Page:Mahometanism in its relation to prophecy - or, an inquiry into the prophecies concerning antichrist, with some reference to their bearing on the events of the present day (IA mahometanisminit00philrich).pdf/132

 The dragon, standing before the woman about to be delivered of her son, appears to me to signify the efforts of Satan in endeavouring to destroy the Primitive Church: and by the man-child of the woman, that was destined to rule all nations with an iron rod, I understand the Papacy, ruling over the Christian nations with the spiritual sceptre of St. Peter. And whereas this rod or staff is said to be of "iron," I understand by that term, that the chief scat of the secptre was destined one day to be in Rome, which we may remember in Nabuchodonosor's statue was symbolized by the iron. Hence David, in the Psalms, foretells of Messiah that He would rule the Gentiles "with a rod of iron."—(Psalm ii. 8, 9)—"Ask of me and I will give thee the Gentiles for thine inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession, Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron, and break them in pieces like a potter's vessel." By which last words of the Psalmist I see a reference to the fact foretold to Nabu-