Isahluko 4 — Isikhathi Sokuphela

GSAM 77.1“NGALESO SIKHATHI ngathi, Nkosi yami, kuzoba yini isiphetho salezi zinto? Wathi, Hamba, Daniyeli: ngoba la mazwi avaliwe futhi abekwe uphawu kuze kube yisikhathi sokuphela. ... Ababi benza okubi; futhi akekho kubabi ozokuqonda; kodwa abahlakaniphile bayokuqonda.”¹

GSAM 77.1“Wathi kimi, Qonda, wena ndodana yomuntu: ngoba umbono umayelana nesikhathi sokuphela.”²

GSAM 77.1“Kodwa wena, Daniyeli, vala la mazwi, bese uvalela incwadi kuze kube isikhathi sokuphela; abaningi bazogijima bazungeze, nolwazi luzokwanda.”³

GSAM 77.1Yini okusho ukuthi “isikhathi sokuphela” lapha? Akungeke kube ukuphela ngempela, ngoba uma kunjalo ingxenye yesiprofetho sikaDaniyeli “eyayivalwe ngophawu” bekungeke ibe usizo kubantu. Njengoba “izinto eziveziwe ziyizethu,”⁴ le ngxenye kumele ibe usizo ngesinye isikhathi. Ngakho-ke ibinzana elithi “isikhathi sokuphela” kumele libhekisele esikhathini esisondele ngaphambi kokuphela uqobo, lapho izinto ezakhulunywa kuDaniyeli zizoqondwa khona.

GSAM 77Usuku Lokulungiselela Kwakhe

GSAM 77.2Ngokuqinisekile kubhekisela kuleso sikhathi esibizwa ngumprofethi Nahum ngokuthi “usuku lokulungiselela kwakhe.” Lapha umprofethi wayekhuluma ngokubhujiswa kweNineve “ngomsindo wesiswebhu, nomsindo wokugedlezela kwamasondo, namahhashi agxumayo, nezinqola ezigxumayo.”⁵ Ukuqala, ukunaka komprofethi kugxile enkingeni enkulu ezayo emhlabeni wonke, lapho “izintaba zizamazama phambi kwakhe, nezinduli ziyanyibilika, nomhlaba uyashiswa ebukhoneni bakhe, yebo, umhlaba nabo bonke abahlala kuwo. Ubani ongamelana nolaka lwakhe? Futhi ubani ongabekezelela ukuvutha kwentukuthelo yakhe? Intukuthelo yakhe ithululwa njengomlilo, futhi amatshe awiswa nguye.... Uzobhubhisa ngokuphelele; ukuhlupheka ngeke kuphakame okwesibili.”⁶

GSAM 78Izinqola Ezinezibani Ezivuthayo

GSAM 78.1Umprofethi uyaqhubeka ekhuluma ngalolu suku lokulungiselela: “Izinqola zizoba nezibani ezivuthayo ngosuku lokulungiselela kwakhe, futhi izihlahla zefir zizothuthumela ngokwesabeka. Izinqola zizogijima ngokuhlanya emigwaqweni, zizoshayisana omunye nomunye emizileni emikhulu; zizobonakala njengemibani, zizogijima njengokucwebezela kwedubulo. Uzobala abaqotho bakhe; bazakhubeka ohambeni lwabo; bazashesha baye odongeni lwayo, kanti ukuvikelwa kuzalungiswa.”⁷

GSAM 78.2Incazelo enembile ngokuphelele yeloliwe yesimanje elishesha njengogesi, lapho umqondisi ehlala ebala futhi ephinda ebala abagibeli bakhe kusukela esiteshini kuya esiteshini, futhi bekhubeka lapho behamba uma iloliwe isiya phambili. Kukhona futhi ukusetshenziswa okukhulu kakhulu kwemithi ye-fir ekwakheni izisekelo zomgwaqo wesitimela, amabhuloho okhuni, izakhiwo zokuvikela iqhwa, njll. Kuthiwa omunye umgwaqo odlula eNtabeni iSierra Nevada unamamayela angama-47 wezakhiwo zokuvikela iqhwa ezenziwe ngemithi ye-fir. Futhi umprofethi wathi lokhu kuzokwenzeka “ngosuku lokulungiselela kwakhe.”

GSAM 78.3Lesi sikhathi sokuphela siphinde sikhulunywe ngumprofethi uJoweli lapho kuyalelwa izinceku zikaJehova, “Shaya ithrompeta eZiyoni, bese ushayela isexwayiso entabeni yami engcwele; makuzamazame bonke abahlali bomhlaba; ngoba usuku lweNkosi luyasondela, seluseduze.”⁸

GSAM 78.4Futhi futhi umprofethi Zefaniya wathi, “Hlanganyelani ndawonye, yebo, hlanganyelani ndawonye, nina zizwe ezingafuneki; ngaphambi kokuba umyalo uphume, ngaphambi kokuba usuku ludlule njengothuli, ngaphambi kokuba ulaka olukhulu lweNkosi lufike kini, ngaphambi kokuba usuku lokuthukuthela lweNkosi lufike kini. Funani iNkosi, nonke abathobekile bomhlaba, abenze ukwahlulela kwakhe; funani ubulungisa, funani ukuthobeka: mhlawumbe nizofihlwa ngosuku lwentukuthelo yeNkosi.”⁹

