John still alive?

[GothLDSMrthnRunnr]

Did you hear the one about the 2,000 year old Apostle John?

My ward was reading through the chapter in gospel principles about the early church (in former times) and we were discussing the fates (or non fates) of the 12 apostles. The teacher mentioned that the apostle John was still alive, basing this on the scripture where Jesus said that John would not die before he saw the 2nd Coming. It was my interpretation that John did see the 2nd coming (in vision in the book of Revelation) but that he died and went to Heaven.

So... is it true that the Apostle John is in some sort of arrested state of aging, Benjamin Button style, and that he continues to walk the Earth? Hmmm.. I wonder what ward he goes to.

Thoughts? Comments?

- Justin

[prisonchaplain]

Interestingly, I'm reading a fictional novel series about the End Times, entitled The Christ Clone Trilogy. The author uses this very notion. It is an intriguing notion...not sure how to apply it to daily living...but one of those fun ideas to grapple with.

[Bini]

But Benjamin Button did age. It was just in reverse.

Never heard about this though. But then again, you could say that I'm extremely rusty and or have little knowledge of this sort of stuff. Is this like the three Nephites?

[GothLDSMrthnRunnr]

But Benjamin Button did age. It was just in reverse.

Never heard about this though. But then again, you could say that I'm extremely rusty and or have little knowledge of this sort of stuff. Is this like the three Nephites?

Yeah, just like the three Nephites... and yes, Benjamin Button did age whereas its my understanding John does not.

- Justin

[not_ashamed]

I'm thinking that Johns vision of the second coming was what was meant. Not that he is actually still alive. To my knowledge only the three Nephites still walk the earth. If the apostle John still walked the earth, wouldn't that mean that all the original apostles never died. Also meaning there should never have been a falling away from Christ church?

Edited May 15, 2010 by not_ashamed

[Wingnut]

If the apostle John still walked the earth, wouldn't that mean that all the original apostles never died.

How do you get that?

Also meaning there should never have been a falling away from Christ church?

But wouldn't also be true if you account for the three Nephites?

[not_ashamed]

How do you get that?

But wouldn't also be true if you account for the three Nephites?

Because if John was an Apostle and he never died, then one of the original 12 would still be here right?

The three nephites were not a part of the original 12, to my understanding( and I could easily be wrong) the falling away of the church came when all the original apostles had died. If John were still alive, why would he have not kept the original church of Christ going? Why the spiritual death of the church here on earth?

[Wingnut]

Because if John was an Apostle and he never died, then one of the original 12 would still be here right?

My mistake. I thought you were saying that if John was still alive, that that meant that all of the original 12 were still alive.

The three nephites were not a part of the original 12, to my understanding( and I could easily be wrong) the falling away of the church came when all the original apostles had died. If John were still alive, why would he have not kept the original church of Christ going? Why the spiritual death of the church here on earth?

It depends on which "original 12" you're referring to here. They were part of Christ's original 12 on the American continent (come to think of it, I don't know if they ever replaced the Nephite apostles -- disciples -- as they died), but not the twelve in Judea.

John was not given the keys of governing Christ's church here on earth. Those were given to Peter. My understanding is that John, as well as the three Nephites, tarried on the earth for the purpose of sharing the Gospel. I don't doubt that they were behind the scenes during the Renaissance and Reformation, sowing seeds that would lead to the Restoration of Christ's church through Joseph Smith.

[Just_A_Guy]

From the Encyclopedia of Mormonism's entry on John the Beloved:

Following the resurrection of Christ, Peter and John ran to the tomb when told by Mary Magdalene that the covering stone had been removed. John ran faster and arrived first at the empty tomb (John 20:1-8). Later, the Lord told Peter that John would remain (on earth) until the Lord's second coming (John 21:20-23), giving rise to the early Christian tradition that John did not die. The Prophet Joseph Smith confirmed and corrected that tradition in a revelation that states that John, having been given "power over death," remains on earth "as flaming fire and a ministering angel…for those who shall be heirs of salvation" until the Savior returns (D&C 7; see Translated Beings). The resurrected Christ also mentioned John's continued earthly ministry during his visit to the people of the Book of Mormon (3 Ne. 28:6-8).

