumbule ukuthi ukwahlulela kokucina kokuthi ngubani oyimvu kumbe oyimbuzi kuzakwenzakala ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu. Yikho-ke, silesizathu esihle sokuthi siqhubeke sinika abantu abanengi kakhulu ithuba lokuthi balalele umlayezo woMbuso besebewulandela.

14, 15. Yiwaphi amavesi amane aphathelane lokufika kukaKhristu esikhathini esizayo esezokuba nguMahluli?

¹⁴ Ukuzwisisa kwethu izehlakalo lezi eziqakathekileyo kudinga ukulungisiswa yini nxa sesiphinda ukuhlolisisa isiphrofetho sikaJesu? Isiphrofetho lesi yiso esisinika impendulo. Ake sibone ukuthi njani.

¹⁵ Engxenyeni yesiphrofetho sikaJesu ebhalwe kuMathewu 24:29–25:46, into eyisiqokoqela uJesu akhuluma ngayo yilokho okuzakwenzakala ngesikhathi sezinsuku zokucina langesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu okuzayo. Esiphrofethweni leso, uJesu ukhuluma ‘ngokufika’ kwakhe kumbe ukuza kwakhe izikhathi ezingu-8. * Ekhuluma ngokuhlupheka okukhulu uthi: “Zizabona iNdodana yoMuntu isiza ngamayezi.” “Kalikwazi ukuthi iNkosi yenu izafika ngaluphi usuku.” Izafika ngesikhathi leso elizabe lingayikhumbuleli sona.” Emzekelisweni wakhe wezimvu lezimbuzi, uJesu uphinda athi: “INdodana yoMuntu isisiza ngenkazimulo yayo.” (Mat. 24:30, 42, 44; 25:31) Amavesi la womane atsho ukufika kukaKhristu esikhathini esizayo esezokuba nguMahluli. Kungaphi esiphrofethweni sikaJesu lapho esithola khona amavesi amane aseleyo akhuluma ngokufika kwakhe?

16. Yiphi eminye imibhalo ekhuluma ngokufika kukaJesu?

¹⁶ Ekhuluma ngenceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo, uJesu uthi: ‘Kuzakuba kuhle kuleyonceku inkosi yayo ezakuthi ibuya kumbe isifikile iyifumane isenza njalo.’ Emzekelisweni wezintombi, uJesu uthi: ‘Kodwa kwathi besayathenga, umyeni wafika [“wabuya,” Kingdom Interlinear].’ Emzekelisweni wamathalenta, uJesu uthi: “Ngemuva kwesikhathi eside umnini walezozisebenzi wabuya.” Emzekelisweni ofananayo, inkosi ithi: “Ukuze ekufikeni kwami [“nxa sengibuyile,” Int] ngamukele okwami. (The Holy Bible in Ndebele.)” (Mat. 24:46; 25:10, 19, 27) Amavesi la amane aphathelane lokufika kukaJesu atsho siphi isikhathi?

17. Kuyini esake sakutsho mayelana lokubuya kukaJesu okukhulunywa ngakho kuMathewu 24:46?

 ¹⁷ Eminyakeni eyadlulayo, emabhukwini ethu sake sathi amavesi la amane asendimeni edlulileyo akhuluma ngokufika kukaJesu kumbe ukubuya kwakhe ngo-1918. Ngokwesibonelo, khangela amazwi kaJesu mayelana ‘lenceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo.’ (Bala uMathewu 24:45-47.) Sasizwisisa ukuthi ‘ukubuya’ okukhulunywa ngakho kuvesi-46 kwakuhambelana lesikhathi uJesu abuya ngaso ezohlola indlela abagcotshiweyo ababemkhonza ngayo ngo-1918 lokuthi wabeka inceku yakhe ukuthi ibe ngumlawuli wayo yonke imfuyo yakhe ngo-1919. (Mal. 3:1) Kodwa okunye ukuhlolisiswa kwesiphrofetho sikaJesu okwenziweyo kutshengisa ukuthi kumele silungisise okuthile endleleni esizwisisa ngayo ezinye izinto eziphathelane lesiphrofetho sikaJesu. Ngenxa yani?

18. Ukuhlola sonke nje isiphrofetho sikaJesu kwenza siphethe ngokuthini mayelana lokubuya kwakhe?

¹⁸ Nxa sisehla lamavesi sisiyafika kuMathewu 24:46, ibala elithi “ibuya” ngasosonke isikhathi litsho isikhathi lapho uJesu abuya khona ezomemezela lokwahlulela ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu. (Mat. 24:46, 30, 42, 44) Njengoba kutshiwo endimeni-12, ‘ukuza’ kukaJesu okukhulunywa ngakho kuMathewu 25:31 lakho kutsho isikhathi sokwahlulela esizayo. Ngakho-ke kulengqondo ukuthi siphethe ngokuthi ukubuya kukaJesu ezobeka inceku ethembekileyo ukuthi ibe ngumlawuli wayo yonke imfuyo yakhe, okukhulunywa ngakho kuMathewu 24:46, 47, kuphinda kutsho ukubuya kwakhe okuzakwenzakala ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu. * Yikho-ke ukuhlola sonke nje isiphrofetho sikaJesu kwenza kucace ukuthi amavesi wonke la angu-8 aphathelane lokubuya kwakhe, akhuluma ngesikhathi sokwahlulela esizayo esizaba khona ekuhluphekeni okukhulu.

19. Yikuphi ukuzwisisa okulungisisiweyo esixoxe ngakho, njalo ezihlokweni ezilandelayo kuzaphendulwa yiphi imibuzo?

¹⁹ Ngamafitshane, kuyini esikufundileyo? Ekuqaliseni kwesihloko lesi, kube lemibuzo emithathu ethi “nini.” Siqale ngokuchaza ukuthi ukuhlupheka okukhulu akuqalisanga ngo-1914 kodwa kuzaqalisa nxa i-United Nations isihlasela iBhabhiloni eNkulu. Sasesihlola ukuthi kungani ukwahlulela kukaJesu izimvu lezimbuzi kungaqalisanga ngo-1914 kodwa kuzaqalisa ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu. Sicine ngokuhlola ukuthi kungani ukufika kukaJesu ukuzobeka inceku ethembekileyo ukuthi ibe ngumlawuli wayo yonke imfuyo yakhe kungenzakalanga ngo-1919 kodwa kuzenzakala ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu. Yikho-ke, yonke imibuzo le ethi “nini” ikhuluma ngesikhathi esifananayo esizayo, isikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu. Ukuzwisisa lokhu osekulungisisiwe kwenza siwuzwisise njani umzekeliso wenceku ethembekileyo? Kwenza siyizwisise njani eminye imizekeliso kumbe imifanekiso kaJesu egcwaliseka esikhathini lesi sokucina? Imibuzo le eqakathekileyo sizaxoxa ngayo ezihlokweni ezilandelayo.