THEOSISGregory the Great
The components of his flesh are interconnected. Job 41:15 states that the ‘flesh’ of this Leviathan comprises all those who pursue endeavors apart from the awareness of their spiritual homeland. However, the ‘members of his flesh’ refer to those who have banded together in wicked actions, paving the way for immoral paths. As Paul stated regarding the body of Christ, “And ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular,” 1 Cor. 12:27. It is important to recognize that a ‘body’ represents a singular entity, whereas a part of a part is distinctly different. For instance, a part of a part can be compared to a finger belonging to a hand, with the hand being a part that connects to the shoulder. The complete body encompasses the entirety.
Read more (504 words)
Thus, within the spiritual body of the Lord, we are ‘members in particular’ among those in His Church whom others govern. In contrast, the outcasts, assembled in this Leviathan's body, exist as ‘members in particular’ who, through their sinful actions, align with those even more depraved than themselves. The wicked foe maintains a cohesive unit in his malevolence from start to finish, prompting the Divine word to describe his members clinging to one another. Therefore, they share in their evil beliefs without separation due to any internal conflicts.
Paul recognized this destructive cohesion among the outcasts when he addressed the Sadducees and Pharisees, stating, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question,” Acts 23:6. As soon as the audience heard this declaration, they began to divide among themselves. When the chaotic crowd splits in two, the path to salvation is illuminated for Paul, for the faction of persecutors, now divided, relinquished their hold on him, whom they would have seized had they remained united. Righteous individuals are thus rescued when the unrighteous faction is fragmented. This is also exemplified when the Red Sea parted, Ex. 14:21, allowing the chosen people to journey toward the promised land. When the coalition of the wicked falters, the holy minds achieve their aspirations. If the unity of evil were not perilous, Divine Providence would not have so dramatically diversified the tongues of the arrogant, Gen. 11:9. The prophet would not have declared concerning the adversaries of the Holy Church, “Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth,” Psalms 54:10. When Leviathan exerts his full force against God's elect, it is permitted for him to maintain unity among the outcasts to amplify his strength against us. Who, then, can endure such power? Whose heart would not quail at the enormity of such arrogance? The Divine Pardon, aware of our trembling in frailty, promptly provides support. Therefore, it is foretold that He will send forth lightning which will not be redirected.
What could ‘lightning’ signify other than the portrayal of the final judgment? They are termed ‘lightnings’ because they obliterate those they strike eternally. Paul foresaw these lightnings descending upon the individual he referenced, whom the Lord Jesus will vanquish with the spirit of His mouth and eradicate by the manifestation of His coming, 2 Thess. 2:8. Yet these lightnings aimed at him do not stray elsewhere, striking only the rejected, while the righteous celebrate. Following the threshing of this present life, wherein the wheat groans beneath the tares, a separation will occur on the Day of Judgment, ensuring the tares do not enter the granary of the wheat, nor a single grain of wheat be lost to the fire of the tares. Thus, it is also stated that these lightnings do not stray elsewhere because it is they that ignite in their inferno, not the grain but the chaff. He also instructs us regarding the uncorrectable nature of this Leviathan through His further declarations.