Initially, the Lord revealed to the prophet the one who creates locusts at the commencement of the grass during the late rains, then after that presented the king of mowers, specifically referring to King Sennacherib, who would harm and ruin all among the ten tribes. Now the Lord reveals Nebuchadnezzar, summoning him to wage war against Judah and Jerusalem, commanding him to set the temple of Jerusalem ablaze and execute judgment by fire upon those who were once His people. When the fire appeared for judgment to carry out the will of the Lord, it consumed the great abyss and affixed itself upon all the cities of Judah, the portion designated as His temple. Upon witnessing this, the prophet addressed the Lord—not with a plea for mercy as before, but urgently asking Him to stop. Through fervent prayer, he desired that God would halt what had already commenced, as there exists no one capable of restoring the fallen, small, and humbled Jacob, except for the Lord, who can lead the exiles back to the land of Judah. In scripture, as noted by the prophet Hosea and echoed in the Psalmist’s words, “The sons of Ephraim, and those who shoot bows, returned in the day of battle” (Psalm 77:9), the ten tribes known as Israel were regarded among the heretics, while the two tribes, with Judah at the forefront, were recognized within the church. The sinners within this church, professing the true faith yet plagued by the filth of sin, also require purification through fire. Thus, even now, the Lord indicates that He summons fire for judgment, to test the work of each individual (1 Cor. 3), fulfilling what is written, “Walk by the light of your fire, and by the flame, and it shall be kindled” (Isaiah 50:11). Consequently, it is declared in Babylon, “You shall have coals of fire, sit upon them; these shall be your help” (Isaiah 47:14-15). The Psalm notes that deceitful tongues and those filled with lies shall be purified with burning coals, stating, “What shall be given to you, or what shall be applied to the flatterer's tongue? The arrows of the strong are refined with coals of fire” (Psalm 119:3-4). From these altar coals, the purifying coal was taken using the tongs of both covenants, cleansing the unclean lips of Isaiah so he could proclaim the word of God (Isaiah 6). However, the fire called for judgment first consumes the abyss—symbolizing all manners of sin, wood, hay, and stubble—before it reaches the portion, which signifies the saints considered as the Lord's own and His inheritance; for the time has come to initiate judgment within the house of the Lord. In Ezekiel, it is commanded to those who are to enforce the chastisement, “Begin with my sanctified ones” (Ezekiel 9:6). The apostle also states, “His work shall be burned up, and he shall be brushed off; yet he himself shall be saved, even as by fire” (1 Cor. 3:15). And when all of us are overshadowed by sins and subject to the rightful judgment, the Lord will extend His grace, restoring us, who are but a remnant, on the Day of Resurrection. Through virtues, He will redeem those who have stumbled into sin, according to His promise, declaring: “But these things shall not be.” He spoke beautifully, saying “but also,” referencing what He had previously expressed, “This shall not be,” for “He is not angry forever, nor does He harbor enmity continually. He does not treat us according to our iniquities but recompenses us according to our sins. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father is compassionate to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him” (Psalm 102:9-10, 12-13).
THEOSIS