Isahluko 9 — Isikhathi Sokulinda
GSAM 148.1“NGALESO SIKHATHI umbuso wezulu uzofaniswa namantombazane ayishumi, athathe izibani zawo, aphuma ukuyobheka umkhwenyana. Kwathi abahlanu babo babehlakaniphile, abahlanu babengahlakaniphile. Labo ababengahlakaniphile bathathe izibani zabo, kodwa abazange bathathe uwoyela; kodwa abahlakaniphile bathathe uwoyela ezitsheni zabo kanye nezibani zabo. Ngesikhathi umkhwenyana elibazisekile, bonke baye bozela futhi balala.”1
GSAM 148.2UKristu ungumkhwenyana wesifaniso.2 Ngakho-ke ukuphuma ukuze bahlangabeze umkhwenyana kumele kumelele ukuhamba kwabantu bakaJehova ukuhlangabeza uKristu ekufikeni kwakhe, ngoba isihloko senkulumo kaMathewu isahluko 24 no-25 ukufika kweNkosi. Izwi leNkosi liyilambu.3 Zonke izintombi zathatha amalambu azo. Ubuphukuphuku bengxenye yezintombi babubangelwa ukuthi bathathe nje umqondo weqiniso, bengazinikeli ngokuzimisela eNkosini okwakuzokhula izibusiso zoMoya enhliziyweni yomkholwa. Lo msebenzi umelelwa esifanisoni ngokuthi “uwoyela ezitsheni zabo.” Ukulibala komkhwenyana kumele kumele ukudumazeka okuthile kwabo abaphuma belindele ukuhlangana neNkosi yabo.
GSAM 148Isikhathi Lapho Isifaniso Sisebenza
GSAM 148.3Igama elithi “ngaleso sikhathi,” elivula lesi sifaniso, lisinika umqondiso ngesikhathi sokusebenza kwaso. Silandela ngokushesha lokho okwakushiwo esahlukweni esedlule, hhayi ngemva kokubuya kweNkosi okwesibili, kodwa ngemva kokumemezelwa kwesifaniso somuthi wefigi, okumenyezelayo ukuthi ukufika kukaKristu “sekusemnyango”, nokuthi sekufikile isizukulwane esingeke sidlule kuze uKristu uqobo avele emafini ezulwini. Iphinde isebenza ngesikhathi abanye abakhonzi ababeyisa lo myalezo bethi ezinhliziyweni zabo, “INkosi yami ibambezelela ukuza kwayo; bese beqala ukushaya abakhonzi abakanye nabo, badla futhi baphuza nabadakiwe.”
GSAM 149Ukushaya izinceku ezibambisene nabo
GSAM 149.1Laba babe “izinceku ezibambisene,” bezimemezela ngokuvumelana umyalezo ofanayo; kodwa manje ingxenye yabo ijika kulokho abakufundisile, bese “ishaya” izinceku zabo ezibambisene ezinikeza “ukudla ngesikhathi esifanele”—imemezela ukulungiselela okudingekayo ukuhlangabezana neNkosi ezayo maduzane. “Bashaya” ngendlela efanayo njengalokho kwakuhloswe ngayo ukushaya uJeremiya. Abantu bathi, “Woza, masimshaye ngolimi, singazinaki amazwi akhe.”4 Ngakho-ke lezi zinceku zaqala ukufundisa ngendlela yokuvimbela umsebenzi wezinceku “ezithembekile”. Leli qembu elifanayo libizwa kanje, “Khumbula-ke ukuthi wamukela kanjani futhi wezwa kanjani; ubambe ngokuqinile, uphenduke. Ngakho-ke uma ungabheki, ngizofika kuwe njengesela, futhi ngeke wazi ihora engizofika ngalo kuwe.”5
GSAM 149.2Isifaniso sezintombi sisebenza ngesikhathi lapho “izinceku ezibambisene” seziphambuka emyalezweni wokufika okuseduze kweNkosi, futhi “ziqala ukushaya.” Baphinde baqala ukwenza okunye—“ukudla nokuphuza nabadakiwe”. Bahlanganyela ekudleni nalabo abafuna ukwanelisa izifiso zabo zokudla. USolomoni wathi ngalabo abanjalo, “Ungabi phakathi kwabaphuzi bewayini; phakathi kwabadla inyama ngokweqile; ngokuba umuphuza nesiminzi bazofika ebuhlupheni.”6
GSAM 149Ukudumazeka Kokuqala
GSAM 149.3Manje kuzovela umbuzo othi, “Yini eyayikhona ekuhlangenwe nakho kokufika kweNkosi ehambisana nalezi zitatimende?” Kwakukhona izinyakazo ezihambisana ngokuphelele nesiprofetho. Labo ababeyisa umyalezo kuze kube u-Ephreli 1844 basebenza phakathi kwamabandla, futhi abashumayeli bamabandla ahlukene bahlanganyela emizameni yabo. Ngakho-ke babe “yizinceku ezibambiseneyo.”
