I John has 5 chapters, 105 verses, and 2,523 words. It was written after the destruction of Jerusalem sometime between 85 A.D. and 96 A.D. about twenty years after the Acts period. When John wrote this he had all of Paul’s epistles and was fully cognizant of Church Age Pauline doctrine, but that does not make his epistle doctrine for the Church Age.

The similarities between John’s epistle to Tribulation Jews and Paul’s doctrine for the Church occur because there are common beliefs and truths between the two. Some suggest that because of John’s strong emphasis on eternal life that this must be a Church Age epistle, but on the contrary this is exactly the emphasis the Tribulation saints need. In the Old Testament the word "life" occurs about every four pages and about 95% of the time refers to physical life.

In the New Testament it occurs about every two pages and refers to spiritual life most of the time. Considering that the Old Testament is three times longer than the New Testament, this is quite a discrepancy. In the Old Testament the term "everlasting life" occurs only one time and it’s in Daniel 12:2 and is a reference to the future resurrection. The "everlasting covenant" and "everlasting kingdom" are mentioned more the twenty times, however. Israel is very familiar with God’s physical promises to them as a nation but has little understanding of the individual promise of eternal, spiritual life that is found in Christ.

John, in his gospel and this epistle, emphasizes this important truth that these Tribulation saints have in common with those of us in the Church Age. This explanation of personal, eternal life in Christ is totally new to the Jews in the Tribulation. John writes to educate them in this all important doctrine.

Now the epistle of I John is unique in that there is no personal reference anywhere in it. There is no greeting, and the last verse gives no clue as to whom the epistle was sent. To whom was John writing when he penned this letter? While much of what John wrote has spiritual application for the Church today, I believe that this commentary will show that this epistle has future doctrinal application for the Tribulation.

The first verse of I John reads:

• I John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

This verse is a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ.

• John 1:1
  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.

• John 1:14a
  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.

John had heard him, and seen him, and even handled him. He is qualified as a direct eye witness and an apostle, to testify to the truth of these facts. Paul who saw Christ after his resurrection confirms the same. Jesus is the second member of the Godhead who manifested himself in the flesh.

• I Timothy 3:16
  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Let me say here that it is not the purpose of this commentary to thoroughly expound upon the basic doctrinal foundations of Christianity. I am taking for granted that those who read this book already believe in the Trinity, the blood atonement, the bodily resurrection etc. When verses about basic doctrines occur they will be recognized but will not be elucidated unless it is necessary to explain the text. The second verse reads:

• I John 1:2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

Jesus is called "eternal life" in this verse as he calls himself in John 14:6. According to John, Jesus manifested himself to the disciples. The dictionary definition of manifest is -"evident to the senses, esp. to the sight; hence, obvious to the understanding; not obscure; to make to appear distinctly; to display; evidence." This definition fits for every Bible verse that has the word "manifest" or one of its forms.

• I Timothy 3:16
  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Jesus was eternal life incarnate. He was there. They saw life. They saw God in the flesh. They saw him.

• John 14:21
  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Verses 21 and 23 have parallel construction. They say that a person who keeps Jesus' "commandments" or "words" is a person who loves him. Because the person does this, the Father will love him also.

• John 14:21a
  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father...

• John 14:23a
  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him...

Two things will result if a person keeps the commandments.

• John 14:21b
  ... and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

• John 14:23b
  ... and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Because of the parallel construction it is possible that the Lord "manifesting" himself to a person is the same as the Lord "abiding" with that person. There is another more probable meaning, however, that will be explored further along. For, today’s Christian, however, God’s love is not bestowed because one keeps the commandments. It is bestowed because of the Christian’s position in Christ.

• Romans 8:39
  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

That is not to say that a Church Age Christian should not do good works. On the contrary, he should work because his salvation was a gift.

• I Corinthians 8:3
  But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

• II Corinthians 8:24
  Wherefore show ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

• Galatians 5:13
  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Today’s Christian works because he loves the Lord who gave him salvation as a free gift. Not only that, but the Lord will reward the Christian for his service to him. Working for rewards, however, is not the same as working for salvation.

During the Tribulation the Lord "abides" only with a commandment keeper. The only problem is believing what the Bible says and not a private interpretation. John spends all of Chapter 15 in his gospel talking about "abiding". This is where doctrinally a difference begins to show between what Paul and John say, which be explored more thoroughly after this next section.

Paul confirms that the Godhead dwells in a Church Age Christian.

• I Corinthians 3:16
  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

• Ephesians 3:17
  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

• Galatians 3:2
  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

In many places in Paul's epistles he states that faith alone is required for salvation.

• Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight.

• Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

• II Timothy 1:9
  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace.

• Ephesians 2:8
  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

• Romans 4:5
  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

This faith results in a person being indwelt and sealed by the Godhead.

