Yes — Jesus promised His disciples thrones to rule the twelve tribes of Israel in His coming kingdom.
When Peter asked what the disciples would have for forsaking all to follow Him, Jesus answered with a specific reward (Matthew 19:27-28). He told them that in the regeneration, when He sits on the throne of His glory, they would also sit on twelve thrones, judging or ruling the twelve tribes of Israel. Les Feldick emphasizes this promise is distinct from salvation and is still future.
Matthew 19:28 — This verse directly promises the disciples twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew 19:27 — Peter's question asks what reward the disciples will have for forsaking all to follow Jesus.
Matthew 19:27 records Peter's question to Jesus: "Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?" In the following verse, Jesus answers directly: "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 promise is tied to the Son of Man sitting on the throne of His glory and to "the regeneration." It names twelve thrones and twelve tribes of Israel. The Bible also shows that after His resurrection, Jesus spoke to His disciples for forty days about the things pertaining to the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3), and the disciples responded by asking whether He would at that time restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6).
Les Feldick explains that Peter's question was not about salvation. The disciples already had salvation — Peter had already believed that Jesus was the Christ. Peter's question was about reward: "What more is in it for us?" Jesus did not rebuke Peter for asking; He answered specifically. Les explains that "the regeneration" refers to the earth being restored to its original state — the curse lifted, as it was in the Garden of Eden — when the Kingdom is set up. At that time, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, the eleven true disciples (with Judas excluded) will sit on twelve thrones, judging — that is, ruling — the twelve tribes of Israel. This is a literal, future kingdom promise, not something already fulfilled or taking place in heaven. Les points out that this promise explains why the eleven were so eager in Acts 1 for the kingdom to be restored to Israel.
Les Feldick says Peter was not asking about salvation — the disciples already had that. Peter was asking what reward or compensation they would receive for forsaking their fishing nets, jobs, and families to follow Jesus. It was a human, logical question, and Jesus did not rebuke them for asking it.
Les explains that to regenerate something means to make it over like it was before. The regeneration refers to when the curse is lifted, the earth is restored to its original state as it was in the Garden of Eden, and the Kingdom is set up. It will happen when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory.
Jesus was speaking to the eleven true disciples, since Judas is left out. Les notes that Matthias would later take Judas's place, so the twelve thrones correspond to the twelve apostles. They will sit on twelve thrones judging — or ruling — the twelve tribes of Israel.
Les emphasizes that this promise is still future. It cannot take place in heaven, and it has never happened before. It will occur when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory in Jerusalem during the Kingdom, after the tribulation has ended and the curse is lifted.
Les connects the Matthew 19 promise to Acts 1. The eleven had just spent forty days hearing Jesus speak about the Kingdom. They had not forgotten His promise that they would rule the twelve tribes of Israel. That is why they asked, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?"
Acts 1 Kingdom Context
Les uses Acts 1 to show that the disciples' expectation of ruling in the Kingdom was still driving them after the resurrection.
Peter's Reward Question
Les explains that Peter's question was about reward beyond salvation, and Jesus answered specifically without rebuking him.
Regeneration Defined
Les teaches that the regeneration is when the curse is lifted and the earth is made over as it was before, tied to the Kingdom.
Salvation Already Possessed
Les clarifies that Peter already had salvation; his question was about reward and compensation for leaving everything.
Twelve Thrones and Matthias
Les notes that the eleven true disciples, with Matthias taking Judas's place, will sit on twelve thrones ruling the twelve tribes.
Emotion Behind Acts 1 Question
Les says the disciples were emotionally driven by the Matthew 19 promise when they asked Jesus about restoring the kingdom to Israel.
Kingdom Promise Stated Clearly
Les shows that Jesus promised the twelve thrones and specifically names the twelve tribes of Israel as those they would rule.
Future Fulfillment in Jerusalem
Les teaches that the promise will be fulfilled after the curse is lifted and the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne in Jerusalem.
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 sets up the promise Jesus gives about the disciples' reward.
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 direct promise of thrones to the disciples in the coming 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?
The disciples' question shows their expectation of the kingdom promise being fulfilled.
Jesus promised that in the regeneration, when He sits on the throne of His glory, they would sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. This is recorded in Matthew 19:28.
No. Les Feldick explains that the disciples already had salvation. Peter's question was about an additional reward — what they would have for forsaking everything to follow Jesus.
No. Les notes that Jesus was speaking to the eleven true disciples. Judas is excluded, and Matthias later took his place among the twelve.
It will happen in the future when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne and the kingdom is established. Les says this cannot take place in heaven and has never happened before.
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