Charles Ellicott Commentary Revelation 19:15

"And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty." — Revelation 19:15 (ASV)

And out of his mouth . . .—Translate, And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with (literally, in) it He may strike the nations: and He (Himself) shall shepherd them with (literally, in) a rod of iron: and He (Himself) treads the winepress of the wine of the wrath of the anger of God the All-Ruler.

The sharp sword is the same one that we encountered before (Revelation 1:16); there it was called the two-edged sword. The omission of the epithet in this passage, which describes the Word of God as the conqueror and the judge, is not without significance. The sword is now wielded for but one work—the word that Christ spoke will judge men at the last day (John 12:48). The power of this word found an illustration in the falling back of the hostile band which came to take Him in the day of His humiliation (John 18:5); yet more gloriously will the power of His word be felt (Jeremiah 23:29; 2 Thessalonians 2:8) when He will slay the wicked with the word of His mouth.

The passage in Psalm 2:9 must be kept in mind. Christ comes as King; His is a rule in righteousness. Those who oppose this kingdom of righteousness find the shepherd’s staff as a rod of iron; the stone rejected falls upon the builders and grinds them to powder. It is thus that the winepress of God’s wrath is set up, and the righteous King appears as one who treads it out . He Himself (the emphasis lies here) treads it. We again see the figure of the vintage used . It is the harvest of retribution; the wicked are filled with the fruit of their own doings. Thus the work is seen to be the work of the All-Ruler.