THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Listen, O nations, and pay attention, O rulers: let the earth and all its inhabitants, the cosmos and the people within it, take heed. For the anger of the Lord is directed at all tongues, and His wrath is upon the multitudes, destined for destruction and delivered into carnage. Their plagues will be vanquished, the dead will rise in their foulness, and the mountains will be soaked in their blood; all celestial forces shall cease, the heavens will be rolled back like a scroll, and all the stars will fall like the leaves of a vine and the leaves of a fig tree. My sword shall be made to perish in the heavens.
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Having eloquently indicated that the Jewish synagogue would be cast adrift and turned over to those who would pillage it for captivity and spoil, and having linked that with the calling of the Gentiles—many of whom are disabled and will be led into bondage—He now brings a vital announcement to those who once confined their thoughts to the temple but have now learned to walk faithfully by the assurance found in Christ. He speaks of the impending judgment that will touch all, great and small alike. Therefore, He calls to the nations, as if they were distant, saying, "Come, O nations, and listen, O rulers." Yet, this implies drawing near. For as long as they err and serve creatures in place of the Creator, they remain distant from God. However, upon the removal of the cause that keeps them far away, they become connected to God and are counted as near, having been united with Him through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Thus, He summons them closer, O nations and rulers; let the earth and its inhabitants, the cosmos and its people, also understand. What is revealed here? The wrath, He states, is directed at all who dwell on the earth but not broadly or indiscriminately; it will specifically fall upon those who have not turned away from sin, bearing the marks of moral impurity upon their souls. The essence of this proclamation suggests that they shall perish and be delivered into ruin and slaughter, defiling every place as if they were rotting corpses. For it is said that the mountains will be drenched in their blood. Subsequently, clarifying the timing, He interjects the prophecy concerning the end of days, stating: the heavens will be rolled up like a scroll, and the stars will plummet like leaves, just as the Savior's disciple declared regarding the final day—the heavens will vanish with a loud noise, the elements will be consumed in fire, and the earth along with all its deeds will be brought to ruin; yet, we shall inherit new heavens and a new earth according to His promises (2 Pet. 3:10, 13). Thus, the alignment of the heavens and the falling of the stars signifies the renewal of creation. Paul the Apostle affirmed that creation will be liberated from decay into the glorious freedom of the children of God (Rom. 8:21).