And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: (Revelation 1:17)
See on v. 8. The expression here used is apparently quoted from Isa. 44:6, and is a direct translation of the Hebrew text and not a quotation from the LXX as in v. 8.
The first effect upon those accorded a vision of a divine being panoplied with the glory of heaven, was to deprive them of their usual physical strength (see Eze. 1:28; Eze. 3:23; Dan. 8:17; Dan. 10:7-10; Acts 9:4; cf. Isa. 1:5). Compare the experience of Daniel (see on ch. 10:7-10). The person so honored was completely overcome by a sense of his own weakness and unworthiness. For a discussion of the physical state of a prophet in vision see F. D. Nichol, Ellen G. White and Her Critics, pp. 51-61. For instances of John’s emotional responses to what he saw in vision see Rev. 5:4; Rev. 17:6.
For two instances when John fell at the feet of an angel in worship see chs. 19:10; 22:8.