• Ephesians 1:12
  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

The free gift of salvation should result in works for the Lord, but those works do not help one get saved or help one stayed saved; they are only the means by which the Lord will reward the Christian for faithful service.

• I Corinthians 15:58
  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

A Christian is so secure, even with no works, that if he stops believing, Christ still remains faithful because he cannot deny himself.

• II Timothy 2:13
  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Paul states many times in his epistles that individual Christians need not be concerned about their eternal destiny.

• Philippians 1:6
  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

• Romans 8:38-39
  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Compare these promises that Paul gives to a Church Age Christian to what John tells the people to whom he is writing.

John continually exhorts his readers to maintain their eternal destiny. He has already stated in John 14 that in order for God to make his abode with a person that he must keep the commandments. Works are an integral part of this person’s salvation.

• I John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

In the Tribulation the Holy Spirit is given to a commandment keeper who believes in Jesus. Church Age saints have no such qualifications put on them. Christ dwells in us by faith alone. Whether the Holy Spirit remains in a Tribulation saint depends upon his conduct. The Old Testament Jews had similar conditions. Even though the Old Testament often says that the Holy Spirit "came upon" many of the saints, it is also just as clear that he was "in" them as well.

• Isaiah 63:11
  Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?

• Exodus 31:3
  And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

• I Peter 1:11
  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

The Holy Spirit came and went on Saul (I Samuel 11:6; I Samuel 16:14; I Samuel 19:23) and Samson (Judges 14:6; Judges 16:20). King David asked the Lord not to take the Holy Spirit from him (Psalm 51:11). John is talking to someone who does not live in the Church Age where salvation is by grace through faith alone. Before the Church Age and after the Church Age works must be coupled with faith for salvation. When speaking to a pre-crucifixion Jew the Lord himself requires this.

• Matthew 19:16
  And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him...if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 21.... and follow me.

Even Paul mentions that works used to be necessary. (See this author's comprehensive paper on this verse at my site.)

• Romans 11:5
  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

The Tribulation epistles mention works and commandment keeping.

• James 2:24
  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

• Revelation 12:17
  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

• Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Keeping the commandments is mentioned all through John's writings, not just to be saved but to remain saved!

• John 15:4
  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Christ’s abiding in a person is determined by whether or not his words abide in that person. If they do, they will bring forth fruit. Christ abides only in a fruitful Tribulation saint. This is shown by the sower parables.

• Matthew 13:18
  Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

• Mark 4:14
  The sower soweth the word.

The four types of people in this parable exemplify how people in general respond to the word. Because these parables are usually taught as spiritual application for the Church Age, the doctrinal application is usually missed. To understand the doctrine the words will be taken at face value.

• Matthew 13:19
  When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

• Mark 4:15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

Matthew write about the coming Millennial kingdom. Those who live through the Tribulation will be ushered into that kingdom The Lord Jesus Christ himself tells them the "constitution" for this thousand years of rest. The "word of the kingdom" then is not the same as telling the Church Age gospel to a lost person. In fact at this point the gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection was not even understood by the apostles. The "word of the kingdom" is the gospel by which people can be saved during the Tribulation.

These "wayside" hearers have the seed, the word of God, sown in their hearts but they don’t understand it. Before the Holy Spirit has a chance to illumine what they have been told, the Devil takes it from their hearts. It doesn’t abide.

• Luke 8:12
  Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

• Matthew 13:15
  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

All three gospels record almost exactly the same thing about the "stony place" hearer.

• Matthew 13:20
  But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

Notice that this hearer receives the word with joy. He understands what he has been told and receives it as truth. But a problem arises.

• Mark 4:17
  And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

There is no question that these hearers have received and believed the word, but they do not "endure till the end." Instead they become offended and the word does not "abide" in them.

• Luke 8:13
  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

Here is a very clear statement. These people believe for a while but cannot endure the persecution and they fall away. They lose their salvation because the word does not "abide" in them and bear fruit. This will be shown time and again as we continue this study.

• Hebrews 6:4
  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

The "thorny ground" hearer is also a believer in whom the word does not "abide."

• Matthew 13:22
  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

• Luke 8:14
  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

This hearer, on his way to bearing fruit, got caught up in the world and the flesh. A seed that does not bring forth fruit did not accomplish its job. Christ cursed the fruitless fig tree. The seed, the word, does not "abide" in these believers and they lose their salvation. The last hearers receive the word of "good ground."

• Matthew 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

• Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

In these people the word is heard, received into a good heart, understood and then kept. The word must be kept, it must "abide" in order to bring forth fruit. During the Tribulation a person must have fruit in order to be saved. He must prove his faith by his works. Let’s look at two previous verses again.

• John 15:4
  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

The abiding in these verses is twofold. Christ will abide in the person who abides in him. How is this accomplished?