GSAM 79.1Ukuze siqonde ngokugcwele ukuthi kusho ukuthini ibinzana elithi “isikhathi sokuphela,” nokuthi liqala nini, sizobheka esinye isibonelo lapho leli gama lisetshenziswa khona. Esahlukweni seshumi nanye sikaDaniyeli kwethulwa amandla ahlukunyezayo ayezobusa kuze kube yisikhathi sokuphela. INkosi yathi ngalelo gunya elicindezelayo, “Abanye babo abanokuqonda bazowa, ukuze bazilingwe, bahlanzwe, benziwe abamhlophe, kuze kube yisikhathi sokuphela; ngoba isikhathi [isikhathi sokuphela] sisazofika ngesikhathi esimisiwe.”¹⁰

GSAM 79Umsebenzi Wophondo Oluncane

GSAM 79.2Abahlaziyi bamaProtestanti ngokuvamile bayavumelana ekusebenziseni la mandla kanye “nophondo oluncane” lwaseDaniyeli isahluko 7, ebandleni laseRoma elaliwuphethe amandla ombuso esandleni salo isikhathi “esibekiwe”. Leso sikhathi esibekiwe kwakuyi “isikhathi, nezikhathi, nengxenye”.¹¹ Lezi kwakuyizinsuku zesiprofetho ezingu-1260—iminyaka engu-1260—zobukhosi bezwe bophondo oluncane, obaqala ngo-538 kwaze kwaba ngu-1798 AD. Ngaleso sikhathi, amandla ombuso wophondo oluncane asuswa, “ngesikhathi esinqunyiwe”. Ngakho ngaleso sikhathi abantu babeseyeka “ukuwa” ngesandla salawo mandla njengoba babewawa ngaphambilini. Lo nyaka-ke, u-1798, uphawula ukuqala kwaleso sikhathi kulesi siprofetho esibizwa ngokuthi “isikhathi sokuphela.”

GSAM 79.3Unyaka ka-1798 wavala “izinsuku eziyinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amabili namashumi ayisithupha”—iminyaka engu-1260—lapho “Abafakazi Ababili” beNkosi (iTestamente Elidala neElisha) bekumele “baprofetha... begqoke izingubo zesaki.”¹² Ngesikhathi seZikhathi eziMnyama zokuhlukunyezwa, imiBhalo yagcinwa ngolimi lwesiGreki nolwesiLatini, futhi lezi zilimi abantu abavamile babengaziqondi. Lokhu kubamba imiBhalo kufana nokuyigqokisa “ngezingubo zesaki.”

GSAM 80Izifakazi Ezimbili Zibulawa

GSAM 80.1“Lapho sebephothule ubufakazi babo [esimweni sokugqoka ingubo yesaki], isilwane esiphuma emgodini ongenamkhawulo sizolwa nabo [uSathane evusa futhi esebenza ngabantu bomhlaba], sizobanqoba, sizobabulala. Futhi izidumbu zabo zizolala emgwaqweni wedolobha elikhulu, elibizwa ngokomoya ngokuthi iSodoma neGibhithe, lapho iNkosi yethu nayo yabethelwa khona [‘ibethelwa,’ kuDanish naku-Revised Version]. Futhi abantu bazo zonke izizwe, imindeni, izilimi nezizwe bazobona izidumbu zabo izinsuku ezintathu nengxenye, futhi abavumeli izidumbu zabo zifakwe emangcwabeni.”¹³

GSAM 80Ubukhosi Bokwesabisa

GSAM 80.2Ukubulawa kwabaFakazi laba kwenzeka ngesikhathi “sobukhosi bokwesabisa” eFrance, kusukela ngo-1792 kuya ku-1795—iminyaka emithathu nengxenye. Nakuba iNguquko yaseFrance yaqhubeka iminyaka ecishe ibe yisithupha noma eyisikhombisa, kwaba phakathi kweminyaka yokuqala emithathu nengxenye lapho benze umzamo wabo omkhulu wokubhubhisa iBhayibheli, inkolo, nabo bonke ababenesibindi sokukhuluma bevikela noma iyiphi yazo. Nakuba uMvukelo waseFrance wawuzibiza ngokuthi ulwa nobukhosi nobupristi, empeleni waba yimpi yokubhubhisa uNkulunkulu neBhayibheli. Ngaleso sikhathi ngaphambi koMvukelo sifunda,

GSAM 80.2“Makungakhohlwa nanini ukuthi ngaphambi kweNguquko ka-1792, abakhuthazi bokungakholwa eFrance kuthiwa baqoqa phakathi kwabo futhi bachitha ama-£900,000 [$4,500,000] ngonyaka owodwa, hhayi, kaningi, ekuthengeni, ekuphrinteni, nasekusabalaliseni izincwadi ukuze babhidlize izingqondo zabantu futhi babalungiselele izinyathelo eziyingozi.”¹⁴

GSAM 80Ababhali Abangakholwayo

GSAM 80.3“Indlela yale nguquko yalungiselelwa ngemibhalo kaVoltaire, Mirabeau, Diderot, Helvetius, D'Alembert, Condorcet, Rousseau nabanye abafana nabo, lapho bezama ukusabalalisa izimiso eziphikisana nenkolo yemvelo neyavezwayo. Ukudalulwa akuzange kuphikwe kuphela, kodwa kwahoxiswa ngokuphelele; uNkulunkulu waxoshwa emkhathini wonke, kwafakwa esikhundleni sakhe isithombe esingekho ngempela ngokuthiwa uNkulunkulukazi Wengqondo.”¹⁵

GSAM 81.1Ngonyaka ka-1793 imibono yabantu yayinjalo kangangokuba abadlali bezinkundla bashayelwa ihlombe kakhulu ngenxa yokuhlekisa kwabo okungahloniphi uNkulunkulu neBhayibheli. Njengesibonelo sithi:

