1. Itjho isibonelo sokuthi kuqakatheke ngani ukwazi ukuthi sikuphi nesikhathi nje, nokuthi kwenzekani njenganje. (Qala isithombe esisekuthomeni.)

NASIBONA isikhathi sitjhidela bona umhlangano uthome, siyazi ukuthi kufuze sihlale phasi silalele nombhino. Sikuthabela khulu ukulalela umbhino esiwenzelwe yi-Watchtower orchestra, phela usisiza ekutheni silungise iinhliziyo nemikhumbulwethu ukuze sikghone ukulalela kuhle. Kuthi kusese njalo kube nabanye abangatjheji ukuthi umhlangano sele uzokuthoma, nawuthi uyabaqala bazicocela nabangani babo. Umrarwabo kukuthi akhenge bahlale balindile, ngombana abatjheji ukuthi sikhathi bani, abe ababoni nokubona ukuthi kuhlekuhle kwenzekani emhlanganweni, nanguya nosihlalo sekasendaweni yesikhulumi, umbhino uthomile nabantu sebahlezi phasi. Isibonelwesi singasirhelebha sibone ukuthi kuqakatheke kangangani ukuhlala silindile “ukubandabela kwesikhathi,” okuyinto ezokwenzeka esikhathini esingaphelisi ihliziyo. Yini kuhlekuhle esiyilindeleko le?

2. Kubayini uJesu atjela abafundi bakhe ukuthi kumele ‘bahlale balindile’?

² UJesu Krestu wathi nakakhuluma ‘ngokuphela kwesikhathi’ watjela abafundi bakhe wathi: “Qaphelani!” Bekatjho ukuthi kufuze bahlale baphapheme. Kubayini? Wahlathulula wathi: “Qaphelani! Yelelani! Anazi bona isikhatheso sizokufika nini.”  Wabuye wathi: “Hlalani niqaphile.” (Mat. 24:3; funda uMarkosi 13:32-37.) Ukulandisa kwakaMatewu kutjengisa ukuthi uJesu wayelelisa abalandeli bakhe wathi: “Yeke, hlalani nilindile ngombana anazi bona iKosenu izakuza nini. . . . Nani-ke kumele nihlale nilindile ngombana iNdodana yoMuntu izakufika ngesikhathi eningakayilindeli ngaso.” Wabuye wathi: “Ngalokho hlalani nilindile ngombana ilanga nesikhathi anisazi.”—Mat. 24:42-44; 25:13.

3. Kubayini silwela ukulalela isiyeleliso sakaJesu?

³ Nathi njengombana siboFakazi kaJehova siyawalalela amezwi atjhiwo nguJesu la. Begodu siyalemuka bona siphila ‘esikhathini sokuphela’ nokuthi ‘nakuziinhlupheko ezimbi’ zona zisemnyangwa! (Dan. 12:4; Mat. 24:21) Iphaseli loke nje lizele ngezipi, ukuziphatha kumbi, abantu abalawuleki, amasondo ahlangahlangene, ukudla kuyatlhayela, ngapha magulo-kazi angapheliko nokusikinyeka kwephasi. Nanyana kunjalo abantu bakaJehova bona baphasi phezulu nokwenza umsebenzi okarisako lo, wokutjhumayela iindaba ezimnandi ephasini loke. (Mat. 24:7, 11, 12, 14; Luk. 21:11) Yeke soke sele sibhincela ilanga leKosi elizakweli, sifuna ukwazi ukuthi lizokutjho ukuthini kithi, nokuthi lizowufeza njani umnqopho kaZimu.—Mar. 13:26, 27.

4. (a) Kubayni kunengqondo ukukholelwa ukuthi uJesu sekayazi ukuthi i-Arimagedoni izokufika nini? (b) Khuyini esingaqiniseka ngayo ngitjho nanyana singazi ukuthi iinhlupheko ezimbi zizokuthoma nini?

⁴ Omunye nomunye umhlangano unesikhathi othoma ngaso. Yinto soke esiyaziko leyo, kodwana into engeze sayazi kukuthi iinhlupheko ezimbi zizokuthoma ngawuphi umnyaka, ilanga nesikhathi. UJesu nakasephasini wathi: “Akakho noyedwa owaziko ngelangelo nangesikhatheso, neengilozi ezisezulwini azazi litho, ngitjho neNdodana ngokwayo ayazi; kodwana nguBaba kwaphela owaziko.” (Mat. 24:36) Begodu uJehova wenze uKrestu waba namandla ukuze azokuhlula iphasi lakaSathaneli. (IsAm. 19:11-16) Ngebangelo-ke kunengqondo ukuphetha ngokuthi uJesu njengombana sikhuluma sekayazi ukuthi i-Arimagedoni izokufika nini. Kodwana thina-ke abe asazi litho. Kuqakatheke khulu ukuthi sihlale siphapheme bekufike iinhlupheko ezikulu. Ngombana uJehova yena uyazi ukuthi ilangelo lizokufika nini. Uqalile njengombana isikhathi sokuthoma kweenhlupheko ezimbi sibandamela, begodu “angeze besiriyade!” (Funda uRhabakhukhu 2:1-3.) Singaqiniseka njani?

