Jamieson, Fausset and Brown on Revelation 12:5

5. man-child--Greek, "a son, a male." On the deep significance of this term, see on Re 12:1, 2.

rule--Greek, "poimainein," "tend as a shepherd"; (see on Re 2:27).

rod of iron--A rod is for long-continued obstinacy until they submit themselves to obedience [Bengel]: Re 2:27; Psa 2:9, which passages prove the Lord Jesus to be meant. Any interpretation which ignores this must be wrong. The male son's birth cannot be the origin of the Christian state (Christianity triumphing over heathenism under Constantine), which was not a divine child of the woman, but had many impure worldly elements. In a secondary sense, the ascending of the witnesses up to heaven answers to Christ's own ascension, "caught up unto God, and unto His throne": as also His ruling the nations with a rod of iron is to be shared in by believers (Re 2:27). What took place primarily in the case of the divine Son of the woman, shall take place also in the case of those who are one with Him, the sealed of Israel (Re 7:1-8), and the elect of all nations, about to be translated and to reign with Him over the earth at His appearing.