Ngokokuphefumulelwa, uma kuziwa ekuphefumulelweni, “wonke amaqiniso anokubaluleka kwawo,” futhi “wonke umgomo unokubaluleka kwawo.”

“IBhayibheli iqukethe zonke izimiso abantu abadinga ukuziqonda ukuze balungele kokubili lokhu kuphila noma ukuphila okuzayo. Futhi lezi zimiso zingaqondwa yibo bonke. Akekho onomoya wokwazisa ukufundisa kwayo ongafunda ngisho nesigaba esisodwa seBhayibheli engazuzanga kuso umcabango othile osizayo. Kodwa imfundiso eyigugu kunazo zonke yeBhayibheli ayitholakali ngokulifunda ngezikhathi ezithile noma ngendlela engaxhumene. Uhlelo lwayo olukhulu lweqiniso alwethulwanga ngendlela yokuba lubonakale kumfundi osheshayo noma onganakile. Iningi lemicebo yalo ilele kude ngaphansi kobuso, futhi ingatholakala kuphela ngokucwaninga ngenkuthalo nangomzamo oqhubekayo. Amaqiniso akha leyo ngqikithi enkulu kufanele afunisiswe futhi aqoqwe, ‘lapha kancane, laphaya kancane.’ U-Isaya 28:10.”

“Lapho sezihlolwe ngokunje futhi zahlanganiswa ndawonye, ziyotholakala zivumelana ngokupheleleyo zifanelene omunye nomunye. IVangeli ngalinye liyisenelelo kwamanye, sonke isiprofetho siyincazelo sesinye, iqiniso ngalinye liyintuthuko yelinye iqiniso. Izinhlobo zesimiso samaJuda zenziwa zacaca yivangeli. Wonke umgomo osezwini likaNkulunkulu unendawo yawo, lonke iqiniso elenzekayo linokubaluleka kwalo. Futhi lesi sakhiwo esipheleleyo, ekwakhiweni nasekuphunyezweni kwaso, sifakazela ngoMqambi waso. Isakhiwo esinjalo akukho ngqondo ngaphandle kweyoNgapheliyo eyayingasicabanga noma isakhe.” Education, 123.

Iqiniso lendaba ukuthi inkulumo yesiHeberu ethi “ereb boqer” itholakala izikhathi eziyisishiyagalombili eBhayibhelini. Ihlala ihunyushwa ngokuthi “ukuhlwa nokusa,” ngaphandle kukaDaniyeli 8:14 lapho ihunyushwe khona ngokuthi “izinsuku.” Ngokokuphefumulelwa ivesi leshumi nane liyi“sisekelo nensika emaphakathi yokholo lwama-Advent.”

“Umbhalo owawudlula yonke eminye ngokuba yikho kokubili isisekelo nensika emaphakathi yokukholwa kwe-Adventi kwakuyilesi simemezelo esithi, ‘Kuze kube yizinsuku eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu; khona-ke indawo engcwele iyakuhlanzwa.’ [Daniel 8:14.]” The Great Controversy, 409.

Ngakho-ke iqiniso lithi “izinsuku” kulelo vesi kuyisikhathi sesishiyagalombili lapho leyo nkulumo yesiHeberu yezikhathi eziyisikhombisa isetshenziswa khona. Futhi isimo seBhayibheli sokuthi uNkulunkulu waqondisa abahumushi beNguqulo kaKing James ngokwesiprofetho sahlanganisa ngenhloso imfihlakalo yeBhayibheli yokuthi owesishiyagalombili abe ngowabayisikhombisa kulelo vesi elimelela omunye wemibono emibili esahlukweni sesishiyagalombili. Elinye igama elihunyushwe ngokuthi “umbono” esahlukweni sesishiyagalombili yigama lesiHeberu elithi “chazon,” kanti elinye lithi “mareh.” “Mareh” lisho ukubonakala, futhi umbono we-“mareh” ungumbono wokubonakala kukaKristu eZwini likaNkulunkulu lesiprofetho. Umbono we-“mareh” kaDaniyeli 8:14 ukhomba ukuthi uKristu wayezovela futhi afike masinyane ethempelini laKhe ngo-October 22, 1844. Wonke la maqiniso angamaqiniso impela, futhi anokubaluleka kwawo kulelo vesi eliyinsika emaphakathi, futhi leyo nsika emaphakathi ayisona isifundiso noma isiprofetho esagcwaliseka ngo-October 22, 1844; iqiniso lithi lelo vesi linguKristu, insika emaphakathi.

“Ngesikhathi ngikulesi simo sokudangala, ngaba nephupho elashiya umbono ojulile engqondweni yami. Ngaphupha ngibona ithempeli, abantu abaningi ababebuthanela kulo. Kuphela yilabo ababephephela kulelo thempeli ababeyakusindiswa lapho isikhathi sesivalwa; bonke ababengaphandle babeyolahleka phakade. Izixuku ezazingaphandle, ezaziqhubeka ngezindlela zazo ezehlukene, zahleka usulu futhi zahlekisa ngalabo ababengena ethempelini, zabatshela ukuthi leli cebo lokuphepha laliwukukhohlisa okunobuqili, nokuthi empeleni kwakungekho bungozi nakancane obabufanele bugwenywe. Zaze zabamba abanye ukuze zibavimbele ukuba baphuthume bangene ngaphakathi kwezindonga.

“Ngokwesaba ukuhlekwa usulu, ngacabanga ukuthi kungcono ngilinde kuze kuhlakazeke isixuku, noma kuze ngikwazi ukungena ngingabonwa yibo. Kodwa esikhundleni sokuba inani labo linciphe, landa kakhulu; futhi ngokwesaba ukuthi ngingafika sengiphuzile kakhulu, ngashesha ngaphuma ekhaya lami ngacindezela ngadlula esixukwini. Ekukhathazekeni kwami ukufinyelela ethempelini angizange ngiqaphele noma nginake isixuku esasangizungezile.

