When the fire appeared to bring about divine justice, it consumed the great abyss, obliterating all the cities of Judah along with the Lord's holy portion, His temple.
Upon witnessing this, the prophet did not beseech the Lord for mercy, but instead implored Him to relent, desiring that what had begun might be halted, especially since only the Lord can restore the fallen, small and humbled Jacob, and return the captives from Chaldea to the land of Judah. The prophet Hosea and the Psalmist classified the ten tribes known as Israel among the heretics; conversely, they recognized the two tribes, led by Judah, as part of the faithful community, albeit those within the church who, despite professing true faith, require purification from the stains of sin.
Thus, even now, the Lord reveals that He summons fire for judgment, to test the work of each individual, as instructed in 1 Corinthians 3. It is also written, “Walk by the light of your fire, and by the flame you have kindled” (Isaiah 50:11). In Babylon, it is declared, “You shall sit upon coals of fire; these shall aid you” (Isaiah 47:14-15). The Psalm emphasizes that deceitful tongues will be refined by burning coals, asking, “What shall be given to you, or what shall be applied to the flatterer’s tongue? The arrows of the strong are highly refined with burning coals” (Psalm 119:3-4). From the coals of the sacrificial altar, the purifying coal was taken with the tongs of the two covenants, cleansing the unclean lips of Isaiah, allowing him to declare God’s Word (Isaiah 6).
The judgment fire first consumes the abyss, representing all forms of sin—wood, hay, straw—before reaching those who are sanctified, rendering judgment upon the Lord's household. In Ezekiel, it instructs those carrying out the punishment to begin with His sanctified ones (Ezekiel 9:6). Similarly, it is stated in the epistles that, “His work shall be burned up, and he will suffer loss, yet he himself will be saved, but only as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:15).
In our state of sin, deserving of judgment, the Lord will show mercy unto us, and in our smallness, He will restore us on the Day of Resurrection, or through virtues, He will lift up those who have stumbled through sin, fulfilling His promise: “But neither shall these things be.” This indicates that He is not angry forever; He does not hold enmity eternally. He does not deal with us according to our iniquities, but rather, as far as the east is from the west, He separates our transgressions from us. Just as a father shows compassion toward his children, so the Lord is gracious to those who revere Him (Psalm 102:9-10, 12-13).
THEOSIS