Christ pointed His people to the budding trees of Spring, in order that they would understand the “signs” and the implication of the “signs” of the last days.

UKristu wabhekisela abantu baKhe ezihlahleni eziqhakazayo zaseNtwasahlobo, ukuze baqonde “izibonakaliso” kanye nencazelo “yezibonakaliso” zezinsuku zokugcina.

“Christ had bidden His people watch for the signs of His advent and rejoice as they should behold the tokens of their coming King. ‘When these things begin to come to pass,’ He said, ‘then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.’ He pointed His followers to the budding trees of spring, and said: ‘When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.’ Luke 21:28, 30, 31.” The Great Controversy, 308.

“UKristu wayeyale abantu baKhe ukuba baqaphele izibonakaliso zokufika kwaKhe, nokuba bajabule lapho sebebona izinkomba zeNkosi yabo ezayo. ‘Nxa lezi zinto seziqala ukwenzeka,’ esho, ‘bhekani phezulu, niphakamise amakhanda enu; ngokuba ukusindiswa kwenu sekusondele.’ Wakhomba abalandeli baKhe ezihlahleni zasentwasahlobo eziqhakazayo, wathi: ‘Nxa sezihluma, niyabona, nazi ngokwenu ukuthi ihlobo seliseduze. Kanjalo nani, nxa nibona lezi zinto zenzeka, yazini ukuthi umbuso kaNkulunkulu useduze.’ Luka 21:28, 30, 31.” The Great Controversy, 308.

The “signs” of the last days were typified by the “signs,” that announced and ushered in the movement of the first angel. Those “signs” included the shaking of the heavens, but Joel identifies that the “signs” of the last days, the days when the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for and not found, when God’s holy mountain is holy forever, for no strangers will ever pass through her again, the shaking of the powers of the heavens, will also include the shaking of the powers of earth. Sister White identifies the distinction between the shaking of the powers of the heavens and the powers of the earth.

“Izibonakaliso” zezinsuku zokugcina zazifanekiselwa “yizibonakaliso” ezamemezela futhi zangenisa ukunyakaza kwengelosi yokuqala. Lezo “zibonakaliso” zazihlanganisa ukuzamazama kwamazulu, kodwa uJoweli uveza ukuthi “izibonakaliso” zezinsuku zokugcina, izinsuku lapho kuyakufunwa ububi buka-Israyeli bungafunyanwa, lapho intaba kaNkulunkulu engcwele iyoba ngcwele kuze kube phakade, ngokuba abezizwe abangasibo abayikuphinda badlule kuyo futhi, ukuzamazama kwamandla amazulu, kuyakuhlanganisa futhi ukuzamazama kwamandla omhlaba. USister White uveza umehluko phakathi kokuzamazama kwamandla amazulu nokwamandla omhlaba.

“December 16, 1848, the Lord gave me a view of the shaking of the powers of the heavens. I saw that when the Lord said ‘heaven,’ in giving the signs recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke, He meant heaven, and when He said ‘earth’ He meant earth. The powers of heaven are the sun, moon, and stars. They rule in the heavens. The powers of earth are those that rule on the earth. The powers of heaven will be shaken at the voice of God. Then the sun, moon, and stars will be moved out of their places. They will not pass away, but be shaken by the voice of God.

“Ngomhlaka 16 kuZibandlela, 1848, iNkosi yanginika umbono wokuzanyazanyiswa kwamandla amazulu. Ngabona ukuthi lapho iNkosi ithi ‘izulu,’ ekunikezeni izibonakaliso ezilotshwe nguMathewu, uMarku, noLuka, yayisho izulu; nalapho ithi ‘umhlaba’ yayisho umhlaba. Amandla ezulu yilanga, inyanga, nezinkanyezi. Zibusa emazulwini. Amandla omhlaba yilawo abusa emhlabeni. Amandla ezulu ayozanyazanyiswa ngezwi likaNkulunkulu. Khona-ke ilanga, inyanga, nezinkanyezi kuyosuswa ezindaweni zazo. Ngeke kudlule, kodwa ziyozanyazanyiswa ngezwi likaNkulunkulu.

“Dark, heavy clouds came up and clashed against each other. The atmosphere parted and rolled back; then we could look up through the open space in Orion, whence came the voice of God. The Holy City will come down through that open space. I saw that the powers of earth are now being shaken and that events come in order. War, and rumors of war, sword, famine, and pestilence are first to shake the powers of earth, then the voice of God will shake the sun, moon, and stars, and this earth also. I saw that the shaking of the powers in Europe is not, as some teach, the shaking of the powers of heaven, but it is the shaking of the angry nations.” Early Writings, 41.