GSAM 150.1Labo ababeyisa lo myalezo bafundisa ukuthi izinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu zikaDaniyeli 8:14 zizophela ngonyaka wamaJuda ka-1843, owawuzoba ngonyaka wethu ka-1844. Bamemezela ukuthi ihora lokwahlulela kukaNkulunkulu lizofika ekupheleni kwaleso sikhathi. Yonke imibutho yenkolo ezweni ngaleso sikhathi yayikholelwa ukuthi usuku lokwahlulela luzovulwa ukubuya kwesibili kweNkosi yethu. Ngakho-ke kuyabonakala kalula ukuthi ama-Adventist acabanga ukuthi iNkosi izofika ekupheleni kwaleso sikhathi sobuprofethi. Bathi, “Lesi sikhathi singaphela ngenyanga kaMashi 21, 1844, okungukuthi usuku lokugcina lonyaka wemvelo wamaJuda ka-1843.” Ngakho-ke babheke ekupheleni kukaMashi noma ekuqaleni kuka-Ephreli, 1844, njengaleso sikhathi lapho uMsindisi angafika khona.
GSAM 150Izinceku Ezimbi Zakhula
GSAM 150.2Lapho sekuphele uMashi, kwathi iNkosi ayifiki, labo ababebambisene nezithunywa zeNkosi ngaphambilini, kodwa abazange bazinikele ngenhliziyo yonke ekuphileni kwabo kulo myalezo, bawuphendukela, baqala ukuphikisa umsebenzi, futhi benze konke okusemandleni abo ukuvimba indlela yalabo ababeqhubeka befundisa imfundiso yokufika okusondelene kweNkosi nomyalezo wesikhathi sokwahlulela. “Ezinhliziyweni zabo” bathi, “INkosi yami ibambezelela ukuza kwayo.” Ngeminomo yabo manje bafundisa ukuthi umhlaba wonke kumele uguquke ngaphambi kokuba iNkosi ifike; ukuthi amaJuda kumele abuyele ePalestina, futhi asungule inkonzo yabo yasethempelini eJerusalema, ngaphambi kokuba uMesiya afike. Abanye bafundisa ngisho ukuthi ukuza kukaKristu kwakuwukuza “okungokomoya”, ukuthi kwenzeka ngesikhathi sokuguquka, futhi nangokufa kwabantu bakhe.
GSAM 151Ukunikela “Ukudla ngesikhathi esifanele”
GSAM 151.1Ngesikhathi laba baphendukela izinceku ezibambisene nabo, labo ababambelele ekukholweni babiza abakholwayo ndawonye emahholweni nasemahlathini, bebaphe “ukudla ngesikhathi esifanele”—bebabonisa ukuthi izimpawu zesikhathi neziprofetho ezigcwalisekile zazimemezela, njengangaphambi kokudumazeka kwabo, ukuthi ukuza kukaKristu “sekuseduze, sekusemnyango.”
