|
|
|
|
The Apostles of the Apostasy This is a subject we need to settle or we will be caught in the net of influence that is strengthening to capture the church by leaders of what they call a New ‘Reformation,’ that claims to have apostles for our day.Millions of people in churches are now connected to this movement started in the late 90’s under Peter Wagner, currently headed by Chuck Pierce What and who is an apostle? Cor.1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God.” Paul states this numerous times that he is an apostle through the will of God. (2 Cor. 1:1; Eph. 1:1; Col. 1:1; 2 Tim. 1:1.) How did Paul become an apostle? Gal .1:1 “Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead.” Paul became was a witness to Jesus’ resurrection, not having been a follower from the time of John’s baptism, or one of the twelve. The requirement of an apostle was to be with Jesus from the time of John and a witness to His resurrection. An apostle had to have been taught divine truth by Jesus personally (Galatians 1:1, 12; 1 Corinthians 15:3). All the disciples were taught in Jesus’ earthly ministry for about 3 years. This requirement is impossible to fill today, as one had to accompany the disciples from the baptism of John to Jesus’ ascension (Acts 1:22). The other priority requirement for apostleship refers to seeing an appearance of the resurrected Jesus Christ here on earth, not by a “vision, or dream,” nor a visitation to the “throne room” in Heaven where they meet Jesus face to face. Or him coming down described by Kenneth Hagin, Todd Bentley, Robin Harfouche, Bob Jones, Brian Simmons, Bill Johnson and so many others that have counterfeit experiences by another Spirit. The exception to this is Paul, who describes in 1 Corinthians 15 the Gospel that the apostles spoke and then focuses on the resurrection and the sequence of Jesus’ appearing during the 40 day period after his resurrection to his disciples. V.5, “ And that he was seen of Cephas, then by the twelve,” then “by over five hundred brethren at once;” v.7, “Then he was seen by James then by all the apostles.” Paul states unequivocally after going through the witnesses of the resurrection, v . 8: “Then LAST OF ALL seen by me also, as one born out of due time.” Paul focuses as being the last on earth (Gr. last in time, in sequence) to see the risen Christ (Greek- optanomai or optomai- to look at, to behold, to allow oneself to be seen, to appear). His encounter he described as his birth was called an abortion. “ Paul resembled such a birth, in the suddenness of his new birth, in that he was not matured for the apostolic function, as the others were, who had personal converse with our Lord. He was called to the office when such conversation was not to be had, he was out of time for it. He had not known nor followed the Lord, nor been formed in his family, as the others were ” (From Matthew Henry’s Commentary). Jesus’ glorious resurrection appearance to Paul became his spiritual birth and calling to the ministry (Acts 9:1-16, 22:3-15, 26:9-16) Paul’s regeneration, his birth was not something he or anyone expected, it was described as an abortion (Greek-ektroma). In that same sense, there are no more apostles today, since Paul writes in Scripture he was the LAST OF ALL who saw Jesus. “Paul’s adverbs of time here is chronological: then (eita), then ( epeita), then (epeita), then (eita), last of all (eschaton pantoôn)” (A.T. Robertsons Word Pictures). Just as the twelve became a closed group, so likewise with Paul the Lord ended choosing any other apostles. It is a fact; there is no more foundational apostles (12 in number) chosen by Jesus after Paul. There were only a few apostles taken from among the group of 500 Jesus appeared to prior to Paul. 1 Corinthians 15:7 states “ He was seen by James, then by all the apostles” (James, the Lord’s brother, was later on called an apostle in Galatians 1:19, and included in Galatians 2:9 with Barnabas, cited in 1 Corinthians 9:6.) Paul writes “ Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother.” (Gal 1:18-19) James the Lords brother saw Christ resurrected before the apostle Paul. Which means he is not numbered with the 12 that was already a closed group Jude, says he is a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, who was also the brother of the lord an apostle writing to remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:” (see mark 6:3) The James of the original apostles is the son of Zebedee, as is John, both who were called "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17). The 12 are mentioned in Mt.10:3 and Acts 1:13 John 6:66-71 “ from that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?" He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.” It was Jesus who chose the betrayer among them who later took his life, and the 12th spot was to be refilled by another. There are 12 apostles Jesus chose when he was in ministry Acts 1:26 we find Matthias was chosen and he was numbered with the eleven apostles, closing the group of 12, filling the spot of Judas. We find in Rev. 21:14-15 “ Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” We see all through the gospels the number of apostles being 12, even in Acts 6 we find Acts 6:2 “the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples.” This number for Israel is consistent, Paul as an apostle was sent to the Gentiles first. Ananias was chosen to go to Paul, the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel .” (Acts 9:15) Even with Paul being sent to the Gentiles it was Peter, one of the 12 who was called upon to open the church up to them to be joined (Acts 10, 10:44-48) Eph. 2:20-21 Paul is the one who makes it clear that the foundation for the church has been built, “ having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone .” The foundation is first thing laid for any building to be structured. This building has been going on since the Church was birthed. And it started by the 12 apostles only after Jesus sent the Holy Spirit. In the past tense Jude writes, “But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.” (Jude 17-19) Even when he was alive he wrote of remembering the words of the apostles whose writing is the Scripture. There are false apostles, just as there are other Jesus’ 2 Cor. 11:13-14 “ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” They were ion Paul’s day and they are in ours. Especially ours in the latter time just as predicted in Scripture. Jesus in Rev. 2:2 "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And y ou have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars. ” They tested them in John’s time later in the first century, and we test them today in the 21st century? Do we? Do you? Individual people and certain organizations acknowledge the present office of "apostle" as being equivalent to the original 12 by their authority to decree, have new revelation and are able to do signs and wonders. Again Paul said he was the last of all, which ended ant appearances of Jesus to make someone an apostle. Jesus came in his glory to choose Paul as THE LAST apostle. Those who claim Jesus appeared to them are deceived by a counterfeit. There have been no resurrection appearances since the apostolic age to anyone, as John is presented in scripture as the last living apostle. Jesus is at the right hand of the Father functioning in his high priestly ministry (1 Tim.2:5) until He returns for the whole Church. He is not making any special appearances to any man. Any man who claims this is lying according to Scripture. So then who are these men that claim to be apostles like those that Jesus chose? They were not with him during his ministry and they did not see his resurrection according to the Word of God given by the Spirit. They claim to be doing the same or even ‘greater works.’ These are the false apostles that we told about in Scripture
John the last apostle writes Jesus' words to the Church of Ephesus, and for us today Rev. 2:2 And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars. |
|
|
