These men, as personal eyewitnesses of Christ and under the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit, were the official witnesses of Christ and his resurrection. These inspired men got the church going and left us the Holy Scriptures to guide us. The church is built upon their foundation. Their great work has been done. We have the New Testament.
Witnesses have no successors, and consequently the apostles have no successors.
We have a rich background to draw from in this study. These applications are both general and specific. So the word is diversified in use. Another word of more recent coinage, forthtell, placed along side of foretell more fully describes the prophet s work. By direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit they spoke.