152. Internal Meaning of Ezekiel, Chapter 29

1-3 Of the natural man who, in things Divine, trusts nothing but His knowledges [scientifica]. (2)

4-5 Such will pervert the truths of the church by applying their knowledges to falsities. (2, 1)

6-7 Because truths have been perverted in this manner, all power, which is of truth, has been destroyed in their case, (3, 16)

8-12 and all truth will be utterly devastated, until they will no longer have truth. (3)

13-16 Nevertheless something of a church will be established out of those who are natural and in knowledges [scientifica]. (11)

17-18 Reasonings from knowledges [scientifica] of the natural man will not destroy knowledges [cognitiones] of truth with them; (11)

19-20 but these will be destroyed by reasonings from the natural man with those who trust knowledges [scientifica] alone, and have perverted the truths of the church. (2)

21 Those who are of the church that the Lord will establish will have truths of doctrine. (11, 11)

148. "'He shall rule them with a rod of iron.'" (2:27) This symbolically means, by truths drawn from the literal sense of the Word and at the same time by rational considerations from a natural sight.

A rod or staff of iron has this symbolic meaning because a rod or staff in the Word symbolizes power, and iron symbolizes natural truth, consequently the natural sense of the Word, and at the same time a person's natural sight. It is in these two that the power of truth resides.

To be shown that Divine truth exists in its power in the Word's natural meaning, which is its literal sense, see The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Regarding the Sacred Scripture, nos. 37-49 the reason being that the sense of the letter is the foundation, containing vessel, and buttress of its spiritual sense, nos. 27-36. And to be shown that all power resides in final elements, called natural, see Angelic Wisdom Regarding Divine Love and Wisdom, nos. 205-221. Consequently it resides in the natural sense of the Word's letter, and in a person's natural sight. These, then, are the rod of iron with which he who overcomes will rule the nations, that is to say, with which he will overcome the evils that come from hell.

A rod of iron has similar symbolic meanings in the following passages:

You shall crush (the nations) with a rod of iron; You shall shatter them like a potter's vessel. (Psalms 2:9)

(The woman) bore a male Child who would rule all nations with a rod of iron. (Revelation 12:5)

Out of the mouth (of Him who sat on the white horse) went a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. (Revelation 19:15)

(Jehovah) shall strike (the wicked) with the rod of His mouth. (Isaiah 11:4)