Isahluko 4 — Ixesha Lokuphela

GSAM 77.1“NGOKO ndathi, Nkosi yam, isiphelo sezinto ezi siza kuba yintoni? Wathi ke, Hamba endleleni yakho, Daniyeli: kuba la mazwi azitshixiwe, atywinwe de kube lixesha lokuphela. ... Abangendawo baya kwenza okubi: kwaye akukho namnye kwabangendawo oya kuqonda; kodwa abahlakaniphileyo baya kuqonda.”¹

GSAM 77.1“Wathi kum, Qonda, nyana womntu: kuba umbono uya kuba ngamaxesha okuphela.”²

GSAM 77.1“Wena ke, Daniyeli, vala la mazwi, uze uyitywine incwadi, kude kube lixesha lokugqibela; abaninzi baya kuhamba-hamba, ulwazi luya kwanda.”³

GSAM 77.1Yintoni le kuthethwa ngayo apha “lixesha lokuphela”? Ayinakuba sesiphelweni ngokwaso, kuba ukuba bekunjalo, inxalenye yesiprofeto sikaDaniyeli eyayigcinwe “ivaliwe” ibingayi kuba luncedo kubantu. Njengoko “izinto ezityhilweyo zezakuthi,”⁴ eli candelo kufuneka libe luncedo ngaxa lithile. Ngoko ke ibinzana elithi, “ixesha lokuphela,” kufuneka libhekisele kwixesha elingaphambi kanye kokuphela ngokwalo, apho izinto ezathethwa kuDaniyeli ziya kuqondwa khona.

GSAM 77Usuku Lwakhe Lwamalungiselelo

GSAM 77.2Ngokungathandabuzekiyo ibhekisa kuloo xesha libizwa ngumprofeti Nahum “njengosuku lwakhe lokulungiselela.” Apha umprofeti wayethetha ngentshabalalo yaseNineve “ngesandi sesabhokhwe, nesandi sokurhashaza kwamavili, neehashe ezitsibazibazayo, neenqwelo ezitsibazibazayo.”⁵ Ingqwalasela yomprofeti kuqala itsalelwa kwintlekele enkulu ezayo kwihlabathi lonke, xa “iintaba zinyikima ngenxa yakhe, neenduli ziyanyibilika, nomhlaba utshiswa ngobukho bakhe, ewe, ilizwe, nabo bonke abahlali kulo. Ngubani onokuma phambi komsindo wakhe? Ngubani onokuhlala kubushushu bomsindo wakhe? Umsindo wakhe utshiza njengomlilo, namatye ayawa ngenxa yakhe.... Uya kwenza isiphelo esipheleleyo; intlungu ayisokuze iphinde ivuke okwesibini.”⁶

GSAM 78Iinqwelo Ezinezibane Ezivuthayo

GSAM 78.1Uqhubeka uthetha ngolu suku lwalungiselelo: “Iinqwelo zokulwa ziya kuba nezibane ezitshayo ngosuku lokulungiselelwa kwakhe, nemithi yefira iya kuzamazama kakhulu. Iinqwelo ziya kugquma ezitalatweni, ziya kungquzulana ezindleleni ezibanzi: ziya kubonakala ngathi zizibane ezivuthayo, ziya kubaleka njengembane. Uya kubala abantu bakhe abakhethekileyo: baya kukhubeka kuhambo lwabo; baya kungxama eludongeni lwayo, kwaye ukhuselo luya kulungiswa.”⁷

GSAM 78.2Hayi inkcazelo echanekileyo yololiwe wale mihla okhawuleza njengombane, apho umhloli wamatikiti ehlala ebala aze abale kwakhona abakhweli bakhe, ukusuka kwisikhululo ukuya kwesinye, kwaye bona bekhubeka xa behamba xa uloliwe usiya phambili. Emva koko kukho ukusetyenziswa okukhulu kwemithi yefir njengezisekelo zikaloliwe, kumsebenzi weetrestle, kwiindawo zokukhusela ikhephu, njalo njalo. Kuthiwa enye indlela engaphezulu kweentaba zeSierra Nevada inendawo zokukhusela ikhephu zemithi yefir ezineemayile ezingamashumi amane anesixhenxe. Kwaye le nto umprofeti wathi iza kuba “ngemini yokulungiselelwa kwakhe.”

GSAM 78.3Eli xesha lokuphela likwakhulunywa ngalo ngumprofeti uYoweli xa kunikwa umyalelo kubakhonzi beNkosi, “Vuthelani ixilongo eZiyon, nihlabe umkhosi entabeni yam engcwele: mabangcangcazele bonke abahlali bomhlaba; kuba usuku lweNkosi luyeza, sele lukufuphi.”⁸

GSAM 78.4Kwaye kwakhona ngumprofeti Zefaniya kuthiwa, “Hlanganyani ndawonye, ewe, hlanganani, sizwe esingathandwayo; phambi kokuba umthetho uphume, phambi kokuba usuku ludlule njengamakhoba, phambi kokuba umsindo omkhulu weNkosi ube phezu kwenu, phambi kokuba usuku lomsindo weNkosi lube phezu kwenu. Mkhangeleni iNkosi, nonke bathobekileyo bomhlaba, abenze imigwebo yakhe; khangelani ubulungisa, khangelani ukuthobeka: mhlawumbi ningafihlwa ngemini yomsindo weNkosi.”⁹

