Revelation 19:15

‘And out of his mouth proceeds a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations. And he will rule them with a rod of iron, and he treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God Almighty.'

The sword here is ‘romphaia' as in Revelation 1:16; Revelation 2:12; Revelation 2:16; Revelation 6:8. Only elsewhere used in Luke 2:35. But this last reference shows that the difference between this and machaira is not to be pressed. If anything it means a longer, more powerful sword.

In Revelation 1:16 the sword is a sharp two-edged sword. It cuts both ways and discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart (see Hebrews 4:11 where it is connected with the word of God, compare also Ephesians 6:17 where the sword (machaira) of the Spirit is the word of God). Nothing can evade it. That it comes from His mouth stresses firmly that it is not to be taken literally but refers to His powerful word (Hebrews 1:3). With it He will smite the nations, bringing them into judgment and meting out to them their fate. He will smite the earth with the rod of His mouth and by the breath of His lips He will slay the Wicked One (Isaiah 11:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:8).

‘He will rule (or judge, or destroy) them with a rod of iron.' The rod of iron (compare Revelation 2:27; Revelation 12:5), when defined, is a rod of punishment and refers to expressing rule in judgment, not to a continual reign. In Isaiah 11:4 His words are such a rod. Psalms 2:9 describes Him as breaking with a rod of iron and dashing in pieces like a potter's vessel and Revelation 2:27 also has this in mind. He expresses His Rule by judgment. The word translated ‘rule' here is regularly used in LXX (the Greek Old Testament) for ‘destroy', which suggests we should translate in that way here. This meaning is confirmed by the next words, ‘He treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God Almighty'. The Bible never tries to hide from the fact of God's wrath. It is never uncontrolled but always a determined attitude taken towards sin and sinners. It is never excessive. He gives only what they have earned and deserve.