723. Verse 5. And she brought forth a son, a male, who is to tend all the nations with an iron rod; and her offspring was caught up unto God and His throne. 5. "And she brought forth a son, a male," signifies the doctrine of truth for the church that is called the New Jerusalem (n. 724, 725); "who is to tend all the nations with an iron rod," signifies that this doctrine, by the power of natural truth from spiritual, will refute and convince those who are in falsities and evils and yet are in the church, where the Word is (n. 726, 727); "and her offspring was caught up unto God and His throne," signifies the protection of the doctrine by the Lord, because it is for the New Church (n. 728).