Revelation 12:5 She brought forth a man child

⁵ And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. -Revelation 12:5 Bible, King James Version (KJV)

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).

724. Verse 5. And she brought forth a son, a male, signifies the doctrine of truth for the New Church that is called the New Jerusalem. This is evident from the signification of a "son," as meaning truth, and of "a son, a male," as meaning the genuine truth of the church... The genuine doctrine of the church is the doctrine of good... which is of love to the Lord and of charity towards the neighbour... [3] This doctrine 724-1 is for the New Church that is called the New Jerusalem, because "the woman" treated of in this chapter is the one who is called "the Bride, the Lamb's wife," which was "the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God" (Rev. 21:9-10). This is why she was seen "arrayed with the sun;" "the sun" meaning the Lord in relation to Divine love (see above, n. 401, 525, 527, 708)...

727. "Rod and staff" signify power, and indeed, the power of Divine truth... This is still more true of an "iron rod," because iron likewise signifies the truth of the natural man, and because of its hardness it signifies power that cannot be resisted. That "rods and staffs" thence signify the power of Divine truth is derived from correspondence. Therefore in the spiritual world, where all things that appear are correspondences, the use of staffs is a representative of the power of those that use them... This is why Moses wrought miracles and signs in Egypt, and afterwards in the desert, by stretching forth his staff...[23] From this now it is clear what "rod and staff" signify..; likewise by these words in Revelation: Out of the mouth of Him who sat upon the white horse goeth forth a sharp sword, that with it He may smite the nations; and He shall tend them with an iron rod (Rev. 19:15). Also by these words above: He that shall overcome I will give him power over the nations, that he may rule them with an iron rod; as a potter's vessels shall they be broken (Rev. 2:26, 27)...

728. 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. This is evident... from the signification of "caught up unto God and His throne," as being protection by the Lord from "the dragon" that stood before the woman about to bring forth, with the intent and desire of devouring what was brought forth...