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Yes, we believe that John the Revelator was promised to live until Christ returns. But because the world rejected the Gospel, it was taken from them.

When exactly did the world "reject" the "everlasting gospel?"

And when exactly did God take away the priesthood from John the Apostle?

Do you have answers for these questions?

And if John is still on the earth, then why didn't John the Apostle come out of retirement and lay hands on Joseph Smith? Why did they have to receive it from John the Baptist coming back in some kind of "familiar spirit" form?

It all sounds sooooo contrived.

The priesthood wasn't taken away from John, John was taken away from men. I don't know when, but it must have been shortly after all the apostles were murdered.

To give you another further understanding of what I'm talking about, I'll explain our view of the 3 apostles on this continent who were promised the same thing. Here is all the references to them. I hope you look them up, I won't post the text, it's too many references, but If you read them, especially the ones toward the end when they were taken away from the people due to wickedness, you will see what I'm talking about. It might sound contrived to you, but it's miraculous and wonderful that God works through men the way he does.

Here are the references from the BOM.

3 Ne. 28: 1-6 Christ grants three disciples’ desire to tarry until his coming, as did John.
3 Ne. 28: 7-9 shall never taste of death, sorrow.
3 Ne. 28: 10 shall have fulness of joy.
3 Ne. 28: 13-17 are caught up into heaven.
3 Ne. 28: 18, 23 minister unto people.
3 Ne. 28: 19-22 endure persecution.
3 Ne. 28: 25 names not given.
3 Ne. 28: 26 (Morm. 8: 11) have ministered unto Mormon.
3 Ne. 28: 27-29 to minister to Gentiles, Jews, scattered tribes, all nations.
3 Ne. 28: 30 can show themselves to whomever it seems to them good.
3 Ne. 28: 32 (4 Ne. 1: 5) to do marvelous works.
3 Ne. 28: 36-40 change wrought upon their bodies.
3 Ne. 28: 39 are sanctified in flesh, Satan has no power over them.
4 Ne. 1: 14 only disciples of original twelve who still tarry.
Morm. 8: 10 are taken from people because of wickedness.
Morm. 8: 11 have ministered unto Moroni.

Oh, and to answer your question about John “coming out of retirement” as you say.

John the baptist held the keys to the priesthood of Aaron, not John the beloved.
Peter, James and John, held the keys of the Kingdom, and it was these three that laid hands on Oliver and Joseph and restored the Melchesidek priesthood.

Things are done in order, as they always have been. I would ask the same question to you... why did Moses and Elias appear to the Savior on the mount of transfiguration, with Peter James and John present? Same thing. Keys of the kingdom.