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JOHN AS A TYPE OF THE CHURCH (1) The name John signifies “full of grace.” The church age is called the “dispensation of the grace of God” in Ephesians 3:2. (2) John is called the disciple “whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23; 20:2; 21:7; 21:20). He obviously loved all of His disciples, but this indicates a special love for John, such as Christ would also have a special love for His bride, the church (Eph. 5:25). (3) At the last supper, John sat closer to Jesus than the others. In fact, John 13:23 says that he was “leaning on Jesus' bosom.” One would not be surprised to see a bride doing the same thing, especially if he were to read Song of Solomon 8:5: “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? . . . “ (4) John had more personal assurance than the other disciples. When Jesus revealed the fact that one of His disciples would betray him, most of them began asking the question, “Is it I?” (Mat. 26:22-25) John had enough personal assurance to know that it was not himself, so he asked, “Lord, who is it?” (John 13:25). This is comparable to the personal confidence and security that the church has with the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit, unlike any other group on saints in the Bible. (5) A strange thing is said of John in John 21:22-23: “Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?” The indication is that John would live to see the second coming. Of course, he did not live to see the literal second coming, since it has not yet occurred, but John did live to see all the visions of it given in Revelation. In fact, he specifically states that he was “in the Spirit on the Lord's day” (Rev. 1:10). John was transported in a vision some 2,000 years into the future to witness and write about the second coming of Christ. In this sense, he did tarry until Jesus came, which is exactly what the church does (Mat. 16:18). (6) John, like the church, is called up to Heaven: "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne." (Rev. 4:1-2) This happens with a trumpet and a voice, as does the rapture of the church (I Ths. 4:16-17; I Cor. 15:51-52).