Poor Blind and Naked

REVELATION Number 55
Poor Blind and Naked

From the outset I have urged that we notice the signs and symbols in The Revelation. This book is filled with references and echoes of the scriptures that came before.

Revelation 3:17–18 is a prime example, so let’s unpack it a little.

“Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have no need of anything,” and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to apply to your eyes so that you may see.” (NASB 2020)

In verse 17, the Lord says, "Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have no need of anything,’ and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked" Revelation 3:17 (NASB 2020). He is telling some in the church that even though they think they are doing all the right things and living righteous and holy lives and have material wealth, they actually have nothing at all.

The Revelator uses the terms “poor”, “blind”, and “naked” to help us understand this message from our Lord.

God had spoken before of buying from Him what is needed and ceasing to spend ourselves on things that have no lasting value in Isaiah 55:1–2. There, He said, “You there! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance.” (NASB 2020)

Father lovingly calls people to come to Him to have Life. Jesus was plain about it, saying in John 5:39–40 “You examine the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is those very Scriptures that testify about Me; and yet you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” (NASB 2020)

He alone is the source of righteousness and blessing. Jesus came for this reason. When John the Baptizer sent messengers to ask Jesus if He was the Messiah, He spoke of the poor and blind, identifying Himself this way: “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: people who were blind receive sight, people who limped walk, people with leprosy are cleansed and people who were deaf hear, dead people are raised up, and people who are poor have the gospel preached to them.” Luke 7:22 (NASB 2020)

The Lord Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 61:1, which also speaks of the poor and the blind, as we read in Luke 4:17–21 And the scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to Him. And He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO BRING GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.” And He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all the people in the synagogue were intently directed at Him. Now He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (NASB 2020)

Similarly, “the shame of [their] nakedness” echoes the shame of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden over their nakedness after they had eaten from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Genesis 3:10 pairs nakedness with fear borne of shame, "He [Adam] said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” (NASB 2020) Before they knew good and evil, the first people “were both naked, but they were not ashamed.” Genesis 2:25b (NASB 2020)

So, anyone who is counting on their efforts to provide righteousness and acceptance is counseled to put their faith in the Lord Jesus. They need to depend on Him as their Source rather than their performance, rule-keeping, or temporal wealth. Then they will be clothed just as God clothed Adam and Eve but this time not just with animal skins covering over their nakedness (sin), but with the brilliant white robes of His righteousness, all sin having been completely removed.