GSAM 151Ukuzijabulisa Ngokudla Ezindaweni Zokholo
GSAM 151.2Ngesikhathi benza lokhu kwaqala okwakungakaze kwaziwe emabandleni amaProtestanti—ukubiza abantu ndawonye ebandleni ukuze badle futhi “benze ukuzijabulisa.” Bonke ababeza babemenyiwe ukuba babelane nabo ngezibiliboco zabo.
GSAM 151.3Okokuqala esake sazwa ngalolu hlobo lwezinto eMelika kwaba ngenyanga kaMeyi 1844, ngemva nje kokudumazeka. Kwakunjalo ngale ndlela: Ngesikhathi uWilliam Miller, ehholo eRochester, eNew York, efundisa futhi ekhuthaza amakhulu ambalwa ama-Adventist, ebatshela ukuthi, “Sisesikhathini sokulinda sikaMathewu 25; bambe iqiniso lenu lokholo; maduzane sizoba nokukhanya okwengeziwe ngalolu daba,” kwahlelwa phansi kwelinye lamaholo amakhulu okuhlangana eRochester, “umkhosi.” Kwabuthana isixuku sabantu, kokubili amalungu ebandla nabangakholwayo, kwathi ngenkathi umongameli wekolishi lezinkolo ehlekisa isixuku ngokuhlekisa uWilliam Miller, bathengisa kubo ama-oysters, i-ayisikhrimu, izibiliboco, kanye nephamphulethi encane ngamacenti angamashumi amabili nanhlanu eyayilungiselelwe yilowo muntu. Incwadi yayibizwa ngokuthi “An Exposé of Millerism.”
GSAM 151.4Kungakapheli amasonto amabili kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, olunye uhlangothi lwezenkolo kuleli dolobha lwabiza “umkhosi” ehholweni lomphakathi, lwabiza imali yokungena engu-25 cents, lwamema bonke abafuna ukuza bahlanganyele nabo kuma-oysters, i-ayisikhrimu, ikhekhe nezibiliboco. Kwathi lapho kwaqala lesi sikhathi sanamuhla sokuzijabulisa ngokudla ezindaweni zokholo, esiphenduke “imihlangano yokuzijabulisa engalawuleki,” “izikhwama zokudonsa,” “amachibi ezinhlanzi,” “imihlangano yokuqabulana,” nokunye okunjalo. Lesi simo sokuzijabulisa ngokudla ezindaweni zokholo sesikhule kangangokuba manje isakhiwo sendlu yebandla lanamuhla asisekho esemgangathweni ngaphandle kokuba sibe nekhishi, igumbi lokugcina ukudla negumbi lokudlela. Lesi simo saqala “ngesikhathi sokulinda”, njengoba kuchazwe esifanisweni.
GSAM 152.1U-Wm. Miller uqobo ukhuluma ngalesi sigameko esenzeka eRochester ngalezi zisho ezilandelayo:
GSAM 152.1“Omunye wamaD.D. eRochester, uMnu. _____, wasebandleni lika-_____, wabhala incwajana ephikisana nobuMiller, wabiza izikhulu zakhe namakhosikazi ahloniphekile endlini yeNkosi, wenza isidlo esikhulu sama-oysters nezinye ‘ama-picnic,’ NjengoBelshazzara, baphuza ikhofi yabo notiye, badla izibiliboco zabo ezibizayo, bathengisa i-ayisikhrimu namaswidi abo, kanye nephamphulethi yakhe ephikisana nokubuya kwesibili kukaMsindisi othandekayo.