“Ekungeneni kwami esakhiweni, ngabona ukuthi ithempeli elikhulu kakhulu lalisekelwe yinsika eyodwa enkulu kakhulu, futhi kuleyo nsika kwakuboshwe iwundlu elalicwiywe lonke futhi lopha. Thina esasikhona sabonakala sazi ukuthi leli wundlu lalidabukile futhi lihlutshiwe ngenxa yethu. Bonke abangena ethempelini kwakumelwe beze phambi kwalo bavume izono zabo. Phambi nje kwewundlu kwakukhona izihlalo eziphakeme, okwakuhlezi kuzo iqembu elalibukeka lijabule kakhulu. Ukukhanya kwezulu kwabonakala kukhanya ebusweni babo, futhi babedumisa uNkulunkulu futhi behuba izingoma zokubonga kwenjabulo ezazizwakala njengomculo wezingelosi. Laba kwakuyibo ababefikile phambi kwewundlu, bavuma izono zabo, bathola ukuthethelelwa, futhi manje babelindele ngokujabula okukhulu isehlakalo esithile esijabulisayo.”

“Ngisho nangemva kokuba sengingenile esakhiweni, ngesatshiswa ukwesaba, kwangigubuzela nomuzwa wehlazo wokuthi kufanele ngizithobe phambi kwalaba bantu; kodwa ngabonakala sengiphoqelekile ukuba ngiqhubekele phambili, futhi ngangihamba kancane ngizungeza insika ukuze ngibhekane newundlu, kwathi kukhala icilongo, ithempeli lazamazama, kwavela ukumemeza kokunqoba phakathi kwabangcwele ababebuthene, ukukhanya okwesabekayo kwakhanyisa isakhiwo, khona-ke konke kwaba ngubumnyama obukhulu. Bonke labo bantu abajabulayo base benyamalele kanye nalokho kukhanya, mina ngasala ngedwa ebuhlungwini obuthule nobwesabekayo bobusuku.

“Ngavuka ngisezinhlungwini ezinzima zengqondo, futhi ngangingakwazi neze ukuzikholisa ukuthi ngangiphuphile. Kwabonakala kimi sengathi ukulahlwa kwami kwase kumisiwe; ukuthi uMoya weNkosi wawungishiyile, ungeke usabuya futhi.” Experience and Teachings, 24, 25.

Manje siyavivinywa ukuthi sizongena yini ethempelini bese kamuva sivume izono zethu futhi sithole isibusiso sokulunga Kwakhe. Lolu bizo lokugcina lokungena ethempelini luzungezwe izithiyo ukuze kuvinjelwe ukungena kwethu ngabanye, kodwa uma sesingabaza manje, “sizoshiywa sodwa ekwesabekeni okuthule kobusuku.” Kodwa lokhu akusilo kuphela iphuzu lami.

Leli vesi elibaluleke kunawo wonke lagcizelelwa ngenhloso ngokufaka umehluko ovezwa yigama elithi “izinsuku,” eliqukethe indida yesiprofetho ethi isishiyagalombili singesabayisikhombisa, okungelinye lamasondo asesikhathini sokubekwa uphawu kwabayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane. Esikhathini sokubekwa uphawu, zombili izimpondo zombuso wesithupha wesiprofetho seBhayibheli, uphondo lobuProthestani nophondo lobuRiphabhulikhi, ziyogcwalisa indida ethi owesishiyagalombili ungowabayisikhombisa. Komongameli abayisishiyagalombili kusukela esikhathini sokuphela ngo-1989, uTrump waba yinkosi yesithupha yombuso wesithupha, futhi ngemva kokunqoba kwakhe okhethweni lwehlandla lakhe lesibili, waba ngowesishiyagalombili ongowabayisikhombisa. Ngesenzo se-United States sokuphinda uMyalo waseMilan wango-313, inhlangano yaseLawodikeya yabayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane iyoba yinhlangano yaseFiladelfiya yabayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane. Isikhathi sokubekwa uphawu siphela lapho kumiswa umthetho weSonto, lapho kuphola khona inxeba lobupapa elibulalayo, futhi ngaleyo ndlela ubupapa bugcwalisa indida yeSambulo isahluko seshumi nesikhombisa njengowesishiyagalombili ongowabayisikhombisa. Iqiniso elilodwa, elimelelwe emushwaneni owodwa wesiHebheru, njengegama elilodwa lesiNgisi, liletha ivesi elikhomba ukuqala kokwahlulela evesini elikhomba ukuphela kokwahlulela ngesikhathi sokubekwa uphawu kwabayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane.

Iqiniso ngalinye linendawo yalo, futhi eTestamenteni Elisha kunenkulumo eyodwa kuphela lapho kusetshenziswa khona isakhiwo sezinombolo esithi ‘inombolo’ iphindwe ngenye ‘inombolo’, kanti eTestamenteni Elidala zimbili kuphela. I-alfa ‘yesakhiwo sezinombolo’ ikuGenesise.

Uma uKhayini ezophindiselwa kasikhombisa, impela uLameki kuyophindiselwa kuye okungamashumi ayisikhombisa nakasikhombisa. UGenesise 4:24.

Ukwakhiwa kwenani kwe-omega kuseMathewu.