[pam]

Here is one question and answer pertaining to this subject that I found on another site owned by TheMoreGoodFoundation:

Dear Gramps,

If there are still 3 Nephites walking the earth today, this means the priesthood was never taken from the earth and there was no need for Joseph Smith to restore it.

Brenda

Dear Brenda,

The Three Nephites are not the only priesthood holders who remained on the earth during the great apostasy that followed the Savior’s mortal ministry. I’m sure you must agree that John the Beloved, who was banished to Isle of Patmos, was promised by the Savior that he could remain in mortality on the earth until the Savior would come to initiate his great Millennial reign (See John 21:22-23).

Not only that, but the lost ten tribes, whom the Savior visited following his resurrection, also undoubtedly have the priesthood with them.

Now all of these priesthood authorities have one thing in common that would prevent them from restoring the Savior’s Church following the great apostasy. Not only are they hidden from the world, but they did not have the keys of authority necessary to restore anything,

The angel Moroni revealed the Book of Mormon to Joseph Smith because he was the last author of that sacred volume, and hid it up in the earth for the very purpose of it being revealed to Joseph Smith at the proper time.

John the Baptist, who held the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood in his day, and who baptized the Savior, appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery on May 15, 1829, and restored to them the Aaronic Priesthood.. In doing so, John the Baptist acted under the priesthood authority of Peter, James and John, who held in their day the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood, and he advised them that Peter, James and John would soon visit them to ordain them to the Melchizedek Priesthood, which they did sometime in June of that same year. The Melchizedek Priesthood gave Joseph and Oliver the requisite authority to act in the name of the Savior to perform all functions associated with the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the organization of his Church and Kingdom. All of this was done in fulfilment of prophecies from both the Old and New Testaments, as well as the Book of Mormon.

On 3 April, 1836, at the time of the dedication of the holy temple that the saints had built to the Lord in Kirtland, Ohio, Jesus Christ himself appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, accepting the temple as his House. After this marvelous vision, Moses, Elias and Elijah appeared in turn, each committing to Joseph and Oliver the keys of the Priesthood that they held in their dispensations. Moses committed unto us the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north. Elias committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed. And then Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said: Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi–testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come–To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse–Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 110).

It is interesting to note that before the visit of Elijah very little interest in genealogy had existed anywhere except to establish the lines of kingly authority. Rather immediately after his visit the British Civil Registry was established, and birth, marriage and death records where collected and stored there beginning in 1837. Also, in 1836 the Boston Genealogical Society, the first such society to be organized in the Unites States, was founded. The “spirit of Elijah” or the interest in searching out ancestry so that their temple work can be performed in the Lord’s holy temples, began to spread across the earth beginning with his visit to the Kirtland Temple.

[applepansy]

The following link is to a talk about what happened to John the Beloved:

LDS.org - Ensign Article - “As Flaming Fire and a Ministering Angelâ€

I found this talk helpful on the subject of the ten tribes:

LDS.org - Ensign Article - Israel’s “Other Tribesâ€

[Wingnut]

From the Bible Dictionary:

John is mentioned frequently in latter-day revelation, as in 1 Ne. 14:18-27; 3 Ne. 28:6; Ether 4:16; D&C 7; D&C 27:12; D&C 61:14; D&C 77:1-15; D&C 88:141. These passages serve to confirm and to clarify the biblical record of John and also give us a hint as to his greatness and the importance of the work the Lord has given him to do on the earth, not only in the time of the N.T., but also in the last days. We especially have a clarification of John 21:20-23, ascertaining that John did not die, but has been allowed to remain on the earth as a ministering servant until the time of the Lord’s second coming (3 Ne. 28:6; D&C 7).

[not_ashamed]

I'm glad I came across this thread, especially since I usually spend my time in chat and not on the forums. Seems I was wrong about John, thanks for all the useful information everyone.

[Hemidakota]

Did you hear the one about the 2,000 year old Apostle John?