GSAM 152.2“Ebusuku ngaphambi kokuba ngishiye, omunye wamaReverendi wahlela umkhosi wokudla ephikiniki endlini yokuzijabulisa, noma ehholo, wathengisa njengokushiwo ngenhla amathikithi akhe, i-ayisikhrimu nezibiliboco. Ngajabula ukuzwa ukuthi ezinye izinkolo zamahlelo ahlukene azizange zivume lezi zidlo zaseBhabhiloni; futhi ngiyethemba ngempela enhliziyweni yami ukuthi akuzona zonke lezi zinkolo zamahlelo ezizotholakala ‘zidla futhi ziphuza nabaphuzayo’ lapho uKristu efika. Ngiyamangala ukuthi laba bafundisi abahloniphekile abaziboni esibukweni seZwi likaNkulunkulu; futhi ngibancoma ukuthi bafunde uLuka 14:12-14; uMathewu 24:48-51; uLuka 13:25-28; 2 Petru 2:13; uJude 10-21. Impela yilezi izikhathi zokugcina.”
GSAM 152.3Uma uMfundisi uMiller wayebone ukuthi amabandla asengene kanjani emicimbini yawo yokunikela, enezinhlelo ezifana “namakhekhe okuqagela indandatho, imihlangano yokuqabulana ngamasenti ayishumi, imibukiso yezimbongolo, imihlangano yokuzijabulisa engalawuleki, amalotho angcwele”, nezinye izinhlelo zemidlalo yamathuba, njll., wayezobuya emuva ngokwesabeka okungcwele.
GSAM 152Isikhathi Sokulinda
GSAM 152.4Ama-Adventist athola induduzo eqinisweni lemiBhalo lokuthi lapho kwenziwa isimemezelo sokufika okuseduze kweNkosi, kuzohlangana nakho “isikhathi sokulinda.” Lokhu bakubona emazwini oMsindisi wethu kuMathewu 25:5, 6, naseHabakuki 2:1-3.
GSAM 153.1Mayelana nesimo sabo entwasahlobo ka-1844, sicaphuna kusuka kuMidnight Cry kaMeyi 9, 1844:—
GSAM 153.2“Njengoba sesidlule endaweni yokuphela okubonakalayo kwezikhathi zobuprofethi, sibekwe esimweni uNkulunkulu ayebikezele ukuthi izingane zakhe zizobekwa kuso ekupheleni kombono; futhi ngenxa yaso wenza amalungiselelo ngomprofethi uHabakuki, lapho ethi, ‘Ngizomisa endaweni yami yokubuka, ngizibeke entabeni, ngizobheka ukubona ukuthi angizokhuluma ngani, nokuthi ngizophendula ngani lapho ngixwayiswa,’ noma njengoba kubhalwe eceleni, ‘ngiphikisana naye.’ ‘Futhi iNkosi yaphendula yathi, Bhala umbono, uwubeke ngokusobala emathebleni, ukuze lowo ofundayo agijime. Ngokuba umbono usalindele isikhathi esinqunyiwe, kodwa ekugcineni [kwezikhathi zobuprofethi] uzokhuluma futhi angeke amanga; noma ulibazisekile [ngaphezu kokuphela kwawo okubonakalayo], ulindele; ngoba ngokuqinisekile uzofika, [ekugcwaliseni kwezikhathi zobuprofethi, ngaphezu kwalokho] angeke alibazise.’7
GSAM 153.3“Ukuthi lesi sixwayiso sibhekisela esikhathini samanje, kuyabonakala ekucashunweni kukaPawulu kuso encwadini yamaHebheru 10:36-39: ‘Ngokuba nidinga ukubekezela, ukuze, ngemva kokwenza intando kaNkulunkulu, nithole isithembiso. Ngokuba sekusele isikhashana nje, lowo ozayo uyofika, futhi ngeke alibazise. Manje olungileyo uyophila ngokholo; kodwa uma othile ebuyela emuva, umphefumulo wami awusoze wathola injabulo kuye. Kodwa thina asisiwo labo ababuyela emuva baze babhubhe; kodwa singabakholwayo ekusindisweni kwemiphefumulo.’
