We learn from Zechariah 14:16-19 that some of the nations will rebel against the command to go up to Jerusalem

to keep the feast of tabernacles, yet at the selfsame time and period Israel will be so soundly converted and blessed,

that the sacred words, originally limited to the Mitre of the High Priest, namely `Holiness unto the Lord', shall be on

the bells of the horses and on the very pots in the kitchen of this blessed kingdom of Priests, yet their holy presence

Another revealing feature is the use of the rod of IRON. It is beside the point to dwell on the meaning of the

Greek word rhabdos or its Hebrew equivalent, the word that clamours for consideration is the word IRON. No

tender shepherd uses a rod of IRON for the shepherding of his flock, he uses that as a weapon of defence against their

enemies, the robber, the lion and the wolf.

Psalm 2:9; Revelation 2:27; 12:5 and 19:15 speak of `breaking' or `ruling' with a rod of IRON, and it is this

quality of IRON that demands attention, and if ignored leads to untruth and bondage (2 Tim. 2:25,26). When the

prophet would impress us with the terrible nature of the fourth beast of Daniel 7, he speaks of its `great IRON teeth'

(Dan. 7:7). In the same way, when the image that symbolises Gentile dominion is described, it deteriorates from

gold to iron, with this comment:

`Forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break

in pieces and bruise' (Dan. 2:40).

That is the inspired comment on iron; `it breaks in pieces', it bruises, and shall we object to or attempt to correct the

language of Holy Writ, without coming under the charge of yielding feigned obedience? Iron is mentioned in the

Psalms five times. Apart from Psalm 2 iron is used of fetters and likened to affliction, and the bars of a prison (Psa.

105:18; 107:10,16; 149:8). Iron is introduced into the Scriptures as one of the attempts of the line of Cain to

alleviate the curse that had come on the earth (Gen. 4:22). Egypt is likened to `an iron furnace' (Deut. 4:20), and no

tool made of iron was permitted to fashion the stones used in building an altar (Deut. 27:5), and a heaven above and

an earth beneath likened to iron, was a disciplinary judgment (Lev. 26:19; Deut. 28:23). Several times we read of

the `chariots of iron' employed by the Canaanites (Josh. 17:16,18; Judg. 1:19; 4:3,13). The question of Jeremiah

`shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?' (Jer. 15:12) is answered in the Millennium. The rod of iron will do

this. The devouring great iron teeth of the Beast, the down treading feet of iron and clay of the image will be met

and more than met by the rule of the rod of IRON. The Hebrew word raa to break, is used in Psalm 2:9; Jeremiah

15:12, and its equivalent Chaldaic word in Daniel 2:40. These are facts which no amount of special pleading can set

aside. Again let us note the testimony of Psalm 110:

`The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool. The LORD

shall send the ROD OF THY STRENGTH out of Zion: rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies' (Psa. 110:1,2).

If the words `The LORD said unto My Lord' undoubtedly refer to Christ (Matt. 22:44), then the objection that the

proximity of `the Lord' and `His Anointed' rules out Christ from Psalm 2 is shown to be invalid. Here the Lord is

seen ruling not in a world of universal peace, but `out of Zion' and `in the midst' of enemies. At the same time, and

at the very same period in which many of the nations will yield feigned obedience, we read:

`Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power' (Psa. 110:3 A.V.).

`Thy people offer themselves willingly (margin, are freewill offerings)' (Psa. 110:3 R.V.).

Here we have inspired comparison. The nations yielding feigned obedience; Israel, at last, offering willing

obedience. This leads on to another feature associated with the fact namely that the blessing of this Millennial

kingdom and afterwards is first of all focused in Jerusalem as a radiating centre, and from that centre light and truth

will be spread until the knowledge of the Lord fills the earth, as the waters cover the sea.

`They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain'

that is the first statement.