“Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed”
Revelation 16:15
Cultural referenceWell-supportedJesus (in the vision)
Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed. (Revelation 16:15 BSB)
* The temple watch was inspected at night; a guard caught asleep could have his clothes stripped and burned, sending him home naked in shame.
What it sounds like today
An odd pairing: alertness and clothing.
The cultural key
The Mishnah preserves the custom that decodes it: the temple's captain of the guard patrolled the night watches, and a watchman found asleep at his post could be beaten, and his garments set alight, sending him home naked in disgrace. 'Stays awake, keeping his garments' is night-guard discipline: the sentry who never gives the captain cause to torch his clothes. The 'thief' saying is Jesus' own (Matthew 24:43), here with the temple watch-house consequence attached.
Recovered meaning
Vigilance with a uniform inspection: the returning Lord as the captain on his rounds, and unreadiness as the guard stripped by his own negligence. The blessing is for the sentry still dressed at dawn.
See also: Matthew 24:43; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; Revelation 3:3