SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:17
Y cuando yo le vi, caí como muerto a sus pies. Y l puso su diestra sobre mí, dicindome: No temas; YO SOY el primero y el ltimo;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Revelation 1:17
Verse 17. I fell at his feet as dead.] The appearance of the glory of the Lord had then same effect upon Ezekiel, Ezekiel i. x18: and the appearance of Gabriel had the same effect on Daniel, Dan. viii. 17. The terrible splendour of such majesty was more than the apostle could bear, and he fell down deprived of his senses, but was soon enabled to behold the vision by a communication of strength from our Lord's right hand.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. And when I saw him , etc.] The glorious person here described, who was just behind him, and of whom he had a full view, being so near him: I fell at his feet as dead ; through consternation and fear, the sight was so amazing and terrible; the appearance of a divine person in any degree of majesty and glory, has had some considerable effect upon men, even upon the best of men; but John seems to be more affected with it than any, as the vision was the more grand and illustrious: Manoah was afraid he should die, but did not fall down as dead; Ezekiel fell upon his face, but had his senses; Daniel's comeliness turned into corruption, and he retained no strength, he fainted, and fell into a deep sleep; (see Judges 13:22 Ezekiel 1:28) ( Daniel 10:8,9); but John fell down at once, as dead. This panic which good men were seized with, at any more than ordinary appearance of God, or apprehension of his presence, arose from a notion that present death ensues a sight of him; hence Jacob wonders, and is thankful, that he had seen God face to face, and yet his life was preserved, ( Genesis 32:30); and such an effect as here, upon the body, any uncommon discovery of the divine Being has, partly through the weakness of human nature, which in its present circumstances is not able to bear the rays and glories of a divine person; hence the resurrection of the body in power, glory, and immortality, incorruption and spirituality, is necessary to the enjoyment of God and Christ in a state of bliss and happiness to all eternity; and partly through a consciousness of sin, which ever since the fall of Adam has occasioned fear and perturbation of mind, even in the best of saints, when they have had any sense of the divine Majesty being near, in an unusual form of glory: and he laid his right hand upon me ; even the same in which he had, and held the seven stars; and which showed what an affection he had for him, in what esteem he had him, what care he took of him, and what power he would exert in lifting up, strengthening, and supporting him; for he laid not his hand on him in wrath and angers, but in love; and in order to raise him up and revive his spirits, and remove his fears; hence the Ethiopic version renders it, and he took hold on me with his right hand, and lifted me up; as he does all who in a spiritual sense fall at his feet; it is always safe and comfortable falling there: saying unto me, fear not ; language which John had heard from him in the days of his flesh, and might therefore be chose now on purpose that he might the sooner know who he was and be comforted; (see Matthew 14:27 Luke 12:32). I am the first and the last ; a way of speaking used by God when he is about to comfort his people, and remove their fears; (see Isaiah 41:4 44:6 48:12); and is used by Christ for the same purpose here; and so is a proof of his true and proper deity, and is expressive of his eternity, and also of his dignity and excellency: he is the first and last in divine predestination, in the covenant of grace, in creation, in the business of salvation, and in his church, by whom, and for whom, are all things in it; he is the head of the body, the Son over his own house, and the firstborn among many brethren; and so the Alexandrian copy read, here, the firstborn and the last. war , the first, is a name of the Messiah with the Jews f43 ; (see Gill on Revelation 1:8).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 12-20 - The churches receive their light from Christ and the gospel, and holy it forth to others. They are golden candlesticks; they should be precious and pure; not only the ministers, but the members of the churches; their light should so shine before men, as to engage other to give glory to God. And the apostle saw as though of the Lord Jesu Christ appeared in the midst of the golden candlesticks. He is with his churches always, to the end of the world, filling them with light, an life, and love. He was clothed with a robe down to the feet, perhap representing his righteousness and priesthood, as Mediator. This ves was girt with a golden girdle, which may denote how precious are his love and affection for his people. His head and hairs white like woo and as snow, may signify his majesty, purity, and eternity. His eyes a a flame of fire, may represent his knowledge of the secrets of all hearts, and of the most distant events. His feet like fine bras burning in a furnace, may denote the firmness of his appointments, an the excellence of his proceedings. His voice as the sound of man waters, may represent the power of his word, to remove or to destroy The seven stars were emblems of the ministers of the seven churches to which the apostle was ordered to write, and whom Christ upheld an directed. The sword represented his justice, and his word, piercing to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, Heb 4:12. His countenance wa like the sun, when it shines clearly and powerfully; its strength to bright and dazzling for mortal eyes to behold. The apostle wa overpowered with the greatness of the lustre and glory in which Chris appeared. We may well be contented to walk by faith, while here upo earth. The Lord Jesus spake words of comfort; Fear not. Words of instruction; telling who thus appeared. And his Divine nature; the First and the Last. His former sufferings; I was dead: the very sam whom his disciples saw upon the cross. His resurrection and life; have conquered death, and am partaker of endless life. His office an authority; sovereign dominion in and over the invisible world, as the Judge of all, from whose sentence there is no appeal. Let us listen to the voice of Christ, and receive the tokens of his love, for what can he withhold from those for whose sins he has died? May we then obey his word, and give up ourselves wholly to him who directs all thing aright __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ ο 3588 T-NSM ζων 2198 5723 V-PAP-NSM και 2532 CONJ εγενομην 1096 5633 V-2ADI-1S νεκρος 3498 A-NSM και 2532 CONJ ιδου 2400 5628 V-2AAM-2S ζων 2198 5723 V-PAP-NSM ειμι 1510 5748 V-PXI-1S εις 1519 PREP τους 3588 T-APM αιωνας 165 N-APM των 3588 T-GPM αιωνων 165 N-GPM αμην 281 HEB και 2532 CONJ εχω 2192 5719 V-PAI-1S τας 3588 T-APF κλεις 2807 N-APF του 3588 T-GSM αδου 86 N-GSM και 2532 CONJ του 3588 T-GSM θανατου 2288 N-GSM
