Question: What did Paul mean when he said the apostles were the "last appointed unto death"?

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:4:9For 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.
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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 [20] For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: [21] Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
See All...; 1 Thes:1:9-10 [9] For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; [10] And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
See All...; Titus:2:13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
See All..., etc.), Paul knew that he would be martyred before it occurred: “For I know...that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in...” (Acts:20:29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
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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 [18] If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. [19] If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. [20] Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. [21] But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
See All...); Paul implied that Christians would continue to suffer martyrdom (Rom:8:35-37 [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? [36] As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. [37] Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
See All...), and warned that “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim:3:12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
See All...). 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.