GSAM 79.1Ukuze siqonde ngokupheleleyo ukuba kuthethwa ntoni ngelizwi elithi “ixesha lokuphela,” nokuba liqala nini, siza kuqaphela omnye umzekelo apho kusetyenziswe la mazwi afanayo. Kwisahluko seshumi elinanye sikaDaniyeli, kuboniswa ngamandla ahlukunyezayo awayeza kulawula de kufike ixesha lokuphela. INkosi yathi ngaloo mandla ahlukunyezayo, “Abanye babo abanokuqonda baya kuwa, ukuze bavavanywe, bahlanzwe, benziwe mhlophe, kude kube lixesha lokuphela: kuba lelo [ixesha lokuphela] lisalilixesha elimiselweyo.”¹⁰

GSAM 79Umsebenzi woPhondo Oluncinci

GSAM 79.2Abahlalutyi bamaProtestanti ngokubanzi bayavumelana ekusebenziseni eli gunya kunye “nophondo oluncinci” zesi-7 sikaDaniyeli, kwibandla lamaRoma elalinalo igunya lolawulo ezandleni zalo ngexesha “elimisiweyo”. Elo xesha limisiweyo yayikukuthi “ixesha, amaxesha, nesiqingatha.”¹¹ La yayingama-1260 eentsuku zesiprofeto—iminyaka eyi-1260—zolawulo lwezopolitiko lophondo oluncinci, ukusukela ku-538 ukuya ku-1798 A.D. Ngomhla wokugqibela amandla ezopolitiko ophondo oluncinci asuswa, “ngexesha elimisiweyo.” Ngoko ke ngelo xesha abantu babesekuyekile “ukuwa” ngesandla saloo mandla njengoko babesewela ngaphambili. Lo nyaka ke, u-1798, uphawula isiqalo salexesha kolu profeto esibizwa ngokuba “lixesha lokuphela.”

GSAM 79.3Unyaka ka-1798 wavala “iintsuku eziliwaka elinamakhulu amabini anamashumi amathandathu”—iminyaka eyi-1260—apho “Amangqina amaBini” eNkosi (iTestamente eNdala neNtsha) aye “kuprofeta... enxibe ingubo yesaki.”¹² Ngethuba leMihla eMnyama yengcinezelo, iZibhalo zazigcinwe ngeelwimi zesiGrike nesiLatini, kwaye ezi lwimi abantu abaqhelekileyo babengaziqondi. Oku kubambela iZibhalo kuthelekiswa nokuzigqokisa “ngengubo yesaki.”

GSAM 80Amangqina Amabini Abulawa

GSAM 80.1“Xa bebegqibile ubungqina babo [kwimeko yokunxiba ingubo yesaki], isilwanyana esinyuka emhadini ongenasiphelo siza kulwa nabo [uSathana evusa kwaye esebenza ngabantu behlabathi], siza kuboyisa kwaye sibabulale. Kwaye izidumbu zabo ziya kulala esitratweni sesixeko esikhulu, esibizwa ngokomoya ngokuba yiSodom neJiputa, apho neNkosi yethu yabethwa khona emnqamlezweni [‘ibethwa emnqamlezweni,’ kwiDanish nakwiRevised Version]. Kwaye abantu, iintsapho, iilwimi nezizwe ziya kuzibona izidumbu zabo iintsuku ezintathu enesiqingatha, kwaye abayi kuvumeli izidumbu zabo zifakwe emangcwabeni.”¹³

GSAM 80Ulawulo Loloyiko

GSAM 80.2Ukubulawa kwala maNgqina kwenzeka ngexesha “lolawulo loloyiko” eFrance, ukusukela ngo-1792 ukuya ku-1795—iminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha. Nangona iNguqu yaseFransi yaqhubeka malunga neminyaka emithandathu okanye esixhenxe, yayikukwiminyaka yokuqala emithathu enesiqingatha apho benza umzamo wabo omkhulu wokutshabalalisa iBhayibhile, inkolo, nabo bonke ababenesibindi sokuthetha bevumelana nayo nayiphi na kwezi zinto. Nangona uHlaziyo lwaseFransi lwaluzibiza ngokuba lulwa nobukhosi nobuqhetseba bababingeleli, eneneni lwaba ngumlo wokutshabalalisa uThixo neBhayibhile. Ngexesha elingaphambi nje koHlaziyo sifunda,

GSAM 80.2“Makungaze kulityalwe ukuba phambi kweNguquko ka-1792, abaxhasi bokungakholelwa kuThixo eFrance kuthiwa baqokelela phakathi kwabo baza bachitha i-£900,000 [$4,500,000] ngonyaka omnye, ewe, ngokuphindaphindiweyo, ekuthengeni, ekushicileleni, nasekusasazeni iincwadi zokonakalisa iingqondo zabantu nokubalungiselela amanyathelo anzima.”¹⁴

GSAM 80Ababhali Abangakholwayo

GSAM 80.3“Indlela yoVukelo olunjalo yalungiselelwa ngemibhalo kaVoltaire, Mirabeau, Diderot, Helvetius, D'Alembert, Condorcet, Rousseau, kunye nabanye abafana nabo, apho bazama ukusasaza iimfundiso ezitshabalalisa inkolo yendalo neyityhilweyo. Isityhilelo asizange siphikiswe nje kuphela, kodwa sabekelwa bucala ngokupheleleyo; uThixo wagalelwa ngaphandle kwindalo iphela, kwaye kwabekwa endaweni yawo isithunzi esiyintelekelelo phantsi kwegama loThixokazi weNgqiqo.”¹⁵

GSAM 81.1Kunyaka ka-1793 iimbono zabantu zazinjalo kangangokuba abadlali beqonga babebhiyozelwa ngokhwazo olukhulu ngenxa yokuhlekisa kwabo okuthuka uThixo neBhayibhile. Njengomzekelo sicaphula:

GSAM 81.1“Umdlali weqonga uMonert, kwiCawa yaseSt. Roche [eParis], wafikisa ukungahloneli kwakhe uThixo kwelona nqanaba liphezulu. ‘Thixo, ukuba ukhona,’ watsho, ‘liphindezele igama lakho elenziwe buhlungu. Ndiyakudelela! Uthe cwaka; awunabuganga bokuthumela iindudumo zakho. Ngubani oya kuthi emva koku akholelwe kubukho baKho?’”¹⁶

GSAM 81Umsebenzi Wokuthuka UThixo eLyons, eFrance

GSAM 81.2Malunga nendlela abo babulala oNgqina, “babethelela kwakhona uNyana kaThixo emnqamlezweni, bemenza isihlazo esivulelekileyo” (Hebhere 6:6), abaya kuvela ngayo kwimisitho yombhiyozo obubanjwe nguFouché, eLyons, ukubhiyozela uChalier, uRhuluneli waseLyons, owayebulewe. Phambi kokufika kwakhe eLyons, uFouché wayalela ukuba

GSAM 81.2“zonke iimpawu zonqulo kufuneka zitshatyalaliswe; kwaye phezu kwamasango amangcwaba kufuneka kubhalwe, Ukufa bubuthongo obungunaphakade.... Umfanekiso oqingqiweyo wentloko nesifuba sikaChalier wawuthwalwa ezitalatweni, ulandelwa sisihlwele esikhulu sababulali noonongogo. Emva kwabo kwalandela iesile elithwele ivangeli, umnqamlezo, nezitya zeKomuniyoni, ezathi zakhawuleza zatshiswa, ngelixa iesile lanyanzelwa ukuba lisele iwayini engcwele kwikomityi yeKomuniyoni.”¹⁷

GSAM 81.3Umthendeleko weNgqiqo owabanjwa eParis uchazwa ngolu hlobo:

GSAM 81.3“Bahamba ngomngcelele besiya kwiNdibano yeSizwe, kwaye isihlwele ... sahlekisa ngendlela ehlekisayo kakhulu ngemisitho yonqulo.... Amadoda, enxibe iisurplices neecopes, eza ecula iihalleluya, kwaye edanisa iCarmagnole, esiya phambi kweNdibano yeSizwe. Apho bafaka khona ihost, iibhokisi ebezigcinwa kuzo, kunye nemifanekiso eqingqiweyo yegolide nesilivere. Benze iintetho ezihlekisayo.... ‘O nina,’ kwatsho isithunywa esivela eSt. Denis, ‘O nina, zixhobo zentshiseko engaqondiyo, bangcwele abasikelelweyo bazo zonke iintlobo, ekugqibeleni yibani ngabathandi belizwe, vukani nonke, nize nikhonze ilizwe ngokuya kwindawo yokwenza imali nize ninyibilikiswe.’”¹⁸

GSAM 82Ilizwi LikaThixo Liyavela Ebumnyameni

GSAM 82.1“Emva kweentsuku ezintathu enesiqingatha uMoya wobomi ovela kuThixo wangena kubo” (oNgqina), baza “banyuka baya ezulwini ngefu.”¹⁹ Ixesha likaThixo lalisifikile lokuba ilizwi lakhe liphume ekungaziweni libekwe elubala phambi kwehlabathi. Lalifikile ixesha (1798) lokuba umsebenzi wobuthunywa wenziwe kwihlabathi lonke. Ngo-1804 kwakhiwa iBritish Bible Society. Oku kwalandelwa ngamashumi eminye imibutho yeBhayibhile, kwaye ngoku iBhayibhile iguqulelwe kuzo zonke iilwimi eziphambili zehlabathi. Ngaloo ndlela, ukuvela kweziBhalo, ooFakazi abaBini, apho wonke umntu anokubabona aze azifunde, kuthelekiswa nokunyuka kwabo ezulwini ngefu.

GSAM 82.2Ngexesha leNguquko yaseFransi, uVoltaire wathi kwi-100 leminyaka iBhayibhile izakube ingasasetyenziswa. Kunyaka we-100 ukusukela ngelo xesha, iibhayibhile ezininzi zahanjiswa eFransi kuphela kunokuba kwakusaziwa ukuba zikhona ngexesha uVoltaire wenza esi siqhayiso silambathayo. Kwaye nesindlu apho wayesenza esi sithetheyo kuthiwa ngoku isetyenziswa njengendlu yeBhayibhile.

GSAM 82Ukufunyanwa kweLitye laseRosetta

GSAM 82.3Kukho iingongoma ezimbini ezinxulumene nonyaka we-1798 nabantu baseFransi, ekufuneka siziqaphele: Okokuqala, ngaloo nyaka umkhosi waseFransi, phantsi koNjengele Berthier, wawisa urhulumente wobupapa eRoma, egqibezela (bengazi bona) ukuzaliseka kwesiprofeto esingesi siganeko, esifumaneka kwangaloo ncwadi ababeyilwile; Okwesibini, kwangonyaka ofanayo, eFort St. Julien, kwisebe lomlambo iNayile laseRosetta, umkhosi waseFransi, ngelixa wawumba, wafumana ilitye elidumileyo laseRosetta, eligcinwe ngoku kwiMyuziyam yaseBritane. Kulo litye kukho umbhalo ngeendlela ezintathu: IiHieroglyphics, umbhalo owawusetyenziswa ngababingeleli; i-demotic, indlela yokubhala eyayisetyenziswa ngabantu abaqhelekileyo; kunye neGrike. Le yeyona sitshixo esavula imibhalo eyayifihlakele yademotic neyehieroglyphic. Ngoku, njengoko kwatshoyo omnye, “ipiki nefosholo, ezikhupha le mibhalo ebhalwe ngoonobumba bedemotic, zinika ubungqina obungakumbi bokuchaneka kweengxelo ezindala zeBhayibhile kunobuya kuyo nayiphi na enye imithombo ngaphandle kweziBhalo ngokwazo.” Ngoko ke, lawo maqela abantu ababecinga ukutshabalalisa iBhayibhile, ngaphandle kokuba beqonda, basetyenziselwa ukuzalisekisa isiprofeto ngokususa ulawulo lobupapa ekupheleni kweminyaka eyi-1260, kwaye bafumanisa nesitshixo samaxwebhu kanye aqinisekisa inyaniso yeziBhalo ababezama ngamandla ukuzenza zinyamalale.