GSAM 153.4“Sikholelwa ukuthi sikuleso sikhathi okukhulunywe ngaso nguMsindisi, lapho umkhwenyana elibazisekayo (Mathewu 25:5)—okufanele umbuso wezulu ufaniswe nakho,—lapho ‘leyo nceku embi [ngoba sekube nokwehluleka okubonakalayo ngaleso sikhathi] izosho enhliziyweni yayo, INkosi yami iyalibazisa ukufika kwayo, futhi izoqala ukushaya izinceku ezikanye nayo, idle futhi iphuzane nezidakwa,’ futhi iNkosi ‘izofika ngosuku engalulindele.’
GSAM 154.1“Sikholelwa ukuthi manje sesisesikhathini esikhulunywe ngaso nguPetru, lapho ‘isahlulelo sabo sakudala asibambezeleki, nokubhujiswa kwabo akalali;’ lapho ‘babeyofaka ngasese izimfundiso zamanga ezibhubhisayo’.8 Lezi, kusho uPetru, zazizokwenzeka, njengokuba kwakukhona abaprofethi abamanga ngesikhathi imiBhalo ibhaliwe. Njengoba-ke abendlu yakwa-Israyeli bathi, ‘Izinsuku ziye zandiswa, yonke imibono iyahluleka,’9 kwakumele kube khona isikhathi lapho kwakuzovela khona ukudlula kwesikhathi okubonakalayo, ukuze abahleki base-2 Petru 3:4 babuze bathi, ‘Siphi isithembiso sokufika kwakhe?’ futhi bazikhohlise ukuthi ‘zonke izinto ziyaqhubeka njengokwakunjalo kusukela ekuqaleni kokudala.’
GSAM 154.2“Sikholelwa ukuthi ngenxa yokulibaziseka kwalo mbono, umphostoli uJakobe wathi, ‘Ngakho-ke, bafowethu, nibe nokubekezela kuze kufike uJehova; nibe nokubekezela nina, nizoletha izinhliziyo zenu, ngoba ukufika kukaJehova sekuseduze.’ Futhi, ‘Bheka, uMahluleli umi emnyango.’
GSAM 154.3“Futhi sikholwa ukuthi ngokubheka phambili ekudlulisweni kwesikhathi esilindelekile, uMsindisi wethu wasixwayisa, esahlukweni sesi-12 sikaLuka, ‘Ibhandelani izinqe zenu, nize izibani zenu zivuthe; nibe njengabantu abalindele inkosi yabo, lapho ibuya emshadweni; ukuze lapho ifika ingqongqoza, nivulele yona ngokushesha.’10 Ukulinda kusho ukudlula kwesikhathi, ngoba kuze kube yilolo suku asilindeli. Ngakho-ke iNkosi yethu ingezelela ithi, ‘Zibusisiwe lezo zinceku iNkosi ezozithola zilindile lapho ifika.’
GSAM 154.4“Sizoqhubeka, uma uNkulunkulu ethanda, sisakaza, ‘Nazi, umkhwenyana uyeza; phumani niye emhlangabeza;’ futhi, ‘Isikhathi sokwahlulela kwakhe sesifikile.’ Futhi sithemba ukuthi ngeke sehluleke ukuqhubeka nokumemeza ngokuzwakalayo emhlabeni nasebandleni, ukuze bazivuse ezingomeni zabo zokuthi ‘kuthula,’ futhi balalele iziphakamiso zomusa zikaNkulunkulu. Sihlose ukuqhubeka nokulinda nokuqapha ukuza kweNkosi, sikholelwa ukuthi sekuseduze kithi.”
