“And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.”
King James Version (KJV)
12:5 And she brought forth a man child - Even Christ, considered not in his person, but in his kingdom. In the ninth age, many nations with their princes were added to the Christian church. Who was to rule all nations - When his time is come. And her child - Which was already in heaven, as were the woman and the dragon. Was caught up to God - Taken utterly out of his reach.
Re 12:5 And she brought forth a man child. If the reader will turn to Re 12:17, he will learn that the remnant of the woman's seed is those "who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ". The offspring of the woman, the "woman's seed", then refers to the saints. The man child is a symbol of the faithful members of the Church. But how shall they rule all nations with a rod of iron? The Greek says "rule as shepherds with a rod of iron". This implies a firm and permanent, but tender and loving rule, not a stern rule. In Re 2:27, it is promised that whosoever overcometh shall rule the nations with a rod of iron. In Re 19:15 the same thing is stated of the Word of God. This is accomplished through the saints. They shall yet possess the earth. Every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess. The kingdoms of the earth shall become the kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ. The man child, the woman's seed, the saints, shall have a complete, an undisputed, a resistless dominion. And her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne. This figure always means a glorious exaltation. It signifies that God will protect the saints and give them victory. This was probably fulfilled when Christianity triumphed over Paganism in the fourth century.
And shee brought foorth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of yron: and her child was caught vp vnto God, and to his Throne.
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan
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.
- New American Standard Version (1995)
And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne.
- American Standard Version (1901)
And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who was to have rule over all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was taken up to God and to his high seat.
- Basic English Bible
And she brought forth a male son, who shall shepherd all the nations with an iron rod; and her child was caught up to God and to his throne.
- Darby Bible
And she brought forth a male child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up to God, and to his throne.
- Webster's Bible
She gave birth to a son--a male child, destined before long to rule all nations with an iron scepter. But her child was caught up to God and His throne,
- Weymouth Bible
She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. Her child was caught up to God, and to his throne.
- World English Bible
And sche bar a knaue child, that was to reulinge alle folkis in an yrun yerde; and hir sone was rauyschid to God, and to his trone.
- Wycliffe Bible
and she brought forth a male child, who is about to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, and caught away was her child unto God and His throne,
- Youngs Literal Bible