It is astonishing that this people would come to the end of the first century and it would pass away with nothing but the most favorable circumstances prevailing. It was promised that the nine disciples would live until the age of 72, and by this time they would had died and others ordained in their stead. It is interesting that this did not happen among the Jewish Apostles. By the time they had attained maturity many were being scattered and persecuted or even slain, and the central continuity of the Church was totally disrupted so that each city became a priesthood enclave unto itself.