The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

"And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and
He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and
wrath of Almighty God."--Ver. 15.
The sword referred to here is not a literal one. No one could possibly conceive that this
statement of St. John is to be understood literally. Undoubtedly to St. John's vision it
seemed a literal sword, even as all the other transactions in the vision seemed literal. Let
us keep in mind in considering this remarkable scene, that it was in every sense of the
word a vision; but while a vision, it points to a most real and literal and terrible
transaction.
We are here reminded of the Psalmist's words, "Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O Most
Mighty." (Psa. 45:3.) The warrior carries his sword on his thigh; in this instance, however,
the sword proceeds from His mouth. The sword in addition to its representing the Word
of God seems in this instance to be the emblem of authority and majesty as well. Standing
for authority and majesty it would include the thought of authority to punish His enemies.
The Apostle Paul uses it in this sense when referring to the world rulers:
"For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of
the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the
minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth
not the sword in vain."--Rom 13:3,4.
There is a very general agreement that the sword of verse 15 represents the sword of
Truth.
"He who now takes His great power to reign is shown in symbol (Rev. 19:15) as the one
whose sword went forth out of His mouth; 'that with it He should smite the nations; and
He shall rule them with a rod of iron.' That sword is the Truth (Eph. 6:17); and the living
saints, as well as many of the world, are [even] now being used as the Lord's soldiers in
overthrowing errors and evils."
This has been true in a sense throughout the Gospel Age; however, the vision we are
considering describes something different. "Let no one hastily infer a peaceable conversion
of the nations to be here symbolized; for many Scriptures--such as Rev. 11:17,18; Dan. 12:1;
2 Thess. 2:8; Psa. 149 and 47--teach the very opposite."
"It is the same sword that we have seen in chap. 1:16; 2:12, in the address to the assembly
[Church] in Pergamos, which had become nationalized; and now [at this time] the nations
Christianized though not Christ's own, are to be under judgment of the sword, which is
the Word of God."--M. Taylor.
"Judgment is now [at the time of this vision] impending: 'out of His mouth goeth a sharp
sword, that with it He may smite the nations.' So Isaiah: 'He shall smite the earth with the
rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked.' (Isa. 11:4.) It
needs but a word from Him to cause their destruction; while it is judgment no less