GSAM 83“Uya Kuma Esabelweni Sakho”

GSAM 83.1Yintoni le isithunywa esatsho kuDaniyeli ukuba iza kwenzeka ngexesha lokuphela? Ukusukela ngexesha akuva ingcwele isithi, “Kuze kube ziintsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu, ke iNdawo eNgcwele iya kucocwa,”²⁰ ingqondo yakhe yazaliswa kukuxhalaba malunga nokuba “ukuphela kwezi zinto” kuza kuba yintoni, nokuba “kuza kuthatha ixesha elingakanani”.²¹ Ekugqibeleni wavumelwa ukuqonda ukuba ulwazi lwexesha alulolwakhe ixesha. Wathiwa, “Hamba wena endleleni yakho ude ufike esiphelweni; kuba uya kuphumla, uze ume kwisabelo sakho ekupheleni kweentsuku.”²²

GSAM 83.2Abanye bacinge ukuba olu lwimi lubhekisa kwisiphelo sokugqibela sehlabathi, nokuba ngelo xesha uDaniyeli, kunye nabanye abantu beNkosi, wayeza kufumana umvuzo wakhe, aze eme kwilifa lakhe. Igama lesiHebhere elithetha ilifa, ummandla welizwe, njalo njalo, sixelelwa ukuba ligama elithi gheh-vel. Asililo elo gama eliguqulelwe ngokuba sisabelo kwesi sibhalo; igama apha lithi goh rahl. Izifundiswa zesiHebhere zisixelela ukuba eli gama, elingu goh rahl, livela amaxesha angamashumi asixhenxe anesithandathu kwisiTestamente eNdala, kwaye lilinye nelo gama lisetyenziswayo xa kuthethwa ngokucocwa okomzekelo kwendawo engcwele, apho kwakuphoswa amaqashiso ukuze kugqitywe ukuba yeyiphi kwiibhokhwe ezimbini eza kubulawa. Njengoko umbingeleli oyintloko wayethatha igazi lebhokhwe yeNkosi wayengena kwindawo engcwele eyokwenza umsebenzi wokucoca, bonke abantu bakaSirayeli babemi ngaphandle, bezithoba imiphefumlo yabo baze bavume izono zabo, ukuze bahlambuluke, baze bamkele intsikelelo yombingeleli oyintloko xa wayeza kuphuma kwindawo engcwele. Ngoko ke, ngaloo mini, uSirayeli wema kwisabelo sakhe.

GSAM 84.1Xa ukucocwa kokugqibela kwendawo engcwele kwakufika, ekupheleni kweentsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu, umcimbi kaDaniyeli, kunye nemicimbi yabo bonke abangcwele abafileyo, kwakufuneka uphononongwe phambi koThixo. Ngoko ke uDaniyeli umi kwisabelo sakhe.

GSAM 84Amazwi Atywiniweyo kude kube ngu-1798

GSAM 84.2Njengempendulo kumbuzo kaDaniyeli, “Nkosi yam, isiphelo sezi zinto siza kuba yintoni?”²³ waxelelwa, “La mazwi afihliwe aze atywinwe kude kube lixesha lokuphela.”²⁴ Into eyayixhalabisa kakhulu ingqondo kaDaniyeli yayikukuba “nini?” “ixesha elingakanani?” kunye nokuba “yintoni isiphelo?” Ezi yayizimvo ezazibhida kwaye ziphazamisa umprofeti, kwaye zezi zinto kuphela ezaziza kuvalwa kwaye zitywinwe kude kube “lixesha lokuphela,” hayi yonke incwadi kaDaniyeli, njengoko abanye bebesicinga. Phambi kweli xesha lika-1798, abafundi besiprofeto babenokukhanya malunga neeveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe, yaye bayaqonda ukuba zaqala ngo-457 B.C., inkonzo kaKristu esidlangalaleni, ukufa kwakhe, njl., kwenzeka ngokuhambelana ngqo nobalo lweeveki ezingamashumi amathandathu anesithoba nezingamashumi asixhenxe ukusukela ngaloo mhla. Oku kuzaliseka ngokuchanekileyo komsebenzi woMsindisi ngokuhambelana nolu balo kubanike ubungqina obomeleleyo bokuba ngenene wayenguMesiya wokwenene, nokuba umhla wokuqala kweeveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe wawumiselwe ngokungaguqukiyo. Ukusilela kwabo ukufumanisa ukuba iiveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe yayiyinxalenye yokuqala yeentsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu, kwashiya lo mcimbi uvaliwe de kwaba semva kowe-1798, njengoko kwakuvakaliswe.

