Are There Apostles Today?
These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.
Revelation 2:1-3
Are there Apostles today? That is the question we intent to tackle today, and the answer to that question is important for you, so that you are not taken in by false teachers. It is important to me because as your shepherd I need to guard you from the wolfs in sheep’s clothing.
Our opening scripture has Christ speaking to the church in Ephesus of how they put those false teachers and prophets to the test…finding them to not be what they say they are. Not only did men boldly stand up and proclaim themselves to be apostles in the early church, but they are also on the rise today. Because they are on the rise, we as a people united under Christ, we too must test these individuals who call themselves an apostle.
Are there apostles today? The answer to that question is no! Like the church in Ephesus who found those who claimed to be apostles were liars, we too can look at someone today who claims to be an apostle, to be a liar as well.
For me the question is, why does anyone feel the need to have such a title of apostle? The simple answer is that they want to rise above the rest. They are not content with simply preaching and teaching the word of God but need to be known in what would be one of the highest positions in Christianity. Although I have seen a few in primary white churches call themselves apostles, but by and large the most I have seen come out of the African American churches. It seems we are not content with being the humble pastor of a church.
There is no office, position, special appointment, or assignment as apostle in these days…that position was closed at the death of the twelve Apostles plus Paul, don’t worry, I will explain the plus Paul. So, now that I have given you the answer, I will now take time to explain why I can be so sure of that answer.
First, let us tackle what an apostle is. The Greek word used throughout the New Testament for apostle is Apostolos, and it means “one sent forth from by another.” Okay, so technically, anyone who is sent by another can be called an apostle. For example, if I send any of you to go to your neighbors to speak to them about Jesus, then you are an apostle to Rev. McKisic. Although you can be sent by someone makes you an apostle, but the difference between you as an apostle and the twelve Apostles is who sent them. So, one of the criteria of an authentic apostle is that they were sent by Christ Jesus. Some of you so-called apostles may say, hold on Rev. McKisic, Jesus did send us in Matthew 28:16-20.
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Only a false apostle would use this scripture to confirm themselves, and in using this scripture shows them to be a false teacher. Notice that this scripture has Jesus talking to the eleven disciples, giving them a command to go out and teach others the things that Jesus taught them, and in turn we, today will do the same, but know that Jesus did not send me, as I am sent by the person who taught me and my teachers are far removed from the disciples who initially went out into the world to preach and teach. So, I would be a liar to call myself an apostle in the same sense as the twelve disciples were called apostles.
Second, an apostle must have walked with and seen the risen Christ. The book of Acts, which contain the acts of the apostles, has Peter speaking to all the disciples as to the need of picking the twelfth apostle after Judas hanged himself.
“Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
Acts 1:21-22
The qualification is clear, you needed to have walked with Christ for the whole time of His three-year ministry, and accepted His teachings’, you must have witnessed His baptism, His healings and other miracles, and His resurrection. They ended up choosing a disciple named Matthias to replace Judas as the twelfth apostle. Nowhere in the bible or early church history, other than in Acts 1:26 is Matthias ever mentioned again. As a new apostle he did absolutely nothing of biblical importance. This is what happens when man appoints themselves or is appointed by other men to be an apostle…nothing.
Keep in mind the length of Jesus’ earthly ministry, three years, because it will come into play when we deal with Paul being the thirteenth apostle.
Can someone who calls themselves an apostle today claim this qualification? No, they cannot. If they do make this claim, I would congratulate them, because they look pretty good for a person who is over 2000 years old. Now I mention the age ting because a so-called apostle told me that he had his own experience with Christ.
Third, an apostle had the authority and power from Christ, to heal all manner of sicknesses and disease, plus the authority and power to cast out unclean spirits.
And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
Matthew 10:1
Notice that Jesus called them, He did not appear to them, but He physically called them and gave the twelve their apostolic powers. One modern-day apostle told me this when asked why he has not manifested any of these miracles, that there was not an opportunity for him to heal or produce miracles. I was confused, because the opportunity was right there in front of our eyes…we were talking outside of a hospital at the same time he was asking to borrow money from me.
And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Acts 5:12-16
To date I have not heard of any of the apostles in my time that have done any of this. Is it because all of them do not have the opportunity? I say, look at the world around you, there are opportunities a plenty. Please note that the bible does say that the typical believer can heal others and perform some miracles, but that in of itself does not an apostle make.