• John 15:10
  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

• John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

A Tribulation saint "abides" in Christ by keeping his words, or his commandments. He does not abide by grace through faith, alone.

• I John 2:24
  Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

There is a chance that someone may not continue in Christ. That person may lose the Holy Spirit and his salvation! This is obviously not Church Age doctrine. It more closely resembles Old Testament salvation under the Mosaic Law. While the nation of Israel was eternally secure (Genesis 17:7,8) the individuals within the nation were not, because their salvation depended not only on their faith but also on their keeping the commandments!

• Ezekiel 33:12
  Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression... neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.

• Deuteronomy 29:18a
  Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God... 20 The LORD will not spare him...and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.

• Numbers 15:30
  But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 31 Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.

• Exodus 32:33
  And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

During the Tribulation when God is dealing with the Jews again as a nation, those individuals must have faith in Jesus and keep the commandments in order to be saved and remain saved!

Even though there are many verses in the gospel of John that do agree with Paul’s doctrine (after all, the Tribulation saints must believe in Christ, too); and verses that eventually do apply to the Church, as John 17, (although there still would have been a Body of Christ even if there hadn’t been a Church Age); it must be remembered that the gospel of John, which covers events before the New Testament was instituted, and John's first epistle, which appears in the Bible after the Church Age epistles, both say the same thing about commandment keeping and loss of salvation. God is dealing with the nation of Israel in these times and his plan of salvation is not the same as it is in the Church Age. During the Tribulation an individual must endure to the end or he will lose his salvation.

• Matthew 10:22b
  But he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Compare that to Pauline doctrine.

• I Corinthians 1:7
  So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Church Age saint is blameless in his standing because he is in Christ. The Tribulation saints themselves must "endure till the end" while in the Church Age it is the Lord Jesus Christ who "confirms" a Christian "unto the end." John makes another strong statement in II John concerning Tribulation doctrine.

• II John 1:9
  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

This can’t be a Church Age teaching. There are innumerable Christians today who believe a multitude of false doctrines. They don’t lose their salvation because of their false beliefs.

• Hebrews 3:12
  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.

In order to be a partaker of Christ someone must not depart from God and must hold on till the end. A verse was just quoted that says that even a Christian who stops believing is still secure. What John says is doctrinally different from what Paul says.

• I Corinthians 12:27
  Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
• I Corinthians 10:17
  For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

A Church Age Christian is complete in Christ. He doesn't need to hold on, endure, or keep the commandments for his salvation. Those verses do not say the same thing, therefore one must rightly divide God's word. Here are three other passages that show doctrinal differences.

• Hebrews 10:26
  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

• Colossians 3:10
  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

• I Timothy 2:4
  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Now the Lord Jesus Christ is the "Truth." Paul says that God wants all men to be saved by coming to the knowledge of the "Truth." That knowledge (in the Church Age) makes a person a new man with a new image. In the Church Age a Christian has the Holy Spirit sealed inside him until the day of the redemption of his body (Ephesians 4:30). Once a person is in Christ he is sanctified (I Corinthians 1:2) and he is secure. The verses in Hebrews, however, speak of a person who had "received the knowledge of the truth." Not only that "he was sanctified"! But something happened. He drew "back into perdition"! He lost the Holy Spirit and his salvation! Peter again verifies this point.

• II Peter 2:19
  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

The people in these verses had been saved. They had escaped the world's pollution through the knowledge of Jesus, but then were overcome again by the world. These verses cannot be Church Age doctrine. How is it ever better for a Church Age Christian not to have known the way of righteousness? A Church Age Christian who goes back to live in the world loses his rewards but he doesn't lose his salvation! Salvation during the Tribulation is based on both faith and works. Jesus himself said that love toward God, whom a person can't see (faith); and love toward one's neighbor, whom he can see (works) are the two commandments upon which hang all the law and the prophets.

• Matthew 22:36
  Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Tribulation saints will be required to have faith in Christ, (This aspect will be expounded upon as we continue.), keep the commandants, and help their neighbors. Time after time this theme is expounded! See Matthew 10:40-42; Matthew 19:16-21; Luke 10:25-37; Hebrews 6:10; Hebrews 10:24; James 1:22-27; James 2:1-20; I Peter 1:22. Look up the verses!

We started pages ago with these two verses and are now in a position to understand more thoroughly.

• John 14:21
  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

• John 14:23
  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Tribulation salvation has two requirements: faith and works. The keeping of two commandments will insure that God (the Holy Spirit) abides with a person. During the Church Age loving one’s neighbor is not a requirement for God "abiding" with us. (Although we are certainly supposed to love our neighbor.) But during the Tribulation it is a requirement to keep two commandments. John explains it clearly.

• I John 5:3
  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

• I John 3:23
  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

• John 15:12
  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

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