First John: 1 John 3:2b-God Guarantees the Believer They Will Be Perfected in a Resurrection Body at the Rapture Lesson # 100
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1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. (ESV)
“But we know that when he appears we shall be like him” is composed of the following: (1) first person plural perfect active indicative form of the verb oida (οἶδα), “but we know” (2) conjunction hoti (ὅτι), “that” (3) conditional particle ean (ἐάν), “when” (3) third person singular aorist passive subjunctive form of the verb phaneroō (φανερόω), “he appears” (4) nominative masculine plural form of the adjective homoios (ὅμοιος), “like” (5) dative third person masculine singular form of the intensive personal pronoun autos (αὐτός), “him” (6) first person plural future middle indicative form of the verb eimi (εἰμί), “we shall be.”
The verb oida means, “to possess knowledge of something.”
In context, this knowledge is that of being perfected in a resurrection body when Jesus Christ appears at the rapture of the church.
Therefore, this verb indicates that John and each one of the recipients of this epistle possessed knowledge of the truth of receiving a resurrection body at the rapture.
The first person plural form of this verb is an “inclusive” we which simply means that John wants to emphasize his unity and solidarity with the recipients of this epistle in order to emphasize with them that he too will be perfected in a resurrection body like them, at the rapture of the church.
The conditional particle ean is employed with the subjunctive mood of the verb phaneroō, “he appears” in order to form the protasis of a third class condition which presents the condition as uncertain of fulfillment, but still likely.
The third class condition is expressing certain fulfillment meaning that John and the recipients of this epistle would all be like Jesus Christ in a resurrection body whenever Jesus Christ is revealed by the Father to them at the resurrection of the church.
Now, in the Koine period ἐάν could mean “when” or “whenever” and was virtually the equivalent of ὅταν.
Here in 1 John 3:2, the conjunction ean means “whenever, when” since the word does not indicate uncertainty about whether or not Jesus Christ will return at the rapture or resurrection of the church but rather it indicates the uncertainty about the exact time when this event will take place in the future.
The verb phaneroō is in the passive voice and means “to be revealed, to be manifested” and is not used of the revelation of Jesus Christ at the rapture or resurrection of the church.
Rather it refers to the state of the believer in a resurrection body whenever Jesus Christ appears to them at the rapture.
The first person plural future middle indicative form of the verb eimi means “to exist in a particular state or condition.”
Here it refers to the believer existing in a resurrection body like Jesus Christ when Jesus Christ is revealed to them at the rapture.
Again, the first person plural form of this verb is an “inclusive” we which simply means that John wants to emphasize his unity and solidarity with the recipients of this epistle in order to emphasize with them that he too will be perfected in a resurrection body like them, at the rapture of the church.
The future tense of this verb is a predictive future indicating that something will take place or come to pass.
Here it indicates the certainty of John and the recipients of this epistle existing in a resurrection body like Jesus Christ whenever Jesus Christ appears to the church at the rapture.
The middle voice of this verb eimi is a causative middle which means that the subject has something done for or to himself or herself.
Here it indicates that the believer will be caused to exist in a particular state or condition in the future and is expressing the idea of the believer existing in a resurrection like the Lord Jesus Christ.
The dative third person masculine singular form of the intensive personal pronoun autos means “him” referring to Jesus Christ and not the Father.
This is indicated by at least two passages.
Paul taught in Philippians 3:20-21 that Jesus Christ will transform the believer’s present human body into conformity with His glorious resurrection body.
He also taught in Colossians 3:4 that when Christ, the life of each and every believer, enters into the state of being revealed, then, at that time, each and every believer will, as a certainty be revealed with Him in a state of glory.
The intensive personal pronoun autos is used in a conjunction with the nominative masculine plural form of the adjective homoios, which means “like” since the word is a marker of comparison since the word pertains to being similar to someone in some respect.
Here it refers to John and the recipients of First John being similar to Jesus Christ in that like Him, they will be existing in a resurrection body when He appears to them at the rapture.
“Because we shall see him as he is” is expressing the reason why John and the recipients of this epistle and all church age believers will be like Jesus Christ at the rapture of the church.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, each and every one of us are God’s children. However, what state each of us will be caused to exist in, has not yet been revealed. Each one of us possess knowledge that whenever this state has been revealed (to us), we will be caused to exist in the same identical state as Him because for the benefit of each of us, we will see Him as He is presently existing. (My translation)
John asserts that each of the recipients of this epistle possess knowledge that whenever this state has been revealed to them, they will be caused to exist in the same identical state as Jesus Christ.
Thus, he is reminding them that they will exist in a resurrection body like Jesus Christ whenever this state has been revealed at the rapture.
The believer will be identical with Jesus not only because they will possess a glorified resurrection body but also because they will be sinless like Jesus Christ.
The present bodies that believers possess are contaminated by the sin nature (Rom. 6:6).
However, the resurrection body will be minus the sin nature.
The apostle John then presents the reason for this previous assertion by stating that each of them will see Jesus Christ as He presently exists in a resurrection body.
Some interpret this causal clause as teaching that believers will realize that they are already like Jesus, but will not realize it until they see Him as He is.
However, it is better to interpret this clause as teaching that the believer will be more like Jesus Christ than they presently are and this will be accomplished by seeing Him as He really exists at the present time and for all of eternity.
This is indicated by the adversative clause which appears earlier at the beginning of verse 2 and asserts that what state the believer will exist in the future, has not yet been revealed to them.
It is also indicated by the reference in 1 John 2:28 to Jesus Christ’s appearance at the rapture.
Thus, John is seeking to distinguish between the present state of believers (sinful and without a resurrection body) and what they will be like in the future (sinless and possessing a resurrection body).
Glenn W. Barker writes “Though they are now God’s children, the unveiling of their identity or the complete revelation of their nature still lies in the future.”[1]
What John asserts in 1 John 3:2 is echoed by Paul in his writings.
1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known. (NET)
2 Corinthians 3:10 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (ESV)
Colossians 3:1 Therefore, if, and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that each and every one of you have been raised up with Christ and we agree that this is true. Then, continue to make it your habit of diligently seeking after the things above, where Christ is, as an eternal spiritual truth existing in a state of being seated at God’s right hand. 2 Each and every one of you continue making it your habit of concentrating on the things above, not on the things on earth 3 because each and every one of you has died. Consequently, the life of each and every one of you is concealed with Christ by means of the power of God the Father. 4 When Christ, the life of each and every one of you, enters into the state of being revealed, then, at that time, each and every one of you will, as a certainty be revealed with Him in a state of glory. (My translation)
The purpose for which John makes these assertions here in 1 John 3:2 is to encourage the recipients of this epistle to continue making it their habit of experiencing their sanctification.
This is indicated by John’s statement in 1 John 3:2 in which he asserts that every believer who thus has the confident expectation of receiving a resurrection body purifies themselves as Jesus is pure.
This purification is that of experiencing sanctification which is a metaphor for experiencing fellowship with God.
Therefore, in 1 John 3:2, the apostle John is guaranteeing all believers that they will receive a resurrection body which is designed to motivate them to continue to remain faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ so as to live in a manner which is consistent with this guarantee.
[1] The Expositor’s Bible Commentary; volume 12 (Hebrews-Revelation); page 336; Regency Reference Library; Zondervan Publishing House; Grand Rapids, Michigan.