Hello Brother James, I would like to add that Jesus warned His disciples that many would die for His namesake, and as it turned out, all the disciples of Jesus died except for John, the one that had a special bond with Jesus whom on the isle of Patmos they tried to boil on more than one occasion, but was unsuccessful. I believe that it was because of what Jesus told him, "Tarry here until I come." (Matthew 26:38) The other disciples didn't understand this, and Jesus said, "What is it to you if I say tarry here until I come?" Since a lot of people speculated on these verses, I would like to think that Jesus simply meant to keep the Churches active, since John was promoted to bishopry after he was released from the isle of Patmos to continue on with God's work that the Churches that were started needed someone like John to keep them going. Hence, he was made bishop. Now I could be wrong Brother James, and if I am, then please correct me, for this is very important for me to know for a fact instead of just surmising for the truth. Love in Christ Jesus, CD image

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 
John 3:17