My ward was reading through the chapter in gospel principles about the early church (in former times) and we were discussing the fates (or non fates) of the 12 apostles. The teacher mentioned that the apostle John was still alive, basing this on the scripture where Jesus said that John would not die before he saw the 2nd Coming. It was my interpretation that John did see the 2nd coming (in vision in the book of Revelation) but that he died and went to Heaven.

So... is it true that the Apostle John is in some sort of arrested state of aging, Benjamin Button style, and that he continues to walk the Earth? Hmmm.. I wonder what ward he goes to.

Thoughts? Comments?

- Justin

Justin, I can attest, he is alive and still kicking....what he desired was to be a missionary to those who are heirs unto salvation that will inherit the Celestial Kingdom. Be specific, he will be assigned to those who the Lord deemed necessary for further enlightenment and eternal spiritual edification. His role was given (see Rev chap 2, 6, D&C 77) in the book that he ate and the interpretation was given from the Lord to Joseph Smith; besides being a prophet for the lost ten tribes of Israel. Reminder here, John is that very Elias [many stood in this position or title, what the Egyptian called a Ja-ho-e-oop] and last tasking in bringing the ten tribes back to the New Jerusalem and lead the four destroyers ministering beings [see D&C 77:8-11].

But he is not the only one that was translated. A few in the Book of Mormon were translated beside the three apostles. Each case was unique and we simply do not have the answer currently on their specific assigned tasking but most likely assigned to those are considered heirs to salvation [chosen by the Lord to inherit the highest state in the Celestial Kingdom].

Many in the Biblical history were also translated – to include two cities, namely the City of Zion and the City of Shalem.

[Blackmarch]

Did you hear the one about the 2,000 year old Apostle John?

My ward was reading through the chapter in gospel principles about the early church (in former times) and we were discussing the fates (or non fates) of the 12 apostles. The teacher mentioned that the apostle John was still alive, basing this on the scripture where Jesus said that John would not die before he saw the 2nd Coming. It was my interpretation that John did see the 2nd coming (in vision in the book of Revelation) but that he died and went to Heaven.

So... is it true that the Apostle John is in some sort of arrested state of aging, Benjamin Button style, and that he continues to walk the Earth? Hmmm.. I wonder what ward he goes to.

Thoughts? Comments?

- Justin

I believe so (that John, and 3 others are still alive). I doubt they live in the same manner as we do.

If one assumes Joseph's account to be true, if I recall right he mentioned at one point that John did not come to him in the same manner as the other apostles.

[Hemidakota]

Both Peter and James are resurrected beings.

[mnn727]

So... is it true that the Apostle John is in some sort of arrested state of aging,

Yes, I am

I wonder what ward he goes to.

If I told you, you'd all move in and then we'd have to split the ward again.

[Hemidakota]

Yeah, just like the three Nephites... and yes, Benjamin Button did age whereas its my understanding John does not.

- Justin

There more than just the three Nephites who were translated in the Book of Mormon.

[brookeofmormon]

I think so and inst Cain still alive too?? I believe that they are but maybe not the same as we are they would have to be deferent I would like to think that i could pass him on the street and not know it, but i don't think that's so I think that he is around but not like we think.

Edited February 2, 2012 by pam

[Dravin]

Just a heads up, the large bold font is going to be interpreted by most as yelling. Center justification won't be interpreted as anything in particular but it is a little 'weird' to read for something like a post.

[mordorbund]

Just a heads up, the large bold font is going to be interpreted by most as yelling. Center justification won't be interpreted as anything in particular but it is a little 'weird' to read for something like a post.

I read it as "Cookie Monster font", especially with the run-on sentence threading all the thoughts together.

[jerome1232]

I read it as "Cookie Monster font", especially with the run-on sentence threading all the thoughts together.

"C" is for cookie, that's good enough for me

[Blackmarch]

I think so and inst Cain still alive too?? I believe that they are but maybe not the same as we are they would have to be deferent I would like to think that i could pass him on the street and not know it, but i don't think that's so I think that he is around but not like we think.

Well ill worry about it when they catch bigfoot.. No idea really.