“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).

Many are so tied to the things of this life that it is hard to realize what it would be like to actually stand in the presence of the glorified Christ. Yet John was given that privilege. His reaction to seeing Christ is very understandable. “I fell at His feet as dead.” No doubt when we are taken to heaven and see Christ for the first time, we will do the same.

There are a number of other instances where individuals were aware of the presence of deity. Their reactions vary.

Elijah “wrapped his face in his mantle” (I Kings 19:13) after witnessing God’s power in the wind, the earthquake, and the fire. Once God got his undivided attention, He commissioned him to further service.

The immediate presence of God caused Job to repent. “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5,6). Isaiah reacted in the same way: “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5); so did Peter. “When Simon Peter saw it [the multitude of fish], he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8). Job, Isaiah, and Peter saw their own sinfulness much more clearly when they viewed the power and holiness of God. On the other hand, there are others such as the wicked of the tribulation who will not repent, asking that rocks and mountains fall on them to “hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb” (Revelation 6:16).

The best reaction of all is that of John (above text) and the women returning from the tomb, who, upon seeing Jesus, “worshipped Him” (Matthew 28:9). NPS