Khona-ke uPetru weza kuye, wathi, Nkosi, umfowethu uyakona kangaki kimi, mina ngimthethelele na? Kuze kube kasikhombisa na? UJesu wathi kuye, Angikusho kuwe ukuthi, Kuze kube kasikhombisa; kodwa, Kuze kube ngamashumi ayisikhombisa aphindwe kasikhombisa. Mathewu 18:21, 22.

Lezi zindima zimelela okokuqala nokokugcina eBhayibhelini lapho inani lichazwa khona njengelifanele ukuphindaphindwa ngelinye inani. Kukhona amanani amaningi, kodwa i-alpha kaGenesise ne-omega kaMathewu kunokwakheka kwezinombolo okufanayo ngokuphelele, futhi kusebenzisa wona lawo manani amabili afanayo athi ‘isikhombisa’ kanye ‘namashumi ayisikhombisa.’

Phakathi kuka-alfa no-omega, indawo emaphakathi, okuyiyona kuphela enye indawo lapho kutholakala khona lesi sakhiwo sezinombolo, ikuLevitikusi isahluko samashumi amabili nanhlanu. Lapho lezi zinombolo ezimbili azizona ‘isikhombisa’ kanye ‘namashumi ayisikhombisa,’ kodwa ‘iminyaka eyisikhombisa ephindwe kasikhombisa.’

Uyazibalele amasabatha eminyaka ayisikhombisa, okuyizikhathi eziyisikhombisa zeminyaka eyisikhombisa; futhi inkathi yalawo masabatha eminyaka ayisikhombisa iyakuba kuwe yiminyaka engamashumi amane nesishiyagalolunye. Levitikusi 25:8.

Isakhiwo sezinombolo esimaphakathi siphinde sisebenzise inombolo ethi ‘isikhombisa’, kodwa hhayi ethi ‘amashumi ayisikhombisa’. Indima esitholakala kuyo iqukethe isibusiso ngenxa yokulalela, kanye nesiqalekiso ngenxa yokungalaleli. Izibusiso zokukhululwa kwezigqila nokubuyiselwa komhlaba zibekwa ngokuphambene nesiqalekiso esiphindwe kasikhombisa, esishiwo izikhathi ezine esahlukweni samashumi amabili nesithupha sencwadi kaLevitikusi. Isibusiso sasihlanganisa ukondliwa yiNkosi phakathi neminyaka umhlaba owawuphumula ngayo, kanye nesibusiso esiphindwe kabili ngonyaka weJubili, kanti ukuqalekiswa okusesahlukweni samashumi amabili nesithupha kuwuhlangothi oluphambene naleso sibusiso esixwayisweni sesivumelwano esikulezi zahluko ezimbili.

Isakhiwo sezinombolo esimaphakathi sivela kuLevitikusi 25:8 (‘iminyaka eyisikhombisa ephindwe kasikhombisa’). Ngokushesha sihlanganiswa nesahlulelo ‘sokuphindwe kasikhombisa’ esishiwo kane kuLevitikusi 26. Ngakho, isakhiwo sezinombolo esimaphakathi simelela kokubili isibusiso nesiqalekiso, ngaleyo ndlela sakha ubufakazi obuphindwe kabili encwadini kaLevitikusi. Isakhiwo sezinombolo sesibusiso noma sesiqalekiso seJubili sibekwe phakathi kwesahlulelo sikaLameka nokukhomba kukaJesu umkhawulo wesikhathi somusa. Zontathu zihlangene zikhomba umkhawulo wesikhathi somusa, okuyothi lapho leso sikhathi sesiphelile kubonakale isigaba esisodwa sabantu ababusisiwe nesigaba esisodwa sabantu abaqalekisiwe. I-alfa ne-omega, ezimelela imiyalezo yengelosi yokuqala neyesithathu, zikhomba amakhulu amane namashumi ayisishiyagalolunye njengophawu lwesikhathi somusa. Lapho lokhu kuhlanganiswa nesiqalekiso noma nesibusiso seJubili, amaqiniso aba semqoka njengoba sisondela ekutadisheni uHezekeli isahluko sokuqala ivesi lokuqala, elibeka uHezekeli onyakeni wamashumi amathathu womjikelezo weJubili weshumi nesikhombisa.

Lowo mjikelezo weJubili waphela mhla zingama-22 kuMfumfu ngowe-573 ngaphambi kukaKristu, futhi wawufanekisela hhayi nje kuphela umhla zingama-22 kuMfumfu ngowe-1844, kodwa futhi nomthetho wokugcinwa kweSonto osezofika maduze. UHezekeli wayemi ethempelini, emele abayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane abangene ngokukholwa eNdaweni eNgcwelengcwele ekupheleni kokwahlulela, njengoba kwenza abathembekileyo ngemva komhla zingama-22 kuMfumfu ngowe-1844. Ukungaliqondi “iqiniso” lokuthi uHezekeli ukuliphi iphuzu emlandweni wesiprofetho esahlukweni sokuqala nasevesini lokuqala kuwukulahlekelwa “umkhombandlela” wakho.

Ngemva kokubona inkazimulo yeNkosi eyabonakaliswa ngasemfuleni iKebari, uHezekeli uthotshiselwa othulini, njengoba kwenzeka kuDaniyeli, ku-Isaya nakuJohane. Khona-ke zonke lezi zibonelo ezine ziveza izici zokugcotshwa kwalabo abazodlulisela umyalezo ebandleni elingeke libone noma lizwe.