“Amafu amnyama, asindayo aqhamuka futhi ashayisana. Umkhathi wavuleka wagoqeka wabuyela emuva; sase sikwazi ukubheka phezulu ngaleyo ndawo evulekile e-Orion, lapho kwaqhamuka khona izwi likaNkulunkulu. UMuzi Ongcwele uyokwehla ngaleyo ndawo evulekile. Ngabona ukuthi amandla omhlaba manje ayanyakaziswa nokuthi izehlakalo ziza ngokulandelana kwazo. Impi, namahlebezi ezimpi, inkemba, indlala, nesifo esiwumqedazwe kuyizona eziqala ukunyakazisa amandla omhlaba; khona-ke izwi likaNkulunkulu liyonyakazisa ilanga, inyanga, nezinkanyezi, kanye nalomhlaba futhi. Ngabona ukuthi ukunyakaziswa kwamandla eYurophu akusikho, njengoba abanye befundisa, ukunyakaziswa kwamandla ezulu, kodwa kungukunyakaziswa kwezizwe ezithukuthele.” Early Writings, 41.

The shaking of the heavens in Matthew, Mark and Luke represent the shaking of the powers that rule the heavens, as represented by the sun, moon and stars. All of these heavenly powers were shaken, and produced the “signs,” which ushered in and announced the movement of the first angel. Those heavenly powers will be again shaken during the movement of the third angel. But in the movement of the third angel, the powers of earth will also be shaken. The powers of earth are the powers that rule the earth. On September 11, 2001, the powers of earth, not heaven, were shaken.

Ukuzanyazanyiswa kwamazulu kuMathewu, kuMarku nakuLuka kumele ukuzanyazanyiswa kwamandla abusa amazulu, njengoba emelwe yilanga, inyanga nezinkanyezi. Wonke la mandla asezulwini azanyazanyiswa, futhi akhiqiza “izibonakaliso,” ezangenisa futhi zamemezela ukuhamba kwengelosi yokuqala. Lawo mandla asezulwini ayophinde azanyazanyiswe ngesikhathi sokuhamba kwengelosi yesithathu. Kodwa ekuhambeni kwengelosi yesithathu, namandla omhlaba ayobuye azanyazanyiswe. Amandla omhlaba angamandla abusa umhlaba. NgoSepthemba 11, 2001, kwazanyazanyiswa amandla omhlaba, hhayi awezulu.

“Now comes the word that I have declared that New York is to be swept away by a tidal wave? This I have never said. I have said, as I looked at the great buildings going up there, story after story, ‘What terrible scenes will take place when the Lord shall arise to shake terribly the earth! Then the words of Revelation 18:1–3 will be fulfilled.’ The whole of the eighteenth chapter of Revelation is a warning of what is coming on the earth. But I have no light in particular in regard to what is coming on New York, only that I know that one day the great buildings there will be thrown down by the turning and overturning of God’s power. From the light given me, I know that destruction is in the world. One word from the Lord, one touch of his mighty power, and these massive structures will fall. Scenes will take place the fearfulness of which we cannot imagine.” Review and Herald, July 5, 1906.

“Manje sekufika yini izwi engathi ngimemezele ukuthi iNew York izokhukhulwa igagasi elikhulu lolwandle? Lokho angikaze ngakusho. Engikushilo ngukuthi, njengoba ngangibuka izakhiwo ezinkulu ezazakhiwa lapho, isitezi phezu kwesinye, ‘Yeka izigigaba ezesabekayo eziyokwenzeka lapho iNkosi isukuma ukuzamazamisa umhlaba ngamandla amakhulu!’ Khona-ke amazwi eSambulo 18:1–3 ayogcwaliseka. Sonke isahluko seshumi nesishiyagalombili seSambulo siyisexwayiso ngalokho okuzayo phezu komhlaba. Kodwa anginalo ukukhanya okuqondile ngokuphathelene nalokho okuzofika phezu kweNew York, ngaphandle kokuthi ngiyazi ukuthi ngolunye usuku izakhiwo ezinkulu lapho ziyodilizwa ukubhidlizwa nokugumbuqelwa kwamandla kaNkulunkulu. Ngokukhanya engikunikiwe, ngiyazi ukuthi ukubhujiswa kusezweni. Izwi elilodwa elivela eNkosini, ukuthinta okukodwa kwamandla ayo amakhulu, futhi lezi zakhiwo ezinkulukazi ziyokuwa. Kuyokwenzeka izigigaba ezesabekayo kangangokuthi asikwazi ukuzicabanga.” Review and Herald, July 5, 1906.

In the history of the Millerites one of the signs recorded by Luke was the “distress of nations.” The nations represent the powers that rule the earth, and on September 11, 2001, every nation on earth was shaken as the third Woe arrived into prophetic history. That earthly shaking was represented in Luke twenty-one, but not by the biblical expression of the shaking of the powers of the earth. It was represented by the phrase, “the distress of nations,” as was brought upon the nations of the world when the great buildings of New York were brought down. “The distress of nations” in Luke is the shaking of the powers of earth, and it was fulfilled in the history of the Millerites.