GSAM 155Ukuvikela Umsebenzi Wabo
GSAM 155.1Umbono omuhle wokuthi ama-Adventist babebheka kanjani umsebenzi wabo ngaphambi kukaMashi 21, 1844, nangemva kwalelo suku, ungatholakala ngokufunda isisho esilandelayo, esithathwe endatshana enesihloko esithi, “Ukuvikela,” ku-Advent Herald kaNovemba 13, 1844, eshicilelwe nguJ. V. Himes, S. Bliss, noA. Hale:—
GSAM 155.2“Asizange siphuthume ekwamukeleni imibono yethu. Sikholelwa ukuthi sasiyizifundi ezithembekile nezinesifiso sangempela sokufuna iqiniso. Silalele umyalo woMsindisi wethu wokuhlola imiBhalo. Asizange sithembele ekuhlakanipheni kwethu; kodwa sabheka kuNkulunkulu ukuze asiholele futhi asiqondise, futhi sazama ukuzinikela e-altare lakhe, sithemba ukuthi uzoqondisa izinyathelo zethu endleleni efanele. Sahlaziya zonke izizathu ezazivezwa ngokumelene nathi ngenhloso eqotho yokufuna iqiniso nokugwema iphutha; kodwa kumele sivume ukuthi izimvo ezihlukahlukene zabaphikisi bethu zasiqinisa nje emibonweni yethu. Sabona ukuthi noma sasilungile noma sasiphutha, abaphikisi bethu babengakwazi ukuba neqiniso; futhi babengavumelani phakathi kwabo. Izimpikiswano zomuntu ngamunye zazibuthakathaka futhi zaziyizingane kangangokuthi kwakudingeka bahlale becima abakwenzile; futhi ngemibono yabo ephikisanayo nephikisayo babonisa ukuthi noma bebebheka kanjani imibono yethu, babengenalo ikhono lokwethembana ngemibono yomunye nomunye. Futhi, ngaphezu kwalokho, kwakungekho phuzu elibalulekile esimweni sethu sonke lapho singasekelwa khona ngomunye noma abaningi kulabo ababezama ukuphikisa ukuza okusheshayo kweNkosi. Ngesikhathi sasinegunya lokuhumusha ngokwezwi nezwi kwemiBhalo ukuze sisekelwe, abaphikisi bethu bazama ngokungenampumelelo ukufakazela ukuthi imiBhalo akufanele iqondwe ngokwezwi nezwi, nakuba zonke iziprofetho ezifezekile zifezekile ngokwezwi nezwi ngokuningiliziwe.
GSAM 156Ukuchazwa Kokudumazeka
GSAM 156.1“Kodwa isikhathi—unyaka ka-1843, unyaka wamaJuda—sadlula, futhi sadumazeka ngokungamboni iNkosi ebuhle bayo. Futhi bonke ababephikisana nathi bacabanga ngokwethembeka ukuthi zonke izimfanelo ezihlukile zenkolo yethu zazibonisiwe ukuthi ziyize; nokuthi thina, njengabantu abathembekile, bekufanele sihoxise yonke indawo esiyimi kuyo. Ngakho-ke bamangala ukusibona sisabambelele ethembeni lethu, sisalindele iNkosi yethu.
GSAM 156.2“Thina-ke, ekudumazekeni kwethu, asibonanga sizathu sokudikibala. Sabona ukuthi imiBhalo ikhombisa ukuthi kumele kube nesikhathi sokulibala, nokuthi ngenkathi umbono ulibala kumele silinde wona. Sabona futhi ukuthi ngokuphela konyaka leso sikhathi besingeke siphele ngokuphelele, ngisho nangokucabanga ukuthi ukubalwa kwesikhathi kwethu bekulungile; nokuthi kwakungagcwaliseka kuphela kwesinye isikhathi kulo nyaka wamanje; kodwa-ke savuma ngokusobala nangokuphelele emhlabeni ukuthi sasiphutha ngalelo phuzu eliqondile esasilibheke ngokuzethemba okukhulu; kodwa ngenkathi sasiphutha kanjalo, siyabona isandla sikaNkulunkulu kulolu daba. Siyabona ukuthi usebenzise leso simemezelo njengesixwayiso emhlabeni, nokuhlola ebandleni. Sabeka abantu bakhe esimweni sokulindela. Sabiza labo ababezimisele ukubekezelela ukuhlupheka ngenxa yegama lakhe. Sabonisa ukuthi kubani ukukhala kokufika kweNkosi kwakuyizindaba ezimnandi kakhulu, nokuthi kubani kwakuyisandi esingamukelekile ezindlebeni zabo. Kuveze emkhathini wonke ukuthi ubani ozokwamukela ukubuya kweNkosi, nokuthi ubani ozomphika okwesibili, njengokwenza amaJuda ekufikeni kwakhe kokuqala. Futhi sikubheka njengokuhamba phambili ekufezeni inhloso kaNkulunkulu, kulolu ‘suku lokulungiselela kwakhe,’ ukuze aholele abantu abazofuna kuphela intando yeNkosi, ukuze balungele ukufika kwakhe.”