Kunezinsuku eziyisithupha ezishiwo encwadini kaHezekeli eziphathelene neJerusalema. Sesike sadingida ngaphambili usuku lokuqala olutholakala esahlukweni sokuqala, evesini lokuqala nelesibili, kanye nolokugcina olutholakala esahlukweni samashumi amane, evesini lokuqala. Sengike ngadingida usuku lwesibili olutholakala esahlukweni sesishiyagalombili, evesini lokuqala, kodwa kuphela ngokwalokho olukumele ngokomfanekiso, nangaphandle kokulubeka ngokwesikhathi maqondana nokuvinjezelwa nokubhujiswa kweJerusalema, okuwumgogodla incwadi yonke ezungeza kuwo. IJerusalema labhujiswa ekupheleni konyaka ka-586/585 ngaphambi kukaKristu. Futhi kuHezekeli 33:21 kufika umbaleki ephethe izindaba zokuwa kweJerusalema.

Kwathi ngomnyaka weshumi nambili wokuthunjwa kwethu, ngenyanga yeshumi, ngosuku lwesihlanu lwenyanga, kweza kimi owayesindile ephuma eJerusalema, ethi: Umuzi ushaywe. Isandla seNkosi sase siphezu kwami kusihlwa, engakafiki lowo owayesindile; sase sivule umlomo wami, waze wafika kimi ekuseni; umlomo wami wavuleka, angabe ngisaba isimungulu. Hezekeli 33:21, 22.

Ngonyaka weshumi nambili umuzi washaywa, uHezekeli wayesekhululekile ukukhuluma ngokwentando yakhe siqu. Umbono kaHezekeli isahluko sesishiyagalombili wawungowonyaka wesithupha, ngaleyo ndlela cishe iminyaka eyisithupha ngaphambi kokuba umuzi ushaywe.

Kwase kwathi ngomnyaka wesithupha, ngenyanga yesithupha, ngosuku lwesihlanu lwenyanga, ngihlezi endlini yami, abadala bakwaJuda behlezi phambi kwami, isandla seNkosi uJehova sehla phezu kwami lapho. Hezekeli 8:1.

Ngonyaka olandelayo, owawungunyaka wesikhombisa, abadala bafuna uHezekeli ukuze babuze eNkosini.

Kwase kwathi ngomnyaka wesikhombisa, ngenyanga yesihlanu, ngosuku lweshumi lwenyanga, kwafika abathile kubadala bakwa-Israyeli ukuzobuza eNkosini, bahlala phambi kwami. Hezekeli 20:1.

Khona-ke, ngonyaka wesishiyagalolunye, kwaqala ukuvinjezelwa okwathatha unyaka nengxenye.

Kwathi futhi ngomnyaka wesishiyagalolunye, ngenyanga yeshumi, ngosuku lweshumi lwenyanga, izwi likaJehova lafika kimi, lathi: Ndodana yomuntu, zibhalele igama lwalolu suku, yebo, lwalolu suku lona kanye; inkosi yaseBabiloni ihlasele iJerusalema ngalolu suku lona kanye. Hezekeli 24:1, 2.

Usuku ngalunye kulezi zinsuku lumelela izimpawu ezithile ezikhomba indlela ezinsukwini zokugcina, ngoba uPawulu uthi u-Israyeli wasendulo uyisibonelo kulabo abaphila ekupheleni kwezwe.

Manje zonke lezi zinto zehlela bona ukuba zibe yizibonelo; futhi zalotshwa ukuze zisixwayise thina, esehlelwe yiziphetho zezikhathi. Ngakho-ke lowo ocabanga ukuthi umi makaqaphele funa awe. 1 Korinte 10:11, 12.

Zonke lezi zinsuku eziyisithupha ezithinta iJerusalema zenzeka phakathi kosuku lokuqala olusesahlukweni sokuqala ivesi lokuqala nosuku lokugcina olutholakala esahlukweni samashumi amane, ivesi lokuqala. Lezo zinsuku ezimbili ziphawula unyaka wesihlanu wesahluko sokuqala, owawungu-592 BC, kanye nonyaka wamashumi amabili nanhlanu wesahluko samashumi amane, owawungu-573 BC. Ezingeni lomugqa phezu komugqa uHezekeli unomugqa weGibhithe, ohlanganisa inkomba yeTire, kanye nomugqa weJerusalema. Umugqa weGibhithe unezimpawu zendlela eziqondile eziyisikhombisa, (lapho iTire ifakiwe) kanti iJerusalema lineziyisithupha. Kanye nale migqa emibili kukhona umugqa kaJosiya nomjikelezo weJubili weshumi nesikhombisa. Nokho umugqa okhonjiswa ngaphandle kosuku oluqondile utholakala esahlukweni sesine, futhi umugqa wesahluko sesine uphethe amaningana amasondo uHezekeli awabona lapho ebheka eNdaweni eNgcwelengcwele Kakhulu. Futhi uthwele amaqiniso amaningana angokomfanekiso.

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Inani elingamakhulu amane namashumi amathathu limelela isivumelwano saphakade, futhi esahlukweni sesine uHezekeli usetshenziswa yiNkosi njengomfanekiso ophilayo, umfanekiso ohlanganisa inani elingamakhulu amane namashumi amathathu.