GSAM 84Isitshixo Seentsuku Eziyi-2300

GSAM 84.3Ngoku masijonge iinyaniso zeli tyala. Kude kube ngunyaka we-1798 abachazi besiprofeto babengenakukhanya malunga nokuba iintsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu ziya kuphela nini. Babeyakwazi ukuqonda iimpawu, umfanekiso nezilwanyana zencwadi kaDaniyeli, kodwa babengakwazi ukuxela apho iintsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu ziya kuphela khona, kuba kwangoko babengenaluqonda lokuba ezi ntsuku zaqala nini. Njengobungqina kulo mba sifunda kwiMidnight Cry, iphephandaba lama-Adventist elalipapashwa ngelo xesha eNew York City, phantsi komhla we-15 kuJuni, 1842, “Kunika umdla ngokwenene ukufumana ababhali abohlukeneyo abazimeleyo abathi ukusukela ngo-1798 babone into eyayingabonwa kwaphela ngaphambili—yokuba iiveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe yayisisitshixo seentsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu.”

GSAM 85Abaninzi befumanisa uKukhanya

GSAM 85.1Njengoko olu lwazi “lwalutshixiwe” de kwafika ixesha elimiselweyo leNkosi lokuba lutyhilwe ukuze luqondwe ngabantu bayo, ngokunjalo kanye xa kwafika “ixesha lokuphela,” abaninzi kwakufuneka “bahambe-hambe” kwiZibhalo, bekhangela ezi zinto. Ngokuthelekisa iinguqulelo ezimbalwa zesi sibhalo, le ngcinga iya kucaca gca.

GSAM 85.2UGqr. Adam Clarke uthi: “Abaninzi baya kuzama ukukhangela intsingiselo; nolwazi luya kwanda—ngale ndlela.”

GSAM 85.3KwiBhayibhile yesiJamani kaLuther, ehlaziyiweyo, sifunda: “Ngaloo ndlela abaninzi baya kudlula kuyo, baze bafumane ukuqonda okukhulu.”

GSAM 85.4IBhayibhile yesiJamani eNxulumeneyo ifundeka ngolu hlobo: “Abaninzi baya kuyiphengulula, kwaye ngaloo ndlela ulwazi luya kwanda.”

GSAM 85.5IBhayibhile yesiJamani kaL. Van Ess, eyamkelweyo nangumpapa kubafundi bamaKatolika, iyiguqulela ngolu hlobo: “Abaninzi baya kuyiphengulula, kwaye ulwazi luya kuba lukhulu.”

GSAM 85.6IBhayibhile yesiSweden ifundeka ngolu hlobo: “Abaninzi baya kukhangela kuyo, kwaye ulwazi luya kuba lukhulu.”

GSAM 85.7Ibhayibhile yesiDanish-Norwegian, ehlaziyiweyo, ifundeka ngolu hlobo: “Abaninzi baya kuphanda ngenkuthalo, nolwazi luya kuba luninzi.”

GSAM 85.8Sifunda kwiMidnight Cry yomhla we-15 kuJuni, 1842, ngale nkqubo yokukhangela nokufumana ulwazi ngaloo nto eyayitshixiwe phambi konyaka we-1798: “Ingaba asikokungqamana okumangalisayo na ukuba ababhali abaninzi kangaka, bengazi ngamnye ngamnye, bafikelele kwisigqibo esifanayo malunga nexesha elinye?”

GSAM 86.1Ngale ndlela sinikezela uluhlu lwamaqela angamashumi amabini ahlukeneyo afumanise inyaniso malunga nokuvalwa kweentsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu, kungekhona ngokunxibelelana, kodwa njengesisiphumo sokukhangela iziBhalo ngenyameko, bekhokelwa ngempembelelo yoMoya kaThixo. Ekuqaleni kolu luhlu sibeka uWilliam Miller wasePhondo laseNew York; kulandela u-A. J. Krupp, wasePhiladelphia, Pa.; uDavid McGregor, waseFalmouth, eMaine; uEdward Irving, waseNgilani; uArchibald Mason, waseScotland; uW. E. Davis, waseSouth Carolina; uJoseph Wolff, owasebenza kwiindawo ezahlukeneyo zase-Asiya; uAlexander Campbell, kwimpikiswano yakhe noRobert Owen, ngo-1829; uKapteni A. Landers, waseLiverpool, eNgilani; uLeonard Heinrich Kelber, waseStuttgart, eJamani; ULacunza, waseSpain; uHentzepeter, waseThe Hague, eHolland; uGqr. Capadose, waseAmsterdam, eHolland; uRau, waseBavaria; ababingeleli baseTartary, ngo-1821; abafundi beBhayibhile baseYemen, kwincwadi yabo ebizwa ngokuba yi-“Seera;” uHengstenberg, kwenye indawo yaseJamani; amaRashiya aseCaspian Sea; amaMolokaners kunxweme lweBaltic, njl.

GSAM 86.2Malunga nendlela eli tyala elivuleleke ngayo amaxesha ngamaxesha kubafundi besiprofeto, kwaye bengazani, oku kulandelayo kuya kubonisa:—

GSAM 86.3KwiMidnight Cry kaJuni 15, 1842, kukho la mazwi: “Isandul' ukufika, incwadi, enesi sihloko silandelayo, ‘Two Essays on Daniel’s Prophetic Numbers of 2300 Days, and a Christian’s Duty to Inquire into the Church’s Deliverance, nguArchibald Mason, umlungiseleli wevangeli, Wishawtown, eSkotilani, eNewberg. Iprintwe kuhlelo lwaseGlasgow, nguWard M. Gazeley, ngo-1820.’ Kule ncwadi uMason uthi, ‘Kutshanje ndibone incwadana encinci, eyapapashwa okokuqala eMelika, nguMfundisi Wm. E. Davis, waseSouth Carolina, yaza yaphinda yapapashwa ngo-1818 eWarkington, kumazantsi eNgilani. Lo mbhali uthi iintsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu zaqala neeveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe (sahl. 9:24). Kolu luvo ndinyanzelekile ukuba ndivumelane naye.’”

