Dr. Dony K. Donev: Eschatology in the Gospel of John

Eschatology in the Gospel of John (2024 EPIC REVIVAL)

There is no synoptic agreement regarding eschatology in the Gospel of John. Unlike Matthew, Mark, and Luke, there is no single chapter in John that deals exclusively with the end times. Yet, eschatology is present in every chapter of John’s Gospel.

John, in contrast to the synoptic writers, sets forth a realized eschatology, where Jesus’ message proclaims the eternal breaking into the temporal world.

The Nature of Johannine Eschatology

In the Fourth Gospel, Jesus uses apocalyptic language to describe the transcendental nature of the Kingdom of God. John presents the Early Church with a dual futuristic reality:

1. To be saved with God toward eternal life in this lifetime, and

2. Then to enter eternal life in eternity itself.

These are not the same, according to John’s Epistles, where the apostle uses the present continuous tense to indicate that salvation must persist through life into eternity.

Thus, the terminology of the Fourth Gospel projects both the present and the future within Jesus Christ.

The Names of Jesus in the Fourth Gospel

The Gospel of John names Jesus in ways that reveal His eschatological role:

• “Savior of the world” – offering salvation through His sacrifice.

• “Son of Man” – pointing to His earthly ministry leading to the Cross.

• “Son of God” – revealing His eternal existence and post-resurrection glorification.

• “Messiah” – pointing to His future coming Kingdom.

These titles demonstrate existentialization in Johannine eschatology, where the resurrection, parousia, and the coming of the Holy Spirit are not separate events but one unified promise.

The “Already” and “Not Yet” of Eternal Life

In John 5:28–29, we encounter an example of primitive Christian eschatology. John presents both a “not yet” (future) and an “already” (present) dimension of eternal life. This creates a tension between the already fulfilled and the not yet completed.

In John 6:40, 53–54, Jesus links eternal life (spiritual) with resurrection life (physical).

The Six Eschatological Themes in John

Eschatological themes in John are not concentrated in one section, but spread throughout the Gospel. The six major areas are:

• Death

• Heaven

• Judgment

• Resurrection

• Eternal Life

• Christ’s Return

These themes appear in 16 of the 21 chapters, especially in chapters 3, 5, 6, 8, 11, and 12.

References found in John:

• 34 references to death

• 26 to heaven

• 21 to judgment

• 18 to eternal life

• 4 to Christ’s return

Death and Dying

In John, death and dying have both present and future, physical and spiritual aspects.
Spiritual death is the present condition of those who reject the word of the Son.

Physical and spiritual death must not be confused, just as physical and spiritual (eternal) life must remain distinct.

In John 6:58, eating the bread from heaven—that is, receiving Jesus Christ—keeps one from spiritual death and provides eternal life.

Eternal Life

The one who receives eternal life is delivered from judgment (3:17–19; 5:24).
Jesus assures that such a person will never perish, and that no one can remove them from His care (10:28).

In John 5:24, Jesus connects eternal life to hearing His word. The Greek term akouō means not merely to hear, but to hear and to do His word.

Jesus explains that the Father “has life in Himself” (5:26), being uncaused and independent. Since the Son shares the same divine essence, He partakes in this same eternal quality.

Again, John’s eschatology holds both a present and future dimension of eternal life—the “already” and the “not yet.”

Resurrection

In John 5:19–29, we find three of Jesus’ “truly, truly” (Amen, Amen) statements. In verses 19–23 and 25–29, resurrection truths are revealed.

Jesus claims power and authority over resurrection and life, equal to that of the Father (5:21).
The Son of Man is directly associated with resurrection in verses 28–29.

During His earthly ministry, only some of the dead heard His voice (such as Lazarus and Jairus’ daughter). But in the eschaton, “all” the dead will hear His voice and rise from the tombs.

Thus, the God who calls forth resurrection becomes our eschatological hope for the future.

Heaven

In John’s Gospel, “heaven” is referenced both directly and through terms like “above,” “my Father’s house,” or “a place for you.”

These passages affirm that heaven is a real place with definite location and purpose, providing future hope for believers.

Jesus teaches that the realities of heaven stand in contrast to those of earth (3:12).
All genuine blessings come from heaven—that is, from God (3:27).

The bread from heaven (6:31–33) provides eternal life and is equated with Jesus Himself (6:38).
In chapters 14 and 16, Jesus describes heaven as going to the Father, and calls it “my Father’s house” and “a place for you” (14:2–3).

The only other use of “my Father’s house” (2:16) refers to the temple, linking earthly worship to heavenly fulfillment—just as Revelation describes heaven without a temple, for the Lamb is its temple.

Judgment

John’s Gospel presents judgment as both present and future.
Those already judged by God now will also face judgment in eternity—unless they are born again.

Jesus uses two key terms for judgment:

• krinō – to judge, separate, or condemn.

• apollymi – to perish, the opposite of being saved.

John’s presentation of judgment falls into three categories:

1. The Judge – Christ Himself.

2. The Judged – humanity.

3. The Standard of Judgment – God’s truth and word.

Christ’s Return

The Gospel references Jesus’ coming in several senses.
John 14:2–3 and 21:22–23 refer to the Parousia, His second coming.
John 14:28 and 16:16–22 may refer to His return to the disciples through His resurrection.

Revelation later expands this concept, depicting Christ returning with His saints.

Eschatology in Revelation 1

The six eschatological themes from John reappear in Revelation 1:

1. Death and dying – “I was dead.”

2. Eternal life – “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.”

3. Judgment – “Every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him.”

4. Resurrection – “I was dead but live forevermore.”

5. Return – “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him.”

Revelation reveals the invisible God made visible—the God of Light who created light so that He might be seen by all in the last day.
We see the Light in John, and the Light glorified in Revelation.
The rejected God of John now returns victorious in Revelation.

The Speaking God

Beside the Light, we have the Word spoken by the Voice:

“Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me” (Revelation 1:12).

The God who spoke in Genesis still speaks today.
You are not alone, nor without direction—turn from your understanding to the Voice who speaks through the ages.

The Call to Respond

God was moving in a new way in Revelation, and John wanted to be part of it.
He was told that revelation would unfold in three stages:

1. The things that you hear

2. The things that you see

3. The things that you experience

Reflect personally:

• What do you hear in your life—just the noise of the world?

• What do you see—failure, depression, or God?

• What do you experience—an empty church or the living Christ?

Turning to See the Voice

John said, “I turned to see the voice” (Rev. 1:12).
It is time to move beyond merely hearing His voice and begin to see Him face to face.

When God speaks, three things happen:

1. He has a plan.

2. He has the power to do it.

3. No one can stop Him.

Seeing the Voice of God

How can we see the voice of God?
Just as creation saw it when He said, “Let there be light.”

But today, we have become too dignified, too busy, too proud to follow His way.
We must turn from our own ways to see Jesus:

a. Turn from your way to see The Way.
b. Turn from your truth to see The Truth.
c. Turn from your life to see The Life.

In the Hand of God

How do we turn? By trusting the hand of God.

“He laid His right hand upon me” (Rev. 1:17).

In verse 16, Jesus holds seven stars, representing the angels of the seven churches—not only the good churches, but all seven.
The seven stars remind us that God has not left us; we are still in His hand.

It is the same hand that was nailed on Calvary,
the same hand that created the world,
and the same hand that holds the future of all creation.

Are you in the hand of God today?
Does your family need that touch?

The Ultimate Question

All these studies mean nothing if we do not make it to heaven.
If we do not meet again in this life,
may we meet in heaven.