Emlandweni wamaMillerite, esinye sezibonakaliso ezalotshwa nguLuka kwakuwu “ukucindezeleka kwezizwe.” Izizwe zimelela imibuso ebusa umhlaba, futhi ngoSepthemba 11, 2001, zonke izizwe zomhlaba zanyakaziswa lapho uMaye wesithathu ungena emlandweni wesiprofetho. Lokho kunyikinyeka kwasemhlabeni kwamelelwa kuLuka amashumi amabili nanye, kodwa hhayi ngenkulumo yeBhayibheli yokunyakaziswa kwamandla omhlaba. Kwamelelwa yile nkulumo ethi, “ukucindezeleka kwezizwe,” njengoba kwalethwa phezu kwezizwe zomhlaba lapho izakhiwo ezinkulu zaseNew York zidilizelwa phansi. “Ukucindezeleka kwezizwe” kuLuka kuwukungcangcazela kwamandla omhlaba, futhi kwagcwaliseka emlandweni wamaMillerite.

“I saw that the powers of earth are now being shaken and that events come in order. War, and rumors of war, sword, famine, and pestilence are first to shake the powers of earth, then the voice of God will shake the sun, moon, and stars, and this earth also. I saw that the shaking of the powers in Europe is not, as some teach, the shaking of the powers of heaven, but it is the shaking of the angry nations.” Early Writings, 41.

“Ngabona ukuthi amandla omhlaba manje ayazanyazanyiswa nokuthi izehlakalo ziza ngokulandelana kwazo. Impi, namahlebezi empi, inkemba, indlala, nesifo esibhubhisayo kuqala ukuzanyazanyisa amandla omhlaba; bese izwi likaNkulunkulu liyozanyazanyisa ilanga, inyanga, nezinkanyezi, kanye nalo lo mhlaba. Ngabona ukuthi ukuzanyazanyiswa kwamandla eYurophu akusikho, njengoba abanye befundisa, ukuzanyazanyiswa kwamandla asezulwini, kodwa kungukuzanyazanyiswa kwezizwe ezithukuthele.” Early Writings, 41.

The “shaking of the powers of the angry nations,” is the shaking of the “powers of earth,” as illustrated in the early history of Adventism by the shaking of the “powers in Europe.” Uriah Smith identified what was shaking the powers in Europe in 1838.

“Ukuzamazama kwamandla ezizwe ezithukuthele,” kuwukuzamazama “kwamandla omhlaba,” njengoba kubonisiwe emlandweni wokuqala wobu-Adventist ngokuzamazama “kwamandla aseYurophu.” U-Uriah Smith wachaza lokho okwakuzamazamisa amandla aseYurophu ngo-1838.

“As the prophetic period of this [6th] trumpet commenced by the voluntary surrender of power into the hands of the Turks by the Christian emperor of the East, so we might justly conclude that its termination would be marked by the voluntary surrender of that power by the Turkish Sultan back again into the hands of the Christians. In 1838 Turkey became involved in war with Egypt. The Egyptians bid fair to overthrow the Turkish power. To prevent this, the four great powers of Europe, England, Russia, Austria, and Prussia, interfered to sustain the Turkish government. Turkey accepted their intervention. A conference was held in London at which an ultimatum was drawn up to be presented to Mehemet Ali, the Pacha of Egypt. It is evident that when this ultimatum should be placed in the hands of Mehemet, the destiny of the Ottoman Empire would be virtually lodged in the hands of the Christian powers of Europe. This ultimatum was placed in the hands of Mehemet on the 11th day of August 1840! and on that very day the Sultan addressed a note to the ambassadors of the four powers, inquiring what should be done in case Mehemet refused to comply with the terms which they had proposed. The answer was that he need not alarm himself about any contingency that might arise; for they had made provision for that. The prophetic period ended, and on that very day the control of Mohammedan affairs passed into the hands of Christians, just as the control of Christian affairs had passed into the hands of the Mohammedans 391 years and 15 days before. Thus the second woe ended, and the sixth trumpet ceased its sounding.” Uriah Smith, Synopsis of Present Truth, 218.

“Njengoba inkathi yesiprofetho yaleli cilongo [lesi-6] yaqala ngokunikelwa kwamandla ngokuzithandela ezandleni zamaTurkey ngumbusi ongumKristu waseMpumalanga, kanjalo singaphetha ngokufanele ukuthi ukuphela kwayo kwakuyophawulwa ngokunikelwa ngokuzithandela kwalawo mandla nguSultan waseTurkey ezandleni zamaKristu futhi. Ngo-1838 iTurkey yangena empini neGibhithe. AbaseGibhithe babebonakala sengathi bazowuketula umbuso waseTurkey. Ukuvimbela lokhu, imibuso emine emikhulu yaseYurophu, iNgilandi, iRussia, i-Austria, nePrussia, yangenelela ukuze isekele uhulumeni waseTurkey. ITurkey yakwamukela ukungenelela kwayo. Kwabanjwa ingqungquthela eLondon lapho kwahlelwa khona isinqumo sokugcina esasizokwethulwa kuMehemet Ali, uPacha waseGibhithe. Kusobala ukuthi lapho lesi sinqumo sokugcina sesibekwe ezandleni zikaMehemet, ikusasa loMbuso wase-Ottoman laliyobe selibekwe, empeleni, ezandleni zamandla angamaKristu aseYurophu. Lesi sinqumo sokugcina sabekwa ezandleni zikaMehemet ngosuku lwe-11 ku-Agasti 1840! futhi ngalolo suku uqobo uSultan wathumela incwadi kumanxusa ale mibuso emine, ebuza ukuthi kwakuyokwenziwani uma uMehemet enqaba ukuvumelana nemibandela ababeyiphakamisile. Impendulo yaba ukuthi kwakungadingeki azikhathaze nganoma yisiphi isehlakalo esasingavela; ngoba base belwenzile uhlelo ngalokho. Inkathi yesiprofetho yaphela, futhi ngalolo suku uqobo ukulawulwa kwezindaba zobuMohamede kwadlulela ezandleni zamaKristu, njengoba nje ukulawulwa kwezindaba zobuKristu kwakudlulile ezandleni zamaMohamede eminyakeni engama-391 nezinsuku eziyi-15 ngaphambili. Kanjalo-ke usizi lwesibili lwaphela, necilongo lesithupha layeka ukukhala kwalo.” Uriah Smith, Synopsis of Present Truth, 218.

