Jesus promised the Twelve Apostles that in the coming kingdom they would sit on twelve thrones, judging/ruling the twelve tribes of Israel.
In Matthew 19:28, Jesus told the disciples that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, they would sit on twelve thrones ruling the twelve tribes of Israel. The apostles carried this expectation into Acts 1, asking if Jesus would restore the kingdom to Israel at that time. Les Feldick teaches this is a literal earthly kingdom, with the apostles ruling from Jerusalem under Christ's authority.
Matthew 19:28 — Jesus directly promises the Twelve they will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel when He sits on His glorious throne in the regeneration.
Acts 1:6 — The disciples ask Jesus if He will restore the kingdom to Israel, showing the expectation created by His promise of their ruling role.
In Matthew 19:27-28, Peter reminded Jesus that the disciples had forsaken all to follow Him and asked what they would have. Jesus answered with a direct promise: "Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." The plain wording gives the Twelve a role of rule over Israel's twelve tribes in the coming kingdom. Later, in Acts 1:6, the disciples asked Jesus, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" Their question shows that they understood the kingdom promise to involve the literal restoration of Israel's kingdom.
Les Feldick emphasizes that the promise to the Twelve is plain English and cannot be spiritualized. He explains that when the kingdom is set up, Christ will sit on the throne of His glory at Jerusalem on the throne of David, and the twelve apostles—with Matthias replacing Judas—will sit on twelve thrones under Him, each ruling one of the twelve tribes of Israel. This is the kingdom as the Twelve understood it. Les connects the promise to the Abrahamic covenant, noting that the land given to Abraham will finally become Israel's homeland when Christ rules. Les also explains the "regeneration" in Matthew 19:28 as the earth being restored to its original state before the curse, with the curse lifted, the tribulation ended, and the kingdom ready to come in. The apostles' Acts 1 question—"Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?"—shows how uppermost this promise was in their thinking. Les points out that Jesus did not upbraid them for expecting an earthly kingdom.
Les Feldick teaches that the apostles will rule from Jerusalem. When Christ sits on the throne of His glory at Jerusalem on the throne of David, the Twelve will sit under that throne, each ruling one of the twelve tribes of Israel. This is tied to the land promised to Abraham, which will become Israel's homeland when Christ sets up the kingdom.
Les explains that the regeneration refers to the time when the earth is restored to its original state as it was before the curse. The curse will be lifted, the tribulation will have ended, and the kingdom will be ready to come in. In that regeneration, the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory and the Twelve sit on twelve thrones ruling the twelve tribes.
Because Jesus had spent forty days after His resurrection speaking to them about aspects of the kingdom, and they remembered His promise that they would rule the twelve tribes. Their question—"Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?"—shows how uppermost this promise was in their thinking. Les notes that Jesus did not upbraid them for asking.
Les points out that the promise was made to the Twelve, and Judas is left out. Since Judas was no longer among the apostles, Matthias took his place in Acts 1, so the twelve thrones will be occupied by the original apostles with Matthias completing the number.
The Twelve's Kingdom Expectation
Les opens by reminding viewers that the Twelve were concerned about the restoration of the kingdom because Jesus had promised them they would rule the twelve tribes of Israel from Jerusalem under His authority when the kingdom was set up.
Twelve Thrones for Twelve Tribes
Les explains the plain-English promise that the Twelve will sit on twelve thrones ruling the twelve tribes of Israel, and ties their Acts 1 expectation to the forty days of kingdom teaching.
Apostles Under Christ's Throne in Jerusalem
Les places the Twelve under Christ's throne at Jerusalem ruling the twelve tribes, and connects this to the Abrahamic land promise when the kingdom comes.
The Regeneration and the Abrahamic Covenant
Les reads Matthew 19:28 as a promise that the Twelve will sit on twelve thrones ruling the twelve tribes, and grounds it in the Abrahamic covenant as Israel's title deed.
Twelve Apostles Ruling Israel
Les states that when the kingdom is set up, each of the original twelve apostles will rule one of Israel's tribes from Jerusalem, under the King.
No Rebuke for Kingdom Expectation
Les shows that Jesus did not rebuke the disciples for asking about restoring the kingdom; their question was rooted in the promise that they would rule the twelve tribes.
Matthew 19:27-28 Promise
Les walks through Matthew 19 where Peter asks what the disciples will have, and Jesus promises that when He sits on His glorious throne the Twelve will sit on twelve thrones ruling the twelve tribes of Israel.
Regeneration as Restored Earth
Les defines the regeneration as the earth restored to its original pre-curse state, and then explains that the Twelve will sit on twelve thrones ruling the twelve tribes from Jerusalem.
Matthew 19:28: And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
This is the core promise Jesus made to the Twelve about their future ruling role in the kingdom.
Acts 1:6: When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
This verse records the apostles asking about the restoration of the kingdom, reflecting their expectation of the promised ruling role.
Les Feldick teaches that the promise is literal, plain English. The twelve apostles—with Matthias replacing Judas—will sit on twelve thrones under Christ at Jerusalem, each ruling one of the twelve tribes of Israel when the kingdom is set up.
Les teaches that the regeneration refers to the earth being restored to its original state before the curse. The curse will be lifted, the tribulation will have ended, and the kingdom will be ready to come in.
Jesus had promised them they would rule the twelve tribes of Israel, and for forty days after His resurrection He spoke to them about aspects of the kingdom. Their question shows how uppermost this promise was in their thinking, and Jesus did not upbraid them for asking.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Twelve Apostles Stayed in Jerusalem — Acts 1 & 8