The Twelve Apostles on Twelve Thrones
"Then Peter answered and said to Him, 'See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore, what shall we have?' So, Jesus said to them, 'Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.'" Matthew 19:27,28
Matthew 19 records the incident where a young man came to Jesus and asked how he might obtain eternal life. Jesus replied that he must keep the commandments, which He then enumerated to him. The young man replied that he had observed these commandments from his youth, but asked what else he lacked. Jesus replied that he must sell all his possessions, give to the poor, and come and follow Jesus. It is then recorded that the young man "went away sorrowful,” for he had great possessions. Jesus used this occasion to impress the need for total commitment in order to enter heaven. Peter stated that he and the other disciples had "left all and followed You." Jesus then made the prediction regarding the twelve apostles judging on twelve thrones.
Jesus makes clear the time when the apostles would do this work--in the "regeneration,” or the gospel age. This would be the period in which people would be born again (John 3:5), or "regenerated." Paul wrote to Titus (3:5) about baptism as the "washing of regeneration." Regeneration began on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and will continue as long as the gospel is preached. The apostles would do their judging during the same period "when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory." Peter's sermon on Pentecost (Acts 2) affirmed that Christ was then sitting on His throne, exalted to God's right hand, declared by God to be both "Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:29-36). These events correspond perfectly with the prophecies of Psalm 2:6; 24:7; 110:1; and Daniel 7:13,14.
The promise of Jesus that these apostles would sit in a very special place "on twelve thrones" began to be fulfilled on the day of Pentecost and will continue to be fulfilled until the end of time. Since the apostles have no successors, they will reign in judgment until Jesus returns. When we go to the New Testament, the work of the apostles, we are recognizing their authority, their rule, under the Kingship of Christ. Luke's account makes clear their position: "But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22:28-30). The whole number of God's redeemed people is represented in the expression "twelve tribes of Israel."
The importance of the position of the twelve apostles of Jesus can hardly be overemphasized! Note what Jesus said in John 20:22,23 - "And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.'" How did the apostles "forgive" or "retain" sins? By the preaching of the gospel! Those who believed and obeyed the apostles' message were forgiven, those who disbelieved and rejected the gospel were not forgiven. Peter was specifically told by Jesus: "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)
The apostles exercised authority by teaching people how to become Christians and how to remain faithful. They, guided by the Holy Spirit, rendered decisions on every question that arose in apostolic times. So numerous and complete were these spirit-guided decisions that we are assured that God has revealed to us "...all things that pertain to life and godliness..." (2 Peter 1:3), and that we have the "...faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Questions began to be asked on Pentecost, "Whatever could this mean?" (Acts 2:12), which prompted the first gospel sermon. Toward the end of that sermon another urgent question was asked: "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" prompting Peter to answer: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). The answers to these first two questions submitted to the apostles forever settle the matters of: 1) what to believe about Jesus, and, 2) what to do to be saved.
Every Bible question needs to be submitted to the apostles for their judgment. "What is the nature of the apostolic church?" "How shall we worship God acceptably in the New Testament church?" "How shall we live the Christian life?" "What is the God-given plan for husband and wife in the home?" "How shall I treat my neighbor?" "What are my responsibilities to my government?" "How shall I treat my brethren?" "What is the divinely-authorized work of the church?" The list of questions could go on and on. The source for our answers is always the same: ask the apostles. These apostles, sitting on their appointed thrones, have set forth rulings that will guide truth-seekers until the Lord returns.
Several years ago, a gospel preacher wrote these words:
Jesus does not reign over people with guns, clubs or handcuffs. His is a spiritual reign empowered only by people's willingness to be governed by His will. When people trust Him, they believe His word and do it. That is His reign. Jesus does not reign over those who reject Him, for they remain in the devil's domain (John 8:44; Heb. 2:14-15). In the same way, when the apostles preached the gospel of Christ, "the power of God unto salvation" (Romans 1:6), they were "reigning with Christ," for His word changed people and gave them "newness of life" (Romans 6:4). As Jesus reigns through His gospel, so those who delivered the gospel are said to be on "twelve thrones."