GSAM 81.1“Umdlali wehlaya uMonert, eSontweni sikaSt. Roche [eParis], wathuthukisa ukungahloniphi uNkulunkulu kwaze kwafinyelela phezulu. ‘Nkulunkulu, uma ukhona,’ kusho yena, ‘ziphindisele igama lakho elilimazekile! Ngiyamelana nawe. Uhlala uthule. Awunasibindi sokuphonsa ukuduma kwakho. Ubani ngemva kwalokhu ozokholelwa ekubeni khona kwakho?’”¹⁶

GSAM 81Umsebenzi Wokuhlambalaza eLyons, eFrance

GSAM 81.2Mayelana nokuthi labo ababulele Izifakazi, “baphinde bayibethela iNdodana kaNkulunkulu esiphambanweni, bamhlazisa obala” (AmaHebheru 6:6), kuzobonakala emcimbini owawubanjwe nguFouché eLyons, ngenhlonipho kaChalier, uMbusi waseLyons, owabulawa. Ngaphambi kokufika kwakhe eLyons, uFouché wayala ukuthi

GSAM 81.2“zonke izimpawu zenkolo kumele zibhidlizwe; nokuthi phezu kwamasango ezinkundla zamabandla kubhalwe, Ukufa ukulala okuphakade.... Isithombe se-bust sikaChalier sahanjiswa emigwaqweni, kulandelwa isixuku esikhulu sababulali nezifebe. Ngemva kwabo kwafika imbongolo ethwele ivangeli, isiphambano nezimbiza zokuhlanganyela, ezashiswa ngokushesha emlilweni, kanti imbongolo yanyanzelwa ukuphuza isiphuzo sewayini esingcwele esiphuzweni sokuhlanganyela.”¹⁷

GSAM 81.3Umkhosi Wengqondo owabanjelwa eParis uchazwa kanje:

GSAM 81.3“Bahamba ngomgubho baya enkonvhenishini, kwathi izixuku ... zenza ihlaya ngezinkonzo zenkolo ngendlela ehlekisayo kakhulu.... Amadoda agqoke izingubo zangaphandle zebandla nezembozo zebandla, afika ecula ama-hallelujah, edansa iCarmagnole, baya phambi kwenkonvhenishini. Lapho bafaka khona isinkwa esingcwele, amabhokisi ayegcinwa kuwo, nezithombe zegolide neziliva. Benze izinkulumo ezihlekisayo.... ‘Nina,’ kusho ithimba elivela eSt. Denis, ‘nina, izinsiza zobuphazamiseko bokholo, izingcwele ezibusisiwe zonke izinhlobo, nibe ngamaqhawe ezwe ekugcineni, vukani nonke, futhi nisebenzeleni izwe ngokuya endaweni yokwenza izinhlamvu zemali ukuze nincibilikiswe.’”¹⁸

GSAM 82Izwi LikaNkulunkulu Liyavela Ekufihlakaleni

GSAM 82.1“Emva kwezinsuku ezintathu nengxenye uMoya wokuphila ovela kuNkulunkulu wangena kubo” (Abafakazi), “bakhuphuka ezulwini emafini.”¹⁹ Isikhathi sikaNkulunkulu sasifikile sokuthi izwi lakhe liphume ebumnyameni libekwe phambi kwezwe. Safika isikhathi (1798) sokuthi umsebenzi wobumishinari wenziwe emhlabeni wonke. Ngo-1804 kwakhiwa iBritish Bible Society. Lokhu kwalandelwa izinhlangano eziningi zeBhayibheli, futhi manje iBhayibheli selihunyushelwe kuzo zonke izilimi ezihamba phambili emhlabeni. Ngakho-ke, ukubonakala kwemiBhalo, izifakazi ezimbili, lapho wonke umuntu angayibona futhi ayifunde, kufana nokunyukela kwayo ezulwini efwini.

GSAM 82.2Esikhathini seNguquko yaseFrance, uVoltaire wathi eminyakeni eyikhulu iBhayibheli lizoba seliphelelwe yisikhathi. Emnyakeni wama-100 kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, amabhayibheli amaningi asatshalaliswa eFrance kuphela kunalawo ayewazi ukuthi ayekhona ngesikhathi uVoltaire enza lokhu kuziqhayisa okungelutho. Futhi indlu ayeyenza kuyo lesi sitatimende kuthiwa manje isetshenziswa njengeNdlu yeBhayibheli.

GSAM 82Ukutholakala kweRosetta Stone

GSAM 82.3Kukhona amaphuzu amabili ahlobene nonyaka ka-1798 nabantu baseFrance okufanele siqaphele: Okokuqala, ngalowo nyaka ibutho laseFrance, ngaphansi kukaJenerali Berthier, laphula uhulumeni wobuphapa eRoma, lafeza (bengazi bona) ukugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho mayelana nalesi senzakalo, esiqukethwe yilowo mqulu ababephikisana nawo; okwesibili, ngonyaka ofanayo, eFort St. Julien, engalweni yeRosetta yeNayili, ibutho laseFrance, ngesikhathi lenza umgodi, lathola itshe elidumile laseRosetta, eligcinwe manje eBritish Museum. Kuleli tshe kunombhalo ngezinhlobo ezintathu: amaHieroglyphics, ukubhala okwakusetshenziswa ngabapristi; i-demotic, indlela yokubhala eyayisetshenziswa ngabantu bomphakathi; kanye neGreki. Lesi yisihluthulelo esivule imibhalo eyayiyimfihlakalo kuze kube manje, eyama-demotic neyama-hieroglyphic. Manje, njengoba kwashiwo omunye, “ipiki neshoveli, ekhupha le mibhalo ngezinhlamvu ze-demotic, inikeza ubufakazi obengeziwe bokunemba kwemibhalo yakudala yeBhayibheli kunalokho okutholakala kunoma yimuphi omunye umthombo ngaphandle kwemiBhalo uqobo.” Ngakho-ke labo abantu ababecabanga ukubhubhisa iBhayibheli babesebenza, bengazi, ukufeza isiprofetho sokususwa kombuso wobuphapa ekupheleni kweminyaka engu-1260, futhi bathola isihluthulelo semibhalo eqinisekisa iqiniso lemiBhalo abazame ngazo zonke izindlela ukuyibhubhisa.

