What does the book of Revelation mean when it describes the saints helping Christ rule the nations with "a rod of iron"? What training is necessary to use this tool?
Many of Christ's followers are familiar with the scriptures that reveal their destiny to have rulership over this world. In Revelation 5:10 Christians are described as being made "kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth."
The prophecies of Daniel describe the time when "the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High" (Daniel 7:27). Jesus indicated to His disciples in the parable of the pounds that some are to have rule over 10 cities, some five, etc. (Luke 19:17,19).
One of the most dramatic scriptures, however, is that found in the message to the Thyatiran church. "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels'—as I also have received from My Father" (Revelation 2:26-27, emphasis added).
Is the Kingdom of God to be a time when those still living out physical lives on the earth will be kept in subjection by a divine dictatorship? First notice an interesting point from the Greek text. The verb translated "rule" in Revelation 2:27 is poimanei, derived from the word for a shepherd (poimen ). It is the same word used by the apostle Paul in Acts 20:28 to describe the care that overseers are to show toward the Church of God.
