148. [verse 27] 'And he shall rule them with an iron rod' signifies by means of truths out of the sense of the letter of the Word, and at the same time by means of rational things out of natural light. These things are signified by a rod or staff of iron, because by a 'rod' or 'staff' in the Word power is signified, and by 'iron' is signified natural truth, consequently the natural sense of the Word, and at the same time a man's natural light. The power of the Word resides in these two. That the Divine Truth is in its power in the natural sense of the Word, which is the sense of its letter, may be seen in THE DOCTRINE OF THE NEW JERUSALEM CONCERNING THE SACRED SCRIPTURE (n. 37-49). This is because the sense of the letter is the basis, containant, and support of its spiritual sense (n. 27-36). That all power is in the ultimates that are called natural, may be seen also Its ANGELIC WISDOM CONCERNING DIVINE LOVE AND WISDOM (n. 205-221); consequently [it is in] the natural sense of the letter of the Word, and in a man's natural light. These, therefore, are the 'iron rod' with which 'he shall rule the nations', that is, shall overcome the evils that are from hell. Similar things are signified by 'iron rod' in these passages:-
Thou shalt bruise the nations with an iron rod, thou shalt shatter them like the vessel of a potter Ps. li 9.
The woman brought forth a male [who was] going to rule all nations with an iron rod Rev. xii 5.
Out of the mouth of Him Who sat upon the white horse went a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations; but He shall rule them with an iron rod Rev. xix 15.
Jehovah shall smite the wicked with the rod of His mouth Isa. xi 4.
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