GSAM 83“Uzomile Endaweni Yakho”

GSAM 83.1Yini ingelosi eyatshela uDaniyeli ukuthi izokwenzeka ngesikhathi sokuphela? Kusukela ngesikhathi ezwa ingcwele ithi, “Kuze kube izinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu, khona-ke indawo engcwele izohlanzwa,”²⁰ ingqondo yakhe yagcwala ukukhathazeka ngokuthi “ukuphela kwalezi zinto” kuzoba kanjani, nokuthi “kuhlala isikhathi esingakanani”.²¹ Ekugcineni wanikezwa ukuqonda ukuthi ulwazi ngaleso sikhathi alwenzelwanga izinsuku zakhe. Kuthiwa kuye, “Hamba indlela yakho kuze kube sekupheleni; ngokuba uzophumula, ume endaweni yakho yifa ekupheleni kwezinsuku.”²²

GSAM 83.2Abanye bacabanga ukuthi ulimi lolu lubhekisela ekupheleni kokugcina komhlaba, nokuthi ngaleso sikhathi uDaniyeli, kanye nabanye abantu bakaJehova, bazothola umvuzo wabo, bame endaweni yabo yefa. Igama lesiHebheru elisho indawo yefa, isifunda sezwe, njll., kuthiwa yi-gheh-vel. Lelo akusilo igama elihunyushelwe ngokuthi loti kulesi sibhalo; igama lapha lithi goh rahl. Izazi zesiHebheru zisitshela ukuthi leli gama, goh rahl, livela izikhathi ezingamashumi ayisikhombisa nesithupha eTestamenteni Elidala, nokuthi liyigama elifanayo elisetshenziswa ekukhuluma ngokuhlanzwa okuyisibonelo kwendawo engcwele, lapho kwaphonswa khona inkatho ukunquma ukuthi iyiphi kulezi zimbuzi ezimbili eyayizobulawa. Lapho umpristi omkhulu ethatha igazi lembuzi yeNkosi wangena endaweni engcwele ukuze enze umsebenzi wokuhlanza, bonke abantu base-Israyeli bema ngaphandle, bezihlupha imiphefumulo yabo futhi bevuma izono zabo, ukuze bame bengenacala, futhi bamukele isibusiso sompristi omkhulu lapho ephuma endaweni engcwele. Ngakho-ke, ngalolo suku, abantu base-Israyeli bema endaweni yabo.

GSAM 84.1Lapho ukuhlanzwa kokugcina kwendawo engcwele sekufika, ekupheleni kwezinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu, icala likaDaniyeli, kanye namacala abo bonke abalungile abashonile, kwakumele kubuyekezwe phambi kukaNkulunkulu. Ngakho-ke uDaniyeli umi endaweni yakhe.

GSAM 84Amazwi Avalwe Kuze Kube Ngo-1798

GSAM 84.2Njengempendulo ekubuzweni kukaDaniyeli, “Nkosi yami, kuzophela kanjani lezi zinto?”²³ watshelwa, “La mazwi avaliwe futhi avaliwe kuze kube yisikhathi sokuphela.”²⁴ Okwakukhathaza kakhulu umqondo kaDaniyeli kwakuyizindaba zokuthi “nini?” “isikhathi esingakanani?” kanye “nokuthi isiphetho sizoba kanjani?” Lezi zazingqinamba ezamkhathazayo umprofethi, futhi yilezi zinto kuphela ezazizovalwa kuze kube “yisikhathi sokuphela,” hhayi yonke incwadi kaDaniyeli, njengoba abanye bekucabanga. Ngaphambi kwalesi sikhathi sango-1798, abafundi beziprofetho babe nokukhanya mayelana namaviki angamashumi ayisikhombisa, futhi baqonda ukuthi aqala ngonyaka ka-457 B.C., umsebenzi wokushumayela kaKristu obala, ukufa kwakhe, njll., kwenzeka ngokuhambisana ngqo nokubalwa kwamaviki angamashumi ayisithupha nesishiyagalolunye namashumi ayisikhombisa kusukela ngalelo langa. Lokhu kugcwaliseka ngokunembile komsebenzi woMsindisi ngokuhambisana nalokhu kubalwa kwakubanike ubufakazi obuqinile bokuthi wayenguMesiya wangempela, nokuthi usuku lokuqala lwamaviki angamashumi ayisikhombisa lwalungashintshi. Ukungakwazi kwabo ukuthola ukuthi amaviki angamashumi ayisikhombisa ayeyingxenye yokuqala yezinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu, kwashiya lolu daba luvaliwe kuze kube ngemva konyaka ka-1798, njengoba kwakubikezelwe.

