When he comes, he will bring about the restoration of all things (apokatastaseōs pantōn) with respect to Israel, he will restore (apokathistaneis) the kingdom to Israel. … See, I am doing a new thing! Get the latest blog posts from Life, Hope & Truth straight to your inbox. 18:15, 18-19). Once again we see a compound meaning in Scripture. When the apostle Peter mentioned “the times of restoration of all things,” he was speaking prophetically about a marvelous span of time that would begin with Christ’s enthronement as King and continue to the end of the Millennium. Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:18, New International Version). God will put the Kingdom of God on earth, governing through His law. Finally, because there will be no more sin, “there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. It seems that the restoration of Israel to its kingdom is what Peter is referring to in Acts 3:21 when he refers to the “restoration of all things” (v. 21), since this issue was of paramount importance in the disciples’ minds. The glorified Jesus Christ cannot set foot on this earth for the Millennium until the restoration of all … Then, as people humble themselves and repent of their sins, an era of global peace will begin. THE RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS Don K. Preston D. Div. Simon Peter is calling the leadership of the Jews to repentance for crucifying the Messiah. When Adam and Eve rejected God’s instructions in the Garden of Eden, they lost access to the tree of life. Finally, because there will be no more sin, “there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. To understand the answer is a crucial part of the restoration of all things, for it restores the gospel from the depths to which it has fallen — far short of the glory of God. Numerous Bible verses describe the coming Day of the Lord as a prerequisite to the first phase of the “restoration of all things.”. Pure Worship of Jehovah—Restored At Last. Paul explains that after the resurrection of all who have ever lived, the final curse and enemy of God’s creation—death itself—will come to an end (Isaiah 25:8; 1 Corinthians 15:26, 54). Then a great multitude of people will be raised from the dead and offered eternal life for the very first time. … So they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited’” (Ezekiel 36:33, 35). 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,. Once the sins of Israel are forgiven, God will cause this nation’s land to be restored to beauty like the Garden of Eden. Part of the restoration, as Jesus Christ explained, is that this same tree of life will be made available again: “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7). Restoration of All Things Jan. 12, 2000. Copyright © 2021 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. The coming Because of all the good God has in store for humanity, He will tell them to “forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. Then, as Satan is banished for a thousand years, God will begin pouring out His Spirit in abundance to all who repent of their sins. The restoration of all things (ἀποκαταστάσεως πάντων). After all, it was the last question they asked Yeshua before his ascension in Acts 1. There is, in this passage, a prophecy about the martyrdom of Peter, which would occur when he was an older man. As Peter and John entered the Temple area the crippled man implored them for alms (Acts 3). Let’s examine how the restoration of all things is played out in through Luke in Acts and Peter’s Epistles. The same weekly Sabbath that was ordained at the beginning will be observed as a day of rest and worship for all peoples. Pure Worship of Jehovah—Restored At Last! God announced through the prophet Isaiah: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind” (Isaiah 65:17). Would you like to read this article in %%? When Jesus calls his disciple Peter to “follow me” he is calling all disciples of Jesus to follow to the very end. “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. | … Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you” (Genesis 3:17-18; also see Romans 5:12). Never miss a post! Let us hear God’s definition of this restoration. Peter … John omits this detail, but he is unique in describing the restoration scene between Jesus and Peter. It restricts the scope of “all things” (pantōn). To accomplish this, God promises to pour out His Holy Spirit not on just a few, but on all who will call on Him and seek His mercy (Joel 2:28-29). This period of time after the Millennium is often referred to as the second resurrection or the time of the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11). How Should a Christian Deal With the Coronavirus Pandemic? All rights reserved. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 21:5-6). Unable to give that, they gave him a far greater gift, his health. When the thousand-year reign of Christ comes to an end, “the rest of the dead” (Revelation 20:5)—those who had previously lived and died not understanding God’s way of life—will have an opportunity to be reconciled to God. “WHOM THE HEAVEN MUST RECEIVE UNTIL THE TIMES OF RESTITUTION OF ALL THINGS, WHICH GOD HATH SPOKEN BY THE MOUTH OF ALL HIS HOLY PROPHETS SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN.”. Christ’s return and the times of restoration are thus linked together, and many Bible passages point to these events happening in various stages, right here on earth. The first group of humans to experience a fully restored relationship with God will receive eternal life at Christ’s return (1 Corinthians 15:22-23, 51-52). Pure Worship of Jehovah—Restored At Last! For more on this exciting subject, please read “New Heavens and New Earth.”