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Originally Posted by UntoHim
“considered by some to be an apostle in operation” - this may be a key in our considerations. Is it possible that someone could be functioning as an apostle to a group of churches (or an affiliation of churches), and recognized by this group as an apostle of sorts, but not recognized by any other group? Does this make this person any less of an apostle if he is only recognized by the group he ministers among? Under this interpretation maybe Witness Lee was an apostle, at least within the sphere of the Local Church.
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Often I have wondered what happened to the rest of the "Twelve," who were scattered by persecution. (Acts 8.1-4) Initially, the apostles stayed in Jerusalem, but later all were eventually scattered to the nations, except for the ones martyred in Judea. When I used to work with the college students, I met a believer from India, who talked to me at length how Thomas was the Apostle to their country. I just marveled and worshiped God as I learned that "doubting Thomas" went to India and his fruit still remains to this day.
After Pentecost, the Bible goes completely silent concerning Thomas and he appears to be an apostle only to the people of India. Probably none in Europe would have recognized him as their apostle. When the missionaries of the modern times went to India, they built upon the foundation Thomas had laid. Now, of course, Thomas was one of the Twelve chosen by the Lord, yet he wrote none of scripture. In Judea, he was overpowered by Peter and others in the forefront, yet in India, he operated as an apostle preaching the gospel, establishing churches, cutting straight the truth, appointing elders, etc.