THEOSISJerome of Stridon
The individual who guided the prophet, providing him with insight about all that occurred in the temple, led him to the sealed gates, which were never to be opened but were accessible to those who enter through closed doors. He then directed the prophet to the north gate, also aligned with the façade of the house, undoubtedly indicating the temple. Upon beholding the house of the Lord, radiant with His glory—similar to what he had previously seen from the northern side—the prophet immediately fell prostrate, overwhelmed by the magnificence of the Lord’s glory. In this moment of reverence, it was not the guide who spoke but the Lord, who said, ‘Son of man, set your heart,’ and so forth.
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Following the completion of the tabernacle and King Solomon’s temple, the glory of the Lord was revealed, which later diminished when compared to the glory of the Gospel, as the Apostle notes: For what was once glorious has no glory in this respect, because of the glory that surpasses it. Indeed, if what was fleeting has lost its glory, how much more so does what endures in glory (2 Cor. 3:10-11). However, we must not interpret the reduction of the earlier glory as its total destruction; rather, it should be understood that once the perfect has arrived, that which was partial has ceased, much like comparing a lamp’s light to the rays of the sun. Thus, it is also stated about John the Baptist: He was a lamp, illuminating the house (John 5:35). Yet when the Sun of righteousness appeared, the lamp's light diminished, as the Baptist himself proclaimed: It is necessary for Him to increase, while I must decrease (John 3:30). The prophet fell prostrate so that, in his desire to perceive more than mortal frailty permits, he would not lose his sight. Hence, the Lord affectionately addressed him as son of man, instructing him to set his heart, to observe with his eyes, and to listen with his ears. It is essential first to open the heart to grasp what is being spoken; next, one must comprehend with spiritual eyes, as God instructed Abraham: ‘Lift up your eyes and count the stars’ (Genesis 15:5). Furthermore, one must lend an ear, as the Savior remarked, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear’ (Luke 8:8), enabling him to understand all the sacred activities of the temple and its statutes, ultimately focusing his heart on the path of the temple, for there are various avenues to approach God. The paths of the temple symbolize the ordinances of sacred acts and the exits of the sanctuary. This serves to prepare the prophet for an understanding of the temple's commitments that he will later learn. It is also worth noting that within this world, which is mired in evil and lies in the frigid north, we are taught the ordinances of the heavenly realm.