Nawe, ndodana yomuntu, zithathele isitini, usibeke phambi kwakho, udwebe kuso umuzi, wona kanye iJerusalema. Ulihlasele ngokulivimbezela, wakhe inqaba yokulihlasela, uphonse iduli lokulihlasela kulo; umise nekamu ukulihlaselela, ubeke nezinqama zokubhidliza nxazonke zalo. Futhi zithathele ipani lensimbi, ulibeke libe njengodonga lwensimbi phakathi kwakho nomuzi; ubhekise ubuso bakho kuwo, ube usuvimbezelwa, wena ulivimbezele. Lokhu kuyakuba uphawu kuyo indlu yakwa-Israyeli. Lala futhi ngohlangothi lwakho lwesokhohlo, ubeke ububi bendlu yakwa-Israyeli phezu kwalo; ngokwenani lezinsuku ozolala ngalo uyakuthwala ububi babo. Ngokuba ngikubekele iminyaka yobubi babo ngokwenani lezinsuku, izinsuku ezingamakhulu amathathu namashumi ayisishiyagalolunye; ngaleyo ndlela uyakuthwala ububi bendlu yakwa-Israyeli. Kuthi lapho usuziqedile, ulale futhi ngohlangothi lwakho lokunene, uthwale ububi bendlu yakwaJuda izinsuku ezingamashumi amane; ngikubekele usuku ngalunye lube ngumnyaka. Ngakho-ke uyakubhekisa ubuso bakho ekuvimbezelweni kweJerusalema, nengalo yakho iyakembulwa, uprofethe imelane nalo. Futhi bheka, ngiyakufaka izibopho phezu kwakho, ungaphenduki usuke kolunye uhlangothi uye kolunye, uze uqede izinsuku zokuvimbezela kwakho. Hezekeli 4:1–8.

Ukuvinjezelwa kweJerusalema, njengoba kuboniswe nguHezekeli, “kuyisibonakaliso,” njengoba nje nokuvinjezelwa kweJerusalema okwalethwa nguKhesithiyu ngonyaka ka-66 kwakuyisibonakaliso. Ekhuluma ngokuthi uJesu wakhomba ukubhujiswa kweJerusalema, uDade White usazisa ukuthi ukugcwaliseka “okuqondile” kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema kusezinsukwini zokugcina. Isibonakaliso sokubhujiswa phezu kofakazi ababili, abamelwe nguNebukadinesari noKhesithiyu, sikhomba ukuthi isibonakaliso sokuvinjezelwa siyisibonakaliso somthetho weSonto osusondeleyo.

Usuku Lulingana Nomnyaka

Endimeni esiyihlolayo, sibona futhi inkomba ye-omega eseBhayibhelini ephathelene nomthetho oyinhloko kaWilliam Miller wokuhumusha iziprofetho enhlanganweni eyabeka isisekelo semiyalezo yengelosi yokuqala neyesibili. I-alfa yesimiso sokuthi usuku lumelele unyaka nayo yayiwuphawu lwe-omega, ngoba i-alfa yesimiso sokuthi usuku lumelele unyaka yavezwa encwadini kaNumeri njengovivinyo lweshumi nolokugcina, u-Israyeli ahluleka kulo, ngaleyo ndlela ezilethela ukufa ehlane phakathi neminyaka engamashumi amane yokuzulazula ehlane.

Abantwana benu bayakuzulazula ehlane iminyaka engamashumi amane, bathwale ubufebe benu, kuze kube yilapho izidumbu zenu zichithakala ehlane. Ngokwenani lezinsuku enahlola ngazo izwe, yebo izinsuku ezingamashumi amane, usuku ngalunye lube ngumnyaka, niyakuthwala ububi benu, yebo iminyaka engamashumi amane, futhi niyakwazi ukwephulwa kwesithembiso sami. Mina Jehova ngikhulumile; lokhu ngiyakukwenza ngempela kulo lonke leli bandla elibi, elibuthene ndawonye limelene nami: kuleli hlane bayakuqedwa, futhi bayakufela khona. Numeri 14:33–35.

Kumelwe kuqondwe futhi kusetshenziswe endimeni esiyicubungulayo lokho okushiwo ngokwesiprofetho yiqiniso lokuthi umgomo wokuthi usuku lumelela unyaka uhlonzwa ekuhlubukeni kokugcina kwenqubo yokuvivinywa enezigaba eziyishumi eqala ekuweleni uLwandle Olubomvu, nokuthi wona lo mgomo uphinde umenyezelwe lapho iJerusalema selizovinjezelwa futhi libhujiswe, njengoba kumelwe kuqondwe futhi kusetshenziswe nokubaluleka kokuba “ukuvinjezelwa” kube “isibonakaliso.”

Umugqa womlando ohlanganiswayo lapho kusetshenziswa “ukuvinjezelwa” kweJerusalema njengesibonakaliso kumelwe uqashelwe, ngokuba uba “i-ekseli,” kungathiwa kunjalo, futhi, ngomfanekiso, isibonakaliso sokuvinjezelwa sinezipika eziningi ezinamathiselwe kuso. Isibonakaliso sokuvinjezelwa mhlawumbe siyisiqephu esibaluleke kakhulu kuHezekeli, futhi lesi sibonakaliso sivumela iNgonyama yesizwe sakwaJuda ukuba ikhiphe ukuphelela kulokho ekuqaleni okwabonakala kuHezekeli kuyisiyaluyalu. “Isibonakaliso” sokuvinjezelwa, isimiso sonyaka esilingana nosuku, nemigqa yesiprofetho ehlanganiswa ukuvinjezelwa, kumelwe kubhekwe ngaphakathi komongo wokuthi amakhulu amane namashumi amathathu amele isivumelwano esiphakade.

ISivumelwano

Wasesethi ku-Abrama: Yazi impela ukuthi inzalo yakho iyakuba yizihambi ezweni elingelona elayo, futhi iyakubakhonza; bona bayakuyihlupha iminyaka engamakhulu amane. Genesise 15:13.

INkosi yangena esivumelwaneni no-Abrahama ngenqubo enezinyathelo ezintathu, futhi esokuqala kulezo zinyathelo ezintathu sasihlanganisa isiprofetho sokuthi inzalo ka-Abrahama yayiyoba yizithunjwa eGibhithe iminyaka engamakhulu amane. Esinyathelweni sesibili, u-Abrahama wanikwa isiko lokusoka, kanti esesithathu kwaba ukunikela ngo-Isaka njengomhlatshelo eNtabeni iMoriya. Iminyaka engamakhulu amane yahlonzwa esinyathelweni esiyi-alfa kwezintathu iNkosi eyazithatha ekumiseni isizwe esikhethiwe nasekungeneni esivumelwaneni naso. Umshado waleso sizwe esikhethiwe sesivumelwano noNkulunkulu wachithwa lapho uStefanu ekhandwa ngamatshe ngonyaka wama-34, futhi ngemva kwalokho uPawulu, umphostoli okhethiwe wabezizwe, wayichaza leyo minyaka engamakhulu amane ngokuthi—yiminyaka engamakhulu amane namashumi amathathu.

Futhi ngisho lokhu: umthetho owafika eminyakeni engamakhulu amane namashumi amathathu kamuva awunakusichitha isivumelwano esaqiniswa ngaphambili nguNkulunkulu kuKristu, ngaleyo ndlela wenze isithembiso sibe yize. KwabaseGalathiya 3:17.

Inani elimelela isivumelwano lingamakhulu amane namashumi amathathu, kodwa ofakazi ababili, u-Abrama noSawulu, abashintshwa amagama bobabili baba ngu-Abrahama noPawulu ngokulandelana, bakhomba izinkathi ezimbili ezihlukene ezakha inani eliphelele lamakhulu amane namashumi amathathu. Lapho uNkulunkulu eshintsha igama lomphefumulo, lokho kuwuphawu lobudlelwano besivumelwano phakathi kwalowo mphefumulo noNkulunkulu. Ngakho-ke iminyaka engamakhulu amane namashumi amathathu iyisamba esitholakala ngokuhlanganisa amanani amabili ahlukene, njengoba kunjalo ngamakhulu amane ka-Abrahama anezelwa amashumi amathathu kaPawulu. UHezekeli walala ngohlangothi lwakhe lwesobunxele izinsuku ezingamakhulu amathathu namashumi ayisishiyagalolunye, wabe eselala ngohlangothi lwakhe lwesokudla izinsuku ezingamashumi amane, ngaleyo ndlela ekhomba amanani amabili anesamba esingamakhulu amane namashumi amathathu.

KuGenesise isahluko seshumi nanye, isivumelwano sokufa esalethwa masinyane emva kukazamcolo ngokuvukela kukaNimrodi sikhomba umehluko phakathi kwezivumelwano ezimbili. Izakhi zombhoshongo waseBabele zifakazela abantu besivumelwano sikaSathane esithi zihlengeni nina uqobo, ababeyakwahlulelwa futhi bahlakazeke. Kuleso sahluko esifanayo, uhlu lozalo lwamaHeberu lwethulwa ngokuzalwa kuka-Ebere, okuphawula ukuqala kwabantu abakhethiweyo ukuba bamele isivumelwano sokuphila, ngokuphambene nesivumelwano sokufa sikaNimrodi.

UEbheri waphila iminyaka engamashumi amathathu nane, wazala uPelegi; uEbheri esezalile uPelegi waphila iminyaka engamakhulu amane namashumi amathathu, wazala amadodana namadodakazi. UPelegi waphila iminyaka engamashumi amathathu, wazala uRewu. UGenesise 11:16–18.

Esahlukweni seshumi sikaGenesise kuqala kukhulunywa ngo-Ebheri noPelegi.

UEberi wazalelwa amadodana amabili; igama lenye lalinguPelegi; ngokuba ezinsukwini zakhe umhlaba wahlukaniswa; negama lomfowabo lalinguJokithani. Genesise 10:25.

UPelegi usho ukwehlukanisa noma ukuhlukaniswa, futhi ezinsukwini zikaPelegi ukwahlukaniswa kwezigaba ezimbili zabantu besivumelwano kubonakaliswa ngomlando wombhoshongo waseBabele nangokuhlubuka kukaNimrode. U-Eberi waphila iminyaka engamakhulu amane namashumi ayisithupha nane, kodwa emva kokuba uPelegi (ukwahlukana) ezelwe waphila iminyaka engamakhulu amane namashumi amathathu. Iqiniso ngalinye linokuphathelana kwalo, futhi amakhulu amane namashumi amathathu ayinani uPawulu alinikeza isiprofetho sesivumelwano sika-Abrahama. Nakuba inani lamakhulu amane namashumi amathathu lihlotshaniswa nokuphila kuka-Eberi emva kokuzalwa kukaPelegi, iminyaka engamashumi amathathu nane yokuqala yokuphila kwakhe ivezwa ngokuthi “iminyaka emine namashumi amathathu,” okuyinto ngempela engamashumi amathathu nane, kodwa ekushiweni okulula kwaleyo minyaka engamashumi amathathu nane kufundeka ngokuthi “amane” kanye “namashumi amathathu” (430). Kwase kulandela amakhulu amane namashumi amathathu, khona-ke inkulumo yokuqala yokuphila kukaPelegi ithi “amashumi amathathu.”