GSAM 84Isihluthulelo Sezinsuku Eziyi-2300

GSAM 84.3Manje ake sibheke amaqiniso kulolu daba. Kuze kube ngonyaka ka-1798, abachazayo iziprofetho babengakabi nokukhanya mayelana nokuthi izinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu zazizoqedwa nini. Babekwazi ukuqonda izimpawu, isithombe nezilwane zencwadi kaDaniyeli, kodwa babengakwazi ukusho ukuthi izinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu zazizoqedwa kuphi, ngoba babengakabi nokuqonda ukuthi lezo zinsuku zaqala nini. Njengobufakazi kule ngxenye sifunda kuMidnight Cry, iphephandaba lama-Adventist elalishicilelwa eNew York City, ngomhla ka-15 Juni 1842, “Kuyathakazelisa ngempela ukuthola ababhali abazimele abahlukahlukene abasukela ngo-1798 ababone lokho okwakungakabonwa ngaphambili—okuthi amaviki angamashumi ayisikhombisa ayeyisihluthulelo sezinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu.”

GSAM 85Abaningi bethola ukukhanya

GSAM 85.1Lapho lolu lwazi “lwalufihlwe” kuze kufike isikhathi uJehova asibekele sona sokuvulwa ukuze abantu bakhe baqonde, kanjalo ngempela lapho kufika “isikhathi sokuphela,” abaningi “babeyogijima bazungeze” eMibhalweni, befuna lezi zinto. Ngokuqhathanisa izinguqulo ezimbalwa zalo mbhalo, lo mbono uzocaca kakhulu.

GSAM 85.2UDkt. Adam Clarke uthi: “Abaningi bazozama ukufuna incazelo; nolwazi luzokwanda—ngale ndlela.”

GSAM 85.3EBhayibhelini lesiJalimane likaLuther elibuyekeziwe sifunda: “Ngakho abaningi bayodlula kulo, bathole ukuqonda okukhulu.”

GSAM 85.4IBhayibheli Elibhalwe Ngokuhambisana NgesiJalimane lifundeka kanje: “Abaningi bazogijima kuyo yonke, ngaleyo ndlela ulwazi luzokwanda.”

GSAM 85.5IBhayibheli lesiJalimane lika-L. Van Ess, elamukelwe futhi nguPapa kubafundi bamaKatolika, lihumusha kanje: “Abaningi bazoyifuna yonke, futhi ulwazi luzoba lukhulu.”

GSAM 85.6IBhayibheli lesiSweden lifundeka kanje: “Abaningi bazoyifuna kuyo, nolwazi luzokhula kakhulu.”

GSAM 85.7IBhayibheli lesiDanish-Norwegian, elihleliwe kabusha, lifundeka kanje: “Abaningi bazosebenzisa umdlandla befuna, futhi ulwazi luzokwanda kakhulu.”

GSAM 85.8Sifunda kuMidnight Cry kaJuni 15, 1842, ngalokhu kufuna nokuthola ulwazi ngalokho okwakuvaliwe ngaphambi kuka-1798: “Ingabe akuyona yini into emangalisayo ukuthi ababhali abaningi kangaka, bengazi ngomunye nomunye, bafinyelela esiphethweni esifanayo cishe ngesikhathi esisodwa?”

GSAM 86.1Sethula lapha uhlu lwamaqembu angamashumi amabili ahlukene athole iqiniso mayelana nokuphela kwezinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu, hhayi ngokuxhumana komunye nomunye, kodwa njengomphumela wokucwaninga ngokuzikhandla eMibhalweni Engcwele, beholwa ngumoya kaNkulunkulu. Ekuholeni kwalolu hlu sibeka uWilliam Miller waseSifundazweni saseNew York; kulandela u-A. J. Krupp, wasePhiladelphia, Pa.; uDavid McGregor, waseFalmouth, eMaine; u-Edward Irving, waseNgilandi; u-Archibald Mason, waseScotland; u-W. E. Davis, waseSouth Carolina; uJoseph Wolff, osebenze ezingxenyeni ezahlukene zase-Asia; u-Alexander Campbell, empikiswaneni yakhe noRobert Owen, ngo-1829; uKaputeni A. Landers, waseLiverpool, eNgilandi; uLeonard Heinrich Kelber, waseStuttgart, eJalimane; uLacunza, waseSpain; uHentzepeter, waseThe Hague, eHolland; uDkt. Capadose, waseAmsterdam, eHolland; uRau, waseBavaria; abapristi baseTartary, ngo-1821; abafundi beBhayibheli baseYemen, encwadini yabo ebizwa ngokuthi “Seera;” uHengstenberg, kwenye ingxenye yaseJalimane; amaRashiya aseCaspian Sea; amaMolokaners ogwini lweBaltic, njll.

GSAM 86.2Mayelana nokuthi lesi sihloko savulwa kanjani ngezikhathi ezithile kubafundi beziprofetho, futhi ngaphandle kokwazi omunye nomunye, okulandelayo kuzoveza:—

GSAM 86.3Ku-Midnight Cry kaJuni 15, 1842, kukhona la mazwi: “Sisanda kwamukela incwadi enesihloko esilandelayo, ‘Two Essays on Daniel’s Prophetic Numbers of 2300 Days, and a Christian’s Duty to Inquire into the Church’s Deliverance, ebhalwe ngu-Archibald Mason, umfundisi wevangeli, eWishawtown, eScotland, eNewberg. Yashicilelwa ngokwesishicilelo saseGlasgow, ngu-Ward M. Gazeley, ngo-1820.’ Kule ncwadi uMason uthi, ‘Muva nje ngibone iphamphulethi encane, eyashicilelwa okokuqala eMelika nguMfundisi Wm. E. Davis waseSouth Carolina, futhi yaphinde yashicilelwa ngo-1818 eWarkington, eningizimu yeNgilandi. Lo mbhali uthi izinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu zaqala ngamaviki angamashumi ayisikhombisa (isahluko 9:24). Ngalesi sibono ngiphoqelekile ukuvumelana naso.’”

