PROPHETIC TO APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION

These are exciting days in which we live. God has restored, and is continuing to restore, the prophetic and the office of the prophet back to the church. Presently God is restoring the apostolic and the office of the apostle back to the church. Soon we will begin to see what our spirits and souls have longed for, the restoration of the bride of Christ, and soon after, the return of the bridegroom.

In order for this unfolding of God’s end time government to be accomplished, we must all be willing to let God put us into our proper place of functioning, and into right relationships with others in the five-fold ministry. I believe that part of this proper functioning includes a “changing of the guard” type of deference, from the prominence of the prophet to the prominence of the apostle.

John the Baptist, a prophet of God, came as a forerunner to Jesus, our “apostle” (Hebrews 3:1). Isaiah spoke of John when he prophesied, “… ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way, – a voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” (Mark 1:2-3, NIV). And John the prophet was faithful to his calling. He declared that apostle Jesus was coming, and set the scene for him to arrive, and to be accepted by the people.

But there came a day, when prophet John had to change his functioning and his relationship with apostle Jesus, from forerunner to servant. John fully understood this when he said, “… ‘A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, “I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.” The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.’” (John 3:27-30, NIV).

This is the way of the prophetic and the apostolic. It has been this way from the beginning, and it is to be this way today.

In the Old Testament, Samuel the prophet was the forerunner, who prepared the way for kingly ministry. It was Samuel who prepared the way for and appointed Saul to be king (the Old Testament governmental equivalent of the apostle). It was also Samuel who, after Saul’s failure, prepared the way for and appointed David to be king. So initially, the kings (apostles) were appointed by the prophets. But after king David, it was no longer the prophets, it was the kings who appointed the succeeding kings. The prophets were still involved, no longer providing leadership in appointing the king, but instead providing support, in counseling and confirming and blessing the choice made by the king.

So after the kingly ministry was established by the prophets, the kings took over from the prophets, in appointing the new kings. The prophets changed their role in relationship with the kings, for the sake of the kingdom.

John the Baptist did the same thing. He was actively involved in establishing the apostolic ministry through apostle Jesus, but once apostle Jesus was established, Jesus took over the appointing of the new apostles. “He appointed twelve – designating them apostles – that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach” (Mark 3:14, NIV). The ministry of the prophet did not end with Jesus, it changed its function into a counseling and confirming and blessing role, which was greatly needed by the apostles who succeeded Jesus.

Two thousand years later, we stand at the same threshold. The prophets have done a great job at preparing the way for the apostles. They used great wisdom and discernment in pointing out the first rising apostles. But the time of transition is upon us. And it is imperative that the prophets change their role, not in taking a job demotion, but instead, in taking a job transfer, into a new role and a new function and a new relationship.

What would have happened if Samuel had not decreased, so that David could increase? What would have happened if John had not handed over the appointing ministry to Jesus? And what will happen if God’s faithful prophets today, do not hand over the kingly ministry to the apostles?

The church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” (Ephesians 2:20, NIV). But the church is only built strong, as the apostles and prophets are willing (and courageous enough) to change their roles and functions for the sake of the Kingdom.

These are days of transition. I pray that every prophet will be willingly to allow this transition to occur, so that apostles are free to raise up new apostles. And I pray that every emerging apostle will continue to value and cooperate with the contribution of the prophets. Remember that the goal is not to prefer or exalt the apostles over the prophets, but to prepare for the manifestation for the bride of Christ. In the end, the apostles too, must decrease, just as apostle Jesus did, because it is really all about the bride, not about apostles and prophets. Apostles and prophets may the foundation, but it is the pure and prepared bride that is the house (Hebrews 3:6).

John 12:24, NIV – “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

David Hibbert – January 2004