Islam of the second Woe, had passed the zenith of its power, which according to God’s word was to continue for three hundred and ninety-one years and fifteen days. Yet in the 1830’s Egypt was attempting to re-establish a caliphate in Egypt for the purpose of continuing the second great jihad of Muslim history. The possibility of more Islamic warfare was causing the European powers to shake in fear. For decades the crisis of Islam re-igniting its warfare was labelled by the historians and the reporters of those years as the “Eastern Question.” The warfare of the children of the east had been carried out for centuries against the nations of Europe, who derived their religion from the Roman church. In 1838, “the distress of nations,” referred to by Christ represented the shaking of the angry nations that was produced by the warfare brought against the former Roman Empire by Islam.

I-Islamu yosizi lwesibili yayisidlule esicongweni samandla ayo, okwakuthi ngokwezwi likaNkulunkulu iqhubeke iminyaka engamakhulu amathathu namashumi ayisishiyagalolunye nanye nezinsuku eziyishumi nanhlanu. Nokho ngawo-1830 iGibhithe lalizama ukuphinde limise ubukhalifa eGibhithe ngenhloso yokuqhubekisela phambili i-jihad yesibili enkulu emlandweni wamaSulumane. Ithuba lokuba kube khona enye impi yobuSulumane lalibangela ukuba imibuso yaseYurophu ithuthumele ngokwesaba. Kwaphela amashumi eminyaka inhlekelele yokuba i-Islamu iphinde ivuse impi yayo yayibizwa yizazi-mlando nezintatheli zaleyo minyaka ngokuthi “Umbuzo WaseMpumalanga.” Impi yabantwana basempumalanga yayiqhutshwe amakhulu eminyaka imelene nezizwe zaseYurophu, ezazisusa inkolo yazo eBandleni laseRoma. Ngo-1838, “ukucindezeleka kwezizwe,” okukhulunywa ngakho nguKristu, kwakumelela ukuzamazama kwezizwe ezithukuthele okwakubangelwe impi eyalethwa i-Islamu imelene nombuso wangaphambili waseRoma.

“By [loosing] the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates, I understand that God was now about to suffer the four principal nations of which the Ottoman empire was composed, which had in vain attempted to subdue the Eastern Empire at Constantinople, and made but little progress in conquering Europe, now to take Constantinople, and to overrun and subdue one third part of Europe, which was the fact about the middle of the fifteenth century.” Works of William Miller, Volume 2, 121.

“Ngokukhulula izingelosi ezine eziboshiwe emfuleni omkhulu i-Ewufrathe, ngiyaqonda ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayesezokuvumela izizwe ezine eziyinhloko umbuso wama-Ottoman owawuhlanganiswe ngazo, ezazike zazama ngeze ukunqoba uMbuso WaseMpumalanga eConstantinople, futhi zazingakathuthuki kakhulu ekunqobeni iYurophu, ukuba manje zithathe iConstantinople, futhi zihlasele zinqobe ingxenye yesithathu yeYurophu, okuyikho kanye okwenzeka maphakathi nekhulu leshumi nanhlanu.” Works of William Miller, Volume 2, 121.

The distress of nations in the narrative found in Luke was “with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring,” and with men’s “hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” The perplexity of the Eastern Question continued to agitate the powers of earth all the way into the twentieth century, and the symbol of that distress was “men’s hearts failing them for fear” and the “sea and waves roaring.”

Usizi lwezizwe ekulandiseni okutholakala kuLuka lwalungolokuthi “ngokudideka; ulwandle namagagasi kuduma,” futhi nezinhliziyo zabantu “ziphela amandla ngenxa yokwesaba, nangenxa yokubheka lezozinto ezizayo phezu komhlaba.” Ukudideka koMbuzo WaseMpumalanga kwaqhubeka kuphazamisa imibuso yomhlaba kwaze kwangena ekhulwini lama-20, futhi uphawu lwalolo sizi kwakuwukuthi “izinhliziyo zabantu ziphela amandla ngenxa yokwesaba” kanye “nolwandle namagagasi kuduma.”

