Matthew 12 Desolate Kingdom Prophecy

Mr. M

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Up to this point, the kingdom of heaven has been proclaimed to be
engizo[G1448]: at hand, drawn near, approachable.

Matthew 3:2, 4:17, 10:7.
At the close of Matthew 11, Jesus proclaims:
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.

30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

We now come to a familiar point of contention
Matthew 12:
10
And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand.
And they asked Him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?,
that they might accuse Him.
11 Then He said to them, What man is there among you who has one sheep,
and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?

12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful
to do good on the Sabbath.

13 Then He said to the man, Stretch out your hand. And he stretched it out,
and it was restored as whole as the other.

This alone was enough to provoke them to want Him killed!
14 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.

Now we have come to the unacceptable point of contention.
Matthew 12:
22
Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute;
and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.
23 And all the multitudes were amazed and said, Could this be the Son of David?
24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, This does not cast out demons
except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.

Now we are faced with one of the most dramatic changes of tone in the presentation
of the Gospel. Here is the full text:

Matthew 12:
25
But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: Every kingdom divided against
itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?
Therefore they shall be your judges.

28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds
the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.
31 Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.
32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but
whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age
or in the age to come.

Now let’s get straight to it! Previously, as noted, the expression used in reference to the kingdom was “at hand, or drawn near”. Listen closely to what the Lord has to say now:
But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.(literally, up against you: phthano epi).
No city or house (think denomination, school of thought, theological argument or doctrine)
will stand! Opposing the Holy Spirit in any way will result in desolation! I have already proposed a question concerning the meaning of “scattering abroad” in another forum, so I will not repeat that here.
The Generation That Does Not Gather

We can ask, “how will our children cast out demons? Or will those demons be their judges?"
 

Mr. M

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I know Jesus did and gave that authority to the 12.
Not just the 12...
Luke 10:
17
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name. 18 And He said to them, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.
21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

The Whole Armor of God is for spiritual warfare!
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Why would Jesus expect any less from those He sends out in His name?
John 14:
12
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
15 If you love Me, keep My commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever,
17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
 
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Jesus is YHWH

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Not just the 12...
Luke 10:
17
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name. 18 And He said to them, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.
21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

The Whole Armor of God is for spiritual warfare!
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Why would Jesus expect any less from those He sends out in His name?
John 14:
12
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
15 If you love Me, keep My commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever,
17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
Mark 16 ending is debatable and the others are about the 12 during Jesus earthly ministry and the other references are not about casting out demons.
 
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Gregory Thompson

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I don't recommend preaching the casting out of demons from the pulpit, you'd have a mixed audience some of which think they are born again, but will find they are not to their peril.

I recommend this type of teaching for discipleship contexts for people of the right degree of spiritual maturity.
 
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Mr. M

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Mark 16 ending is debatable and the others are about the 12 during Jesus earthly ministry and the other references are not about casting out demons.
I just showed you that the 70 He later sent out exercised the same authority! Why would you
leave home without it?
The fact that some scholars call the Mark 16 ending questionable is
well known and not worth debating. If you want to ignore Paul's teachings on spiritual
warfare as not about casting out demons, fine.
John 14:
12
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
So, is He talking about turning water into wine?
Do you also set aside healing? Never mind. If you want to go out into the world
in His name without His authority, that is your choice.
Any thoughts on the topic? The "blasphemy of the Holy Spirit", and
"a desolate division of the kingdom"?
 
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I just showed you that the 70 He later sent out exercised the same authority! Why would you
leave home without it?
The fact that some scholars call the Mark 16 ending questionable is
well known and not worth debating. If you want to ignore Paul's teachings on spiritual
warfare as not about casting out demons, fine.

So, is He talking about turning water into wine?
Do you also set aside healing? Never mind. If you want to go out into the world
in His name without His authority, that is your choice.
Any thoughts on the topic? The "blasphemy of the Holy Spirit", and
"a desolate division of the kingdom"?
Yes in Jesus day not ours. It was for yo confirm messiah was in their midst and the kingdom of God had arrived. Everything in Scripture has a context and not every verse can be applied to us personally.

hope this helps !!!
 
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Mr. M

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Yes in Jesus day not ours. It was for yo confirm messiah was in their midst and the kingdom of God had arrived. Everything in Scripture has a context and not every verse can be applied to us personally.

hope this helps !!!
Yeah, thanks for that!
Again, any comments on the actual topic, not whether or not today's saints have a mandate
to cast out demons, but on the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, and the desolation
of divisions in the kingdom based on that?
Yes, Jesus is casting out demons in Matthew 12, that led
to a conversation that is the actual topic of the thread.
 
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Gregory Thompson

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The desolation of the manmade front for the kingdom of God occurred in multiple steps. However, it began with a disobedience of the sermon on the mount that became foundational. Each time a new crack appeared, sand was poured in to fill in the gap. This crack in the foundation lead to many foundation islands in a sea of sand.

The foundational faux pas of the founders was to curse those who believed differently, this is in direct violation of the foundational teachings Jesus set out in the sermon on the mount.

This is why there is a desolate kingdom, the sea of sand is the reason why the Holy Spirit is opposed.
 
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Yeah, thanks for that!
Again, any comments on the actual topic, not whether or not today's saints have a mandate
to cast out demons, but on the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, and the desolation
of divisions in the kingdom based on that?
Yes, Jesus is casting out demons in Matthew 12, that led
to a conversation that is the actual topic of the thread.
I’ll comment on that for sure later
 
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Mr. M

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It is also claimed to have come to us (Luke 11:20) and to be upon us
(Matthew 12:28).
Also used were the expressions "has come to us" and "is upon us
(Matthew 12:28; Luke 11:20)
Yes, this is covered in the OP and is NOT an equivalent expression.

Now we have come to the unacceptable point of contention.
Matthew 12:
22
Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute;
and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.
23 And all the multitudes were amazed and said, Could this be the Son of David?
24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, This does not cast out demons
except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.

Now we are faced with one of the most dramatic changes of tone in the presentation
of the Gospel. Here is the full text:

Matthew 12:
25
But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: Every kingdom divided against
itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?
Therefore they shall be your judges.

28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds
the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.
31 Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.
32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but
whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age
or in the age to come.


Now let’s get straight to it! Previously, as noted, the expression used in reference to the kingdom was “at hand, or drawn near”. Listen closely to what the Lord has to say now:
But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.(literally, up against you: phthano epi).
 
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NotreDame

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Where in the bible are we told to cast out demons ?

I know Jesus did and gave that authority to the 12.

Paul was decidedly not “told” by Jesus to cast out demons, yet he did so. There is no verse, no sentence, no phrase, in the Bible limiting authority to cast out demons to the 12.
 
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Paul was decidedly not “told” by Jesus to cast out demons, yet he did so. There is no verse, no sentence, no phrase, in the Bible limiting authority to cast out demons to the 12.
He was personally appointed by Jesus as an Apostle.
 
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NotreDame

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Yes in Jesus day not ours. It was for yo confirm messiah was in their midst and the kingdom of God had arrived. Everything in Scripture has a context and not every verse can be applied to us personally.

hope this helps !!!

When interpretating a text, the beginning point is nothing more than the words, their meanings, what is called the plain text.

So, the phrase, “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech” has at least two plain text meanings. One meaning is Congress is not to make a law “abridging” freedom of speech. The second plain text meaning is at least some amount of speech exists that Congress may not “abridge.” No context is needed to discern this plain text meaning. None.

The concluding paragraphs have a plain text meaning. I’ll begin, for now, without resorting to the original Greek. I refer to the NASB if, for no other reason, the NASB is one of the versions reliably consistent with the original Greek.

“Later He appeared to the eleven disciplesthemselves as they were reclining at the table…And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.16 The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned. 17 These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

So, the plain text says A.) Spread the Gospel. B.) Those who believe and are baptized are saved C.) Not believing results in being condemned D.) These signs will accompany those who have believed: speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

So, D is a two part phrase. 1.) Those who believe/have believed will be accompanied by 2.) speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

This is a classic if X, then Y conditional. If they believe/have believed, then they will be accompanied by “speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (The word believe is consistent with the original Greek, as the word for believed means “have faith in, trust in, to believe.”

Okay, the plain text meaning of D isn’t limited to the 11, 12, or any other number that references a more narrow group of believers among believers. We know the plain text lacks such limitation because Jesus did not reference a specific number of believers from among believers and neither did Jesus reference the “apostles” or “disciples” as only those to “speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

The language Jesus chose is “those who have believed/believe.” That is a broad, sweeping statement devoid of any time limit, devoid of referring to a specific, more narrow group of believers.

The phrase “speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” is as applicable to “those who have believed” today as the phrase was applicable to those “who have believed” at the time Jesus spoke those words and to those “who have believed” shortly after Jesus spoke those words. The people Jesus is referencing are “those who have believed,” and Jesus placed no time limit or any other limitation.

The plain text meaning is “those who have believed,” and that broad statement is applicable to wherever there are “those who have believed,” applying to the “those” of today, the “those” of yesterday and “those” of two thousand years ago, and all the time in between today and 2,000 years ago where “those” exist.

The plain text meaning is applicable to “us” today, where “us” are “those who have believed.

There’s no need for your “context” that alters the plain text meaning by imposing a meaning on the text that isn’t consistent with the plain text words.
 
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NotreDame

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He was personally appointed by Jesus as an Apostle.

Paul’s conversion is an educated guess of three years after Jesus’ death and resurrection to 6 years. Hence, Paul was not present and neither was he a believer or apostle when Jesus commanded the 11 to do X, or Y or Z. Paul was not present, nor a belieber or apostle, when Jesus gave a mandate to the 11, and by your logic, that mandate wasn’t for Paul.

This is but one flaw of your logic. You have to perform mental gymnastics to have Paul fit within your narrative because Paul doesn’t fit within your narrative. Neither do those believers Paul converted, who also performed some of the same acts Jesus mandated to the apostles but came years after the mandate was given to the 11, fit within your logic.

So, you espouse this “apostle” logic which, rather than ameliorate your flaw, compounds the flawed logic. There’s not a single verse anywhere in the Bible where Jesus limits the signs and wonders to “apostles.” Not one. Not a problem you say, just a wave of the magical “context” wand and one can arrive at a meaning they desire where the plain text meaning is inconsistent or contrary, morphing and bending the plain text meaning to your desired meaning. Which is exactly your argument and modus operandi.
 
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Yeah, thanks for that!
Again, any comments on the actual topic, not whether or not today's saints have a mandate
to cast out demons, but on the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, and the desolation
of divisions in the kingdom based on that?
Yes, Jesus is casting out demons in Matthew 12, that led
to a conversation that is the actual topic of the thread.
The blasphemy of the H.S. (unpardonable sin) was committed by the pharisees who saw Jesus miracles and attributed them to beelzebub. Jesus is no longer walking this earth performing miracles in person and that sin can no longer be committed today. The unforgiveable sin cannot be committed today.

See Got Questions below :

According to Jesus, the unpardonable or unforgivable sin is unique. It is the one iniquity that will never be forgiven (“never” is the meaning of “either in this age or in the age to come” in Matthew 12:32). The unforgivable sin is blasphemy (“defiant irreverence”) of the Holy Spirit in the context of the Spirit’s work in the world through Christ. In other words, the particular case of blasphemy seen in Matthew 12 and Mark 3 is unique. The guilty party, a group of Pharisees, had witnessed irrefutable evidence that Jesus was working miracles in the power of the Holy Spirit, yet they claimed that He was possessed by the prince of demons, Beelzebul (Matthew 12:24; Mark 3:30).

The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day committed the unpardonable sin by accusing Jesus Christ (in person, on earth) of being demon-possessed. They had no excuse for such an action. They were not speaking out of ignorance or misunderstanding. The Pharisees knew that Jesus was the Messiah sent by God to save Israel. They knew the prophecies were being fulfilled. They saw Jesus’ wonderful works, and they heard His clear presentation of truth. Yet they deliberately chose to deny the truth and slander the Holy Spirit. Standing before the Light of the World, bathed in His glory, they defiantly closed their eyes and became willfully blind. Jesus pronounced that sin to be unforgivable.

The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, specific as it was to the Pharisees’ situation, cannot be duplicated today. Jesus Christ is not on earth, and no one can personally see Jesus perform a miracle and then attribute that power to Satan instead of the Spirit. The only unpardonable sin today is that of continued unbelief. There is no pardon for a person who dies in his rejection of Christ. The Holy Spirit is at work in the world, convicting the unsaved of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). If a person resists that conviction and remains unrepentant, then he is choosing hell over heaven. “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6), and the object of faith is Jesus (Acts 16:31). There is no forgiveness for someone who dies without faith in Christ.

God has provided for our salvation in His Son (John 3:16). Forgiveness is found exclusively in Jesus (John 14:6). To reject the only Savior is to be left with no means of salvation; to reject the only pardon is, obviously, unpardonable.

Many people fear they have committed some sin that God cannot or will not forgive, and they feel there is no hope for them, no matter what they do. Satan would like nothing more than to keep people laboring under that misconception. God gives encouragement to the sinner who is convicted of his sin: “Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:8). “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more” (Romans 5:20). And the testimony of Paul is proof positive that God can and will save anyone who comes to Him in faith (1 Timothy 1:12–17). If you are suffering under a load of guilt today, rest assured that you have not committed the unpardonable sin. God is waiting with open arms. Jesus’ promise is that “he is able to save completely those who come to God through him” (Hebrews 7:25). Our Lord will never fail. “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation” (Isaiah 12:2).
 
