THEOSISTheodoret of Cyrus
The trees of Eden envied the sweetness of the Lord, revealing the pride of his heart. For this reason, the Lord speaks to Adonai, proclaiming that due to his greatness in splendor and the granting of his authority amidst the clouds, his heart was exalted in its height. I beheld him when he was lifted up and surrendered him into the hands of the leader of the Gentiles, ensuring his ruin according to his depravity. While he was not content with ruling over humanity, he began to act with arrogance before Me, says God; thus, I will hand him over to the ruler of the nations, even Cyrus. He was a Midianite through his mother and a Persian by his father, descending from two tribes that devastated the kingdoms of the Assyrians and Babylonians.
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His demise came as a result of his wicked actions; he faced the consequences of his transgressions.
Historically, this was fulfilled in Nebuchadnezzar, who endured great suffering due to his cruelty and pride. However, for those who scrutinize deeply, it becomes evident that the devil, who was initially created as beautiful and good, is portrayed here as a mere destroyer of mankind, adversarial and hostile towards God. He was likened to the original heavenly beings and was even more glorious than the lower powers (since God referred to the incorporeal beings as the paradise of sweetness and the trees within, in line with allegorical interpretation). Yet, he rebelled against his Creator, who endowed him with such glory and power, ultimately falling after seeking autonomy and desiring to be as God.
The Apostle Paul makes this clear, stating, ‘Let not a novice be appointed, lest he fall into condemnation through pride’ (1 Tim. 3:6). If one cannot rightly manage honor, they will succumb to the fate of the devil, who transformed the honor bestowed upon him into a catalyst for pride and arrogance. But it is proclaimed that he shall be delivered to the prince of tongues. Who is this prince of tongues but the only begotten Word of God, our Lord Christ, of whom the prophet asks, ‘Who would not fear You, O King of nations?’ (Jeremiah 10:7). Blessed James affirmed, ‘The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler from his lineage, until He comes, and to Him shall be the expectation of nations’ (Genesis 49:10). Isaiah echoes this truth, stating, ‘The root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious’ (Isaiah 11:10).
Moreover, the Father speaks to Him, declaring, ‘I have given You as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth’ (Isaiah 49:6). The Prophet also proclaims to Him: ‘Egypt shall yield, along with the merchants of Cush and the men of Saba, who will come to You and be Your servants, following You in chains, worshiping You, and seeking You, for only in You is God, besides You there is no other’ (Isaiah 45:14). He Himself, through the blessed David, articulates, ‘But they do not know that they serve Me; they work without understanding’ (Psalm 17:44). Numerous testimonies support this unity of message. Therefore, God asserts that the common enemy and destroyer is handed over to Him, and from Him shall come the defeat of this adversary, all due to his iniquities. Additionally, God affirms: