THE LORD WILL RULE WITH A ROD OF IRON
Revelation 19:15, 12:5, 2:26-28, Psalms 2:7-9 and inferred in Isaiah 11:4
The Lord really will rule with a rod of iron as in the many sections of verses listed in this article. The word rule in some versions is translated shepherd. This is a misunderstood situation in that many think it means to be a leader with an iron fist or harsh ruler or even as a shepherd to rule his sheep with an iron rod. The truth of the matter is that in our modern day and age, most of us are far from understanding the important purposes of rods and staffs that have been used by mankind for thousands of years. One purpose for rods was in measurement, but rods were used as symbols of authority for staffs and for correction and punishment. Scepters were in some measure sometimes considered rods as well as the staffs of shepherds.
It is most important to realize a word's intent and especially when it is about the Lord. The fact of the matter is, that the rods in the following verses are to be used to destroy what they strike, to break like smashing pottery. The Lord will strike the nations with the rod in meting out the fierceness and wrath of God to those that have it coming. The rod in most of these verses is a rod of iron, not just any rod of wood like most would have been. Jesus is not a harsh Lord. He is quick to hear, slow to anger and His mercies are forever. So it is important to realize that these verses were translated as “ruling even shepherding” with a rod of iron, but it is in the sense of ruler-ship that He uses the rod of punishment to destroy the wicked.
Sadly, many misunderstand these verses to mean that the Lord will be a harsh ruler during the Millennium. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our God is the same yesterday, today and forever. But the wicked of this earth will cause “the iron rod of punishment” to come down upon themselves by their own actions.
In ancient times, rods were used for discipline, chastisement and wrath as it can be seen in various places throughout the Bible.
In the book of Exodus, we repeatedly see how the Lord chose for Moses and Aaron to use a rod against the Pharaoh to bring the destructive plagues upon Egypt. He also used it to part the Red Sea for His people (Exodus 4:2,17,8:16,9:23,10:13, etc). Moses smote the rock and brought water from it for the people but that is another thought for another day; his disobedience in not “telling the rock to give forth the water” as the Lord has told him to do and smiting it instead, cost him dearly (Numbers 20:8-12).
Throughout the books of Psalms and Proverbs rods were spoken of as being used for discipline, punishment, chastisement and wrath (Psalms 2:9,23:4.89:32, Proverbs 10:13,13:24,22:8,15,23:14,26:3,29:15).
In Isaiah, we see God personally say,
The weeping prophet Jeremiah, after being persecuted for telling the truth and obeying God and having seen his people suffer horribly for their disobedience and wickedness and were nearly destroyed but for a remnant, wrote in the book of Lamentations,
Micah recorded:
Even the apostle Paul used a phrase about the possibility of coming with a rod in a negative fashion.
In one of his psalms, King David wrote,
The interpreters of the Amplified Bible knew that the rod was for protection in the use of a Shepherd just like David did and so many before our time. Their rods were for physical force in relationship to the keeping of sheep.
Consider this selection of verses again.
In the verses of Revelation, the use of the rod of iron by the Lord, is not spoken of for use on the Lord's sheep or people. It will be for the “nations” and I believe not only as “Lord of All” but also “our Shepherd” - He will smite the evil ones who harmed and wanted to destroy His sheep as shown in these verses (Revelation 16:4-6,17:6,18:5,6,20).
In Matthew 25:31-46, the Lord separates the sheep from the goats. The rapture is when the Lord removes His sheep from this world. Those left are the goats. The goats are never seen repenting after the rapture. There are verses though, that say they will not repent. Even with the trumpets and bowls of God's judgment and wrath, they still will not repent (Revelation 9:20-21,16:8-9,11,21). And when the Lord comes at the Battle of Armageddon, those who are still left alive on this earth, will be consumed by the Sword of His mouth and dashed to pieces by His rod of iron (Revelation 14:19-20,19:21). This is the demise of the wicked as the Lord removes them from this earth.
Some want to say that the Lord will rule the earth with a rod of iron for 1000 years. I personally disagree. The 1000 year-period, commonly called the Millennium, will be like no other time on earth before. But the Lord will not have to be cruel or harsh. His laws will be the law and anyone breaking His peace will in no doubt pay a price for it but it is obvious that with the devil bound for this 1000 year-period, that sin will not be rampant and common as we know life with it in the world we live in now. The lion will lay down with the lamb as well as the wolf. It will be not be like anything we have ever known.
