The Apostle Who Remained
- From: Pastor Dave <_-ananias917-_@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 05 Aug 2006 00:36:35 GMT
In the Gospel of John, chapter 21, vs 18-23, the apostle
gives us a rare and brief autobiographic moment with the risen
Saviour and fellow-apostle, Peter. Here, John is following along
behind them as Jesus has just signified to Peter by what kind of
death he (Peter) would glorify God (vs 18,19). As Jesus then
directs Peter to, "Follow me", Peter turns around, sees John
following, and then asks his Lord, "And what about this man?"
(vs 20,21). The Lord gives Peter a most interesting answer to
his question: He says in v22, "If I want him to remain until
I come, what is that to you? Follow Me!". Now let me say to you
that there was a time in the past, when I understood this account
as a sort of light-hearted moment; not really taking Jesus
seriously, but thinking that maybe He was, in effect, simply
telling Peter to just mind his own business and not concern
himself with such trivial things but to just pay attention to
Him! And, among most of the other disciples I knew, they,
too, seemed to take a similar view of this. So, what about you?
Had you ever given this much thought? Just what are we to think
about this incident? Well, according to v23, there was a saying
that went out among the followers of Jesus that He was telling
Peter that John would not die! However, John quickly dispels
that rumor; he simply repeats to his readers that the Lord told
Peter only that if He WANTED John to REMAIN UNTIL HE COMES,
what is that to him.
Now folks, I don't know just how you understand this account.
However, in light of the fact that a misunderstanding of these
words from the Master precipitated this erroneous saying among
the followers of Jesus, it seems to me that this would be cause
for a serious consideration, or perhaps re-consideration of that
statement's meaning. So, for that reason, and because Jesus,
nowhere else, engaged in idle or meaningless chatter, it
certainly stoked my interest, and caused me to take a deeper look
into these words of our Lord.
And so, after reconsidering these words in the light of so
many other passages which also speak of the COMING of Jesus,
my thinking has undergone a metamorphosis. Beloved, after I
finish laying out what my present understanding of this passage
is, it may be that you disagree with me, and that's fine! And
you may even find my understanding to be strange! Well, that's
fine too! But, what I now see in view here, is exactly what
Jesus expressed to Peter; that John would indeed REMAIN UNTIL
HE RETURNED!
Now, this is not to say that I believe there's a 2,000 year
old apostle walking around among us today! What it means
is that my understanding of the "time-frame" of Jesus' "return"
has changed. Of course, we are speaking of His "Parousia"
(Greek for presence, coming, or arrival), or as many express it;
"the second-coming" of Jesus! I had always viewed His Parousia
to still be in "our" future, just as many other believers also
do. However, upon consideration of many of the passages
which speak of His "Parousia," I now see it as NOT in "our"
future, but in the "near" future of those disciples in the 1st
century. As I continue to study the New Covenant Scriptures,
I become increasingly aware that the expectations of those
1st century disciples to whom Jesus spoke, and those to whom
the apostles wrote, were the expectations of an IMMINENT coming
or return of The Lord; a coming which would occur in THEIR
generation, which was during those "last days" of the Old
Covenant Age! And so now, after immersing myself, for sometime
now, in the study of Bible eschatology, I am now persuaded that
the occurrence of this monumental, world-changing event is in
our past, having occurred along with "the fall of Jerusalem"
in 70 A.D.. Yes, I believe that when Jerusalem fell, there was
much, much more that took place than simply the destruction
of Jerusalem.
Beloved, I realize that this may sound very strange to some
of you, for once it would have sounded strange to me as well.