GSAM 87uDavis, waseMzantsi Carolina

GSAM 87.1Kwinombolo enye yeMidnight Cry, umhleli wathi, “Incwadi kaDavis kumele ukuba yabhalwa malunga nonyaka we-1810.” Ethetha ngengqiqo echazwe kule ncwadi, uthi, “Umfundi angade azicinge ukuba ufunda imisebenzi kaMiller, Litch, Stores, okanye uHale, kodwa siyakholelwa ukuba akukho namnye kubabhali bokuza kwesibini abakhoyo owayesazi ngokubakho kwale ncwadi kude kube yiveki ephelileyo. Umhleli wale phephandaba [i-Cry] akazange ayive ngayo ngaphambili. Isimvo sikaDavis malunga nexesha, esixhaswe nguMason, yayikukuba iintsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu ziya kuphela ngonyaka wamaYuda ka-1843—owethu unyaka ka-1844.”

GSAM 87UJoseph Wolff Nabanye Abangamashumi Amabini

GSAM 87.2Kwi-Midnight Cry ka-Agasti 31, 1843, sifunda ukuba “ngo-1822 uJoseph Wolff (waseNgilani) waphapasha incwadi enesihloko esithi ‘He Will Come Again, the Son of Man in the Clouds of Heaven.’” Kwaye ngokunxulumeneyo, ukuba “ngo-1826 abantu abangamashumi amabini, beza kuzo zonke iimvaba zobuKristu ezibambelele kwiimfundiso ezamkelekileyo, badibana eLondon, noMnu. Wolff, ukuze bafunde iBhayibhile. Bafikelela kwisigqibo esinye ngamxhelo mnye. Bongeza iminyaka engama-45 kwiminyaka eyi-1260.” Ukongeza iminyaka engama-45 kwiminyaka eyi-1260 eyaphela ngo-1798, kusizisa ekupheleni konyaka ka-1843, unyaka wamaYuda, oluyinyani unyaka wethu ka-1844.

GSAM 87Isimo sika-Alexander Campbell

GSAM 87.3Kwelo nani liphephandaba kunikwe ingxelo ngoAlexander Campbell ethi, “ngo-1829 waba nengxoxo-mpikiswano yakhe edumileyo noRobert Owen, umngakholwayo, apho waphikisela khona ukuba imibono kaDaniyeli ifikelela esiphelweni sexesha, ukuba iintsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu ziyiminyaka, kwaye ziya kuphela malunga neminyaka eyi-1847 ukusukela ekuzalweni kukaKristu, nto leyo, ngokomboniso wakhe, yayingeminyaka emine phambi kobalo oluqhelekileyo.” Ngoko ke, isibalo sakhe sasiza kuphelisa iintsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu ekupheleni konyaka wama-1843 weminyaka epheleleyo yamaYuda ukusukela kwixesha lomva koKristu—ngokwenene ngo-1844.

GSAM 88.1Kwi-Midnight Cry yomhla wama-21 kuSeptemba 1843, kukho ingxelo emalunga nencwadi eyamkelweyo enesi sihloko, “A Voice to Britain and America, in a Scriptural statement of the second advent of our Lord and Saviour, which we daily pray for, saying, ‘Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven,’²⁵ ebhalwe nguKapteni A. Landers, waseLiverpool, yapapashwa nguS. Kent and Co., ngo-1839.”

GSAM 88.2“Yena, njengabanye, unika ubalo lwexesha, echaza ukuba isiphelo seentsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu lonyaka ka-1847 ukusukela ekuzalweni kukaKristu ngokwenene.” Loo nto ibiya kuba ngunyaka wethu ka-1844, kuba wazalwa kwiminyaka emine phambi kobalo oluqhelekileyo.²⁶

GSAM 88Leonard Heinrich Kelber

GSAM 88.3Kwi-Review and Herald, umhla we-17 kuMeyi 1892, kukho inqaku elivela kuMfundisi L. R. Conradi, waseHamburg, eJamani, apho athi:—

GSAM 88.4“Uninzi lwabafundi bethu mhlawumbi lukhe lwayiva ngesidwangube esidumileyo samaLuthere uBengel, othe kwinkulungwane ephelileyo [ngokukaSchaff, uBengel wasweleka ngo-1751], wamisela ixesha lokuvela kweNkosi yethu kunyaka ka-1836, iingqikelelo zakhe zisekelwe kwinombolo engu-666 kwiSityhilelo. Kodwa ixesha elide phambi kokuba eli xesha liphele, kwavela omnye umntu owaqalisa ukubhala, owayengumfundisi oyintloko wesikolo, ogama linguLeonard Heinrich Kelber. Incwadana yakhe yokuqala yavela ngo-1824, ibizwa ngokuba ‘The End Near,’ inenkcazelo kaMateyu 24 no-25. Yashicilelwa eBavaria. Kodwa ngo-1835 kwavela ipamphlet enkulu ngakumbi, enesihloko esifanayo, eStuttgart, enamaphepha ali-126. Le iya kuba nomdla okhethekileyo, kwaye ukunika abafundi bethu umbono ongcono, ndongeza inguqulelo yephepha lesihloko: ‘Isiphelo Siza, kungqiniwe ngendlela enzulu necacileyo evela elizwini likaThixo nakwiziganeko zamva nje; itshitshisa ngokupheleleyo zonke iingcinga eziphambukileyo ezichasene nokulinda ukufika kweNkosi yethu, okanye ukubala ixesha; ibonisa ngokucacileyo indlela umfundisi-ntloko uBengel awaphoselwa ngayo ngeminyaka esixhenxe ngokubhekiselele kunyaka omkhulu ongunqumo; kuba ayingowama-1836, kodwa unyaka wama-1843, olusuku lokugqibela, apho umzabalazo omkhulu phakathi kokukhanya nobumnyama uya kugqitywa, kwaye ulawulo loxolo olulindelwe ixesha elide lweNkosi yethu uYesu luza kuqala emhlabeni.’

