FALSE APOSTLES & PROPHETS IN THE LAST DAYS And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. ... For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (Matthew 24:11, 24; cf. Matt 7:15; Mk 13:22; Lk 6:26; 2 Pet 2:1; 1 Jn 4:1) The Lord Jesus Christ speaking to the 1st of the 7 churches of Asia in Revelation 2 & 3 (which symbolize the things which are [Rev 1:19], the Church Age, that began with the Lord Himself and will end with the Rapture) says: Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and THOU HAST TRIED THEM WHICH SAY THEY ARE APOSTLES, AND ARE NOT, AND HAST FOUND THEM LIARS: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. (Revelation 2:1-3, cf. 1:20) The Lord Jesus defined the word apostle for us in John 13 where the same word is translated he that is sent (Jn 13:16). This phrase comes from the same Greek word that is translated apostle(s) 78 times, and is found translated messenger(s) two more times (2 Cor 8:23; Phil 2:25). There are 3 kinds of sent ones in the New Testament: 1. The Apostle of the Father: ... consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him ... (Hebrews 3:1-2). 2. The apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 17; cf. Mark 6:30; Acts 4:33; Eph. 2:20; 1 Cor 15:7-10; et. al.). 3. The messengers of the churches (2 Cor 8:23; Phil 2:25, cf. 4:10-19; Acts 13:1-3; 14:4, 14; 1 Thess 1:1, 2:6). Today these messengers are called missionaries and church planters sent out of Biblical local churches. The Lord Jesus ordained twelve apostles early in His ministry, and after His ascension back to heaven the Church ordained Matthias to replace Judas (Acts 1:23-24, 26). And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. 14 And he ORDAINED twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to PREACH, 15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils. (Mark 3:13-15; cf. Jn 15:16) The qualifications of an apostle of the Lord Jesus are given by the Apostle Peter, who as the 2nd Pastor of the First Church (Christ was the 1st), in Acts 1: For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his [Judas] habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. 21 Wherefore of these men which have COMPANIED WITH US ALL THE TIME THAT THE LORD JESUS WENT IN AND OUT AMONG US, 22 BEGINNING FROM THE BAPTISM OF JOHN, UNTO THAT SAME DAY THAT HE WAS TAKEN UP FROM US, must one be ORDAINED to be a witness with us of his resurrection. ... 25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. (Acts 1:20-22, 25) As a general rule an apostle of Jesus Christ must have been among the disciples of the Lord from His baptism to His ascension back to heaven. No one has met these qualifications since the 1st Century AD with one Scriptural exception: The Apostle Paul! The Lord Jesus chose Him as His special Apostle to the Gentiles. The Lord taught him personally just as He did the other apostles. Paul also saw the Lord as they did. Paul was the last Apostle. There are no others that meet the qualifications of an apostle. The Bible speaks on this wise of Paul: And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. (1 Corinthians 15:8-10) For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office. (Romans 11:13; cf. 1 Tim 2:7; 2 Tim 1:11) But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. ... 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mothers womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. (Galatians 1:11-12, 15-18) After the Lord instituted the Lords Supper on His last Passover on earth, Jesus taught the following to the apostles: Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither HE THAT IS SENT greater than he that sent him. (John 13:16) But THE COMFORTER, which is THE HOLY GHOST, whom the Father will send in my name, HE SHALL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS, AND BRING ALL THINGS TO YOUR REMEMBRANCE, WHATSOEVER I HAVE SAID UNTO YOU. (John 14:26) But when THE COMFORTER is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, which proceedeth from the Father, he SHALL TESTIFY OF ME: 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:26-27) Howbeit when he, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, IS COME, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:13-15) Sanctify them through thy TRUTH: thy word is TRUTH. (John 17:17) Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have KEPT my saying, they will KEEP yours also. (John 15:20) All these verses from John 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 show us that the prime reason that Christ Jesus ordained apostles was to give His word to the world through them; and that they might propagate the exact same kind of church that the Lord Jesus started. The Apostle Paul wrote that ... the house of God, which is THE CHURCH of the living God, the pillar and ground of THE TRUTH (1 Timothy 3:15). It is, therefore, clear that the church is the keeper of Gods word, just as the Lord Jesus likewise commanded in His Great Commission to His First Local Church. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to OBSERVE all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto THE END OF THE WORLD. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20) Here in the Great Commission to the church, notice first that word observe which means to keep. In the same chapter, speaking of the guards at the Lords tomb, the same word is translated keepers (Matt 28:4) and it is the same word found in the following verses: If a man love me, he will KEEP MY WORDS: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23, cf. Jn 14:15, 21, 24, 15:10, 20) I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: Thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and THEY HAVE KEPT THY WORD. (John 17:6; cf. 1 Jn 2:3-5, 3:22, 24, 5:2-3) I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast KEPT MY WORD, and hast not denied my name. ... Because THOU HAST KEPT THE WORD OF MY PATIENCE, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:8, 10, cf. Rev 1:3, 12:17, 14:12) Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that KEEPETH THE SAYINGS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK. (Revelation 22:7, cf. Rev 22:17-19) Secondly, take note of the last phrase of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:20 where the Lord Jesus says: ... lo, I am with you alway, even unto THE END OF THE WORLD. Amen. By comparing other verses using the same Greek word as world used here it is clear that the Lord is speaking of a dispensational end: The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is THE END OF THE WORLD; and the reapers are the angels. 