“This sealing of the servants of God is the same that was shown to Ezekiel in vision. John also had been a witness of this most startling revelation. He saw the sea and the waves roaring, and men’s hearts failing them for fear. He beheld the earth moved, and the mountains carried into the midst of the sea (which is literally taking place), the water thereof roaring and troubled, and the mountains shaking with the swelling thereof. He was shown plagues, pestilence, famine, and death performing their terrible mission.” Testimonies to Ministers, 445.

“Lokhu kubekwa uphawu kwezinceku zikaNkulunkulu kuyikho kanye okwaboniswa uHezekeli embonweni. NoJohane wayebuye abe ngufakazi walesi sambulo esethusayo kakhulu. Wabona ulwandle namagagasi ebhodla, nezinhliziyo zabantu ziphela amandla ngenxa yokwesaba. Wabona umhlaba unyakaziswa, nezintaba zithwalwa ziyiswa phakathi kolwandle (okuyinto eyenzeka ngokoqobo), amanzi alo ebhodla futhi ephithizela, nezintaba zithuthumela ngenxa yokukhukhumala kwalo. Waboniswa izinhlupho, ubhubhane, indlala, nokufa zifeza umsebenzi wazo owesabekayo.” Testimonies to Ministers, 445.

When John was shown the sealing of the one hundred and forty-four thousand, he saw the distress of nations, as represented by the seas and waves roaring, and men’s hearts failing for fear, and it was the same sealing that Ezekiel was shown in chapter nine. Ezekiel was shown the internal elements of the sealing and John was shown the external elements associated with the sealing. John saw that the angering of the nations is associated with the sealing of the one hundred and forty-four thousand, and the angering of the nations is also Luke’s distress of nations which is historically identified as the Eastern Question. John was shown that Islam of the third Woe, is the external sign of the sealing of the one hundred and forty-four thousand.

Lapho uJohane eboniswa ukubekwa uphawu kwabeyinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane, wabona usizi lwezizwe, njengoba lumelwe izilwandle namagagasi kubhonga, nezinhliziyo zabantu ziphela amandla ngenxa yokwesaba; futhi kwakuwukona kanye ukubekwa uphawu uHezekeli akuboniswa esahlukweni sesishiyagalolunye. UHezekeli waboniswa izingxenye zangaphakathi zokubekwa uphawu, kanti uJohane waboniswa izingxenye zangaphandle ezihambisana nokubekwa uphawu. UJohane wabona ukuthi ukuthukutheliswa kwezizwe kuhlotshaniswa nokubekwa uphawu kwabeyinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane, futhi ukuthukutheliswa kwezizwe kuyilo futhi usizi lwezizwe lukaLuka, olukhonjwa emlandweni ngokuthi yiMpikiswano YaseMpumalanga. UJohane waboniswa ukuthi ubuSulumane boMaye besithathu buyisibonakaliso sangaphandle sokubekwa uphawu kwabeyinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane.

“The present is a time of overwhelming interest to all living. Rulers and statesmen, men who occupy positions of trust and authority, thinking men and women of all classes, have their attention fixed upon the events taking place about us. They are watching the strained, restless relations that exist among the nations. They observe the intensity that is taking possession of every earthly element, and they recognize that something great and decisive is about to take place—that the world is on the verge of a stupendous crisis.

“Isikhathi samanje siyisikhathi sentshisekelo enkulu eyeqisayo kubo bonke abaphilayo. Ababusi nezikhulu zombuso, abantu abaphethe izikhundla zokwethembwa negunya, amadoda nabesifazane abacabangelayo bazo zonke izigaba, banake konke okwenzekayo okusizungezile. Babhekile ebudlelwaneni obucindezelekile, obungaphumuli, obukhona phakathi kwezizwe. Baqaphela ukuqina okuthumba yonke into yasemhlabeni, futhi bayabona ukuthi kukhona into enkulu nenqumayo esizokwenzeka—ukuthi umhlaba usemngceleni wenhlekelele enkulu ngokwedlulele.”

“Angels are now restraining the winds of strife, that they may not blow until the world shall be warned of its coming doom; but a storm is gathering, ready to burst upon the earth; and when God shall bid His angels loose the winds, there will be such a scene of strife as no pen can picture.

“Izingelosi manje zibamba imimoya yombango, ukuze ingaphephi kuze kube umhlaba uxwayisiwe ngenhlekelele ezayo; kodwa isiphepho siyabuthana, sesikulungele ukuqhuma phezu komhlaba; futhi lapho uNkulunkulu eyala izingelosi zaKhe ukuba zidedele imimoya, kuyoba khona isimo sombango esingeke sichazwe yipeni.”

“The Bible, and the Bible only, gives a correct view of these things. Here are revealed the great final scenes in the history of our world, events that already are casting their shadows before, the sound of their approach causing the earth to tremble and men’s hearts to fail them for fear.” Education, 179, 180.