5. Itjho isibonelo esitjengisa ukuthi iimphorofido zakaJehova zizaliseka njengombana atjho?

⁵ Esikwaziko kukuthi zoke iimphorofido uJehova azibikezelako zenzeka njengokutjho kwakhe. Watjhaphulula ama-Israyeli eGibhide ngesikhathi esihle khulu. UMosi nakakhuluma ngoNisani 14 wathi: “Kwathi ngelanga lokugcina lokuhlangana kweminyaka emakhulu amane namatjhumi amathathu, yoke ihlangano [kaJehova] yaphuma enarheni yeGibhide ngeengaba zayo.” (Eks. 12:40-42) Iminyaka “emakhulu amane namatjhumi amathathu” yathoma lokha isivumelwano saka-Abrahama nasithoma ukusebenza ngomnyaka ka-1943. (Gal. 3:17, 18) Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi uJehova watjela u-Abrahamu wathi: “Yazi mbala bona iinzukulwana zakho zizakuba ziinkhonzi enarheni engasiyo yazo. Zizakulotjha abantu benarha leyo abazazigandelela iminyaka emakhulu amane.” (Gen. 15:13; IzE. 7:6) Iminyaka “emakhulu amane” yathoma ngomnyaka ka-1913 lokha u-Itjhimayeli nakahleka u-Isaka amkokomeja nokumkokomeja nakalunyulwako,  bese yaphela lokha nabaphuma eGibhide ngonyaka ka-1513. (Gen. 21:8-10; Gal. 4:22-29) Lokho kukubeka ebaleni ukuthi uJehova wakutjho kusasele iminyaka emakhulu amane bona abantu bakhe bazokuphuma eGibhide.

6. Kubayini kufuze siqiniseke ukuthi uJehova uzosisindisa?

⁶ UJotjhuwa naye bekakhona lokha abantwana bakwa-Israyeli nabakhitjhwa eGibhide. Yeke watjela woke ama-Israyeli wathi: “Kumele nazi ngeenhliziyo zenu zoke nangemiphefumulwenu yoke bonyana akunalitho elakhe langaba yipumelelo kikho koke okuhle [uJehova] uZimenu anithembisa khona. Koke kwenzeka njengokwesithembiso, akunalitho elingazange libe yipumelelo.” (Jotj. 23:2, 14) Nathi uJehova usithembise ukuthi uzosiphulusa eenhluphekweni ezimbi, yeke kufuze siqiniseke bona uzosisindisa njengokutjho kwakhe. Okufuze sikwenze nasifuna ukusinda kukuthi sihlale silindile.

7, 8. (a) Ekadeni bewuyini umsebenzi kanogada, begodu kusifundisani thina lokho? (b) Iza nesibonelo sokuthi kungenzekani nange abonogada bangalala.

⁷ Singafunda emlandweni ukuthi kubayini kuqakathekile ukuhlala silindile. Ekadeni iindawo ezinengi bezivikelwa ngemithangala-kazi, isibonelo salokho yiJerusalema. Imithangala leyo beyibavikela khulu ngitjho nalokha abantu nabafuna ukubasahlela, bese kube neendawo eziphezulu ebezibasiza ukuthi babone koke okwenzekako. Ubusuku nemini emageyidini nemthangaleni bekufuze kube nonogada. Bona ke ebekufuze bakwenze kukuthi lokha nababona ingozi bayelelise boke abantu. (Isa. 62:6) Bebazi kuhle ukuthi kuqakatheke kangangani ukuhlala bavule amehlo, ngombana nabangenzi njalo bekungahlongakala abantu abanengi tle!—Hez. 33:6.

⁸ Isazi sezomlando wamaJuda uJosephus satlola ukuthi, ngomnyaka ka-70 amabutho weRoma angena esiThaleni se-Antonia ebesakhelene namaboda weJerusalema, athumba akuthumbako ngebanga lokuthi abonogada babanjwa buthongo balala. Yeke, atjhisa ithempeli, okuyinto eyabangela iJerusalema namaJuda iinhlupheko ezihlahlathelisako.

