Characteristics of false apostles. The name "apostle" means "sent out" / "one sent out". The Lord Jesus chose 12 special men to be with him, and called them apostles. Later Paul was also called and the first congregation chose Matthias in the place of Judas Iscariot. The apostles had the task to form congregations through the whole known world and to write the New Testament with the help of others, like Luke, the doctor. They were specially equipped for their task by special gifts of the Holy Spirit (John 20:22; Acts 1:8). When they finished their task, the work of Apostles ceased to exist in the church. Paul was the last apostle. All modern "apostles" are therefore irrelevant and false. Their characteristics are: 1. They are self-appointed apostles - Not true messengers of the Lord. Read what Paul wrote about them in 2 Corinthians 10:17-18. False apostles usually draw people to themselves. Read also: 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. 2. They do not conform to the rules of the Bible regarding an apostle When the apostles had to choose someone in the place of Judas Iscariot they demanded the following qualifications in Acts 1:21-22: 1) He must be one of those "who was with us all the while we had the Lord Jesus with us". 2) He must be a witness of the resurrection. 3) He must be a witness of the Lord's ascension. 3. The office of apostle ceased to exist. Paul was the last apostle / 1 Corinthians 15:8; 1 Corinthians 4:9. There are therefore no more apostles in the Christian church, as we know them in the Bible. However, since the word means "one who is sent out," every Christian missionary is an apostle in that sense.   Back