Even if they had the powers as given by Christ, they would not transfer those miraculous power to others by the laying their hands. Now I can say this with out a doubt, that none of them would wany to do that, because they then would not be the special one.
Fourth, an apostles could speak in foreign languages without having studied them. At Pentecost the apostles all spoke in a foreign language that was understood by the people there that spoke that language. Most of the apostles I know today say they speak in tongues, but all I hear from them is gibberage.
Fifth, all the apostles suffered greatly.
• Peter was crucified upside down on a cross.
• Andrew was severely scourged and was tied by ropes on an x shaped cross where he hung 2 days before dying.
• James, the brother of John, was beheaded with a sword.
• John was thrown into boiling oil but was unharmed. He was the exiled to the Isle of Patmos and died of natural causes in Ephesus.
• Philip was crucified.
• Bartholomew was beaten, flayed, and crucified upside down.
• Thomas was lanced by idolatrous priests and burned up in an oven.
• Matthew was axed to death with a halberd. A halberd is a long pole with a spear at the end and an axe near its top.
• James, the brother of Jesus, was thrown down from the Temple tower, although he did not die, so they clubbed him to death with a fuller's club.
Do you think any of these so-called apostles of today take on that title if they thought or knew what fate befell the true apostles? Jesus told them that they would die at the hands of others, that they would suffer greatly for His name’s sake. Modern day apostles are not looking at death for Christ but are looking for fame and fortune.
The last h=thing about an apostle called by Jesus is not a qualification, but more of an attribute. They, along with Jesus were the foundation of the church, with Jesus being the cornerstone. From their foundation the church rests upon.
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-22
This is where Jesus puts a cap on the position of apostle, they were the foundation and everything else rests upon their work. I don’t know about you, but nowhere in construction is a foundation laid upon another foundation. As part of laying that foundation the apostles were also given revelations of things to come, which was another qualification, but today the bible is closed to any new revelations. So, what kind of apostle would today’s apostle be if they don’t have any new revelations. Even if they did, that by itself would show them to be false teachers.
I hope that helps in understanding why there are no apostles today.
Now let us talk about who Paul was an apostle of Christ Jesus. (talk about Saul becoming Paul)
“Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him. Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
Acts 22:12-16
Paul received his calling on the road to Damascus, he was then told by Ananias that he would see and hear Jesus. Also, it mentions that Paul will be sent by Christ to bear witness to all that he will see and hear. This is in reference to Paul being taught by the risen Christ when he defends himself before the other apostles, that he is an apostle.
Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me,
Galatians 1:1-2
Okay, so Paul calls himself an apostle, and that it was not conferred by man, but was conferred by Christ. Well, the so-called apostle says the same thing. So then, what makes Paul different then? Let’s look at more of what Paul has to say about it.
But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:11-12
In these verses he is saying that the Gospel he preached was not devised by human wisdom, nor had he received it from the other apostles; rather, he was taught it directly by Jesus Christ Himself. He continues by reminding them that he had been trained in and was fanatically devoted to the erroneous traditions of Judaism. When God called Paul on the Damascus Road, he was commissioned to preach the Gospel of Christ.
Okay, so now let us get to where we can see how Paul became an apostle.
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 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. (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)
Galatians 1:15-20
Paul said that when Christ called him, he did not go to Jerusalem to receive instruction from the apostles. Rather, he retired into Arabia for a time and not until three years later did he go to Jerusalem. Even then, the only apostle he met was Peter, and the only other leader he met was James, the presiding elder of the Jerusalem church. It has often been remarked that Paul clearly implied that he spent three years being taught by Jesus Himself (1:12), either directly or (perhaps more likely) through the study of the Word. Thus, like the other apostles, Paul studied with Christ for three years before beginning his ministry. So, we can see that Paul meets the qualifications to be an apostle, unlike the so-called apostle of today who appointed themselves and approved by others who are not apostles.
Notice that Paul goes to Peter and James, who are apostles to prove to them that he indeed was an apostle sent by Christ Jesus. Now you maybe wondering why I went through this piece about Paul being an apostle. In Matthew 10 we can read the names of the Twelve Apostles, but Paul’s name is not there. Well, this was the logic that a so-called apostle said to me…Paul’s name was not there, and neither is mine, so why can’t I be an apostle. He didn’t mean that as a question but was that of a statement.
The bible is clear that in these perilous times the number of deceivers will increase, and so we need to be aware that the deceiver know as today’s apostle wants to drag you to hell with them.
