"21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, Lord, what about this man? 22 Jesus said to him, If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me! 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers[b] that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" Jn. 21:21-23 (ESV)
There are several very interesting things about this passage. First, notice that Christ is the one who advances the possibility that John might remain until his second coming. This is not a possibility that is advanced by anyone else in the discussion - Christ himself suggests the possibility. This means that there is a strong implication that this will in fact happen in reality.
Second, the very fact that Christ mentions John remaining alive until his second coming is proof that it is indeed possible. Christ could supernaturally preserve John's body so that it does not age. John could then remain alive undercover for the next 2000 years without anyone ever knowing.
Next, there is the fact that the Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation at a very advanced age (he must have been in his eighties). Yet in the book he shows a great deal of clarity of thought and a lucidity which would escape most eighty-year-olds (the book of Revelation is one of the most brilliant books ever written).
Finally, there is this passage in the book of Revelation:
"11 And I was told, You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings." Rev. 10:11 (ESV)
Most interpreters take this as a reference to John's future prophecy in the book of Revelation - but could it be referring to a time in the far distant future when John will once again prophesy - maybe as one of the two witnesses? Is it possible that the Apostle John is in fact one of the two witnesses?
One last note. The Apostle John's tomb is supposedly in Ephesus, but in order for my thesis to be correct it would obviously have to be just ancient folktale and legend. The fact of the matter is we really have no idea how most of the Apostles died. All we have are church legends.
Anyways, is it possible that the Apostle John is still alive today? I certainly believe so, just by virtue of the fact that it is Jesus Christ who advanced the possibility.
There are several very interesting things about this passage. First, notice that Christ is the one who advances the possibility that John might remain until his second coming. This is not a possibility that is advanced by anyone else in the discussion - Christ himself suggests the possibility. This means that there is a strong implication that this will in fact happen in reality.
Second, the very fact that Christ mentions John remaining alive until his second coming is proof that it is indeed possible. Christ could supernaturally preserve John's body so that it does not age. John could then remain alive undercover for the next 2000 years without anyone ever knowing.
Next, there is the fact that the Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation at a very advanced age (he must have been in his eighties). Yet in the book he shows a great deal of clarity of thought and a lucidity which would escape most eighty-year-olds (the book of Revelation is one of the most brilliant books ever written).
Finally, there is this passage in the book of Revelation:
"11 And I was told, You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings." Rev. 10:11 (ESV)
Most interpreters take this as a reference to John's future prophecy in the book of Revelation - but could it be referring to a time in the far distant future when John will once again prophesy - maybe as one of the two witnesses? Is it possible that the Apostle John is in fact one of the two witnesses?
One last note. The Apostle John's tomb is supposedly in Ephesus, but in order for my thesis to be correct it would obviously have to be just ancient folktale and legend. The fact of the matter is we really have no idea how most of the Apostles died. All we have are church legends.
Anyways, is it possible that the Apostle John is still alive today? I certainly believe so, just by virtue of the fact that it is Jesus Christ who advanced the possibility.