The Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets [my emphasis added]
[Proof Text?] Eph 4:11-13 And he gave [past tense] the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds (pastors) and teachers (Sun School, Child.Church) to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Notice that there are qualifications for pastors, deacons and elders (Titus 1 & 1 Tim 3) but none are given for apostles and prophets. That’s because thier time has come and gone. We have the whole Word of God, therefore no more revelation is needed.
Bible Verses Showing the Cessation of the Apostles and Prophets
Heb 1:1-3 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke [past tense] to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken [past tense] to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
Jude 1:3-4 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
John Baptist was last of Prophets (O. T. Prophet) – John the last Apostle – And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Rev 21:14 Only 12 Pillars in the Temple in the Kingdom (for Apostles).
Building on the Foundation
Eph 2:19-22 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God built [past tense] on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. {Another Foundation after 2,000 years?!]
1 Corinthians 3:9 “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.“
Deut 18:20-22 “But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name, a word which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How will we recognize the word which the Lord has not spoken?’ When the prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, and the thing does not happen or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you are not to be afraid of him.”
Ezk 14:10 “And they shall bear their punishment–the punishment of the prophet and the punishment of the inquirer shall be alike.”
Another Word from God?
Self-proclaimed “prophets” who have “a word from God” or “new revelation” are essentially saying, “I Love Your Word, God, the Bible, but it’s not enough…we need more revelation!”
2 Pet 1:18-21 “We ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven {God-transfig.}, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have [past tense] the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
Adding to His Word
Prov 30:6 Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
“You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, so that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I am commanding you” (Deut 4:2).
Rev 22:18-19 “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”
1 Cor 15:15 “Moreover, we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.”
Peter warned that there are “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep” (2 Pet 2:1-3).
Paul wrote, “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds” (2 Cor 11:13-15).
Jesus warned END TIMES “false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect” (Matt 24:24).