It would seem strange because a serious student of our Father's
Word understands that if His "coming, or presence" has already
occurred, then so have "The Resurrection and The Judgment",
seeing that the occurrence of all three of these events are
inextricably connected. And it is such passages as Mat 10:23
that really grab my attention! Here Jesus said to His disciples:
"But whenever they persecute you in this city, flee to the next;
for truly I say to you, you shall not finish going through the
cities of Israel, UNTIL THE SON OF MAN COMES". Folks, do
you see what I mean? I certainly would not understand our
Lord to be saying here that it would be disciples in the 21st
century who should expect this. Surely, we can see a 1st century
context in those words! And now, please consider this: Our Lord
also said this to His apostles in Mat 16:27,28: "For the Son
of Man is 'going to' (Greek--about to) COME in the glory of His
Father with His angels; and will then RECOMPENSE EVERY MAN
according to his deeds. Truly I say to you, there be some of
those STANDING HERE, which SHALL NOT TASTE OF DEATH
until they see the Son of Man COMING IN HIS KINGDOM".
Yes, beloved, it's for the reason of such passages as this,
that I now have a different view of those words of Jesus to Peter
about John "remaining" till He comes!
I find this passage we just read to be quite revealing:
First of all, He is personally speaking to His disciples of His
"parousia". And, He says that when He comes, He is going to
"recompense every man according to his deeds". Obviously, Jesus
is speaking of the Judgment here! And the Judgment, of course,
would necessitate "the Resurrection". Then He declares that some
of those to whom He was speaking (which would include John)
would NOT "taste of death" (die physically) before seeing Him at
His "parousia". And I believe that John would have been one of
those who DID live to see Him when He returned! You may recall
the words of the Hebrew scribe, who wrote his epistle in about
65 A.D.. In Heb 9:28, he wrote to those 1st century disciples
who were "eagerly awaiting His coming"! And, of this "coming",
he said that it would be a "second" appearing of Christ, and that
this coming would NOT be "with reference to SIN", as His "first"
coming was. But this "second" COMING would be "for salvation".
Yes, it would be just like Jesus Himself had declared when
preparing His apostles for the fall of Jerusalem, the temple, and
the world of Judaism in Luke 21:28. He said: "But when these
things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads,
because YOUR REDEMPTION IS DRAWING NEAR". Folks, I
understand their redemption to have been drawing near at that
time because it was then, that all those things which stood in
the way of the Old Covenant Age completely passing away, would be
removed. Then there "salvation" would be completely consummated.
I believe that this is why Paul told the saints at Rome: "For
salvation is nearer to us NOW that when we first believed.
The night is far gone; the day IS AT HAND" (Rom 13:11).
Isn't that marvelous? Can't you just hear the excitement in
Paul's pen and see the joy across his face!! Folks, please read
also 1 Pet 1:5; Heb 8:13; Heb 9:8!
The following are just a few more of the passages that,
when all considered, are so persuasive to me that John did
indeed "remain till the coming or Parousia of Jesus":
(1) Mal 3:1,2,5--The sending of John The Baptist before
the "great day of Judgment!"
"Behold, I am going to send My messenger (John The Baptist--JG),
and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you
seek, WILL SUDDENLY COME TO HIS TEMPLE; and the messenger
of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, HE IS COMING says
the Lord of hosts. But who can endure THE DAY OF HIS COMING?
And who can stand WHEN HE APPEARS? For He is like a refiner's
fire and like fullers' soap... Then I will draw near to you FOR
JUDGMENT; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers
etc.."
(2) Mal 4:1,5,6-- More on this great Judgment of God on His own
people, Israel:
"For behold, THE DAY IS COMING, burning like a furnace; and all
the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and THE DAY THAT
IS COMING will set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that
it will leave them NEITHER ROOT NOR BRANCH... Behold, I am
going to send you Elijah the prophet (John The Baptist--JG)
before THE COMING OF THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF
THE LORD... And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to
their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers,
lest I come and smite the land with a curse."
