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.
Isaiah 56
1
Thus says Yahweh, "Keep justice, and do righteousness; for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
2
Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast; who keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil."
3
Neither let the foreigner, who has joined himself to Yahweh, speak, saying, "Yahweh will surely separate me from his people;" neither let the eunuch say, "Behold, I am a dry tree."
4
For thus says Yahweh, "To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and hold fast my covenant:
5
to them I will give in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name better than of sons and of daughters; I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
6
Also the foreigners who join themselves to Yahweh, to minister to him, and to love the name of Yahweh, to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and holds fast my covenant;
7
even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples."
8
The Lord Yahweh, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, "Yet will I gather [others] to him, besides his own who are gathered."
9
All you animals of the field, come to devour, [yes], all you animals in the forest.
10
His watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they can't bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.
11
Yes, the dogs are greedy, they can never have enough; and these are shepherds who can't understand: they have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, from every quarter.
12
"Come," [say they], "I will get wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow shall be as this day, [a day] great beyond measure."
