The twelve apostles will rule the twelve tribes of Israel, sitting on twelve thrones under Christ's throne in the kingdom.
In Matthew 19:28, Jesus told the twelve that in the regeneration—when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory—they also will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Les Feldick explains that the apostles understood this as a literal ruling role, and they were still thinking about it when they asked Jesus in Acts 1 whether He would restore the kingdom to Israel.
Matthew 19:28 — This is the direct promise that the apostles will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
In Matthew 19:27-28, after Peter said, "Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?" Jesus replied, "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." Then in Acts 1:6 the disciples asked, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?"
Les teaches that when the kingdom is set up, the nation of Israel will be under her King, and under the King the twelve original apostles will each rule one of the twelve tribes from Jerusalem in the land of Israel. He says the "regeneration" in Matthew 19:28 refers to the time when the earth is restored to its original state, the curse is lifted, the tribulation is over, and the kingdom is ready to come in. At that time the Son of Man will sit on the throne of His glory in Jerusalem, and the apostles—with Matthias taking Judas's place—will sit upon twelve thrones judging, or ruling, the twelve tribes of Israel. Les emphasizes that these men never forgot this promise, and it was "uppermost in their thinking" when they asked Jesus to restore the kingdom to Israel in Acts 1.
Les points back to Matthew 19:27-28, where Jesus promised the twelve that they would sit on twelve thrones ruling the twelve tribes of Israel. After forty days of Christ speaking to them about the Kingdom and their role in it, these men had not forgotten that promise. As Les puts it, they were wondering, "Are we ready to take up our throne?" Jesus did not upbraid them for asking.
Les teaches that "the regeneration" in Matthew 19:28 is the time "when the earth is restored to its original state, as it was before the curse." When the curse is lifted, the tribulation ends, and the Kingdom is ready to come in, the Son of Man will sit on the throne of His glory. Then the twelve will sit upon twelve thrones, judging or ruling the twelve tribes of Israel.
Les notes that Jesus was speaking to the twelve or the eleven, and that Matthias will come in to Judas' place. So the twelve thrones will be filled by Matthias with the other eleven apostles.
Les says the twelve apostles will sit under Christ's throne in Jerusalem, ruling the twelve tribes from there in the land of Israel. The Son of Man will sit on the throne of His glory in Jerusalem, and the apostles will be beneath Him as rulers of the tribes.
The Backstory of the Apostles' Question
Les shows that when the apostles asked Jesus to restore the kingdom in Acts 1, they were remembering Peter's question in Matthew 19:27 about what they would have for forsaking everything to follow Him.
Apostles Rule the Twelve Tribes from Jerusalem
Les states plainly that when the kingdom is set up, the twelve original apostles will be under the King, each ruling one of the twelve tribes from Jerusalem in the land of Israel.
Twelve Thrones Beneath Christ's Throne in Jerusalem
Les describes the twelve apostles sitting under Christ's throne at Jerusalem, ruling the twelve tribes—a picture of the kingdom as the apostles understood it.
The Promise of Twelve Thrones
Les walks through Matthew 19:28, showing Jesus' promise that the twelve will sit on twelve thrones ruling the twelve tribes, and connects it to the Abrahamic covenant.
The Regeneration and the Plain Promise
Les defines the regeneration as the earth's restoration to its original pre-curse state, then quotes Jesus' promise that the twelve (with Matthias) will sit on twelve thrones judging or ruling the twelve tribes of Israel.
They Remembered After Forty Days
Les explains that after forty days of Christ speaking about the kingdom and their role in it, these men still had Jesus' promise in mind as they gathered on the Mount of Olives.
Eager for Their Thrones
Les vividly describes the eleven men wondering, 'Are we ready to take up our throne?'—showing how the promise of ruling the twelve tribes drove their expectation of the kingdom.
Matthias Completes the Twelve
Les notes that the promise was made to the eleven and that Matthias would come into Judas's place, so that the twelve thrones would be filled; the apostles' Acts 1 question reflected their desire to rule the twelve tribes.
Matthew 19:27: Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
This question from Peter led to Jesus' promise about the apostles' future thrones.
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 central verse promising the apostles' 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?
The apostles asked this after Jesus had spent forty days speaking of the kingdom.
Yes, according to Jesus' promise in Matthew 19:28, they will sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Les Feldick says 'judging' means 'ruling,' and he pictures each apostle ruling one of the twelve tribes from Jerusalem.
They had spent forty days with Jesus hearing about the kingdom and their role in it. They never forgot the promise that they would rule the twelve tribes, so on the Mount of Olives they asked Jesus if He was going to restore the kingdom to Israel at that time.
Les explains that Matthias will come into Judas's place, completing the twelve. Jesus' promise of twelve thrones for the twelve tribes remains intact.
Watch the Teaching: Christ's Return to the Mount of Olives. Zechariah 14 Explained.