It is most important to realize a word's intent and especially when it is about the Lord. The fact of the matter is, that the rods in the following verses are to be used to destroy what they strike, to break like smashing pottery. The Lord will strike the nations with the rod in meting out the fierceness and wrath of God to those that have it coming. The rod in most of these verses is a rod of iron, not just any rod of wood like most would have been. Jesus is not a harsh Lord. He is quick to hear, slow to anger and His mercies are forever. So it is important to realize that these verses were translated as “ruling even shepherding” with a rod of iron, but it is in the sense of ruler-ship that He uses the rod of punishment to destroy the wicked.
Sadly, many misunderstand these verses to mean that the Lord will be a harsh ruler during the Millennium. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our God is the same yesterday, today and forever. But the wicked of this earth will cause “the iron rod of punishment” to come down upon themselves by their own actions.
- Revelation 19:11-15 “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”
- Revelation 12:5 “And she brought forth a male Child, One Who is destined to shepherd (rule) all the nations with an iron staff (scepter), and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne.”
- Revelation 2:25-29 “But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations-- 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels'-- as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." '
- Isaiah 11:4 “But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.”
- Psalms 2:7-9 "I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.' "
In ancient times, rods were used for discipline, chastisement and wrath as it can be seen in various places throughout the Bible.
In the book of Exodus, we repeatedly see how the Lord chose for Moses and Aaron to use a rod against the Pharaoh to bring the destructive plagues upon Egypt. He also used it to part the Red Sea for His people (Exodus 4:2,17,8:16,9:23,10:13, etc). Moses smote the rock and brought water from it for the people but that is another thought for another day; his disobedience in not “telling the rock to give forth the water” as the Lord has told him to do and smiting it instead, cost him dearly (Numbers 20:8-12).
Throughout the books of Psalms and Proverbs rods were spoken of as being used for discipline, punishment, chastisement and wrath (Psalms 2:9,23:4.89:32, Proverbs 10:13,13:24,22:8,15,23:14,26:3,29:15).
In Isaiah, we see God personally say,
- Isaiah 10:5-6a "Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger and the staff in whose hand is My indignation. I will send him against an ungodly nation, and against the people of My wrath”
The weeping prophet Jeremiah, after being persecuted for telling the truth and obeying God and having seen his people suffer horribly for their disobedience and wickedness and were nearly destroyed but for a remnant, wrote in the book of Lamentations,
- Lamentations 3:1, “I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of His wrath.”
Micah recorded:
- Micah 5:1 “Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops; he has laid siege against us; they will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.”
Even the apostle Paul used a phrase about the possibility of coming with a rod in a negative fashion.
- 1 Corinthians 4:20-21 "For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?"
In one of his psalms, King David wrote,
- Psalms 23:4 (Amp), “Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.”
The interpreters of the Amplified Bible knew that the rod was for protection in the use of a Shepherd just like David did and so many before our time. Their rods were for physical force in relationship to the keeping of sheep.
Consider this selection of verses again.
- Revelation 19:11-15 “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”
In the verses of Revelation, the use of the rod of iron by the Lord, is not spoken of for use on the Lord's sheep or people. It will be for the “nations” and I believe not only as “Lord of All” but also “our Shepherd” - He will smite the evil ones who harmed and wanted to destroy His sheep as shown in these verses (Revelation 16:4-6,17:6,18:5,6,20).
In Matthew 25:31-46, the Lord separates the sheep from the goats. The rapture is when the Lord removes His sheep from this world. Those left are the goats. The goats are never seen repenting after the rapture. There are verses though, that say they will not repent. Even with the trumpets and bowls of God's judgment and wrath, they still will not repent (Revelation 9:20-21,16:8-9,11,21). And when the Lord comes at the Battle of Armageddon, those who are still left alive on this earth, will be consumed by the Sword of His mouth and dashed to pieces by His rod of iron (Revelation 14:19-20,19:21). This is the demise of the wicked as the Lord removes them from this earth.
Some want to say that the Lord will rule the earth with a rod of iron for 1000 years. I personally disagree. The 1000 year-period, commonly called the Millennium, will be like no other time on earth before. But the Lord will not have to be cruel or harsh. His laws will be the law and anyone breaking His peace will in no doubt pay a price for it but it is obvious that with the devil bound for this 1000 year-period, that sin will not be rampant and common as we know life with it in the world we live in now. The lion will lay down with the lamb as well as the wolf. It will be not be like anything we have ever known.
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