9. Yini abantu abanengi namhlanjesi abangayiyeleliko?

⁹ Neenarheni ezinengi urhulumende uyaqinisekisa ukuthi emageyidini kuhlala “kunabalindi,” urhulumende usebenzisa neminye iminyango yezokuzivikela. Bahlala bavule amehlo ukuze babone ukuthi akunalitho elizakufaka isitjhaba emrarweni. Okumbi ‘ngabalindabo’ kukuthi abayeleli ukuthi kunorhulumende omkhulu obusa ezulwini ophethwe nguKrestu, abayeleli nokuthi urhulumende lo uzowaletha njani amatjhuguluko wangomuso. Urhulumende loyo uzokuphelisa yoke imibuso eminye. (Isa. 9:6, 7; 56:10; Dan. 2:44) Kungebangelo kufuze sihlale silindile begodu sihlale sinobuhlobo obuhle noZimu, nasenza njalo sizokuhlala sililindele ilanga lokwahluleleli.—Rhu. 130:6.

10, 11. (a) Yini okufuze siyitlhogomele begodu kubayini? (b) Yini ekwenza uqiniseke bona uDeveli uyifiphazile imikhumbulo yabantu ukuze bangafuni nokuzwa ngesiphorofido seBhayibheli?

¹⁰ Akhucabange nganangu unogada, ubusuku boke bekasolo agadile. Kuthi nasele kuzokubetha isikhathi sokuthi atjhayise, azizwe adinwe kwemhlolo athome ayende-ke kwanjesi bekalale nokulala. Kungendlela efanako-ke nangakithi, njengombana ukuphela kwephaseli kutjhidela kuzokuba budisi khulu ukuhlala  silindile. Akhucabange ukuthi kuzokuba yinto ebuhlungu kangangani nange singabhalelwa ukuhlala silindile! Akhesifunde ngezinto ezintathu ezingakwenza kube budisi ukuthi sihlale silindile nange singakavuli amehlo.

¹¹ UDeveli uphasi phezulu nokukhohlisa abantu. UJesu ngaphambi kokuthi ahlongakale wayelelisa abafundi bakhe wabe wabuyelela kathathu athi kufuze bayelele “umbusi wephaseli.” (Jwa. 12:31; 14:30; 16:11) UJesu bekazi ukuthi uDeveli uzokwenza koke angakwenza ukuze enze abantu bangasaboni ukuqakatheka kokuhlala balindile. (Zef. 1:14) USathana uberegisa yona imibuso yephaseli namasondo wamala la ukuze afiphaze imikhumbulo yabantu. Nawukhuluma nabantu khuyini oyitlhogomelako? Kghani uDeveli ‘akakayifiphazi imikhumbulo yabangakholwako’ ukwenzela bona abantu bangaboni ukuthi siphila emalangeni wokuphela nokuthi uKrestu sele abusa emBusweni kaZimu? (2 Kor. 4:3-6) Ngitjho nanyana silinga kangangani ukubayelelisa ngokuthi ukuphela kwephaseli kutjhidele bavele bathi, “Ngiyathokoza” abafuni nokuzwa ukuthi sibaphatheleni.

12. Kubayini kungakafuzi sivumele uDeveli ukuthi asidurhise?

¹² Njengombana abanye abantu bangafuni nokuzwa ngeBhayibheli, ungabavumeli bakuqede amandla bakwenze ungahlali ulindile. Khumbula ukuthi wena wazi kuhle ukuthi kuqakathekile ukuhlala ulindile. UPowula watlolela amakholwa akunye nawo wathi: “Nina nazi kuhle bona ilanga leKosi lizakufika.” Wanaba wathi, “njengesela ebusuku.” (Funda 1 Thesalonika 5:1-6.) NoJesu wasiyelelisa wathi: “Kumele nihlale nilungile ngombana iNdodana yoMuntu izakufika ngesikhathi eningakayilindeli ngaso.” (Luk. 12:39, 40) Esikhathini esingaphelisi ihliziyo uSathana uzokukhohlisa abantu ukuthi bakholelwe amezwi athi “kunokuthula nokuphepha.” Uzobenza bacabange ukuthi zoke izinto zisemnananeni kwanjesi ephasini. Kuthiwani-ke ngathi? Ilangelo akukafuzi ‘lisithelekele njengesela,’ kwaphela nange ‘singahlala siphapheme begodu siqaqulukile.’ Yeke kuqakathekile ukuthi sihlale sifunda iliZwi lakaZimu qobe langa besicabangisise ngalokho uJehova asifundisa khona.

