When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me, saying, “Don’t be afraid. I am the first and the last,
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 17. I am the first and the last. These are the words of the Son of man, or of him that represented our Saviour, Christ, to Saint John. To be the first and the last, is another expression agreeing only to him who is the true God, as it is divers times applied by the prophet Isaias. Witham.—From the 12th verse to this place we have a description of the Son of man, that is Christ. The different emblematical descriptions of his countenance, his dress, and so forth are similar to what are used by other prophets, and easily explained of his attributes, his eternity, vengeance, and so forth and so forth Omnes passim.