544. 'Who is going to lead all nations to pasture with an iron rod' signifies which, by means of truths derived from the sense of the letter of the Word and at the same the by means of rational things derived from natural light, will convince all who are willing to be convinced, who are in dead worship derived from faith separated from charity. These things [are said] concerning the doctrine of the New Church, because concerning the 'male child' by which that doctrine is signified (n. 543). By 'lead to pasture' (pascere) is signified to teach and instruct (n. 383), here to convince those who are willing to be convinced. By 'nations' are signified those who are in evils of life (n. 483), here those who are in dead worship derived from faith separated from charity, because it treats of those here; and they are in evils of life, for when charity is separated there is not any good of life, and where there is no good, there is evil. That 'to rule with an iron rod' signifies by means of the truths of the sense of the letter of the Word and at the same the by means of rational things derived from natural light may be seen above (n. 148).