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 symbolizes 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).

'Thy people offer themselves willingly' (margin 'are freewill

offerings' Revised Version).

Here we have inspired comparison.  The nations yielding feigned

obedience; Israel, at last, offering willing obedience.  This leads on to