Charles Spurgeon Commentary Revelation 1:17

"And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last," — Revelation 1:17 (ASV)

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.

He was not only brought to the posture of reverence, but he was so overawed that he became unconscious. It is the same person upon whose breast John had leaned his head, yet now he is represented as John had never seen him before. He was not so at the last supper; he was not so upon the cross; he was not so on the Mount of Transfiguration; he was not so even when he had risen from the dead, and, perhaps, he will not be so when we see him in his glory.

This was a specially instructive representation of Christ, and it was too much even for the trained and educated spirit of John the Divine.

And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

There is where your comfort comes from – not from what you are, but from what he is. You are the last, but he – here is the point – he is the first and the last.

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.

Oh! how the "I" dies when Christ is manifested! How we sink!

And yet our joys shall rise unutterably, immeasurably high. I fell at his feet as dead.