Revelation 12
Jesus’ Reign is with a Rod of Iron!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Monday, March 15.
What does it mean when someone rules with a rod of iron?
Revelation 12:5 describes the rule of Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of God, “And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.”
It is also used in Revelation 2:26-27; 19:15, and in Psalm 2:9.
Contemporary dictionaries define it like this, “to control or govern very strictly or harshly.” The connotations are negative, tyrannical even, but the Bible is using it in a positive way.
To rule with a “rod of iron” means that Jesus’ reign will be an “unyieldingly just reign.”[1] His rule over people will show no favoritism. He will not deviate from justice to allow any perversion or distortion of what is right and true. He will rule according the standards established by God for His creation.
That is not tyranny. That is not harsh. That is love!
The intent of this image for the future is to invoke hope in the people of God. The goal is to inspire faithfulness until that day. Though we currently live in a world where justice is not always just and government is not always for the people, we can anticipate what is to come. We can live today with great expectation of all things being made right and true.
Seize the moment and face the injustices of today with faith, hope, and love because what God has promised for tomorrow is right and true.
Let’s recite this week’s memory verse from Ephesians 4:1, “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.”
YOUTUBE:
[1] John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016), Re 12:5.