GSAM 157UMLANDO WOMKHANKASO EMVA KUKAMASHI, 1844
GSAM 157.1Umlando omfushane womkhankaso wokufika emva kukaMashi 21, 1844, uvezwe ngezansi, kutholwe ku-Signs of the Times, Okthoba 31, 1844:—
GSAM 157.2“Ngemva kokudlula konyaka ka-1843—Unyaka wamaJuda—inhlangano enkulu yama-Adventist yahlala ekukholweni ukuthi kusukela manje asingaqiniseki ngokuphelele ngezikhathi ezithile. Bakholelwa ukuthi sasisesimweni lapho ukubalwa kwesikhathi kwethu kukhomba khona, ekupheleni kwazo zonke izikhathi zobuprofethi, lapho kulindeleke khona ukuza; nokuthi nakuba kwakumele silinde isikhathi esifushane nje lapho ukubalwa kwethu kwesikhathi kungahle kuhluke kwesikhathi sikaNkulunkulu, bakholelwa ukuthi asisenalo elinye icebo lokuthola isikhathi esinembile. Bonke babephethe izibani zabo baphuma baya ukuhlangabeza umkhwenyana; kodwa umkhwenyana walibala kwaze kwadlula isikhathi (1843) ayelindelekile ngaso. Ngesikhathi sokulibala kwalesi mbono, kwabonakala sengathi bonke bazimisele ukulinda, bekholelwa ukuthi ngeke kulibaziseke nokuthi kungalindelwa nganoma yisiphi isikhathi. Nokho, kwashesha kwabonakala ngokusobala ukuthi abaningi babesebumba izinhlelo zekusasa, ababengasoze bazibumbe uma bekholelwa ukuthi iNkosi izofika kulo nyaka; nokuthi babelele ngokuphathelene nokuqonda ngempela ukuvela okusheshayo kweNkosi. Ngamanye amazwi, bacabanga ukuthi angafika noma ngosuku olulodwa, noma ukuthi kungalibaziseka isikhashana, ngaleso sikhathi bengajabulela ukuphumula okujabulisayo. Kanti-ke, lokhu kwakunjalo njengoba uMsindisi wethu ekushilo ukuthi kuzoba kanjalo, ‘Lapho umkhwenyana ebambezeleka, bonke bayalala futhi balala.’
GSAM 157Ukugcizelelwa Ekwindla Konyaka Ka-1844
GSAM 157.3“Ngisho ekuqaleni kukaMeyi 1843, uMfowethu Miller wayesibhekisele ukunaka kwethu inyanga yesikhombisa yonyaka ongcwele wamaJuda, njengesikhathi sokugcinwa kwaleyo mifanekiso ekhomba ukuza kwesibili; futhi ekwindla eyedlule sabheka kuleso sikhathi ngentshisekelo enkulu. Ngemva kokudlula kwalo, umfowethu uS. S. Snow wamukela ngokuphelele umbono wokuthi, ngokwezibonakaliso, ukufika kweNkosi, lapho kwenzeka khona, kumele kwenzeke ngosuku lwe-10 lwenyanga yesikhombisa; kodwa wayengeqiniseki ngonyaka. Kamuva wabona ukuthi izikhathi zobuprofethi azipheli ngempela kuze kube ngonyaka wamanje, 1844; wabe esezibeka esisekelweni sokuthi cishe mhla ziyi-22 ku-Okthoba—usuku lweshumi lwenyanga yesikhombisa kulo nyaka—sazobona ukuza kweNkosi yodumo. Lokhu wakushumayela eNew York, ePhiladelphia, nakwezinye izindawo ngesikhathi sentwasahlobo nasehlobo edlule; yize abaningi bamukela imibono yakhe, akuzange kubonakale noma yiziphi izimpawu zayo kuze kube cishe ngoJulayi.