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Paul’s conversion is an educated guess of three years after Jesus’ death and resurrection to 6 years. Hence, Paul was not present and neither was he a believer or apostle when Jesus commanded the 11 to do X, or Y or Z. Paul was not present, nor a belieber or apostle, when Jesus gave a mandate to the 11, and by your logic, that mandate wasn’t for Paul.

This is but one flaw of your logic. You have to perform mental gymnastics to have Paul fit within your narrative because Paul doesn’t fit within your narrative. Neither do those believers Paul converted, who also performed some of the same acts Jesus mandated to the apostles but came years after the mandate was given to the 11, fit within your logic.

So, you espouse this “apostle” logic which, rather than ameliorate your flaw, compounds the flawed logic. There’s not a single verse anywhere in the Bible where Jesus limits the signs and wonders to “apostles.” Not one. Not a problem you say, just a wave of the magical “context” wand and one can arrive at a meaning they desire where the plain text meaning is inconsistent or contrary, morphing and bending the plain text meaning to your desired meaning. Which is exactly your argument and modus operandi.
Sorry the bible defines who is an Apostle below and their qualifications. Once again your view is unbiblical.

Acts 1:21-22
Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection."

Acts 5:29-32
Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead — whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

Luke 1:1-2
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

1 Cor 9:1-2
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

1 Cor 15:3-9
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

hope this helps !!!
 
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Clare73

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The blasphemy of the H.S. (unpardonable sin) was committed by the pharisees who saw Jesus miracles and attributed them to beelzebub. Jesus is no longer walking this earth performing miracles in person and that sin can no longer be committed today. The unforgiveable sin cannot be committed today.
People cannot deny the truth and slander the Holy Spirit today?

They cannot say that the establishment and growth of the church for 2,000 years is the work of Satan?

They cannot say that completely changing your mind from rejection of Christ to faith in Christ is just brainwashing by evil demagogues?
See Got Questions below :

According to Jesus, the unpardonable or unforgivable sin is unique. It is the one iniquity that will never be forgiven (“never” is the meaning of “either in this age or in the age to come” in Matthew 12:32). The unforgivable sin is blasphemy (“defiant irreverence”) of the Holy Spirit in the context of the Spirit’s work in the world through Christ. In other words, the particular case of blasphemy seen in Matthew 12 and Mark 3 is unique. The guilty party, a group of Pharisees, had witnessed irrefutable evidence that Jesus was working miracles in the power of the Holy Spirit, yet they claimed that He was possessed by the prince of demons, Beelzebul (Matthew 12:24; Mark 3:30).

The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day committed the unpardonable sin by accusing Jesus Christ (in person, on earth) of being demon-possessed. They had no excuse for such an action. They were not speaking out of ignorance or misunderstanding. The Pharisees knew that Jesus was the Messiah sent by God to save Israel. They knew the prophecies were being fulfilled. They saw Jesus’ wonderful works, and they heard His clear presentation of truth. Yet they deliberately chose to deny the truth and slander the Holy Spirit. Standing before the Light of the World, bathed in His glory, they defiantly closed their eyes and became willfully blind. Jesus pronounced that sin to be unforgivable.

The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, specific as it was to the Pharisees’ situation, cannot be duplicated today. Jesus Christ is not on earth, and no one can personally see Jesus perform a miracle and then attribute that power to Satan instead of the Spirit. The only unpardonable sin today is that of continued unbelief. There is no pardon for a person who dies in his rejection of Christ. The Holy Spirit is at work in the world, convicting the unsaved of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). If a person resists that conviction and remains unrepentant, then he is choosing hell over heaven. “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6), and the object of faith is Jesus (Acts 16:31). There is no forgiveness for someone who dies without faith in Christ.

God has provided for our salvation in His Son (John 3:16). Forgiveness is found exclusively in Jesus (John 14:6). To reject the only Savior is to be left with no means of salvation; to reject the only pardon is, obviously, unpardonable.

Many people fear they have committed some sin that God cannot or will not forgive, and they feel there is no hope for them, no matter what they do. Satan would like nothing more than to keep people laboring under that misconception. God gives encouragement to the sinner who is convicted of his sin: “Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:8). “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more” (Romans 5:20). And the testimony of Paul is proof positive that God can and will save anyone who comes to Him in faith (1 Timothy 1:12–17). If you are suffering under a load of guilt today, rest assured that you have not committed the unpardonable sin. God is waiting with open arms. Jesus’ promise is that “he is able to save completely those who come to God through him” (Hebrews 7:25). Our Lord will never fail. “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation” (Isaiah 12:2).
 
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