THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
And on that day, the Lord will extend His hand towards the heavenly bodies and the rulers of the earth. The assembly will be gathered and confined within the firmament and in captivity, with their visitation spanning across many generations. The foundation will collapse, and the walls will crumble. This reflects the magnificent act of the Incarnation of the Only Begotten Son. After the Sun of Righteousness had illuminated the world, it was essential that the spiritual darkness spread by Satan in the hearts of humanity be finally eradicated. He had clouded the understanding of the unbelievers, as stated in Ephesians 4:18, leading them to worship the created rather than the Creator.
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As a result, those who went astray divided the elements of the cosmos: some deified the sun, others the moon, and still others one of the stars, each according to their own desires. The inhabitants of Judah were afflicted by this iniquity, which is why the prophet Jeremiah implored God for them. Yet the Lord responded, saying, “Do not pray for these people, nor seek their forgiveness; do not plead with Me for them, for I will not listen to you. Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem? Their children gather firewood, their fathers light the fire, and their wives prepare dough to make unleavened cakes for the Queen of Heaven and to pour out drink offerings to foreign gods, provoking Me to anger” (Jeremiah 7:16-18). Through another prophet, the Lord asked, “Did you bring Me sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? You have lifted up the shrine of your king, the star of your god, which you made for yourselves” (Amos 5:25-26). Therefore, He declares that His hand will be raised against the idols that symbolize the heavens, scattering those who adore the celestial creations—namely, the sun, the moon, and the stars. In these phrases lies a broader condemnation of idolatry. For once Christ appeared, worship of the elements ceased. When the term "ornament of heaven" refers to Satan, the originator and father of sin, we approach the essence of the truth, as it is written, “How you have fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the dawn!” (Isaiah 14:12). Once regarded for an ancient glory that he lost, Satan is called an ornament of heaven even today. Yet, he states that he will exercise His authority not only over the heavenly adornments but also over the earthly rulers—those who have usurped authority in the celestial realms and seduced the populace into worshipping them while dismissing the God of love. Thus, those who have ruled by deceit and manipulation will be gathered and confined in strongholds. For the power of the Savior will cast them into the depths of punishment, as even demons approached Him, pleading that He would not command them to enter the abyss. The prophet mentions that their visitation will persist through many generations, for they have tyrannized since the world's foundation and remained in opposition to the divine and ineffable glory until the anticipated coming of Christ, the Savior of all. When their time came, they were imprisoned, enduring their fate for many generations. He states that the foundation will fall, and the walls will tumble down, perhaps alluding to Satan's stronghold—mighty in resistance and akin to a fortified city—but he was captured and defeated by Christ, whose unmatched power he could not withstand. Once Satan was vanquished, the futility of idolatry became evident, and those who had gone astray were called to the truth by faith, almost as if they were forcibly rescued by an omnipotent hand. The Savior teaches, “Or how can anyone enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed, he may plunder his house” (Matthew 12:29). Holy Scripture frequently likens formidable opponents to fortified walls or cities, as seen in how God told the blessed prophet Jeremiah: “Behold, I have made you this day like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you” (Jeremiah 1:18-19). One must recall how Joshua, after defeating five pagan kings, imprisoned them in a cave and covered it with stones to prevent their escape—serving as a metaphor for the ultimate barrier. Through Christ’s power, the wicked and hostile forces once governing the celestial realms were confided, and with them, the great and indestructible wall—Satan—was dismantled. Therefore, through faith, the misled were invited to know the true Creator and God. Though some interpret the symbolism of the heavenly adornments, suggesting that at the end of days the sun will darken and the moon will cease to illuminate, it is vital that interpretations align harmoniously with the subject matter at hand.