“IBhayibheli, futhi iBhayibheli kuphela, isinika umbono oqondile ngalezi zinto. Lapha kwambulwa izigcawu ezinkulu zokugcina emlandweni womhlaba wethu, izehlakalo esezivele ziwuphonsa phambili amathunzi azo, umsindo wokusondela kwazo ubangela ukuba umhlaba uthuthumele nezinhliziyo zabantu ziphele amandla ngenxa yokwesaba.” Education, 179, 180.

In Luke chapter twenty-one Jesus identified the “signs” that ushered in the Millerite movement, and all those “signs”, according to Sister White, were fulfilled. The Lisbon earthquake, the dark day, the falling of the stars, and the distress of nations, which represented the shaking of the powers of earth that was fulfilled by Islam in the fear produced by the Eastern Question, are all fulfilled. The Millerite “signs” also include the Son of man coming with a cloud which was fulfilled in the correct order that the “signs” were given by Christ, for after the distress of nations ended with the restraint of the Ottoman supremacy in 1840, Christ came to the Most Holy Place on October 22, 1844, and when He came He came with clouds.

KuLuka isahluko samashumi amabili nanye uJesu waveza “izibonakaliso” ezangenisa ukunyakaza kwamaMillerite, futhi zonke lezo “zibonakaliso”, ngokukaDade White, zagcwaliseka. Ukuzamazama komhlaba kwaseLisbon, usuku lobumnyama, ukuwa kwezinkanyezi, nosizi lwezizwe, okwakumele ukuzanyazanyiswa kwamandla omhlaba okwagcwaliseka nge-Islam ngenxa yokwesaba okwadalwa uMbuzo WaseMpumalanga, konke sekugcwalisekile. “Izibonakaliso” zamaMillerite futhi zihlanganisa neNdodana yomuntu iza ngefu, okwagcwaliseka ngokohlelo oluqondile izibonakaliso ezalunikezwa nguKristu, ngoba emva kokuba usizi lwezizwe luphele ngokuvinjelwa kobukhosi base-Ottoman ngo-1840, uKristu weza eNdaweni Engcwelengcwele Kakhulu ngo-Okthoba 22, 1844, futhi lapho efika weza namafu.

“‘And, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away.’ Daniel 7:13, 14. The coming of Christ here described is not His second coming to the earth. He comes to the Ancient of Days in heaven to receive dominion and glory and a kingdom, which will be given Him at the close of His work as a mediator. It is this coming, and not His second advent to the earth, that was foretold in prophecy to take place at the termination of the 2300 days in 1844. Attended by heavenly angels, our great High Priest enters the holy of holies and there appears in the presence of God to engage in the last acts of His ministration in behalf of man—to perform the work of investigative judgment and to make an atonement for all who are shown to be entitled to its benefits.” The Great Controversy, 479.

“‘Bheka, kwafika onjengeNdodana yomuntu ngamafu ezulu, wafika koMdala Wezinsuku, base bemsondeza phambi kwakhe. Wanikwa ukubusa, nenkazimulo, nombuso, ukuze zonke izizwe, nezinhlanga, nezilimi zimkhonze; ukubusa kwakhe kungukubusa okuphakade okungasoze kwadlula.’ Daniyeli 7:13, 14. Ukuza kukaKristu okuchazwe lapha akusikho ukuza Kwakhe kwesibili emhlabeni. Uza koMdala Wezinsuku ezulwini ukuze amukele ukubusa nenkazimulo nombuso, okuyonikezwa Yena ekupheleni komsebenzi Wakhe wokuba nguMlamuleli. Yilokhu kuza, hhayi ukufika Kwakhe kwesibili emhlabeni, okwakubikezelwe esiprofethweni ukuba kwenzeke ekupheleni kwezinsuku eziyi-2300 ngonyaka ka-1844. Ephelezelwa yizingelosi zasezulwini, umPristi wethu Omkhulu ungena endaweni engcwelengcwele kunazo zonke, lapho abonakala khona phambi kukaNkulunkulu ukuba ahlanganyele ezenzweni zokugcina zenkonzo Yakhe ngenxa yomuntu—ukwenza umsebenzi wokwahlulela kophenyo nokwenza ukubuyisana ngenxa yabo bonke ababoniswa ukuthi bafanelekile ukwamukela izinzuzo zako.” The Great Controversy, 479.

The “signs” associated with the history of the Millerites typified the “signs” associated with the history of the one hundred and forty-four thousand. When Christ provided the second witness to the historical narrative with the parable, He pointed His disciples to “the budding trees of spring.” He informed them that when the trees begin to bud out you know you are near the end of the world, and that the generation that witnesses the budding trees of spring will live to see the heavens and the earth pass away, in the fires of His second coming.

“Izibonakaliso” ezihlobene nomlando wamaMillerite zazifanekisa “izibonakaliso” ezihlobene nomlando wabayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane. Ngesikhathi uKristu enikeza ubufakazi besibili endabeni yomlando ngomfanekiso, waqondisa abafundi baKhe “ezihlahleni zasentwasahlobo ezihluma amahlumela.” Wabatshela ukuthi, lapho izihlahla ziqala ukuhluma, niyazi ukuthi nisondela ekupheleni kwezwe, nokuthi isizukulwane esibona izihlahla zasentwasahlobo zihluma siyophila size sibone amazulu nomhlaba kudlula, emililweni yokubuya kwaKhe kwesibili.