GSAM 89.1“Uhlelo lwesibini lwaphuma ngo-1841, nalo lwaseStuttgart, kwaye kangangoko ndaziyo nolunye lwaphuma eSaxony. Njengoko iphepha lesihloko libonisa, le pamfulethi, emva kokujongana nengqondo ezingalunganga eziqhelekileyo, ibonisa ngendlela ecacileyo nesivakalayo unxulumano olukho phakathi kweentsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu zikaDaniyeli 8 neeveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe zikaDaniyeli 9, kwaye izizisa kunyaka ka-1843 (owamaYuda 1843—owethu 1844). Emva koko kwisaleko sencwadi ubonisa ngeempawu zexesha ukuba esi siganeko kufuneka sibe sikufuphi.

GSAM 89.2“Inyaniso yokuba kwaphuma iimpapasho ezininzi ingangqina yodwa umdla owawudala. Umzalwana uSchäche, ohlala ngoku e-Australia, wabona isibhengezo salo, nakwiphondo elikude laseSilesia, yaye emva kokuliodola, walifunda ngomdla omkhulu, iingcango zitshixiwe. Kule ncwadi akukho ntsalela ifumanekayo ebonisa ukuba umbhali wayenolwazi ngayo nayiphi na intshukumo efanayo ehlabathini, kanti ke ngoMoya kaThixo wafikelela kwizigqibo ezifanayo.

GSAM 89.3“Ngo-1842 wabhala incwadana enkulu ngakumbi enamaphepha angama-286, nayo yashicilelwa eStuttgart, enesihloko esithi ‘Cardinal and Scriptural Thoughts Concerning the Creation and Duration of the World; or a thorough answer to the question: Why God has created the world in six successive days—the nearness of our Lord to judge antichrist—the great and joyful events of the year 1843.’”

GSAM 89“Ben Ezra” (Lacunza)

GSAM 89.4Malunga nonyaka ka-1812, uLacunza, waseSpain, wakhupha incwadi enesihloko esithi, The Coming of Messiah in Majesty and Glory. Umbhali wathatha isihloko esingachazanga gama esithi “Ben Ezra,” kwaye kucatshangelwa ukuba wayengumYuda owaguqukileyo. U-Edward Irving, waseNgilani, emva kokuba umsebenzi wakhe wokuza kwesibini uqalisiwe, waguqulela le ncwadi ingentla kwisiNgesi. Ngoko ke, yabalisa ibali layo ngeelwimi ezimbini ubuncinane.

GSAM 89.5Kuyathakazelisa ngokwenene, emva kokudlula kweminyaka, ukudibanisa izigqibo zabafundi abohlukeneyo abathi, ukusukela ekuqaleni kwenkulungwane edlulileyo ukuya kutsho ngo-1840, babala ixesha leentsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu, baza bamisa iiveki ezingamashumi asixhenxe njengenxalenye yokuqala yelo xesha, uze emva koko ubafumane bonke bevumelana ngokuphela kwelo xesha ngo-1844.

GSAM 90U-1844 Isiphelo Esinyanisekileyo Seentsuku Ezingamawaka Amabini Anamakhulu Amathathu

GSAM 90.1Ingabakhona umbuzo othi, Singaqiniseka na ukuba u-1844 yeyona nyaka wokwenene wokuphela kweentsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu? Ewe! Kuba ngokuqiniseka okufanayo ukuba ukuzaliseka okungeyonyani kwesiprofeto akunakwenzeka ngexesha elifanelekileyo lokuzaliseka kokwenene, ngokuqiniseka okufanayo kufuneka sifikelele kwisigqibo sokuba unyaka ka-1844 luphelelo oluchanekileyo lweentsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu. UThixo, owatywina olu lwazi de kwaba ngonyaka we-1798, waza wathembisa ukuba ngoko ukukhanya kuza kuqaqamba, wakhokela ngoMoya wakhe ongenasiphoso abo bamfunayo ngenkuthalo ukuze bafumane ukuqonda okuchanekileyo ngexesha. Ixesha lakhe lalisifikile lokuba “ulwazi” ngalo mbandela “lonyuswe,” waza wanika ukukhanya okuyinyani.

GSAM 90.2Emva kokufunyanwa kwesiphelo sexesha elaziswa ebantwini “ngexesha lokuphela,” kulungile ukubuza ngokubaluleka kwaloo mfunyaniso. Sifumanisa ukuba ngelo xesha, ekuvaliweni komsebenzi weNdaba eziLungileyo, kufuneka kubhengezwe ixesha elithile lokuqala kwesigwebo. “Ndabona,” utsho uYohane, “esinye isithunywa esibhabha esazulwini, siphethe iindaba ezilungileyo ezisisisigxina, ukuba sizibhengeze kwabo bahlala emhlabeni, nakuzo zonke iintlanga, nezizwe, neelwimi, nabantu, sisithi ngelizwi elikhulu, Moyikeni uThixo, nimnike uzuko; kuba ifikile iyure yokugweba kwakhe: kwaye mnquleni lowo wenzayo izulu nomhlaba, ulwandle nemithombo yamanzi.”²⁷ Izithunywa zokwenyani azishumayeli iNdaba eziLungileyo kubantu. Umntu nguye owakhethwe yiNkosi ngokwakhe ukuba ashumayele iNdaba zakhe eziLungileyo kude kube sekupheleni kwehlabathi.²⁸ Esi sithunywa, ke, sisisimboli somyalezo weNdaba eziLungileyo obhengeza ukufika kwexesha lokugweba “ukuqala kwindlu kaThixo.”²⁹ Umyalezo onjalo awunako ukunikezelwa kwiziBhalo ude kwafunyanwa ixesha elikhokelela kumgwebo kwiziBhalo. Ixesha leentsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu, njengoko sele kuxelwe, lifikelela kumgwebo wovavanyo yabantu bakaThixo.