UEberi uyimpande yegama elithi Hebheru, futhi kungokokuqala lapho kukhulunywa khona ngamaHebheru, ayeyoba yisizwe esikhethiweyo sesivumelwano. UEberi usho ukuwela, ngaleyo ndlela emele isizwe sesivumelwano esiwelela sisuka emhlabeni siye emhlabeni omusha, njengoba abantwana baka-Abrahama benza lapho bewela uLwandle Olubomvu beya eZweni Lesithembiso. Ukuzulazula ehlane iminyaka engamashumi amane kwavimbela lokho kwelela, kodwa ekupheleni kwaleyo minyaka engamashumi amane bawelela iJordani baya eZweni Lesithembiso, ngaleyo ndlela bemele ukuwelela kokugcina kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu. UPelegi umelela umlando wesikhathi lapho ukuhlukana kwesintu kwaba ngabantu ababili besivumelwano kwaqala khona embhoshongweni kaNimrode. Uphawu lwesivumelwano sokufa sikaNimrode luyisiphithiphithi, futhi uphawu lwesivumelwano sokuphila samaHebheru luyiminyaka engamakhulu amane namashumi amathathu yokuphila kuka-Eberi ngaphambi kokwahlukana okumelelwa nguPelegi. Igama elithi Pelegi futhi limaka iqiniso elingokomfanekiso lezinombolo, ngoba iminyaka engamakhulu amane namashumi amathathu ka-Eberi ihlukaniswa ibe yizinombolo ezimbili, futhi uPelegi umelela ukwahlukaniswa kwamakhulu amane nenani lamashumi amathathu.

Amakhulu amane namashumi amathathu anezigaba ezimbili. Iminyaka engamakhulu amane yesivumelwano sika-Abrahama kanye neminye iminyaka engamashumi amathathu eyaphawulwa nguPawulu. Ukwanda kolwazi okuveza imvuselelo yokugcina yabantu bakaNkulunkulu kumelwe kuDaniyeli isahluko seshumi nambili, lapho uphawu olunezigaba ezimbili lwesivumelwano esiphakade lukhonjiswa khona ngokucacile, futhi lubekwa emavesini 9/11.

Wathi yena: Hamba ngendlela yakho, Daniyeli; ngokuba la mazwi avaliwe, futhi ananyekwe uphawu kuze kube yisikhathi sokuphela. Abaningi bayakuhlanzwa, benziwe mhlophe, futhi balingwe; kepha ababi bayakwenza okubi; futhi akakho noyedwa kwababi oyakuqonda; kepha abahlakaniphileyo bayakuqonda. Futhi kusukela esikhathini lapho umhlatshelo wansuku zonke uyakusithathwa khona, futhi kumiswe isinengiso esenza incithakalo, kuyakuba izinsuku eziyinkulungwane namakhulu amabili namashumi ayisishiyagalolunye. Daniyeli 12:9–11.

Ukuvulwa kokugcina kwalokho obekubekwe uphawu, okudala inqubo yokuvivinywa enezinyathelo ezintathu njengoba kuvezwa evesini leshumi ngokuthi “bahlanzwe, benziwe mhlophe, futhi bavivinywe,” kuhlobene neminyaka eyinkulungwane namakhulu amabili namashumi ayisishiyagalolunye. Indlela amaphayona ayeliqonda ngayo leli vesi iwukuthi ukuqedwa kokumelana kobuhedeni ngonyaka ka-508 kwaqala inqubo yeminyaka engamashumi amathathu eyaholela ekumisweni kobupapa njengombuso wesihlanu wesiprofetho seBhayibheli ngonyaka ka-538, base bubusa njengombuso wesihlanu wesiprofetho seBhayibheli kwaze kwaphela iminyaka eyinkulungwane namakhulu amabili namashumi ayisithupha ngonyaka ka-1798. Leyo minyaka engamashumi amathathu kusukela ku-508 kuze kube ngu-538 nayo ivezwa nguPawulu ngokuthi “ukuhlubuka kuqala,” kweyesi-2 kwabaseThesalonika.

Ku-2 Thesalonika isihloko siyibudlelwane obuphakathi kweRoma yamaqaba neRoma yobupapa, okuyimibuso yesine neyesihlanu yesiprofetho ngokulandelana kwayo. Kulesi sahluko samaThesalonika yilapho uWilliam Miller athola khona ukuthi “ukuqhubeka kwansuku zonke” encwadini kaDaniyeli kwakumele iRoma yamaqaba, futhi uMiller waqhubeka wathola ukuthi “ukuqhubeka kwansuku zonke” kuDaniyeli kwakuhlale kuvezwa kuhlobene nesinengiso noma isiphambeko sokuchithwa. Isinengiso nesiphambeko sokuchithwa encwadini kaDaniyeli kumele lokho uJohane akuchaza encwadini yesAmbulo njengesithombe sesilo nophawu lwesilo, ngokulandelana kwakho.

UWilliam Miller wasekela okuningi, uma kungekhona konke, kokusebenzisa kwakhe iziprofetho ekuhlonzeni kwakhe amandla amabili achithayo: amandla avezwa ngokuthi “okwansuku zonke” (iRoma yobuqaba), namandla esibili achithayo, achazwa ngezindlela ezimbili, ngokuthi isiphambeko esichithayo (ukuhlanganiswa kwebandla nombuso), encwadini yesAmbulo—ngokuthi umfanekiso wesilo (uhlaka lobuprofethi lobupapa), nangokuthi isinengiso esichithayo (ukukhonzwa kwelanga) encwadini yesAmbulo—ngokuthi uphawu lwesilo. Ukuqonda uMiller akuthola kulokho okwethulwa nguPawulu encwadini yesi-2 kwabaseThesalonika kwakuwukuqonda okuyisisekelo esiyinhloko kukaMiller, yena owuphawu lwezisekelo zenkolo yama-Adventist. UPawulu uthi labo abangalithandi iqiniso elivezwe esahlukweni sesibili sencwadi yesi-2 kwabaseThesalonika yibo abathola amandla okuduka.

