Apocalypse Revealed # 210
210. "'Blind and naked.'" This symbolically means that they lack any understanding of truth or will for good.
The blind in the Word mean people who lack truths, either because of a deficiency of truths in the church and thus their ignorance of them, or because of their failure to understand them. And the naked mean people who are consequently without goods, for all spiritual good is attained through truths.
It is just these who are meant by the blind in the following passages:
Then in that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and out of darkness... the eyes of the blind shall see. (Isaiah 29:18)
Behold, your God will come... Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened... (Isaiah 35:4-6)
I will... give You... as a light to the gentiles, to open blind eyes... (Isaiah 42:6-7)
I will lead the blind by a way they did not know... I will turn their darkness into light... (Isaiah 42:16)
Bring out the blind people who have eyes, and the deaf who have ears. (Isaiah 43:8)
His watchmen are (all) blind... and do not know understanding. (Isaiah 56:10-11)
He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they do not see with their eyes or understand with the heart... (John 12:40)
Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind. (John 9:39-41)
(Blind guides, stupid and foolish.) (Matthew 23:16-17, 19, 24)
...blind leaders of the blind. (Matthew 15:14, cf. Luke 6:39)
Because of the symbolism of a blind man and blindness, it was forbidden for someone blind to make a sacrifice, or for someone to offer anything blind as a sacrifice (Leviticus 21:18, Deuteronomy 15:21). They were not to put a stumblingblock before the blind (Leviticus 19:14). Cursed would be anyone who caused the blind to go astray (Deuteronomy 27:18).
For the symbolism of the naked and nakedness, see no. 213 below.
Job 40
1
Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
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Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
3
Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
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Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
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Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.
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Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
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Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
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Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
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Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
10
Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.
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Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.
12
Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
13
Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.
14
Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.
15
Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.
16
Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.
17
He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.
18
His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.
19
He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.
20
Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.
21
He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.
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The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.
23
Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.
24
He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.
