Prophet John of Judaea – see Apostle and Evangelist John – „The disciple whom God loved“. 

It is assumed today (see Muratorian Fragment, discovered 1740 AD in the Milan Ambrisiana Library) that the disciple and apostle John, author of the gospel of the same name, of John I, II and III and of the Revelations, the last book of the Holy Bible (he never calls himself by his name, but simply “the disciple, whom God loved”).  Among the disciples of Jesus Christ were three pairs of brothers. The most favoured among them were Jacob and John, sons of a wealthy fisherman and his wife Zebediah and Salome of Bethsaida on Lake Genesareth.  The younger and cleverer son, John, was first to encounter Jesus.  He had gone down to the River Jordan to preach of the baptiser’s confession together with his countryman Andrew Jordan, and there he had become a follower of the serious man who was John the Baptist (the precursor).  There John of Judaea became witness to a delegation of Jews from Jerusalem who was asking John the Baptist for a certification of his person and his activities.  He also learned that Jesus Christ was already tarrying, unrecognized, among his people.  Two days later, Jesus Christ passed along the way and John the Baptist pointed out the “Lamb of God” to his two disciples, John and Andrew, who were there with him.  Full of deferential shyness the two of them followed the distinguished stranger and were cordially invited to remain with him.  That first meeting left such a deep impression on the youth that even in his old age, when he was writing these things down in his gospel, he was able to recall the exact hour of the encounter - 4 o'clock in the afternoon.  He had been a witness to the first miracles, the first deeds and words of Jesus Christ.  During all his wanderings the youthful student listened attentively to the teachings of his master, followed his workings and watched the reactions of the people.  He pondered upon them deeply and later incorporated them methodically in the preachings of Jesus Christ.  During the years 49/50 AD in Jersualem he preached in the Jerusalem community and alongside Peter, Paul and Jacob became known as the “upright apostle”.  He prophesied in Ephesus (Asia Minor), was kidnapped and taken to Rome, miraculously escaped death by torture, but was exiled to the lonely rock island of Patmos facing the southwestern coast of Asia Minor.  There he had great visions of the Church’s persecution and its final victory, and wrote it all down for the solace of all Christians and all peoples as the "last revelation of God".
"His spirit rose to the highest heights of theological speculation, so that he was given the symbol of the eagle! " (Johannes Wiesheu)
The death of the imperial persecutor in 96 AD let him regain his freedom and he returned to Ephesus where, with the staunch memory of old-age, he recorded the long discussions and assurances of his master Jesus Christ and complemented the writings of the three evangelists with reports of the most wondrous of miracles, particularly in Judaea and Jerusalem.