One can call themselves an apostle all they want...
If one does not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, they are none of His ( Romans 8:9 ).
The marks of that Spirit are here:
Galatians 5:22-23.
Anyone can claim to have the right doctrines, practices and "right to be the leader"...
But in the eyes of God, only His people that He has granted repentance to, and enjoy His unmerited favor, are the ones to whom are given the gift of eternal life.
No institution of men can lay claim to that.
Have you not read that the Lord does not want believers seeking to rule His people as the Gentiles rule over their people, with kings and priests?
See Matthew 20:25-27.
It's called the "Doctrine of the Nicolaitains" ( Revelation 2:6 ), and the Lord hates it.
This may seem harsh
@Walpole, but I don't owe my allegiance to an institution that has been responsible for the deaths and torture of many tens of thousands ( if not millions ) over the centuries, and has only decreed curses to anyone who does not agree with its teachings.
If you are unable or unwilling to objectively look at it, see what it's been guilty of, and compare its behavior to that of how God's people are supposed to act in accordance with His commands, then I feel very sad for you and anyone else who keeps going along with it.
My prayers that God lift your hearts and minds to see the truths of His word will always be on my heart and on my lips, because to me, Rome and many other sects in this present day embody this:
" Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." ( Romans 10:1-4 ).