GSAM 91Usuku Locamagushelo Lixesha LokuGweba

GSAM 91.1Usuku locamagushelo, ukucocwa kwendawo engcwele yasemhlabeni, lwaluluqondwa kwaye lusaqondwa ngamaYuda njengosuku lokugweba. Kwaye nanamhlanje, nakwimeko yawo yokusasazeka, nangona bengenakukwazi ukwenza yonke inkonzo yamandulo eyayinxulumene nelo suku linzulu, luyagcinwa njengosuku lokugweba. Njengobungqina boku siza kuqala ngokucaphula kwiphephandaba lamaYuda elipapashwe eSan Francisco, eCalifornia, elibizwa ngokuba yi-The Jewish Exponent, isithethi samaYuda angama-Orthodox asentshona kweeNtaba iRocky. Kuhlelo lwangoSeptemba, 1892, kwabakho isibhengezo esithi phambi kokupapashwa kohlelo olulandelayo, kuya kufika inyanga yesixhenxe kunye nosuku locamagushelo. Igama labo lenyanga yesixhenxe yiTishree, kwaye elyesithandathu yiEllul; ngoko ke iphephandaba latsho, “Inyanga ka-Ellul ifikile, kwaye izandi ezilumkisayo zeShofar [itrompet ebifanele ukuvuthelwa ukusukela kusuku lokuqala ukuya kweleshumi lenyanga yesixhenxe, INdumiso 81:3, 4] ziza kuviwa rhoqo kusasa kwiindlu zesikhungo zamaYuda azingqongqo, zilumkisa ngokulungiselela usuku lokukhumbula, kunye nomgwebo wokugqibela weYom Kippur.” Njengoko babe sekupheleni kuka-Ellul, inyanga yesithandathu, yaye uTishree, inyanga yesixhenxe, eza kuqala, babeyakuva, rhoqo kusasa kangangeentsuku ezilishumi, ixilongo elibhengeza umgwebo wokugqibela wonyaka kuloo nkqubo yomzekelo.

GSAM 91Ubungqina bukaRabi wamaYuda

GSAM 91.2Kwakhona, ngonyaka ka-1902, uRabbi Isidore Myers, webandla elikhulu lamaYuda eSan Francisco, Cal., ekubhengezeni usuku locamagushelo, wathi: “Ngethuba ewela umnyango wamaxesha esuka kunyaka omnye esiya komnye, uMSirayeli uyakhunjuzwa ngamandla ngendalo nangobukhosi obubanzi boMdali, aze abizelwe ukuba abhiyozele, ngesandi sexilongo, isikhumbuzo, masithi, sokuzalwa kwexesha nokuthweswa kwetrone kweKumkani enkulu. Uye abizwe ngelizwi lelo xilongo, okanye iShofar, ukuba ahlolisise ngenyameko izenzo zakhe zonyaka ophelileyo ngelixa emi engcangcazela phambi kweliso elibona konke loBulungisa obungunaphakade oluhleli esihlalweni sokugweba.”

GSAM 92.1Njengoko kwinkonzo yetempile yamaYuda indawo engcwele yayicocwa kanye ngonyaka, kumele ukuba kwacaca kuDaniyeli ukuba olu cocwa lwendawo engcwele ekupheleni kweentsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu kumele ukuba lunxulumene nento engaphaya kwenkonzo yonyaka engumfuziselo. INkosi yayisele iyalele abantu bayo ukuba, xa kusetyenziswa iimpawu kwisiprofeto, ixesha elinikiweyo kufuneka libalwe “usuku ngalunye lube ngunyaka.”³⁰ Ngoko ke eli xesha leentsuku ezingamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu, njengoko sibonile, lihambelana nesiphelo somsebenzi kaKristu njengombingeleli omkhulu kwingcwele yasezulwini—kumgwebo wovavanyo salabo amatyala abo, ngokuvuma izono, aziswe kwingcwele yasezulwini.

GSAM 92Umyalezo woMgwebo Owalindelwe ngo-1844

GSAM 92.2Emva kokuba kufunyenwe ixesha lokuqala kwenkundla yabangcwele, kwavuleka indlela ukuze, ngokwecwangciso leNkosi leziganeko, njengoko kuphawulwe kwisiprofeto, umyalezo unganikezelwa, “Lifikile ixesha lokugweba kwakhe.” Qaphela, ayisithi kwangoko emva kokufunyanwa kwelo xesha umyalezo wawuza kubhengezwa, kodwa ithi ukukhanya okwakhe “kwalitshixiwe” ngaphambili kwakufuneka kucaciswe. Sibona ngokucacileyo ukuba oku kwagqitywa. Kwizahluko ezilandelayo kuza kubonakala ukuba iNkosi yaphawula ngokucacileyo ixesha lokuphakanyiswa kwentetho yokubuya, kwaye ngokwenene le ntetho yanikezelwa kwihlabathi.