and Apostolische Gemeinde des Saarlandes in 1955 due to a 1951 teaching of the then-Chief Apostle Johann Gottfried Bischoff. This teaching presumed that he would not die before Jesus Christ returned to take the predestined into his kingdom (First Resurrection). In 1954 this teaching, called "The Botschaft", became an official dogma. Those ministers, especially the apostles who declined to preach this, even after several interlocutions, lost their offices and were excluded from the New Apostolic Church. Chief Apostle Bischoff died in 1960 without his prophecy being fulfilled. but there was no restoration of the excommunicated ministers. The various communities and congregations like the Apostolic Church of Queensland or the Apostolic Church of South Africa - Apostle Unity which evolved out of these conflicts in different countries merged in 1956 as the "United Apostolic Church". Another, earlier, split was the break with the Apostelamt Juda in 1902, from which the Apostelamt Jesu Christi emerged. On May 1, 2005, a document of the first steps of reconciliation was signed by the Swiss New Apostolic Church and the United Apostolic Church in Switzerland (Vereinigung Apostolischer Christen). Bibliography Publications by NAC New Acts of the Apostles NAKI Verlag Friedrich Bischoff Frankfort am Main 1985 History of the New Apostolic Church G. Rockenfelder, editor Verlag Friedrich Bischoff Frankfort am Main 1970 Questions and Answers concerning the New Apostolic Faith NAKI Verlag Friedrich Bischoff Frankfort am Main [ed unknown] History of the Kingdom of God v. I & v. II Apostles College of the New Apostolic Church, Verlag Friedrich Bischoff Frankfort am Main 1971 (vI) 1973 (vII) See also Twelve Apostles Chief Apostle Religion in Germany Apostolic Church of South Africa - Apostle Unity United Apostolic Church Old Apostolic Church Catholic Apostolic Church Apostolic Church of Queensland References New Apostolic Church and Ecumenism – by Apostle Volker Kühnle External links Official websites New Apostolic Church International New Apostolic Church Links to international English-language web sites New Apostolic Church UK & Ireland New Apostolic Church Australia New Apostolic Church New Zealand New Apostolic Church Canada New Apostolic Church USA New Apostolic Church South America New Apostolic Church South East Africa New Apostolic Church South Africa – Cape European Youth Day 2009 of the New Apostolic Church Nacworld The social networking website of the New Apostolic Church International Congregation websites New Apostolic Church Masiphumelele, Cape Town, South Africa Unaffiliated sites nac-info.com A critical View to the doctrines of