GSAM 87UDavis, waseSouth Carolina

GSAM 87.1Kule nombolo efanayo yeMidnight Cry, umhleli wathi, “Incwadi kaDavis kumele ukuthi yabhalwa cishe ngo-1810.” Ekhuluma ngokucabanga okubekwe encwadini, uthi, “Umfundi angazizwa sengathi ufunda imisebenzi kaMiller, Litch, Stores, noma uHale, kodwa sikholelwa ukuthi akekho umlobi wamanje wokufika kwesibili owayazi ngokuba khona kwale ncwadi kuze kube ngesonto eledlule. Umhleli waleli phephandaba [i-Cry] akazange ayizwe ngaphambili. Isikhundla sikaDavis ngesikhathi, esisekelwe nguMason, kwakuwukuthi izinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu zazizoqedwa ngonyaka wamaJuda ka-1843—owethu unyaka ka-1844.”

GSAM 87UJoseph Wolff nabanye abangamashumi amabili

GSAM 87.2Ku-Midnight Cry ka-31 Agasti 1843, sifunda ukuthi “ngo-1822 uJoseph Wolff (waseNgilandi) washicilela incwadi enesihloko esithi ‘He Will Come Again, the Son of Man in the Clouds of Heaven.’” Futhi ngaphezu kwalokho, ukuthi “ngo-1826 abantu abangamashumi amabili, abavela kuzo zonke izinkolo ezivumelana neBhayibheli, bahlangana eLondon noMnu. Wolff ukuze bafunde iBhayibheli. Bafika ngazwi linye esiphethweni esifanayo. Bafaka iminyaka engu-45 eminyakeni engu-1260.” Ukufaka iminyaka engu-45 eminyakeni engu-1260 eyaphela ngo-1798, kusiholela ekupheleni konyaka ka-1843, unyaka wamaJuda, okuyikho ngempela unyaka wethu ka-1844.

GSAM 87Isikhundla sika-Alexander Campbell

GSAM 87.3Kuleyo nombolo yephephandaba kushiwo ngo-Alexander Campbell ukuthi, “ngo-1829 waba nengxoxo yakhe edumile noRobert Owen, ongakholwayo, lapho ayephikisa khona ukuthi imibono kaDaniyeli ifinyelela ekupheleni kwesikhathi, ukuthi izinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu ziyiminyaka, futhi zizophela cishe eminyakeni engu-1847 kusukela ekuzalweni kukaKristu, okwathi, ngokombiko wakhe, kwenzeka eminyakeni emine ngaphambi kokubalwa okuvamile.” Ngakho-ke ukubala kwakhe kwakuzophetha izinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu ekupheleni kweminyaka yamaJuda egcwele engu-1843 kusukela enkathini ye-A.D.—ngempela ngo-1844.

GSAM 88.1Ku-Midnight Cry kaSepthemba 21, 1843, kukhona isitatimende mayelana nencwadi eyamukelwe ngalesi 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 nguKaputeni A. Landers, waseLiverpool, eyashicilelwa ngabakwa-S. Kent and Co., ngo-1839.”

GSAM 88.2“Yena, njengabanye, unikeza ukubala kwesikhathi, ekhombisa ukuthi ukuphela kwezinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu kungo-1847 eminyakeni kusukela ekuzalweni kukaKristu ngempela.” Lokho kungaba unyaka wethu ka-1844, njengoba azalwa eminyakeni emine ngaphambi kokubalwa okuvamile.²⁶

GSAM 88Leonard Heinrich Kelber

GSAM 88.3Ku-Review and Herald, mhlaka 17 Meyi 1892, kunendatshana evela kuMfundisi L. R. Conradi, waseHamburg, eJalimane, lapho athi khona:—

GSAM 88.4“Iningi labafundi bethu mhlawumbe selizwile ngomfundisi odumile wamaLutheran uBengel, owathi ngekhulu eledlule [ngokukaSchaff, uBengel washona ngo-1751], wabeka isikhathi sokubonakala kweNkosi yethu ngonyaka ka-1836, izibalo zakhe zisekelwe enombolweni engu-666 eSambulweni. Kodwa ngaphambi kokuphela kwalesi sikhathi, omunye umuntu waqala ukubhala owayengumqondisi wesikole omkhulu ogama lakhe linguLeonard Heinrich Kelber. Incwajana yakhe yokuqala yavela ngo-1824, ebizwa ngokuthi ‘Ukuphela kuseduze,’ equkethe incazelo kaMathewu 24 no-25. Yashicilelwa eBavaria. Kodwa ngo-1835 kwavela iphamphulethi elikhulu, elinesihloko esifanayo, eStuttgart, elinamakhasi angu-126. Lokhu kuzoba nentshisekelo ekhethekile, futhi ukuze sinike abafundi bethu umbono ongcono, ngingeza ukuhumusha kwekhasi lesihloko: ‘Ukuphela kuyeza, njengoba kufakazelwa ngendlela ephelele nekholisayo ngezwi likaNkulunkulu nangezenzakalo zakamuva; kuchithwa ngokuphelele konke ukucwasa okuqondiswe ekulindeleni ukuza kweNkosi yethu noma ekubaleni isikhathi; kuboniswa ngokusobala ukuthi umfundisi uBengel wenza iphutha leminyaka eyisikhombisa mayelana nonyaka omkhulu onqumayo; ngoba akuwona unyaka ka-1836, kodwa unyaka ka-1843, owumkhawulo lapho umzabalazo omkhulu phakathi kokukhanya nobumnyama uzophela khona, futhi ukubusa kokuthula kweNkosi yethu uJesu okulindelwe isikhathi eside kuzoqala emhlabeni.’

