The Apostolic office was not disposed of in the office of Bishop. If you see in history, apostles today throughout the church’s history were called Legates or Nuncio’s (in a Roman sense) that carry the authority of the church in a region.
No apostles today can add books to the Bible, yet they have authority under the church. Not all Bishops are Apostles and not all apostles are bishops. In the Apostolic succession of bishops, Paul gave instructions to Timothy, Titus, and Silas to ordain elders (Presbyters).
The presbyters were not taking the place of apostles but were walking alongside them. Timothy, Titus, and Silas were apostles in the sense of being sent, however this sending is by the church. Epaphroditus was also an apostle in this sense. Barna-bas was called an apostle as well.
Miracles, healing, Prophecy still happen by the Holy Spirit today and according to 1 Corinthians 1:5-8 remain until Christ returns that we lack no gift. This then would also include Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, Pastors and Teachers. To say that apostles have ceased is also to say prophets have ceased, evangelist have ceased, pastors and teachers have ceased. We have not come unto the unity of the faith in any way at all with the belief that saying apostles have ceased.
What we must understand is that like in the book of Acts when the Holy Ghost was given in chapter 10 to the gentile church, Peter saw this and many understood that these people received the Holy Ghost JUST LIKE WE the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church has, Peter then using the Sacrament of Baptism commands that these who heard him preach the Gospel become part of the Eucharistic body of Christ. This then should be the same way we are to embrace those who today receive a spiritual experience once given the invitation to come under the umbrella of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic church should be given. Let’s be clear, NOT ROMAN CATHOLIC! But Catholic in the sense of unity.
When they receive the sacrament, they then say my experience is in line with what the church had at the beginning, but if they reject the church, then and only then could they be outside of its Grace. Are we closing doors to people who may not understand the truth? In many cases the church has. Don’t let that be the case in your church. Embrace the Apostolic.
Generations believed apostles were outmoded, but if that was the case the church could not be perfected to its full stature. The gifts and calling of God are without re-pentance, that means God didn’t change his mind when he gave the gift. The Apostolic gifting was not outmoded. There must be levels of apostleship: those that saw Christ in the flesh; and those that had a vision of Christ but didn’t see him in the flesh.
God is restoring true apostolic gifts in the body of Christ.
-Anthony Booker
The GATHERING Place 