All (yes, allllll!) modern-day “apostles” are false apostles and that’s what we want to talk about today.
As the days grow darker and the return of the Lord draws nearer, a growing number of people have risen up from our churches who claim the office, authority and title of apostle. These people are primarily found in the NAR / Fringe-Charismatic movement but also within some Pentecostal circles also. But are there apostles among us today? Absolutely not; Scripture and church history are clear: the office of apostle was unique in the Word as foundational to the church; the office is closed. In Acts 1:21-22 the qualifications for apostleship were being a witness of Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection. Peter states that the person replacing Judas must have been a follower of Jesus from the beginning of his ministry and must have been a witness to his resurrection. No one today can fulfill the Acts 1:21-22 qualifications.
The Greek word apostolos (“sent one”) does appear in a generic sense in Scripture; this is clear. Yet, this is in a functional, non-title sense as we see messengers and missionaries were sometimes sent out by local churches (as in 2 Corinthians 8:23 and Philippians 2:25, where the word is translated “messenger”. For example, the same word (diakonos) used for minister is also the same word used for servant and waiter (Romans 16 as an example). We know Phoebe was a servant at minimum and a deaconess at maximum based on the context … yes the word there is the same one Paul also refers to himself and others as… but in the other contexts it means “minister”… not deacon (or servant or waiter, etc). It’s the same with the word “angel” (ángelos) in the context of the seven letters in Revelation; we know they weren’t “actual” angels; the letters were written to the elders (angels) of the churches.
Yet, in our modern apostate church, we seemingly have super-apostles running around everywhere. Just a few names that come to mind:
1- The late C. Peter Wagner is the architect of the NAR (New Apostolic Reformation). He taught that God was restoring apostles and prophets to positions of leadership in the Church and founded the International Coalition of Apostles to recognize and connect modern apostolic leaders. Although he did note a difference between modern apostles from the original apostles, he believed modern apostles were called to govern churches worldwide.
2- Kathryn Krick calls herself “Apostle Kathryn Krick” and is seen by her followers as a modern-day apostle. Her ministry is focused on casting demons out of Christians (deliverance), healing, miracles and she teaches that God still appoints apostles today. Through her social media videos and now Charisma Magazine’s endorsement, this false apostle has gained a massive following.
3- Bill Johnson is usually introduced as “Pastor Bill” rather than “Apostle Bill.” That said, he’s been seen for years as an “apostolic” leader who functions in an “apostolic” ministry. Though he doesn’t use the title Apostle himself, C. Peter Wagner publicly recognized Bill Johnson as one of the leading apostolic voices of his generation. Also, Bill Johnson’s closest friends are “apostles” and he works alongside “apostles” when given the opportunity.
4- John Arnott is also recognized in modern “apostolic circles” as an apostolic leader, though he’s is more commonly known as the pastor of Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship (now Catch the Fire Toronto) and it’s 1994 demonic revival known as the Toronto Blessing. John is in fellowship with and ministers with modern-day “apostles”, participated in apostolic networks and is seen by NAR followers as someone who functions as an apostle. C Peter Wagner made this clear (see video with this post).
5- Che Ahn is one of the NAR’s leading advocates of modern “apostleship”. He’s regularly called “Apostle Che Ahn,” founded Harvest International Ministry and continues to promote the “restoration of apostles and prophets” in the Church. He was also a member of the International Coalition of Apostles.
6- Chuck Pierce is also known as an “Apostle”. As the founder of Glory of Zion International Ministries, he’s a major influential voice in the modern apostolic movement. While his ministry is mostly about prophecy, he’s known in apostolic circles as a “modern apostle”.
7- Rick Joyner founded MorningStar Ministries and is known worldwide because of his books, visions and prophetic teaching. Those in the NAR movement see him as an “apostolic leader” because of his influence and relationships with other “modern-day apostles”.
There are many, many more “apostles” I could list here but these are the most famous ones… and no; they aren’t apostles; they’re false apostles. In the clip I’ve uploaded with this post (see first comment), you see many of these modern “apostles” commission Todd Bentley at his failed “Lakeland Revival” where he was soon afterwards exposed as a serial predator who ran off with his “revival assistant” and then divorced his wife. These so-called “apostles” who “decreed” revival increase couldn’t see what Bentley was; they had no discernment whatsoever … and as a result they platformed a deviant and gave him even more credibility. The “apostles” we have today may be running around “decreeing and declaring”… but nothing is happening; it’s all a show.
The original apostles were also given unique authority in the founding of the early church that no one else was given and their ministry was confirmed with the ability to perform signs and wonders (Acts 2:43, 5:12). While all Christians can and do operate in the power of God, the apostles’ giftings were unique in that those giftings were directly connected to their calling and office.
That office, the original apostolic office, was closed after the death of the apostles and Paul. The New Testament clearly teaches that they were the foundation of the church, and that their calling was to establish the church and provide the inspired, authoritative doctrine and necessary governance (Ephesians 2:20).
Once the apostles had completed their calling from God, their office was closed as it was fulfilled in what we now have as the written Word of God. The early church fathers (ie; Clement of Rome and Ignatius of Antioch) understood that the office of apostle was unique and not intended to continue beyond the original apostles; they understood that the apostles had finished their calling of establishing the church and providing it with it’s authoritative teaching and governance. Paul, the last of the apostles to be commissioned by Jesus Himself (Acts 9:1-31), wrote about the nature of his ministry and the authority that came with it. In his epistles, Paul was absolutely clear that his apostolic authority was given to him by Christ and that he was a witness to the risen Lord (1 Corinthians 9:1, 15:8-10). He was the last of the original apostles; those claiming to be apostles today are false apostles (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
Modern apostles like Kathryn Krick and the others I mentioned above who claim this office today are deceiving God’s people by implying that they have the same authority and power as the original apostles. No; they don’t. They’re not eyewitnesses of Jesus’ ministry, His death and resurrection; and they haven’t been commissioned as apostles by Christ himself, as the originals were.
The closest we have to apostolic ministry today would be missionaries and church planters sent to start and disciple new churches and communities of believers. Missionaries and church planters are certainly gifted and anointed by God to fulfill their ministries but they aren’t the same as the foundational apostles who established the church in the first place. The key difference between the foundational apostles and modern-day missionaries and church planters is the type and level of authority they have as well as the scope of their calling. The original apostles had a unique and temporary role in establishing the church whereas modern-day “apostolic” ministry is about planting churches and discipling believers in those churches in line with the original apostles’ writings (the Bible).
We were warned about networks, organizations and churches that have modern-day “apostles” who claim to be equal to the originals long ago when Paul said as much in 2 Corinthians 11:12-15 “And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”
Brothers and sisters, don’t be fooled by the Bill Johnson’s, Peter Wagner’s and Kathryn Krick’s of the world; they aren’t “apostles”, don’t possess the authority of apostles and aren’t doing Kingdom work; they’re doing their own work and building their own kingdoms. God’s written word, given by the original foundational Apostles, is sufficient and more than enough. Going beyond this is going into heresy… and it’s the reason we have movements like the NAR. Stick to the inspired Word of God alone and these deceitful false apostles will have no power to deceive you
