False Apostle / Apostles : Apostolic Traits vs. Counterfeit Covering

2 Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

The traits of genuine apostles can be found at http://www.ezekielwar.com/traits.htm

The apostolic office has different manifestations and operations; Every apostle will not exhibit 100% of the 52 traits listed in the above reference article. And those apostles who do possess all of those characteristics will not display them 100% of the time, since we minister in part.

For Example: Apostles of the "Jerusalem paradigm" are not as prone to traveling and starting new works as the "Antioch paradigm."

Example #2: The apostolic in general is replete with miracles and signs, but different apostles move in varying degrees of the miraculous. If we can draw an analogy using the prophetic office we have:

Elijah--who moved greatly in miracles

Elisha--who did twice as many miracles as his mentor, Elijah

John the Baptist, concerning whom there was none greater--but he did no miracles, but yet had a great anointing and a pure, penetrating, timely prophetic word.

All saints should be involved in the miraculous (Mk 16:17,18), but especially elders (Jam. 5:14,15.) Elders, of course, includes apostles.

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According to Revelation 2:2 we will be commended by the Lord for trying the apostles. Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." (Mat 7:15-18)

Now, I don't know about you, but I have seen some bad fruit from good trees. Apostle John illustrated this contrast when he said:

a. "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin ..." (1 Jn 3:9)

b. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 Jn 1:8)

c. "... he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death ..." (1 Jn 5:16)

Overall and in the long run, the good tree produces good fruit. So through the passage of time, we can distinguish whether one is merely imperfect, or downright diabolical.

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In the event that we ascertain that a person claiming to be an apostle is NOT truly in the office of apostle, that does not make them a false Christian, or a wolf amongst the sheep. We should not even be quick to label them as a "false apostle", but should simply say it the way it is: they are in error regarding their calling. Since many Christians cannot define what a true apostle is, they cannot describe a false apostle either. We are all in the learning stages. The traditional church of today would call any modern apostle a "false apostle." If there were only 12 apostles, the Lord would not have commended the Ephesians for trying the false apostles. It would not be necessary to "try" the apostles, because the churches could simply circulate a list of the twelve. This logic holds true today. Only the Lord has an omniscient list of the present day apostles---we have to try the fruit and pray for discernment.

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Another thing to remember is that there are functioning apostles, and then there are "apostles-in-training." Some use the expression: "Called Apostles Vs. Commissioned Apostles." The young apostles won't normally have the maturity of the senior apostles. This does not make the young mentoree a "false apostle," but apostles-in-training should say it the way it is---that they are "in training," so as not to cheapen the title, "apostle." That's a good idea, not a commandment.

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Inspecting Fruit of false Ministry

All Christians, especially apostles, should manifest the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22.) Apostles are role models.

All fivefold ministers, including apostles, should meet the moral and domestic qualifications of elders (1 Tim 3; Tit 1.)

Paul did not use all the rights of an apostle, or even the basic rights due an elder. Although an apostle is entitled to respect and may partake of the right to take a wife and to be compensated for his ministry. The false apostle will both use and over-extend these "rights."

"And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you..." (2 Pet 2:3)

"Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities." (2:10)

"... while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls ..." (2:13b,14)

"... they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh ..." (v.18)

"... following the way of Balaam ... who loved the wages of unrighteousness." (v.15)

"... ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness ..." (Jude 4)

"These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear ..." (Jude 12)

"... having men's persons in admiration because of advantage." (Jude 16)

"... false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage" (Gal 2:4)

"... supposing that gain is godliness ..." (1 Tim 6:5)

"Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats ..." (1 Tim 4:3)

"For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts" (2 Tim 3:6)

False apostles are strangers to persecution. [Gal 6:12]

"They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them."

(Gal 4:17) In other words, they present Christianity as an exclusive club that you can gratefully attain to if you become a contributor to their organization, that you might affect ($) them.

"... they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." (2 Cor 10:12) Competition for fame!

"For ye suffer [you allow it], if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face." (2 Cor 11:20)

Here is a list of some practices that characterize false apostles enumerated by Dr. David Cannistraci on page 138 of his book, The Gift of Apostle, copyright 1996 by Regal Books, Division of Gospel Light, Ventura, CA:

• Secrecy and mystery in their doctrines and lives instead of openness (Gal 2:4,5)
• A spirit of bondage or control of others instead of promoting true liberty.
• Manipulation through flattering words instead of speaking the Truth in love (Rom 16:18; Eph. 4:15)
• Sexually-seductive influence of women instead of purity and respect (Mat 23:14; 2 Tim 3:6)
• Deception and pretense instead of honesty and integrity (Mat 7:15; 24:11)
• False miracles born out of demonic empowerment rather than true miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit (Mat 24:24)
• Superstitions, false philosophies, and carnal thinking instead of the mind of Christ and heavenly wisdom (Colossians chapter 2; Jas 3:15)
• Empty traditions and lifeless symbolism instead of meaningful worship (Colossians chapter 2)
• Penetrating the local church with their messages instead of penetrating society with the gospel (Acts 20:29; Jude 4.) True apostles do not come into the local church to draw people to themselves.
• Detracting and drawing away from the local church and toward themselves instead of building it up and drawing people to Christ (Acts 20:30; 1 Jn 2:19,26.)

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Signs and wonders are not of themselves proof of apostleship as Jesus warned in Mat 24 and in Rev 13. Some Christians have over-reacted to the point where they are skeptical of any supernatural manifestation. A balanced article in support of revival manifestations is at www.ezekielwar.com/manfstns.htm

The very fact that the enemy desires to counterfeit apostles and prophets should be an incentive for us to both acknowledge true modern day apostles, and to also press wholeheartedly into the acceleration of apostolic work among the saints in the earth. The goal of the apostle is to be spent for his spiritual "children" that they might be activated into the global ministry of proclaiming the marvelous deeds of the Lord Jesus Christ, manifesting Christ's works, and pervading the entire fabric of society with the Light of the Gospel before the Lord returns.

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