by EdenOne 17 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Matthew 19:28: " And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (NASB)
The context shows that Jesus was talking to his twelve apostles. if they were to "sit in thrones" and judge the twelve tribes of Israel, where does that leave the apostle Paul?
Eden
Who are the twelve tribes of Isreal?
Well, that's a variable that effects the final answer. I was hoping to hear different views on that as well.
Are they the natural Jews? The 'spiritual Israel'? Who?
Eden
The passage has several layers. It is a promotion to prominence at the heavenly banquet where normally a jew would expect Abraham and Moses to be. It is a somewhat slap to Greatgrandfather Adam who in Judaism is the one to welcome all his children into Paradise. Later in books like James the "twevle tribes" becomes a way to greet Christians- the New Israel.
Did the twelve apostles know what he meant at the time he said it? Did they figure it out later?
If they took it on face value they would see the point as- you will be promoted if you follow me. Jesus routinely set up a divisive wall between himself and the Jewish rabbis and this continues that imagery.
Notice the similarity with Revelation 7:4-8. There the 144,000 are selected from (Greek ek, "out of") "every tribe of the sons of Israel." In Matthew 19 a subset of Jesus' disciples ("you who have followed me" versus "everyone that has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name") "sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
The similarity seems (to me) to indicate that "twelve" (in Matthew 19) is reflective of the twelve tribes in Revelation 7.
Notice this was in the context of Peter reminding Jesus that they had given up their families - abandoned wives and children and homes and businesses to follow him.
All of this was justified in Jesus' mind as he beleived his return in glory was imminent.
He turned out to be a family-destroying apocalyptic cult leader.
BOBCAT- "every tribe of the sons of Israel."
What happened to Dan, did they get send home early from the party??
First of all, why would he call himself the Son of Man? Why not just Son of God? Thats like if I said Son of Pete, but then also claimed to be Son of John. Sounds like he had a major identity crisis.
Secondly, I think Peter was always a question away from waking up and realizing they were getting duped. Jesus probably knew this and thats why kept him close and promised him future leadership.
Third,...its all fiction.