Emavesini amathathu kaDaniyeli (Daniyeli 12:9–11), ukuqonda okungokomfanekiso ezinsukwini zokugcina akunakuhlanganisa ukusetshenziswa kwesikhathi, ngoba kusukela mhla zingama-22 kuMfumfu ngowe-1844, ukusetshenziswa kwesikhathi esingokwesiprofetho akusasebenzi. Amavesi 9/11 amele izinkathi ezimbili ezihlukene, eyeminyaka engamashumi amathathu neyeminyaka eyinkulungwane namakhulu amabili namashumi ayisithupha. Inombolo engamashumi amane nenombolo eyinkulungwane namakhulu amabili namashumi ayisithupha zombili ziyizimpawu zehlane elingokwesiprofetho, futhi zingasetshenziswa enye esikhundleni senye ngokwesiprofetho. Ngakho-ke, inkulungwane namakhulu amabili namashumi ayisithupha ingaqondwa njengamashumi amane, futhi amashumi amane ayisabelo sokweshumi samakhulu amane. Amavesi 9/11 afanekisela inombolo yesivumelwano esiphakade, njengoba imelwe ngamakhulu amane (u-Abrahama) ahlobene namashumi amathathu (uPawulu). ‘Ihlane’ elimelwe ‘yinkulungwane namakhulu amabili namashumi ayisithupha’ lihambisana ‘nehlane lamashumi amane’, futhi amashumi amane ayisabelo sokweshumi samakhulu amane. Amashumi amathathu angamashumi amathathu. Amakhulu amane namashumi amathathu atholakala ngokwengeza inombolo engamakhulu amane enombolweni engamashumi amathathu, okumelelwa esahlukweni sesine sikaHezekeli njengamakhulu amathathu namashumi ayisishiyagalolunye engezwe enombolweni engamashumi amane.

Amavesi 9/11 esahlukweni seshumi nambili amele maphakathi kwezikhathi ezintathu zesiprofetho ezikuleso sahluko, futhi ayisibonakaliso sesivumelwano esiphakade esivulwa ezinsukwini zokugcina. Ukuvulwa kwencazelo yamakhulu amane namashumi amathathu ezinsukwini zokugcina kulethwa esahlukweni sesine sikaHezekeli.

INgonyama yesizwe sakwaJuda manje ivula izimpawu zomyalezo wokugcina oyisixwayiso kulabo abangene ngokukholwa eNgcwelengcwele kanye noHezekeli, noJohane, noDaniyeli no-Isaya. Lelo qiniso liyembulwa ngokuhambisana nokuphakanyiswa kwalabo abavezwa hhayi nje njengabaxoshiweyo bakwa-Israyeli, kodwa futhi njengebhanela lezinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane. Lelo qiniso libekwe emongweni wesivumelwano esifanekiselwa yiminyaka engamakhulu amane ka-Abrahama, ngokuhambisana nesivumelwano esifanekiselwa yiminyaka engamashumi amathathu kaPawulu. Lelo qiniso livezwa emavesini 9/11 esahluko seshumi nambili sikaDaniyeli, afanekisela isikhathi esimaphakathi kwezikhathi ezintathu ezingokomfanekiso, ezaqondwa kahle ngabalandeli bakaMiller. Iqiniso le-9/11 elimaphakathi, okuvulwa izimpawu zalo esahlukweni seshumi nambili sikaDaniyeli, lifanekiselwa yizinsuku zikaHezekeli ezingamakhulu amathathu namashumi ayisishiyagalolunye kanye nezinsuku ezingamashumi amane. Lezo zinsuku zembulwa kuHezekeli onyakeni wamashumi amathathu womjikelezo weshumi nesikhombisa weJubili, futhi uHezekeli, njengompristi, ufanekisela ubupristi bezinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane ezisesivivinyweni esimaphakathi kwezivivinyo ezintathu.

UHezekeli uphawulwa ovivinyweni lwethempeli “ngosuku lwesihlanu” “lwenyanga yesine,” okwakuphawula emlandweni wabalandeli bakaMiller indawo ephakathi ncamashi (“maphakathi”) yezinyanga eziyisikhombisa ezaqala ngesikhathi sokudumazeka kokuqala mhla ziyi-19 kuMbasa we-1844, zaphela mhla zingama-22 kuMfumfu wangawo lowo nyaka.

“Ngehlobo lika-1844, phakathi nesikhathi lapho ekuqaleni kwakucatshangwa khona ukuthi izinsuku eziyi-2300 zazizophela, nekwindla yalowo nyaka ofanayo, okwathi kamuva kwatholakala ukuthi zazinwebeka zaze zafinyelela kuyo, umlayezo wamemezelwa ngamazwi wona kanye emiBhalo: ‘Bhekani, uMyeni uyeza!’” The Great Controversy, 398.

Umhla ka-21 Julayi, 1844 wawuphakathi nendawo ezinyangeni eziyisikhombisa ezingcwele, futhi ngalolo suku uSamuel Snow wayeseBoston Tabernacle ethula umyalezo wakhe weMidnight Cry. Lapho, okokuqala ngqá enkulumweni yomphakathi, “wamemezela ngamazwi uqobo emiBhalo: ‘Bhekani, uMyeni uyeza!’” Manje simi ngokomfanekiso noHezekeli eBoston Tabernacle, ngaphambi nje kokuba ukuphakanyiswa kwezithunywa zokukhala kwaphakathi kwamabili kuphume njengamagagasi anamandla olwandle. Inqubo yesiprofetho yokuphakamisa isibhengezo imelwe emgqeni wesiprofetho wobuSulumane kusAmbulo isahluko sesishiyagalolunye. UHezekeli isahluko sesine unikeza ufakazi wesibili nesiphetho saleso siprofetho seminyaka engamakhulu amathathu namashumi ayisishiyagalolunye nanye nezinsuku eziyishumi nanhlanu, futhi wenza kanjalo esahlukweni sesine.

Sizoqhubeka nalezi zinto esihlokweni esilandelayo.