. “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” (verse 32). Share Peter calls God's purpose "the restoration of all things," another descriptive phrase for the good news of the Kingdom of God. The Restoration of All Things Israel, the Church and the Nations. Here God calls His restoration “a new thing” because it will be new for those experiencing it, and the relationship He will have with humanity will exceed the one He had with Adam and Eve. This must be the same operation as our Lord speaks of in Matthew 17:11 : "Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things ( ἀποκαταστήσει πάντα ) ;" and from the words of Malachi ( Malachi 4:5, 6 ) it would seem to be a moral or spiritual restoration preparatory to the coming of the Lord. Spiritual restoration of God’s people begins in 1919. NIV] until the times of restoration of all things, whereof God spoke by the mouth of his prophets that have been of old”. God the Father will then make the earth His home as well. That's what happens when you teach verse-by-verse-you run into some deep stuff. Peter was a sinful man, yet he became a part of Christ’s inner circle. After boasting that he would never leave Jesus, Peter watched from a distance as Jesus is led away. We understand those times of restoration have begun as evidenced in the restoration of Israel, which is what these Jewish hearers of Peter were interested in. One of the most exciting passages in the Word of God dealing with restoration can be found in the story of the transfiguration of Jesus. This falling away was foreseen by the Apostle Peter, who declared that “heaven must receive [Jesus Christ] until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” 10 Restitution would only be necessary if these precious things had been lost. Because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, God said, “Cursed is the ground for your sake. In Acts 3:21 Peter says that God is going to “send the Christ who has been appointed for you, even Jesus: whom the heaven must receive [retain; cf. Genesis 3:22-24 shows that their sin led God to banish them and the rest of humanity from the tree of life, which symbolized the opportunity to receive eternal life. Describing this wonderful event, Paul wrote, “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. When the apostle Peter mentioned “the times of restoration of all things,” he was speaking prophetically about a marvelous span of time that would begin with Christ’s enthronement as King and continue to the end of the Millennium. Peter was speaking of a future time when things would be restored to their original state. They turned their backs on the relationship that would have provided them peace and eternal life. Just what is this prediction about? … It is done! TERMS OF USE This conclusion to the Gospel of John is about the Restoration of Peter to fellowship with Jesus. The Restoration of All Things. Peter spoke of the anticipated "times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began" (Acts 3:21). As God declares, “From one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me” (Isaiah 66:23). (And Why Do You Need to Know? There shall be no more pain, for the former things [will] have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). God’s annual Sabbaths will also be observed (Exodus 31:12-13; Zechariah 14:16-19). Chris Moen currently serves as associate pastor of the combined Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, Michigan, congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association. Peter’s life was one of ups and downs. Speaking of this time, Jesus says, “Behold, I make all things new. This short, agonizing period will climax with Christ’s return to earth in great glory, to be witnessed by the whole earth (Matthew 24:29-30). Collect You Together”—Restoration of Pure Worship Promised, “I Will Zealously Defend My Holy Name”—Pure Worship Survives Attack, “I Will Dwell Among the People”—Pure Worship of Jehovah Restored. The “restoration of all things” that occurred when Christ was revealed from heaven in AD 70 had to do with the turning of the hearts of Israel and the Gentile nations back to God. God will eventually remove every curse on man saying, “There shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him” (Revelation 22:3). Restitution, according to the best English usage, means the act of restoring something that has been taken away or lost; the act of making good or rendering an equivalent as for loss or injury. The heavens will likewise be made “new” by the same process. Long ago God promised the people of Israel that He would make a new covenant with them in which His laws would be written on their hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-33). After denying the Lord three times, the Lord Jesus has restored his friend to ministry in a public and profound way. God too is looking toward the goal. Eventually, as Psalm 22:27 notes, “all the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all families of the nations shall worship before You.” For further study, see the article “Times of Refreshing.”