828. That with it He should smite the nations; and He shall tend them with a rod of iron, signifies that He will convince all who are in dead faith, by the truths of the sense of the letter of the Word, and by rational things. It is evident that these things are signified, from similar things above (n. 544). It may there be seen, that by "the rod of iron" with which the nations should be smitten, are signified truths from the sense of the letter of the Word confirmed by rational things from the natural man; and likewise in n. 148, 485. That faith alone without works is dead, is clearly manifest in James 2:17, 20; who also says:
Be ye doers of the Word, not hearers only; how ye deceive yourselves (James 1:22 seq.).
Paul says in like manner:
Not the hearers of the law will be justified by God, but the doers of the law will be justified (Rom. 2:13).
