John and Hope in Christ’s Return

Throughout my time reading the Bible, I often imagine the lives of its key figures—not just their stories, but their personalities, fears, and hopes. These thought experiments have helped me engage more deeply with Scripture. I especially resonate with Peter, and in 2020 I even wrote a series of fictional reflections on 1st and 2nd Peter called A Fisherman’s Tale.

Lately, however, I’ve found myself drawn to John—the “beloved disciple”—particularly as I prepare to teach a Sunday School series on the Book of Revelation. The more I consider his life, the more I see John as a man of profound hope—a hope rooted not in circumstances, but in the unshakable promise of Christ’s return.

The Complexity of Biblical History

Wading into biblical history can be difficult. Scholarly debate often divides along ideological lines—conservative and liberal, skeptical and confessional—and presuppositions tend to shape conclusions more than we care to admit. Even the dating of Revelation (written either around A.D. 65–68 or 95–96) is hotly contested. Was the author of Revelation the same John who penned the Gospel and epistles? Depending on the scholar, you’ll get very different answers.

I want to be clear—what follows is a synthesis of biblical and extra-biblical sources, filtered through tradition and study. It’s not dogma. It’s my best understanding—and it’s shared here in humility.

The Life of John: A Story of Hope

John and his older brother James were fishermen, sons of Zebedee and Salome. There’s a strong tradition that Salome was Mary’s sister, making John and Jesus cousins. It's likely that John was a disciple of John the Baptist before following Jesus. In fact, when Andrew first followed Jesus (John 1:35–40), I believe John was the unnamed second disciple with him.

The official call came soon after:

“Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.” (Matthew 4:21–22)

John is traditionally considered the youngest of the Twelve. He, along with Peter and James, formed Jesus’ inner circle. He was “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” but he also had fire in him—he and James were nicknamed Boanerges, or “Sons of Thunder.”

Their fiery nature is clear in Luke 9:

“Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” (Luke 9:54)

Jesus, of course, rebuked them. But this gives us a window into John’s personality—a bold, passionate young man being slowly transformed by grace.

Their mother, Salome, also once asked Jesus for high positions for her sons:

“Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” (Matthew 20:21)

Jesus told them they would indeed drink His cup—and both did. James was the first apostolic martyr (Acts 12:1–2), and John endured a different kind of suffering.

A Faithful Witness

John’s devotion to Jesus is deeply moving. At the Last Supper, he leaned against Jesus' chest. At the crucifixion, he stood by the cross while others fled. Jesus entrusted Mary to him. He ran to the tomb on Easter morning—and believed.

John partnered with Peter in Acts 3 and Acts 8. He was imprisoned with him in Acts 4. According to early church tradition, John later ministered in Ephesus and was eventually exiled to Patmos under the reign of Emperor Domitian.

Tertullian, an early church father, claimed that John was once thrown into a vat of boiling oil but miraculously survived. Whether literal or symbolic, it testifies to his suffering and miraculous preservation.

On Patmos, John received and recorded the Revelation:

“I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” (Revelation 1:9)

What follows in Revelation is a vision unlike any other—cosmic in scope, mysterious, and often overwhelming. But through it all, a clear thread runs: hope.

“Then I Saw…”

One of the striking refrains throughout Revelation is John’s faithful observation:

Then I saw…
After this I looked…
Then I heard…
Now I watched…

These repeated phrases show a man committed to reporting what Christ showed him. John wasn’t trying to dazzle or confuse. He was obeying Jesus’ command: “Write what you see in a book…” (Revelation 1:11). And what he saw pointed to a glorious truth—

Christ is coming again.

It’s easy to get lost in the symbolism of Revelation. But we miss the point if we don’t recognize John’s perseverance in witnessing to hope amid tribulation. Revelation is not a code to crack; it’s a testimony of Jesus Christ (1:2), meant to bless and strengthen the church.

The Final Years

According to tradition, after Domitian’s death, John returned to Ephesus and lived into old age—likely the last surviving apostle. He died peacefully, around age 80, after over 50 years of faithful service. His tomb is believed to be near modern-day Selçuk, Turkey. A basilica was built over it during Emperor Justinian’s reign. Though it later fell into disrepair, John’s legacy has never faded.

He may have been the youngest when he began to follow Jesus—but he lived to become the eldest, a steady voice of truth and love.

Alive with Christ

John “drank the cup,” as Jesus said he would. He lost his brother early (Acts 12:2), endured persecution, exile, and perhaps even torture. But his writings—his gospel, his letters, and Revelation—breathe hope:

“And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” (1 John 3:3)

And John is not sleeping in the grave—he is alive with Christ. One day, I will get to meet him.

Until then, I’ll keep learning from his life—a life marked by love, truth, endurance, and above all, hope in Christ’s return.

Album- The Book of Revelation