GSAM 89.1“Ushicilelo lwesibili lwavela ngo-1841, nalo eStuttgart, futhi ngokwazi kwami kwavela olunye eSaxony. Njengoba ikhasi lesihloko likhombisa, le ncwajana, ngemva kokubhekana nezinkolelo ezivamile eziphikisanayo, iveza ngokusobala nangokucacile uxhumano olukhona phakathi kwezinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu zesahluko 8 sikaDaniyeli namaviki angamashumi ayisikhombisa esahluko 9 sikaDaniyeli, futhi iletha konke onyakeni ka-1843 (yamaJuda 1843—yethu 1844). Emva kwalokho, esigabeni esisele sencwadi, ubonisa ngezimpawu zesikhathi ukuthi lo mcimbi usondele.

GSAM 89.2“Iqiniso lokuthi kwashicilelwa izinhlelo eziningana zalo ngokwalo lingafakazela intshisekelo eyayidalwe yilona. Umfowethu Schäche, ohlala manje e-Australia, wabona isikhangiso salo, ngisho esifundazweni esikude saseSilesia, futhi ngemva kokulicela, walifunda ngentshiseko enkulu, ngemuva kweminyango evalekile. Encwadini akukho bufakazi obutholakalayo bokuthi umbhali wayenolwazi ngayo nayiphi na inhlangano efanayo emhlabeni, kodwa ngomoya kaNkulunkulu wafinyelela eziphethweni ezifanayo.

GSAM 89.3“Ngo-1842 wabhala incwajana enkulu kakhulu enamakhasi angu-286, nayo eStuttgart, ethi ‘Imicabango esemqoka nesekelwe emiBhalweni mayelana nokudalwa komhlaba nobude besikhathi sokuba khona kwawo; noma impendulo ephelele yombuzo othi: Kungani uNkulunkulu edale umhlaba ngezinsuku eziyisithupha ezilandelanayo—ukusondela kweNkosi yethu ukuzokwahlulela umphikukristu—izenzakalo ezinkulu nezijabulisayo zonyaka ka-1843.’”

GSAM 89“Ben Ezra” (Lacunza)

GSAM 89.4Ngonyaka cishe ka-1812, uLacunza, eSpain, washicilela incwadi ebizwa ngokuthi, The Coming of Messiah in Majesty and Glory. Umbhali wazithathela isihloko esingaziwa esithi “Ben Ezra,” futhi kucatshangwa ukuthi wayengumJuda oguqukile. U-Edward Irving, waseNgilandi, ngemva kokuqalisa umsebenzi wakhe wokufika kwesibili, wahumusha le ncwadi ngesiNgisi. Ngakho-ke yatshela indaba yayo okungenani ngezilimi ezimbili.

GSAM 89.5Kuyathakazelisa ngempela, ngemuva kweminyaka edlule, ukuhlanganisa iziphetho zabafundi abahlukene ababala isikhathi sezinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu kusukela ekuqaleni kwekhulu eledlule kuze kube ngu-1840, bahlele amaviki angamashumi ayisikhombisa njengengxenye yokuqala yaleso sikhathi, bese bebona bonke bevumelana ngokuphela kwaleso sikhathi ngo-1844.

GSAM 901844 Isiphetho Sangempela Sezinsuku Eziyi-2300

GSAM 90.1Kungavela umbuzo, Singaqiniseka yini ukuthi u-1844 unyaka wangempela wokuphela kwezinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu? Yebo! Ngoba njengoba ukugcwaliseka okungamanga kwesiprofetho kungeke kufike ngesikhathi esifanele sokugcwaliseka kwangempela, kanjalo-ke kumele sifinyelele esiphethweni sokuthi unyaka ka-1844 uyisiphetho esifanele sezinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu. UNkulunkulu, owavalela lolu lwazi kuze kube ngonyaka ka-1798, futhi wathembisa ukuthi ngaleso sikhathi ukukhanya kuzokhanya, wahola ngomoya wakhe ongahambi phoso labo ababemfuna ngokuzimisela ukuze bathole ukuqonda okunembile kwesikhathi. Isikhathi sakhe sasifikile sokuthi “ulwazi” ngalesi sihloko “lwandiswe,” futhi wanikeza ukukhanya kweqiniso.

GSAM 90.2Njengoba sekutholakele umkhawulo wesikhathi owawulethwa ekuqondeni kwabantu “ngesikhathi sokuphela,” kuhle ukubuza ukuthi yini okubalulekile ngalokho kutholakele. Sithola kuleso sikhathi, ekupheleni komsebenzi wevangeli, ukuthi isikhathi esiqondile sokuhlala kwenkantolo yokwahlulela sizokwaziswa. “Ngabona,” kusho uJohane, “enye ingelosi indizela phakathi kwasezulwini, inevangeli elingapheli lokushumayela kulabo abahlala emhlabeni, nakuzo zonke izizwe, imindeni, izilimi nabantu, ithi ngelizwi elikhulu, Yethukeni kuNkulunkulu, nimnike udumo; ngoba ifikile ihora lokwahlulela kwakhe: niyakhonze lowo owadala izulu nomhlaba, ulwandle nemithombo yamanzi.”²⁷ Izingelosi ezingokoqobo azishumayeli ivangeli kubantu. Umuntu uyisithunywa okhethwe nguJehova uqobo ukushumayela ivangeli lakhe kuze kube sekupheleni komhlaba.²⁸ Le ngelosi-ke isibonakaliso somyalezo wevangeli omemezela ukuthi sekufikile isikhathi sokwahlulela “okuqala endlini kaNkulunkulu.”²⁹ Umyalezo onjalo wawungeke unikezwe ngokusekelwe eMibhalweni Engcwele kuze kwatholakala isikhathi esiholela ekwahlulelweni eMibhalweni Engcwele. Isikhathi sezinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu, njengoba sekushiwo, sifinyelela ekwahlulelweni kokuphenya kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu.