When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. Luke 21:30–33.

Lapho seziqhakaza manje, niyabona futhi niqonda ngokwenu ukuthi ihlobo seliseduze. Kanjalo nani, lapho nibona lezi zinto zenzeka, yazini ukuthi umbuso kaNkulunkulu useduze. Ngiqinisile ngithi kini, Lesi sizukulwane asiyikudlula, kuze kugcwaliseke konke. Izulu nomhlaba kuyakudlula; kodwa amazwi ami awayikudlula. Luka 21:30–33.

The question then becomes, “when did the trees begin to shoot forth?” The latter rain began to sprinkle on September 11, 2001, which according to Isaiah is “the day” of God’s “rough wind in the day of the east wind.”

Ngakho-ke umbuzo uba ngothi, “izihlahla zaqala nini ukuqhuma amahlumela?” Imvula yokugcina yaqala ukufafaza ngoSepthemba 11, 2001, okuyinto ngokuka-Isaya engu “usuku” “lomoya wakhe onamandla ngosuku lomoya wasempumalanga” lukaNkulunkulu.

In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it: he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind. By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up. Yet the defenced city shall be desolate, and the habitation forsaken, and left like a wilderness: there shall the calf feed, and there shall he lie down, and consume the branches thereof. When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on fire: for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem. Isaiah 27:8–13.

Ngesilinganiso, lapho ihlumela, uyakubambana nayo ekwahluleleni; ubamba umoya wakhe onolaka ngosuku lomoya wasempumalanga. Ngalokho-ke ububi bukaJakobe buyakuhlawulelwa; futhi lokhu kuyoba yiso sonke isithelo sokususa isono sakhe: lapho enza wonke amatshe e-altare abe njengamatshe kachoko achotshozwe abe yizicucu, izixuku zezihlahla ezingcwele nezithombe ngeke zisamiswa. Nokho umuzi oqinile uyakuba yincithakalo, nendawo yokuhlala iyakushiywa, ishiywe njengehlane; lapho inkonyane iyakudla, futhi lapho iyakulala phansi, iqede amagatsha awo. Lapho amagatsha awo esebunile, ayakunqunywa; abesifazane bayafika, bawathungela ngomlilo; ngokuba bangabantu abangenakuqonda; ngalokho Lowo owabenza akayikuba nesihe kubo, noLowo owababumba akayikubabonisa umusa. Kuyakuthi ngalolo suku, iNkosi iyakuvuthulula kusukela emseleni womfula kuze kube semfudlaneni waseGibithe, futhi niyakubuthwa ngamunye ngamunye, nina bantwana bakwa-Israyeli. Kuyakuthi ngalolo suku, icilongo elikhulu liyakukhala, bese kufika labo ababese bezakubhubha ezweni lase-Asiriya, nabaxoshiweyo ezweni laseGibithe, bakhonze iNkosi entabeni engcwele eJerusalema. U-Isaya 27:8–13.

The latter rain began to sprinkle (measured) on September 11, 2001, and the debate over the message of the latter rain and the counterfeit peace and safety message began. The history of that debate is where the iniquity of Jacob is removed (purged, meaning atoned for). The history of the debate, which is the debate of Habakkuk, is the period of the sealing of the one hundred and forty-four thousand, that concludes with the Laodicean Seventh-day Adventist being spewed out of the mouth of the Lord, for it, as “the defenced city,” shall be desolate, for it had become the city of a people of no understanding, who find no mercy or favor. At that time the “second voice” of Revelation eighteen, will blow a great trumpet, which is the seventh trumpet and the third woe, and God’s other flock shall come and worship at “Jerusalem”, which will have become the movement of the church triumphant.

Imvula yokugcina yaqala ukunetha kancane (ngesilinganiso) ngoSepthemba 11, 2001, kwase kuqala impikiswano mayelana nomlayezo wemvula yokugcina kanye nomlayezo womgunyathi wokuthula nokulondeka. Umlando waleyo mpikiswano uyindawo lapho ububi bukaJakobe bususwa khona (buhlanzwe, okusho ukubuyisaniswa). Umlando wale mpikiswano, oyimpikiswano kaHabakuki, uyisikhathi sokubekwa uphawu kwabayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane, esiphetha ngokuthi iLaodikiya yoSuku Lwesikhombisa yama-Adventist ikhafulelwe ngaphandle emlonyeni weNkosi, ngokuba yona, “njengomuzi ovikelweyo,” iyakuba yincithakalo, ngoba yayisiphenduke umuzi wabantu abangenakuqonda, abangatholi sihawu nomusa. Ngaleso sikhathi “izwi lesibili” lesAmbulo isahluko seshumi nesishiyagalombili liyakukhala icilongo elikhulu, eliyicilongo lesikhombisa nosizi lwesithathu, futhi omunye umhlambi kaNkulunkulu uyakuza ukhuleke e“Jerusalema”, osekuyobe sekuphenduke inhlangano yebandla elinqobayo.

September 11, 2001, identifies that the last generation of earth’s history has arrived, and only those that recognize the budding trees of spring will receive the rain that is causing the trees to bud. Only those that recognize that Islam of the third woe, is what marks the arrival of the latter rain and the sealing of the one hundred and forty-four thousand, will be among that group.

Umhla ka-11 kuMandulo, 2001, ukhomba ukuthi isizukulwane sokugcina somlando womhlaba sesifikile, futhi yilabo kuphela abaqaphela izihlahla eziqhakazayo zentwasahlobo abayokwamukela imvula eyenza lezo zihlahla ziqhakaze. Yilabo kuphela abaqaphela ukuthi ubuSulumane bosizi lwesithathu yilokho okuphawula ukufika kwemvula yokugcina nokubekwa uphawu kwabizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane abayoba phakathi kwalelo qembu.

“Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it.” Testimonies to Ministers, 507.

“Yilabo kuphela labo abaphila ngokuvumelana nokukhanya abanako abayokwamukela ukukhanya okukhulu. Ngaphandle kokuba siqhubekela phambili nsuku zonke ekubonakaliseni izimfanelo zobuKristu ezisebenzayo, ngeke siqaphele ukubonakaliswa kukaMoya oNgcwele emvuleni yamuva. Kungenzeka ukuthi iwela ezinhliziyweni ezisizungezile nxazonke, kodwa thina ngeke siyibone noma siyamukele.” Testimonies to Ministers, 507.

“We must not wait for the latter rain. It is coming upon all who will recognize and appropriate the dew and showers of grace that fall upon us. When we gather up the fragments of light, when we appreciate the sure mercies of God, who loves to have us trust Him, then every promise will be fulfilled. ‘For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations’ (Isaiah 61:11). The whole earth is to be filled with the glory of God.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, volume 7, 984.

“Akumelwe silinde imvula yokugcina. Iza phezu kwabo bonke abayakuqonda futhi bazenze okwabo amazolo nezihlambi zomusa eziwela phezu kwethu. Lapho siqoqa izingcezu zokukhanya, lapho sibonga izihe eziqinisekileyo zikaNkulunkulu, othanda ukuba simethembe, khona-ke zonke izithembiso ziyakugcwaliseka. ‘Ngokuba njengokuba umhlaba ukhulisa ihlumela lawo, nanjengokuba insimu yenza ukuba okuhlwanyelwe kuyo kuhlume; kanjalo iNkosi uJehova iyakuhlumisa ukulunga nodumo phambi kwezizwe zonke’ (Isaya 61:11). Umhlaba wonke uyakugcwala inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, ivolumu 7, 984.

We will continue the study in the next article.

Sizoqhubeka nalesi sifundo esihlokweni esilandelayo.

“Unless those who can help in——are aroused to a sense of their duty, they will not recognize the work of God when the loud cry of the third angel shall be heard. When light goes forth to lighten the earth, instead of coming up to the help of the Lord, they will want to bind about His work to meet their narrow ideas. Let me tell you that the Lord will work in this last work in a manner very much out of the common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human planning. There will be those among us who will always want to control the work of God, to dictate even what movements shall be made when the work goes forward under the direction of the angel who joins the third angel in the message to be given to the world. God will use ways and means by which it will be seen that He is taking the reins in His own hands. The workers will be surprised by the simple means that He will use to bring about and perfect His work of righteousness.” Testimonies to Ministers, 300.

“Ngaphandle kokuba labo abangasiza e—— bavuswe ekuzweni umsebenzi wabo, abayikuwuqaphela umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu lapho kukhala isimemezelo esikhulu sengwekazi yesithathu. Lapho ukukhanya kuphuma ukuze kukhanyise umhlaba, esikhundleni sokusukuma bazosiza iNkosi, bayofuna ukubopha umsebenzi waYo ukuze uvumelane nemibono yabo emincane. Ake nginitshele ukuthi iNkosi iyosebenza kulo msebenzi wokugcina ngendlela ephambene kakhulu nokujwayelekile kwezinto, nangendlela ezakuba yiphikisana nanoma yiluphi uhlelo lomuntu. Kuyakuba khona phakathi kwethu labo abayohlala befuna ukulawula umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu, baze banqume nokuthi yiziphi izinyathelo okufanele zithathwe lapho umsebenzi uqhubekela phambili ngaphansi kokuqondisa kwengelosii ehlanganyela nengelosi yesithathu emlayezweni okufanele unikezwe umhlaba. UNkulunkulu uyosebenzisa izindlela nezinsiza okuzobonakala ngazo ukuthi Yena uqobo uthatha izintambo ezandleni zaKhe. Izisebenzi ziyomangaliswa yizindlela ezilula ayozisebenzisa ukuze alethe futhi aphelelise umsebenzi waKhe wokulunga.” Testimonies to Ministers, 300.