In Acts 1, the Kingdom is the central hope of Israel—Jesus taught it for 40 days and the apostles asked when it would be restored.
After His resurrection, the Lord devoted His post-resurrection teaching to 'things pertaining to the kingdom of God' (Acts 1:3). When the eleven gathered on the Mount of Olives, their immediate question was whether He would 'restore again the kingdom to Israel' (Acts 1:6). Les Feldick emphasizes that this was the same earthly, promised kingdom spoken throughout Scripture, not a vague spiritual concept.
Acts 1:3 — Shows Jesus spent 40 days after His resurrection speaking about the Kingdom of God, making it the focus of His final instruction.
Acts 1:6 — Records the apostles' climactic question about the restoration of the Kingdom to Israel, the key significance of the chapter.
Acts 1 opens with Luke explaining that after His suffering and resurrection, Jesus showed Himself alive 'by many infallible proofs' and was seen by the apostles for forty days, 'speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God' (Acts 1:3). Before ascending, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father—the baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4–5). Then, when the eleven were assembled, they asked, 'Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?' (Acts 1:6). The Bible record thus ties the Kingdom directly to Jesus' post-resurrection teaching and the apostles' anticipation of Israel's restoration.
Les Feldick points to Acts 1 as proof that the Kingdom was the dominant subject on the Lord's heart and the apostles' minds. He notes that for forty days Jesus was 'speaking throughout that forty days of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God,' which is why the eleven were 'all hung up on the Kingdom' (Acts 1:3). Les stresses that 'the Kingdom is the Kingdom is the Kingdom'—it is one and the same kingdom described throughout Scripture, not one idea for Israel and another for the Church (Clip 5).
The disciples' question in Acts 1:6 was not a random one. Luke notes Jesus had spent forty days speaking 'of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God' (Acts 1:3). Les explains they were 'pumped up' because Jesus had promised them that they would rule the twelve tribes of Israel from Jerusalem when the Kingdom is set up and the earth is regenerated (Clip 6). Their use of the word 'again' in 'restore again' shows they were expecting a restoration of that promised kingdom, not something entirely new (Clip 2).
Les consistently describes the Kingdom as physical, political, and spiritual—not an ethereal, heavenly-only condition. He argues that if the Eleven were 'way out in left field' with a physical, political, and spiritual kingdom, the Lord would have corrected them in Acts 1:6 (Clip 4). Instead, the kingdom they anticipated is the same one Jesus taught for forty days (Clip 5), and it includes the Twelve ruling Israel's tribes from Jerusalem on a regenerated earth (Clips 1, 6).
Les notes these twelve men were so expectant of the King setting up His Kingdom that Peter 'almost burns himself out' preaching to Israel that the One they crucified was their King. If the nation could believe it, the King would yet return and they could have the Kingdom and all the Old Testament promises of going to the Gentiles—but God in His foreknowledge knew they would reject it (Clip 7).
Pre-Trib vs. Amillennialism: What the Bible Really Says
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The Twelve Rule the Tribes in the Kingdom
Les sets the kingdom in Acts 1 as the same kingdom where the twelve apostles will rule Israel's twelve tribes from Jerusalem.
The 'Restore Again' Question
Les highlights the word 'again' to show the apostles sought restoration of the kingdom, not a first-time spiritual reality.
Why They Asked: Matthew 19
Les explains the disciples' question in Acts 1:6 by pointing back to Jesus' promise in Matthew 19.
A Physical, Political, Spiritual Kingdom
Les asks what the Lord would have said if the apostles had misunderstood the kingdom as physical; their question presupposes the promised earthly rule.
Forty Days of Kingdom Teaching
Les emphasizes Acts 1:3—Jesus spent all forty days speaking of the Kingdom, and it is one and the same Kingdom.
The Apostles' Anticipation
Les shows the apostles were 'pumped up' because Jesus promised they would rule the twelve tribes from Jerusalem in a regenerated earth.
Peter's Kingdom Preaching
Les shows the apostles' Acts 1 expectation continued in Peter's preaching that Israel's crucified King could still bring the Kingdom if the nation believed.
Acts 1:3: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
This verse is the evidence that Jesus' post-resurrection teaching for forty days centered on the Kingdom of God.
Acts 1:4: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
The Lord instructed the apostles to remain in Jerusalem until the promised Holy Spirit came, setting the immediate scene before the Kingdom question.
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?
The disciples' direct question reveals that the Kingdom's restoration to Israel was their central expectation after seeing the risen Lord.
Matthew 19:27: Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
Peter's question to Jesus about what the apostles would receive introduces the promised rule over Israel.
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.
Jesus promises the Twelve they will sit on twelve thrones judging the tribes of Israel, which Les identifies as the Kingdom they anticipated in Acts 1.
Psalm 110:1: The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Les cites this verse to show that after rejection, Christ would sit at the Father's right hand until sent back as King of kings, the same Kingdom context as Acts 1.
Yes. Les notes Jesus promised them they would rule the twelve tribes from Jerusalem when the kingdom is set up and the earth is regenerated (Clips 6, 1). Their Acts 1:6 question shows this expectation, and Les teaches it was physical, political, and spiritual—not merely heavenly (Clip 4).
Acts 1:3 states He was seen for forty days speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. Les says the Eleven were 'all hung up on the Kingdom' and emphasizes that 'the Kingdom is the Kingdom is the Kingdom'—one consistent kingdom (Clip 5).
According to Les, Peter preached that the One they crucified was their King; if the nation could believe, the King would yet return and they could have the Kingdom and the Old Testament promises to the Gentiles. But God in His foreknowledge knew they would reject it (Clip 7).
Watch the Teaching: Pre-Trib vs. Amillennialism: What the Bible Really Says