On our website: https://www.thebereancall.org/content/question-what-did-paul-mean-when-he-said-apostles-were-last-appointed-unto-death More question and answer: https://www.thebereancall.org/questionanswer Question: I have long wondered what Paul meant when he said that he and the other apostles were “the last appointed unto death.” Did that mean that no one else after them would ever be martyred for their faith? If so, he was wrong. Response: Paul was not wrong when he wrote these words: “For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men” (1 Cor 4:9). Some argue that Paul and the other apostles thought that the Rapture would occur in their day. Not so. Although he taught believers to expect the Rapture at any moment (Phil 3:20-21; 1 Thes 1:9-10; Titus 2:13, etc.), Paul knew that he would be martyred before it occurred: “For I know...that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in...” (Acts 20:29); “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand” (2 Tim 4:6). Likewise Peter wrote, “Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle...I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance [i.e., he was putting in writing what he had taught them orally]” (2 Pt 1:14-15). Thus we see that the Apostles did not expect to be raptured but knew they must each die for their Lord. Christ declared that His disciples in all ages would be hated by the world and suffer the same as He had at its hands (Jn 15:18-21); Paul implied that Christians would continue to suffer martyrdom (Rom 8:35-37), and warned that “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim 3:12). We know that has been the case throughout history and even greater numbers of believers will be killed by Antichrist (Rv 6:9-11; 13:7,15; 20:4). Obviously, then, Paul did not mean that the Apostles were the last who would be martyred for Christ. They were the last who were “appointed unto death;” i.e., who must die for Christ. The Apostles had to be martyred to provide one of the great proofs of Christ’s ministry, teaching, and resurrection. Followers of various religions have been martyred out of fanaticism or loyalty to their leaders and beliefs. The Apostles, however, died not only out of love for Christ but in testimony of vital facts: Christ did heal the sick, He did raise the dead, walk on water, feed thousands with a few loaves and fishes, rise from the dead, etc. The fact that not one of them in facing death retracted anything to save his life is powerful evidence for the validity of the four Gospels and Book of Acts. It was thus essential that they die as martyrs, and they were the last for whom this was the case. Our main website: www.thebereancall.org Store: store.thebereancall.org Download our app: www.thebereancall.org/app In-depth research on a variety of Bible topics: https://www.thebereancall.org/topics Sign up for our email updates: https://www.thebereancall.org/subscribe ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFuipL8-sjo

https://www.thebereancall.org/topic/calvinism Free Ebook: https://davehunt.org/collections/all-ebooks/products/what-love-is-this-1 About The Berean Call: https://www.thebereancall.org/about-berean-call Our monthly newsletter: https://www.thebereancall.org/newsletters Our online store: https://store.thebereancall.org/ Current radio programs: https://www.thebereancall.org/radio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebereancall Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebereancall Email Updates: https://www.thebereancall.org/subscribe 2402 ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9G6f2SoOVE

More episodes: https://www.thebereancall.org/get-biblical-understanding More about the Bible: https://www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible Free eBook: https://davehunt.org Download our app: https://www.thebereancall.org/app 2 TIMOTHY 3:1-2 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, 2 TIMOTHY 3:12-13 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 2 TIMOTHY 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. HEBREWS 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, HEBREWS 11:22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. 1 PETER 1:9-12 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 2 PETER 1:19-21 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Our website: www.thebereancall.org Store: store.thebereancall.org ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeO1zOV4quU

https://www.thebereancall.org/topic/calvinism Free Ebook: https://davehunt.org/collections/all-... About The Berean Call: https://www.thebereancall.org/about-b... Our monthly newsletter: https://www.thebereancall.org/newslet... Our online store: https://store.thebereancall.org/ Current radio programs: https://www.thebereancall.org/radio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebereancall Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebereancall Email Updates: https://www.thebereancall.org/subscribe 1006 ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp-YvPlfa4M