When Jesus walked on this earth HE called 12 men to be HIS apostles.
But after the crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus called from heaven HIS ministers, just as Jesus called the apostle Paul from heaven.
At the time Jesus called Paul to be a minister, Paul was persecuting the church.
Acts 9:1-6 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt THOU have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt THOU have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
This scripture shows us Jesus calling Paul (by name) and appointing him from heaven to be a minister after Jesus was crucified and raised into heaven.
Jesus
does this same thing today as HE sets HIS ministers into today's
church. From heaven, Jesus speaks to HIS chosen ministers, appointing
them into the ministry of the church and teaching them to do the work of
the ministry to which HE has called them.
Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore HE saith, When HE ascended up on high, HE led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
11-12 And HE gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
I Cor. 12:27-28 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church (as ministers),
first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that
miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of
tongues.
Jesus, speaking from heaven, calls HIS ministers today.
But
many ministers today do not have that call of Jesus on their lives.
They put themselves into the ministry by going to Bible college or
seminaries without being called by Jesus to do so. And they are the antichrists in today's churches.
Jude
18 How that they told you there should be mockers (copiers of other ministers) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
This is the end time apostasy.
2 Peter 2
1
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there
shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable
heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon
themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
(These
false ministers explain away various scriptures and approve sins in the
congregation by departing from scriptures such as Mt. 5:32 where Jesus said the man who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Many
false ministers in today's church covet greatness for themselves and
try to draw large numbers of people to their church for this makes them
look "great" and also brings more money into the church.
This
is the end time apostasy in the church where they fall away from
specific scriptures and set up other doctrines contrary to the New
Testament Bible Doctrines.
II Thessalonians 2
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
In
1982, God said to me: "This falling away are not people leaving the
church group but are church groups leaving various scriptures."
NASB calls this the apostasy of the end times that had to happen in the churches before Jesus returns.
II Thessalonians 2:3-4 (NASB)
π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