(3) Acts 2:16-21--During the "last days of The Old Covenant Age,
Peter's quoting of Joel 2:28-32 to verify his message to those on
Pentecost:
"And it shall come to pass IN THE LAST DAYS, God says, that
I will pour forth of My Spirit... And I will grant wonders in the
sky above, and signs on the earth beneath, blood and fire, and
vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the
moon into blood, before THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF
THE LORD SHALL COME. And it shall be, that everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord shall be saved." It's very interesting
here, that in the same "last days" in which Joel prophesied
"the pouring out of God's Spirit (Pentecost)", he also prophesied
that great fall of Jerusalem and God's Judgment! Please see the
use of the same colorful, prophetic language in Isaiah 19
concerning God's judgment on Babylon in 538 B.C. as He used
the Medes to execute His judgment on them.
(4) Mat 3:7--John The Baptist to the Jewish rulers:
"You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath
about to come." (Young's Literal Trans.)
(5) Mat 10:23--Jesus to the apostles, sent out to preach
the Gospel of The coming Kingdom:
"But whenever they persecute you in this city, flee to the next;
for truly I say to you, YOU SHALL NOT FINISH GOING THROUGH
THE CITIES OF ISRAEL, UNTIL THE SON OF MAN COMES."
Please compare this with Mat 24:14
(6) Mat 16:27,28--Jesus to His apostles:
"For the Son of Man IS ABOUT TO COME (Young's Lit. Trans) in
the glory of His Father with His angels; and will then recompense
every man according to his deeds. Truly I say to you, there are
SOME OF THOSE WHO ARE STANDING HERE, who shall not taste
of death UNTIL THEY SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING IN HIS KINGDOM."
Another interesting side-note: Some have attempted to explain
this as Jesus' appearing on the "Mount of Transfiguration".
However, since the incident on the "Mount of Transfiguration"
took place only five or six days after Jesus spoke those words,
it would seem quite senseless, at least in my view, for Him to
tell them that some of them would still be alive five or six days
later. Beloved, really, how could there possibly be any
significance in that? I just cannot even fathom our Lord
speaking in those terms! Another reason why I would have to
reject that notion is because on the "Mount of Transfiguration",
Jesus did NOT come with any angels, and neither was there
Judgment meted out to anyone. Therefore, my dear friends,
I really don't see any basis for such an explanation as that!
(7) Mat 23:32-36--Jesus to the Jewish rulers for the murdering
of the prophets:
Jesus told them to fill up then, the measure of your fathers, so
that ON YOU MAY COME ALL THE RIGHTEOUS BLOOD SHED
ON EARTH, FROM THE BLOOD OF INNOCENT Abel to the blood
of Zechariah. Truly, I say TO YOU, all these things will come
upon THIS GENERATION."
(8) Mat 24:34--Jesus to His apostles regarding the coming
judgment on Israel, prophesied by Joel in Joel 2:28-32:
"Truly I say to you, THIS GENERATION WILL NOT PASS AWAY
until all these things take place". Some have argued that
"generation" simply means "race" and so they reason that Jesus
is simply saying that the Jewish "race" would not pass away till
these thing take place. Beloved, in the New Covenant Scriptures,
the word "generation" (Greek---genea) is used some 36 times.
And if one would only take a simple concordance and look at
all of the other 35 verses where the word is employed, one will
learn that it is NEVER used to indicate a "race" of people. So,
if "genea" is NOT used in the other 35 verses to indicate "race",
then why should it suddenly come to mean "race" in this one
verse? Linguists tell us that the word "genea" is indicative of
all the people living in the same period of time. The Greek
word for a "race" or "nation" of people is shown to be "genos",
not "genea", which is used in Mat 24:34 ("genea").
(9) Acts 17:31-- Paul to the Athenians in the Areopagus:
"...because He (God) has fixed a day in which He IS ABOUT TO
(Young's Lit. Trans.) judge the world in righteousness through a
Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men
by raising Him from the dead."
(10) Acts 24:15,25-- Paul before the governor, Felix:
"...having a hope in God which these men cherish themselves that
there IS ABOUT TO BE (Young's Lit. Trans.) a resurrection of both
the righteous and the wicked... And as he was discussing
righteousness, self-control and the Judgment ABOUT TO BE
(Young's Lit. Trans.), Felix became frightened and said, 'Go away
for the present, and when I find time, I will summon you'". Just
a logical question here: Would Felix have become so frightened
(The KJV even uses the word trembled) if this Judgment was to
be 2,000 years down the way?