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in THE END OF THIS WORLD. 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. ... 49 So shall it be at THE END OF THE WORLD: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:39-41, 49-50, cf. Matt 24:30-31, 25:31-46) And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of THE END OF THE WORLD? (Matthew 24:1-3) And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in THE WORLD TO COME eternal life. (Mark 10:29-30; cf. Lk 18:30, 20:27-38) Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from THIS PRESENT EVIL WORLD, according to the will of God and our Father: 5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Galatians 1:4; cf. 2 Tim 4:10) For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in THIS PRESENT WORLD; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:11-14; cf. Eph 1:21, 6:12) These passages should make it clear that there is a present evil world, the Church Age, and a world to come, the Millennium, and then Eternity when God will make all things new (Rev 21:5). So all the above is the ground work for the following fact: There are NO apostles nor prophets in this Church Age since the completion of the word of God. Christ equipped his church with the sword of the Spirit through His apostles (Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12), and gave His church a Commission and promised to be with it even unto the end of the world. Amen (Matt 28:20). Biblical local churches are the pillar and ground of the Truth (1 Tim 3:15). So there is no need whatsoever for apostles or prophets today. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) There are 3 kinds of spiritual gifts: 1) Sign Gifts, 2) Revelation Gifts, and 3) Service Gifts listed in Mark 16, Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. Mark 16, 2 Corinthians 12 and Hebrews 2 tell us that the Sign Gifts were to authenticate or confirm those who had Revelation Gifts. The Bible says: ... the Lord working with them, and CONFIRMING THE WORD WITH SIGNS following. Amen. (Mark 16:20) Truly THE SIGNS OF AN APOSTLE were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. (2 Corinthians 12:12) How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was CONFIRMED UNTO US BY THEM THAT HEARD HIM; 4 GOD ALSO BEARING THEM WITNESS, BOTH WITH SIGNS AND WONDERS, AND WITH DIVERS MIRACLES, AND GIFTS OF THE HOLY GHOST, according to his own will? (Hebrews 2:3-4) However, when the word of God was completed by the Apostle John around 95 AD the Apostolic Sign Gifts ceased along with the Revelation Gifts they authenticate. There were 3 Revelation Gifts: 1) Prophecy (1 Cor 12:10, 13:2), 2) The Word of Knowledge (1 Cor 12:8, 13:2), and Tongues (1 Cor 12:8, 13:1). 1 Corinthians 13:8-12: ... but whether there be PROPHECIES, they shall FAIL; whether there be TONGUES, they shall CEASE; whether there be KNOWLEDGE, it shall VANISH AWAY. 9 For we KNOW IN PART, and we PROPHESY IN PART. 10 But WHEN THAT WHICH IS PERFECT IS COME, THEN THAT WHICH IS IN PART SHALL BE DONE AWAY. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we SEE through a GLASS, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. Some foolishly try to deny this Scriptural interpretation, but we know that 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 teaches that the Revelation Gifts have ceased for the following reasons: 1. Revelation Gifts are enumerated in the near context (1 Cor 12:8, 10, 13:1-2), and again in 1 Corinthians 13:8, that is the gifts of prophecy, tongues and knowledge, saying that they will fail, cease and vanish away (1 Cor 13:8). 2. The reason for this cessation is that the gifts eventually accomplished their goals. The various apostles and prophets had their part to reveal in writing to the church. John had part, Peter had his part, Jude had some to impart, likewise Matthew, Mark, Luke, James and Paul, but when that which is perfect came, the 27 Books of the New Testament, then that which is in part, the gifts ceased. 3. Compare 1 Corinthians 13:11 with Isaiah 28:9-13: Whom shall he teach KNOWLEDGE? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are WEANED FROM THE MILK, and drawn from the breasts. 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: 11 For with stammering lips and ANOTHER TONGUE will he speak to this people. 12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. 13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. (cf. Heb 5:12-13; 1 Pet 2:2 ) 4. Note the word GLASS in 1 Corinthians 13:12. The Greek word meaning a MIRROR is found only 2 other times (Heb 3:18, Noting that the context of the whole chapter is speaking of both the Old and New testaments) and here is the other place (Note the words: glass and perfect and see / lookrth in both 1 Corinthians 13 above and James 1 below.): James 1:18, 21-25: Of his own will begat he us with THE WORD OF TRUTH, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. ... 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness THE ENGRAFTED WORD, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of THE WORD, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of THE WORD, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in A GLASS: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso LOOKETH into the PERFECT law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. There are no apostles or prophets today and Christs church has never ceased to exist or to guard His word, because He has been with it all along and will be with us till the end of this world and on into the world to come.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 19:05:32 +0000
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