13. Ummoya wephaseli uba nesandla njani ebantwini, thina-ke singawubalekela njani?

 ¹³ Ummoya wephaseli uba nesandla endleleni abantu abacabanga ngayo. Abanye abantu bazitjela ukuthi ‘abamtlhogi uZimu.’ (Mat. 5:3) Okuphela kwento abayenzako kugijimisana nezinto zakanokutjho zephaseli balandela ‘iinkanuko zenyama, neenkanuko zamehlo.’ (1 Jwa. 2:16) Ngapha kube zizinto neendawo zokuzithabisa ezizele iphasi loke, lokho kwenza abantu ‘bathande injabulo’ begodu ziyathuthukiswa qobe mnyaka. (2 Thim. 3:4) Kungebangelo uPowula atjela amaKholwa akunye nawo wathi “ninganikeli inyama ithuba lokwanelisa iinkanuko zayo,” okuyinto engasibangela ukuthi singasaba nobuhlobo obuhle noZimu.—Rom. 13:11-14.

14. Ngisiphi isiyeleliso esisifumana kuLukasi 21:34, 35?

¹⁴ Kunokuthi samukele ummoya wephaseli, samukela ummoya kaZimu begodu uyasisiza ukuthi sizwisise izinto ezizokwenzeka. ^[1] (1 Kor. 2:12) Kufuze siyelele khulu ngombana ngitjho nezinto ezincani zingasenza singasaba bangani bakaZimu. (Funda uLukasi 21:34, 35.) Abanye bangasihleka nokusihleka ngebanga lokuthi sikholelwa ukuthi siphila emihleni yokuphela. (2 Pit. 3:3-7) Kungakho kuqakathekile ukuthi sihlale sizihlanganisa namaKrestu esifundweni okukulapho umoya kaZimu ozokuba nesandla khona.

15. Kwenzekani kuPitrosi, uJakopo noJwanisi, begodu lokho kungenzeka njani nakithi?

¹⁵ Ubuthakathaka bethu bungakwenza kube budisi ukuthi sihlale siphapheme. UJesu bekazi ukuthi kumkhuba ngabantu abanesono ukuthi bavumele ubuthakathaka babo bubalawule. Akhucabange ngobusuku obungaphambi kokubulawa kwakaJesu. Ukuze akghone ukuhlala athembekile bekufuze athembele kuBabakhe wezulwini. Wathi nakayokuthandaza watjela uPitrosi, uJakopo noJwanisi wathi, “hlalani nilindile.” Kodwana bona ke akhenge babone ukuqakatheka kwalokho ebekuzokwenzeka. Ngebanga lokuthi bebadinwe khulu balala, akhenge balinde neKosabo. Singakhohlwa ukuthi uJesu naye bekadiniwe, kodwana wahlala alindile athandaza nokuthandaza kuBabakhe. Nabafundi bakhe bekufuze ngathana benza soneso.—Mar. 14:32-41.

16. Ngokutjho kwakaLukasi 21:36 uJesu wathi abafundi bakhe kufuze benzeni ‘nabazakuhlala balindile’?

¹⁶ ‘Nasizakuhlala silindile’ angekhe sigqine ngokufisa ukwenza izinto ezihle, kodwana sizozenza. Okuqakatheke khulu ngilokho uJesu akutjela abafundi bakhe endaweni yeGetsemani, wathi kufuze bathandaze kuJehova babawe irhelebho. (Funda uLukasi 21:36.) Yeke nasifuna ukuhlala singehlangothini lakaZimu kufuze sihlale sithandaza.—1 Pit. 4:7.

17. Singazi njani ukuthi sikulindele lokho okuzokwenzeka esikhathini esingaphelisi ihliziyo?

¹⁷ UJesu wathi ukuphela kwephaseli kuzokufika ‘ngesikhathi esingakasilindeli.’ Yeke lesi akusiso isikhathi sokuvilaphela isingani sethu noZimu, asisekho isikhathi sokugijimisana nezinto zakonokutjho zephaseli nezinto esizifisako. (Mat. 24:44) EBhayibhelini uZimu noKrestu basitjelile ukuthi khuyini abasibekele yona ephasini elitjha nokuthi singahlala njani silindile. Kufuze sihlale sitjhidela kuJehova sibeke nezinto ezithuthukisa umBuswakhe phambili. Asivuleni amehlo siyelele izinto ezenzekako ukuze silindele lokho okuzako. (IsAm. 22:20) Ngombana ukuthi siyokuphila namkha awa kuzokubonakala lokha nakuphela iphaseli!!