I think Strong-in-Him has a point. I stumbled across this thread after reading Matt 16:28 afresh recently (no holds barred). I even tested this on my 11 year old and asked what she thought it meant since she had no idea of the theological ramifications. I like reading Scripture straight up. I see no good reason to conclude that John is dead. I also see no good reason to assume this is cult-thinking; that is a scare tactic. And why did John have to age like everybody else? After all, we don't discount the historical account that he was boiled in oil with no ill effects (BTW, if somebody is boiled in oil they will absolutely die from lack of oxygen within about 24 hours unless there is a miracle). All this doesn't mean he is immortal, but it would mean he is exempt from aging and whatever else Christ would choose for him. Furthermore, John was charged with preaching the Gospel and making disciples (Matt. 28:19). He was not charged with making a name for himself. In fact, if you look at the travel patterns of Christ it would seem frenetic unless he was trying to lose tag-along followers. Why couldn't John be following that example today as an itinerant fisherman traveling the world waiting for his time? I think it is a plausible theory that he is one of the two witnesses in Revelation 11 who will be killed by the beast from the Abyss (hence, not physically immortal). After all, he was a "son of thunder" and did ask to sit at Christ's right hand (Mark 10). The end of the matter would be for us to seek Christ, not John. But it does make a for an interesting notion.
The penning of Revelation would be the last time he could have been "public" but even then, who writes a book that long at that age at that time in history without glasses? I think the youngest John could have been was about 88 years old. I spend a lot of time in senior living environments and something like demands a miracle in and of itself.
BTW, I am not Charismatic. I go to a Baptist church.
The penning of Revelation would be the last time he could have been "public" but even then, who writes a book that long at that age at that time in history without glasses? I think the youngest John could have been was about 88 years old. I spend a lot of time in senior living environments and something like demands a miracle in and of itself.
BTW, I am not Charismatic. I go to a Baptist church.
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