When the explanation is recorded unambiguously by the same author that you are suggesting will not die until the Lord Returns........there is no link required in order to mold the scriptures around your doctrine. The scriptures are supposed to mold you, not the inverse.
What exactly is recorded in John 21:22 forward? The author who professes to be the same John being addressed in the chapter and declaring that its true because he (John) is the one bearing witness to the event. (John 21:24) According to John it was the gossip among the other disciples that declared, ".........So the SAYING (what is a saying? To express supposition: What is a supposition? To express an opinion, not a record of fact).......so the saying spread among the brothers, that this disciple would not die; YET JESUS DID NOT SAY TO HIM THAT HE WAS NOT TO DIE.........." -- John 21:22-24
The scriptures self interpret when allowed, void of injecting personal opinion. John, the author of this Gospel.....is the one that declared that Jesus did not say he would not die.....
What then is the explanation? Jesus is appearing to the 7 disciples addressed in this chapter, after His death and resurrection. What then is contained in chapter 21 from the gospel of John? John is recording what Jesus is revealing to Peter, Jesus asks Peter 3 times if he loved Him more than these.......after the 3rd time that Peter answered Jesus with a "yes...you know I love you, you know everthing....Jesus had just informed Peter that he would be placed in prison, opposite the freedom he had when he was young (a place he did not want to be (John 21:18) Peter then asked, "What about John?" (John 21:21), the apostle Jesus loved like a brother.
Jesus then declared "IF..................he should tarry until I return, what is it to you?" (John 21:22). John himself explains that Jesus did not say that he would not die......declaring that is the truth. (John 21:24). The return Jesus was speaking could have meant when Jesus communicated with John through an angel to record the book of revelation around 90AD (Rev. 1).....
John is the only Apostle to live up to the 2nd century. There is actually no record declaring how he died...there is some hint that he was still alive around 98 AD....but that is based upon nothing ancient rumors. All we do know is that John was inspired by Jesus to record the book of revelation of things to shortly take place upon earth.
John clearly understood that Jesus did not say that he would not die. John then states that his record is true and accurate, but it was INCOMPLETE (meaning John had more to write as scripture)......that a complete record would be impossible to record. (John 21:25)
John 21:21-24
21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
23 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?
24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
For all men to resurrect, they would need to either die or be changed in the twinkling of an eye. The Apostles, after hearing the words of Jesus when he said, "if I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?" supposed that John would never die. Jesus simple lets them know that that was not what he said. What he said was that John would tarry on the earth until Jesus was to come again. I believe the Apostles took this to mean that John would live a long, long time and thus supposed that he would not die. Jesus was clear that John would tarry on in the earth until Jesus' second coming. I believe this verse relates to Jesus other remarks to his disciples in the following verses.
Matthew 16:27-28
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
In this verse he also does not say that anyone would never die. But did assure them that there were some among them that would not taste of death until they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. This verse is very clear that some among Jesus' disciples would not die until they saw Jesus coming in the glory of his Father with his angels in his kingdom. Jesus has not yet made his second coming in all his glory yet. So, taking Jesus' word that some of those disciples would never taste of death until he comes, seems to tie quite nicely to what he spoke of about John to Peter. John was to tarry until Jesus was to come again. The Apostles, knowing of both these conversations is easy to imagine that John would go on living and thus made the assumption that he would never die. But Jesus corrected them about him not dying but that he would tarry up until the time of of his second coming and after that time John might die. It is my belief that John is one whom Jesus referred to as living on to see him coming in all his glory in his kingdom with the angels of heaven.
Regardless of whether you believe John was one whom Jesus spoke of, Jesus did prophesy that some would not taste of death until they saw Jesus coming in all his glory with the angels of heaven in his kingdom. Thus, that generation was not to pass away until all that was prophesied in Matthew 24 was to be fulfilled.
