ST. JOHN THE APOSTLE (DEC. 27TH)

 

St. John the Apostle

By Bp. Joseph (Ancient Church of the West)

Today, the 27th of December, is the Feast of St. John the Apostle. We celebrate his life, ministry, theology and victory over attempted martyrdom by boiling in oil, to write the Apocalypse of Revelation and prepare the Church for the Last Days. 

The Failed Attempt to Martyr St. John at the Latin Gate by Boiling Him in Oil, Finding Him Indestructible, the Romans Left Him to Die on the Isle of Patmos, Where St. John Wrote the Apocalypse 

In the ancient Western Rite tradition, every Sunday Liturgy, the Gospel According to St. John, Chapter 1, is the “Final Gospel”. It is the foundation upon which the Doctrine of the Incarnation is grounded, and the central pillar that runs through the Orthodox Catholic Church in every aspect. Only because of the Incarnation do we have a physical and visible Church, salvific sacraments, and confidence that God’s grace truly and fully fills the created world and restores fallen nature back to God. The Final Gospel says...

The Word Made Flesh, the Theology Written by St. John in His Gospel

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not; But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (St. John 1:1-14 KJV)

And just as every Liturgy ended with St. John’s Gospel, so the Canon of Scripture ends with St. John’s prophecy, revealing the Second Coming of Christ and the establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth, fully restoring all of God’s creation back to God and His purposes through Jesus Christ the Lord. 

The Church of the Apocalypse, In the Cave Where St. John Received His Revelation

Traditional Icon of St. John Receiving the Revelation from Christ

The End of the World by the Word of Christ

The Destruction of Satan and All His Angels 

The Restoration of the World and the Establishment of Christ's Eternal Kingdom

“And I John saw these things, and heard them... And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Revelation 22:8,10-14, 16-21 KJV)

Collect

ALMIGHTY GOD, who through the blessed Apostle John have unlocked for us the secrets of Thy Word, grant, we pray, that we may grasp with proper understanding what he has so marvelously brought to our ears. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

May Christ hear the prayers of St. John the Apostle before His throne!

The Apocalypse of St. John, by Hans Memling, 1474