(11) Rom 8:18-- Paul to the disciples at Rome:
"For I consider that the sufferings of THIS PRESENT TIME are
not worthy to be compared with the glory that IS ABOUT TO BE
(Young's Lit. Trans.) revealed in us."
(12) Rom 13:11,12--Again, Paul to the disciples at Rome:
"...IT IS ALREADY THE HOUR for you to awaken from sleep; for
NOW salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night
is ALMOST GONE, and the day IS AT HAND. Let us therefore lay
aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light."
(13) 1 Cor 1:7,8--Paul to the disciples at Corinth:
"...so that you are not lacking in any gift, AWAITING EAGERLY THE
REVELATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, who shall also confirm
you TO THE END, blameless in the DAY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST."
Please take note that Paul did NOT say that Jesus would confirm
them TILL THEIR DEATH, but rather UNTIL HIS REVELATION!
(14) Phil 1:6,10--Paul to the disciples at Philippi:
"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good
work in you will perfect it UNTIL THE DAY OF CHRIST JESUS...
so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order
to be sincere and blameless UNTIL THE DAY OF CHRIST." It's
interesting that, again, Paul speaks here of the good work that
God had begun in them and that Paul was confident God would
continue to do so, NOT until their "death" but rather until THE
DAY OF CHRIST JESUS! Same thing regarding their "being
sincere and blameless"; it would be until the soon to come,
"DAY OF CHRIST JESUS".
(15) Phil 3:20--Again, Paul to the Philippians:
"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also WE EAGERLY
WAIT for the Savior; the Lord Jesus Christ" In this passage,
it seems that the apostle Paul, at this point in time, even
considered the possibility that he might be among those
still living at Christ's coming.
(16) 1 Thes 1:9,10--Paul to those in Christ of the
Thessalonians:
"...and how YOU turned to God from idols to serve a living and
true God, and TO WAIT FOR HIS SON FROM HEAVEN, who He
raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who delivers us from the
wrath ABOUT TO COME (Young's Lit. trans.)."
(17) 1 Thes 4:15--Again, Paul to those in Christ of the
Thessalonians:
"...that WE who are alive, and remain UNTIL THE COMING OF
THE LORD, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep."
Here, still, Paul considers the possibility that he might be
among those still alive at Christ's coming!
(18) 1 Thes 5:23--Again, Paul to those Christians at
Thessalonica:
"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may
your SPIRIT and SOUL, and BODY be preserved complete, without
blame AT THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST." Please note
that Paul says that not only their "spirit and soul" be preserved
complete until the Lord's coming, but also their BODIES as well!
Isn't that remarkable? But how could there "bodies" be preserved
complete unless the Lord's coming was imminent?
(19) 1 Tim 6:14-- Paul to Timothy:
"...that YOU keep the commandment without stain or reproach
UNTIL THE APPEARING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST." Clearly
here, Paul expected Timothy to be among the living when Jesus
returned!
(20) 2 Tim 4:1--Paul to Timothy:
"I solemnly charge YOU (Timothy) in the presence of God and of
Christ Jesus, who is ABOUT TO JUDGE (Young's Lit. Trans.) the
living and the dead, and BY HIS APPEARING AND HIS KINGDOM."
(21) Tit 2:13--Paul to Titus:
"...LOOKING FOR the blessed hope and THE APPEARING OF
THE GLORY OF OUR GREAT GOD AND SAVIOR, CHRIST JESUS."
(22) Heb 10:27--The Hebrew scribe to Jewish Christians of
the 1st century:
"For yet IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, He who is coming, will come,
and WILL NOT DELAY."