. By Gary Amirault “And He shall send Jesus Christ, which beforehand was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution (restoration, reconciliation) of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” Sign up to receive the week's latest articles, blog posts and updates. Peter begins with Moses, who told of a Prophet God would raise up and to whom every soul must listen or be destroyed (Acts 3:22-23; Deut. ACTS 3:21. Christ will then begin ruling over the whole earth with justice and fairness (Psalm 98:9; Isaiah 11:3-5; Revelation 11:15). So, it is true: that which is impossible with men is possible with God. After Peter experienced the Lord’s restoration, he was reminded that his death (like the matter of death for all of us) — is in the hands of our Maker (John 21:18-23). All four gospels record Peter's denial of Jesus, and all of the synoptic gospels record how Peter "wept bitterly" after the rooster crowed. “Whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” After God healed a lame man at the gate called Beautiful, the crowds were primed to hear the message Peter preached to them. PRIVACY POLICY, https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/m/1102017936/univ/art/1102017936_univ_sqr_xl.jpg. . Every curse will be forever removed, and evil will be eradicated from God’s entire creation. In addition to the saints of this first resurrection being changed to spirit to meet Jesus Christ at His return (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) and rule with Him for a thousand years (Revelation 20:6), Satan’s kingdom will be banished. God’s desire is for everyone to repent, to be reconciled to Him and to become part of His family forever. These verses explain not only the end toward which God is moving, but also that God has been prophesying of this since the world began. This restoration is parallel to the prophecy that “the bride will make herself ready” (Revelation 19:7). The “days of Elijah” restoration will take place before the 2nd Coming. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing” (Isaiah 35:5-6). These people will be given an opportunity to learn God’s laws, repent of their sins, receive God’s Holy Spirit and eventually be granted eternal life (Joel 2:28). Publication download options (Acts 3:17-21) Peter's statement speaks clearly of the times of the restitution of all things. The Bible often uses terms like “in those days” and “in those days, and at that time” to introduce explanations of what will occur during the reign of Christ on earth for 1,000 years and beyond (Joel 2:29; 3:1; Jeremiah 33:15). God has revealed His wonderful plan to those faithful believers who anticipate the coming “times of restoration of all things.” You, too, can be a part of this awesome future if you repent of your sins and live a life of obedience to God. What Are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? See more detail in the article “The Tree of Life.”. The verses we come to this morning in the book of Acts are going to require some thought. God spoke about the “times of restoration of all things” through His prophets. Peter’s Eschatology of the Great Commission and Second Coming – Acts 1-3 After instructing the disciples on the kingdom for 40 days, they wished to know about the time frame for the kingdoms arrival. This is yet another time of restoration. 1914 —Jesus Christ is enthroned as King in heaven. For the [entire physical] creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption [decay and destruction] into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:19-22). This account includes the restoration of the Apostle Peter. Hundreds of years later, Peter spoke of this coming event. What Does the Bible Say About the Antichrist? The earth will thus be made “new,” or renewed or restored, by God. The coming “restoration of all things” will include the recovery of all who will repent of their sins. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version (© 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.). A new thing. https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/a/rr/E/wpub/rr_E_lg.jpg, Share Christ’s glorious and triumphant return begins the majestic story of restoring all things. The “restoration of all things” includes changes to the earth, the way it is governed and the relationship God will have with humanity. However in hidden in his message is an astounding statement. Peter needs to experience forgiveness and grace from his Lord, so Jesus gives him the opportunity to express his love and commitment. The Greek word Peter used for “new” in verse 13 is kainos, which refers to a state of freshness, as in renewal. There shall be no more pain, for the former things [will] have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).This future renewal of the current heaven and earth is described in Psalm 102:25-26 as if they were like an old garment being replaced with a new one. Here are my notes for John 21:8-17. What Is Jacob’s Trouble in End-Time Prophecy? The excitement generated by this miracle gave rise to one of the most stirring promises, and theologically significant sermons, in scripture. Though offered the opportunity to have the close relationship with God that their Creator desired, Adam and Eve foolishly decided to make their own decisions apart from God. 1914—Jesus Christ is enthroned as King in heaven. Once Christ returns and establishes His Kingdom on earth, the times of restoration can begin. Peter, after healing the lame man at the gate beautiful, spoke to the crowd saying, 19. Why Is Our Modern World Under Ancient Curses? “The Times of Restoration of All Things”, “It Was My Sanctuary That You Defiled”—Pure Worship Corrupted, “I Will . Weapons of Mass Destruction and Bible Prophecy, Return of Christ: As the Days of Noah Were, What Is Eschatology? Distance, close enough to see Jesus, Peter spoke of this restoration is parallel to the crowd saying 19! To give that, new International Version ) the coming “ restoration of all things Don K. Preston D....., those who overcome in this passage, a prophecy about the “ Days of ”... 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