Initially, the Lord revealed to the prophet the creator of the locusts, who emerged at the beginning of the harvest after the late rains, and showed him the king of the mowers—Iddi the king, representing the devastation brought by Sennacherib, who would reap and decimate the ten tribes. The Lord now reveals Nebuchadnezzar, commanding him to march against Judah and Jerusalem. He sends him to set fire to the temple in Jerusalem and to bring judgment by fire upon those who once belonged to Him. As judgment fire manifested, it consumed the great abyss, engulfing all of Judah's cities and the part designated as the Lord's temple.
When the prophet witnessed this, he did not plead for mercy as before but rather cried out, "Cease!" Through prayer, he desired to halt what had already commenced, especially since no one could restore the fallen, humble Jacob except the Lord, who alone can return the captives from Chaldea to the land of Judah. Earlier, according to the prophet Hosea and the Psalmist, it was indicated that "The sons of Ephraim, and those who shoot bows, returned in the day of battle" (Psalms 77:9). In this context, the ten tribes known as Israel were categorized among the heretics, while the two tribes, with Judah as their leader, were recognized within the church, consisting of sinners who, despite professing the true faith, require purification through fire due to their sins.
Now, the Lord reveals that He summons fire for judgment, to test each person's works (1 Cor. 3) and fulfill the scripture, "Walk by the light of your fire, and by the flame, which you have kindled" (Is. 50:11). Thus, it is stated in Babylon, "You shall have coals of fire; sit upon them: these shall be your support" (Is. 47:14-15). The Psalm also states that a deceitful and lying tongue will be cleansed with burning coals, asking, "What shall be given 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 coals of the sacrificial altar, an ember was taken with the tongs of the two covenants to purify Isaiah's unclean lips, enabling him to proclaim God's word (Is. 6).
However, the fire summoned for judgment first consumes the abyss, representing all forms of sin, wood, hay, and stubble, and subsequently devours the portion, targeting the saints considered the Lord’s possession and inheritance; for it is time to initiate judgment within the house of the Lord. As commanded in Ezekiel, those executing punishment must begin "from my sanctified ones" (Ezekiel 9:6). The apostle also states, "His work shall be burned up, but he shall be saved, yet so as through fire" (1 Cor. 3:15). Despite our sinful state and being vulnerable to deserving judgment, the Lord will have compassion on us, and since we are but a remnant, He will revive us on the Day of Resurrection or through virtuous acts restore those who have fallen into sin, as promised by the Lord, who proclaims: "Yet these things shall not come to pass." He beautifully adds "but also," for He previously stated "this shall not be," reminding us that "He is not angry forever, nor does He hold animosity perpetually. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father shows mercy to his children, so the Lord shows mercy to those who fear Him" (Psalm 102:9-10, 12-13).
THEOSIS