I have often wondered about the use of the expression “rod of iron”
that is found in the Bible. “Rod of iron” is used once in the Hebrew
Bible (Old Testament) and three times in the New Testament.
In Psalm 2:9 David speaks prophetically of the Messiah who will be of
the line of David:
9 'Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron (my emphasis),
Thou shalt shatter them like earthenware.' "
~ New American Standard Bible
“Rod of iron” appears three times in the Revelation to John:
In Revelation 2:26-29, John quotes the Lord:
26 'And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end,
to him I will give authority over the nations;
27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron (my emphasis),
as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have
received authority from My Father;
28 and I will give him the morning star.
29 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
churches.'
~ New American Standard Bible
Revelation 12:5-6 continues with the end-times prophecy:
5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the
nations with a rod of iron (my emphasis); and her child was
caught up to God and to His throne.
6 And the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place
prepared by God, so that there she might be nourished for one thousand
two hundred and sixty days.
~ New American Standard Bible
Revelation 19:15-16 is the last Bible passage in which “rod of iron”
is used:
15 And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may
smite the nations; and He will rule them with a rod of iron (my
emphasis); and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God,
the Almighty.
16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF
KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."
~ New American Standard Bible
I have also wondered why the imagery of the Book of Revelation is
violent. In my opinion, the “sharp sword” (Revelation 19:15) refers to
His Word (Hebrews 4:12):
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any
two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and
spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and
intentions of the heart.
~ New American Standard Bible
Thinking about all the evil and corruption that has always been
rampant in the world since the fall, and the intense pain of the
billions of innocent creatures unnecessarily abused and slaughtered
round the clock, I begin to understand why a gentle Jesus who teaches
love and compassion would in the end times return wielding a
metaphorical “rod of iron.”
My interpretation is that those who have truly repented and have
experienced a “change of heart” – who have “the fruit of the Spirit”
(Galatians 5:22-23) – will be with the Lord. Those who are “hard of
heart” (those who stubbornly continue to lack love and who mock true
kindness and compassion) will be the recipients of rule by a “rod of
iron.”
When one stops to think of the wars, the starvation, the destruction
of the earth, the greed, the corruption, the lies with which the
powerful flesh and dairy, pharmaceutical, and other industries bombard
the public, and the political power that they wield, it is not so
difficult to understand God’s “enough is enough” stance.
The Lord, who is patient (2 Peter 3:9-10), will give the hard of
heart one thousand years to repent. At the end of that time, those who
persist in their resistance to positive change will be sent to be with
Satan.
2 Peter 3:9-10
9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness,
but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all
to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the
heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed
with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
~ New American Standard Bible
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