An apostle (Heb. shliach, Gk. apostolos) is an emissary or messenger commissioned by Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) - literally 'one sent out' - to proclaim the Besorah (Gospel, Good News) from Elohim (God) (Mk.1:15; 6:7-13; Lk.9:1-6,60).
"He appointed twelve, whom He also named apostles, to be with Him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message [of salvation], and to have authority to cast out demons" (Mk. 3:14-15, NRSV).
The original twelve - Simon Peter (Kefa), James (Ya'akov), John (Yochannan), James ben Zebedee, Andrew, Philip, Bartholemew, Matthew (Mattityahu), Thomas (T'oma), James (Ya'akov) ben Alphaeus, Thaddaeus (Taddai), Simon of Cyrene, Simon (Shimon) the Canaanite and Judas (Yehudah) - were the only people who ever fulfilled all three requirements to be bona fide apostles, save for Matthias who temporarily replaced Judas after his fall (Ac.1:26). It is our belief that Paul (Sha'ul) of Tarsus replaced Matthias (who had been selected by lot and not by revelation) even though Paul had never been with Yah'shua (Jesus).
There are many today who call themselves 'apostles' from heretical Mormons and members of the New Apostolic Church to Pentecostals and Charismatics but none of these fulfil the three criteria since no one alive ever walked with Yah'shua (Jesus) during His mortality and none are teaching pure doctrine. The original Twelve (with Paul replacing Judas/Matthias) are utterly unique, of whom it is written that they will judge the Twelve Tribes of Israel at the end of the age because they went through Messiah's trials with Him (Mt.9:28; Lk.22:28-30).
It is the belief of this ministry that there will be 12 specially commissioned apostles in the last generation of the Remnant just as there were in the first generation of New Testament believers, and that they will be distinguished from all pretenders to the office in numerous respects. They will be nevi'im (prophets), seers, and revelators, they will cast out demons for real (not the modern charismatic theatrics), proclaim the fullness of the Besorah (Gospel) message, authentically bear the New Covenant Melchizedek Priesthood, teach the fullness true New Covenant Torah doctrine, heal the sick, raise the dead, be endowed with the Ministry of Reconciliation which is the Spirit of Elijah, speak in true tongues (i.e. speak modern languages supernaturally) when needed for evangelism, raise the dead, transmaterialise and move around the earth supernaturally like the Apostle Philip, move and split mountains, walk on and part water, practice Holy Echad Marriage and - most importantly of all - have physically met and received their commission from the resurrected Yah'shua (Jesus) face-to-face in the presence of witnesses ... to name but a few of their qualifications for the completion of the Final Gathering and Second Exodus. They will not be anything like the ministers you may have encountered today.
Most who call themselves 'apostles' today, if they are not fakes (as the majority are), are best called 'sub-apostles' which is an alternative name we at NCAY give to evangelists. Thus the Messianic Scriptures (New Testament) speak of two other kinds of apostolos or 'apostle', but only in a few places:
- 1. All believers, because all are 'sent out' (apostolos) as witnesses (Jn.13:6); and
- 2. Missionaries sent out (apostolos) by local assemblies to other assemblies to fulfil various errands (2 Cor.8:23; Phil.2:25) that would include those called to be Evangelists or Sub-Apostles (Eph.4:11; Ac.21:8; 2 Tim.4:5).
NCAY is an apostolic church/assembly preparing for the calling and full Sukkot Anointing of the last generation of End-time Apostles. When fully organised we will have 12 male apostles, 144 female apostles (under the authority of the 12), and an unspecified number of male and female Sub-Apostles (Evangelists). Some of the apostolic gifts are currently amongst us, but not all.
We further recognise that Yahweh has called other apostles ouside NCAY within the wider Body of Messiah too who are of the as yet ungathered Remnant.
Read the materials in the directory below to find out more about NCAY's apostolic tradition, apostolic activities and leadership.
(10 June 2017)
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