GSAM 91Usuku Lokuxolelwa Isono Isikhathi Sokwahlulela

GSAM 91.1Usuku lokuxolelwa, ukuhlanzwa kwendawo engcwele yasemhlabeni, kwakuqondwa futhi kusaqondwa ngamaJuda njengosuku lokwahlulela. Futhi noma manje, esimweni sabo sokuhlakazeka, nakuba bengakwazi ukwenza yonke inkonzo yasendulo eyayihambisana nalolo suku olungcwele, luyagujwa njengosuku lokwahlulela. Ukuze sifakazele lokhu, sizokuqala sicaphune ephephandabeni lamaJuda elashicilelwa eSan Francisco, eCalifornia, elibizwa ngokuthi The Jewish Exponent, eliyiphephandaba lamaJuda abangama-Orthodox entshonalanga kwezintaba iRocky Mountains. Enombolweni kaSepthemba 1892, kwaba nesaziso sokuthi ngaphambi kokushicilelwa kwenombolo elandelayo, izofika inyanga yesikhombisa nosuku lokuxolelwa. Igama labo lenyanga yesikhombisa nguTishree, kanti lenyanga yesithupha ngu-Ellul; njengoba iphephandaba lathi, “Inyanga ka-Ellul isifikile, futhi imisindo yokuxwayisa yeShofar [ithrompethi eyayizoshaywa kusukela ngosuku lokuqala kuya kweleshumi lenyanga yesikhombisa, IHubo 81:3, 4] izozwakala njalo ekuseni ezindlini zesinagoge zabangama-Orthodox, ixwayisa ngokulungiselela usuku lokukhumbula, nokwahlulelwa kokugcina kweYom Kippur.” Njengoba bebese ekupheleni kuka-Ellul, inyanga yesithupha, futhi uTishree, inyanga yesikhombisa, wayezovuleka, babezolalela umshayo wethrompethi njalo ekuseni izinsuku eziyishumi, ememezela ukwahlulelwa kokugcina konyaka kuleso simiso esingokomfanekiso.

GSAM 91Ubufakazi bukaRabhi wamaJuda

GSAM 91.2Futhi, ngonyaka ka-1902, uRabbi Isidore Myers, webandla elikhulu lamaJuda eSan Francisco, eCalifornia, ekumemezeleni usuku lokuxolelwa, wathi: “Ngesikhathi edlula emngceleni wesikhathi kusuka konyaka kuya komunye, umIsrayeli ukhunjuzwa ngamandla ngokudalwa nangobukhosi bomdali bonke izidalwa, futhi ubizwa ukuba agubhe, ngokushaya ithrompethi, usuku lokugubha, singathi, lokuzalwa kwesikhathi nokubekwa esihlalweni sobukhosi kweNkosi enkulu. Ubizwa futhi ngelizwi laleyo thrompethi efanayo, noma iShofar, ukuze ahlolisise ngokucophelela izenzo zakhe zonyaka owedlule ngenkathi emi ethukile phambi kwamehlo abona konke kaBulungisa Obungapheli obuhleli esihlalweni sokwahlulela.”

GSAM 92.1Njengoba enkonzweni yethempeli lamaJuda indawo engcwele yayihlanzwa kanye ngonyaka, kwakumele kube sobala kuDaniyeli ukuthi lokhu kuhlanza indawo engcwele ekupheleni kwezinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu kwakumele kuhlotshaniswe nokunye ngaphandle kwenkonzo yonyaka engokomfanekiso. INkosi yayivele yafundisa abantu bayo ukuthi, lapho kusetshenziswa izimpawu esiprofethweni, isikhathi esinikeziwe kumele sibalwe “usuku ngalunye luyonyaka.”³⁰ Ngakho-ke lesi sikhathi sezinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu, njengoba sesibonile, siholela ekupheleni komsebenzi kaKristu njengompristi omkhulu endaweni engcwele yasezulwini—ekwahlulelweni kokuphenya kwabantu amacala abo alethwe endaweni engcwele yasezulwini ngokuvuma.

GSAM 92Umyalezo Wokwahlulela Owalindelwe Ngo-1844

GSAM 92.2Lapho sekutholakele isikhathi lapho kuzoqala khona ukwahlulelwa kwabangcwele, kwavulwa indlela ukuze, ngokulandelana kwezehlakalo ezibekwe nguJehova njengoba kuprofethiwe, umyalezo ukwazi ukunikezwa, othi, “Isikhathi sokwahlulela kwakhe sesifikile.” Qaphela, akusho ukuthi ngokushesha nje lapho kutholakele leso sikhathi umyalezo wawuzokwaziswa, kodwa ukuthi ukukhanya “okwakuvaliwe” ngaphambilini kwakufanele kudalulwe ngokusobala. Sibona ngokusobala ukuthi lokhu kwafezeka. Ezahlukweni ezilandelayo kuzovela ukuthi iNkosi yaphawula ngokunembile isikhathi lapho umyalezo wokufika kwesibili wawuzokwaziswa khona, futhi ngokunembile umyalezo wawunikwa umhlaba.