(23) James 5:8,9--James to the dispersed Jewish disciples
scattered abroad, who were being greatly persecuted by the
Judaizers:
"You too, be patient; strengthen your hearts, for THE COMING OF
THE LORD IS AT HAND. Do not complain, brethren, against one
another, that you yourselves may not be judged; Behold, the Judge
IS STANDING RIGHT AT THE DOOR."
(24) 1 Pet 4:5--Peter also to Jewish disciples scattered over
the land:
"...but they shall give account to Him WHO IS READY to judge
the living and the dead."
(25) 1 Pet 4:7--Peter again to the Diaspora:
"THE END OF ALL THINGS IS AT HAND; therefore, be of sound
judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer."
(26) 1 Pet 4:17--Peter, once more to the Diaspora:
"For IT IS TIME FOR 'THE' (the definite article "the" IS in the
original text) JUDGMENT TO BEGIN with the household of God
(Israel--JG)..."
(27) Rev 1:1--The apostle John was shown that those things being
revealed to him in The Apocalypse were ALL:
"things which WOULD SHORTLY TAKE PLACE. Here, John admonishes
those 1st century disciples to:
"...heed the things which are written in it; FOR THE TIME IS NEAR
(v3).
(28) Rev 2:16--To the church at Pergamum, John was instructed
to write:
"Repent therefore; or else I AM COMING QUICKLY..."
(29) Rev.2:25--To the church at Thyatira, John was told
to write:
"...Hold fast UNTIL I COME."
(30) Rev 3:10,11--To the church at Philadelphia, he was
instructed to write:
"Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will
keep you from the hour of testing which is ABOUT TO COME upon
the whole world (land) to test those who dwell upon the earth
(land). I AM COMING QUICKLY; hold fast what you have, in order
that no one take your crown."
(31) Rev 22:6,7--John wrote that:
"These words are faithful and true; and the Lord, the God of
the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His
bond-servants, the things WHICH MUST SHORTLY TAKE PLACE.
And behold, I AM COMING QUICKLY."
(32) Rev 22:10--John was warned by the angel:
"Do NOT seal up the words of the prophecy of this book;
FOR THE TIME IS NEAR."
(33) Rev 22:12--John was told to write:
"Behold, I AM COMING QUICKLY!"
(34) Rev 22:20--And finally, John testified that Jesus said,
"Yes, I AM COMING QUICKLY."
My dear friends, if you followed, very carefully, all the many
warnings in Revelation, by both the angel and also the Lord Jesus
Himself, you certainly would have taken notice of one inescapable
fact and that is the thunderous sound of "imminence" of our
Lord's coming. With the many expressions such as: "Things that
must soon take place; the time is at hand; behold, I am coming
quickly", how could we see the many expressions like that, and
yet come away with the understanding that they are things that
are yet 20 centuries into their future? Let's suppose for just a
moment that Jesus definitely wanted the 1st century readers of
the Apocalypse to understand that His coming was imminent;
that He was even going to come in their generation. What sort
of things do you suppose He could say so as to best convey
that message? Well, I would think that an expression such as:
"These are things that must shortly come to pass" would be good.
Surely, He could say: "The time is at hand, or near!". Or, He
could even say: "Behold I am coming quickly!". My dear brethren,
please don't think that I am trying to be a "wise-guy" here!
I'm only pleading that we allow His Word to simply interpret
itself! That's all!
And so, these are just a few of the many passages that are so
persuasive to me, as to the "when" regarding the "Parousia"
of our Lord. And after your consideration of these Scriptures
I have posited, I truly hope that you can see the reason for my
understanding of Jesus' words to Peter; that he would remain
until his Master returned! Yes, I truly believe that John was
indeed, the apostle who remained! May the Lord richly bless you,
and give you grace and peace in your believing.
http://www.preteristarchive.com/Preterism/gunter-jim_p_04_02.html
--
"Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass,
till all these things be fulfilled." - Matthew 24:34
O
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O
"For the word of God is sharper than any two edged sword."
Is single parenting something that should be chosen?
While I don't doubt that a single parent can raise
a child, I don't think single parenting gives that
child an advantage.
.
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