GSAM 158Izitshalo Ezashiywa Emasimini
GSAM 158.1“Ekuqaleni kwesizini, abanye babafowethu enyakatho yeNew Hampshire babeqinisekile ukuthi uJehova uzofika ngaphambi kokuba kufike olunye ubusika, kangangokuba abazange balime amasimu abo. Ngasemaphakathi kukaJulayi—okwakuyisihlwa saphakathi kobusuku bosuku olumelela unyaka wamaJuda (isihlwa-ekuseni, kubalwa kusukela enyangeni entsha ka-Ephreli, ekuqaleni kwalo nyaka wamaJuda)—abanye ababehlwayele futhi belime amasimu abo bathinteka kakhulu emqondweni wokubonakala ngokushesha kweNkosi, kangangokuba abakwazanga, ngokuhambisana nenkolo yabo, ukuvuna izitshalo zabo. Abanye, lapho bengena emasimini abo bezosika utshani babo, bathola ukuthi abakwazi nhlobo ukuqhubeka, futhi, ngokuhambisana nomqondo wabo wesibopho, bashiya izitshalo zabo zimi ensimini, ukuze babonise ukholo lwabo ngemisebenzi yabo, ngaleyo ndlela bagwebe umhlaba. Lokhu kwasabalala ngokushesha enyakatho yeNew England.
GSAM 158Isahlulelo Esizoqala Ngaphambi Kokuza
GSAM 158.2“Ngaleso sikhathi abafowethu eMaine babemukele umbono wokuthi ukwahlulela kumele kuqale ngaphambi kokufika; ukuthi kwakuhambisana nesivuno, futhi kwakungekho nje ekupheleni komhlaba, kodwa kwakuthatha isikhathi ngqo ngaphambi kokuphela. Ngokuhambisana nalo mbono, bacabanga ukuthi sasisesigwebo, ukuthi umugqa wokwahlukanisa wawudwetshwa, nokuthi izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zazigcwaliswa uphawu emabunzini abo, okwakuzoba uphawu lokuthi izingelosi ezine ezibambe imimoya emine yomhlaba (IsAmbulo 7:1) zikhulule ukubamba kwazo.
GSAM 159Ukuvuka Ephakathi Kobusuku
GSAM 159.1“Cishe phakathi noJulayi, isibusiso sikaNkulunkulu ekubuyiseleni labo abaphambukile saqala ukuhambisana nokumemezela kwalesi sikhathi, futhi labo ababemukela noma iyiphi yale mibono abakhombisa ushintsho olubonakalayo ekuziphatheni kwabo, nokuvuka ngokuzumayo ebuthongweni, njengoba kwakubikezelwe. ‘Phakathi kobusuku kwavakala isimemezelo esithi, Nansi, umkhwenyana uyeza; phumani niye ukuyamhlangabeza. Khona-ke zonke lezo zintombi zavuka zahlanza izibani zazo.’ Kusukela ngoJulayi lezi zinyakazo zenzeka ezingxenyeni ezahlukene zaseNew England, futhi zazihlukene komunye nomunye; kodwa zonke zazihambisana nesibusiso sikaNkulunkulu ekubuyiseleni abaningi ababezibani zabo zazicishe zicishiwe, nasekungcwelisweni kwabangcwele bakhe. Emhlanganweni wokukhempa wase-Exeter, yonke imimoya le yahlangana, yahlangana yaba inyakazo enkulu eyodwa, futhi yasabalala ngokushesha kuwo wonke amaqembu okulindela ezweni lonke.”