Support CARM with $5 a month. Or get the Online Schools on Theology, Apologetics, and Critical Thinking. (Sign up)
What does "restoration of all things" mean in acts 3:21?
Acts 3:21 says, “whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.”
This is most probably a reference to the future period when God will restore the earth to its original condition which existed before the fall of Adam and Eve. We see this reflected in Paul’s comments as well.
Rom. 8:19, “For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”
Another possibility, though less likely, is that it refers to restoration of the Kingdom of Israel mentioned by Paul in Rom. 11:25-26.
Rom. 11:25-26, "For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part hath befallen Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in; 26 and so all Israel shall be saved: even as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer; He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob."
Still, the first option seems most probable and is further supported by 1 Cor. 15:24 which says, “For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.”
Religious Movements
- About Cults
- Christadelphianism
- Christian Science
- Emerging Church
- How to Have Perfect Faith
- International Church of Christ
- Islam
- Jehovah's Witnesses
- Kabbalah
- Mormonism
- New Age Movement
- Oneness Pentecostal
- Open Theism
- Religions List
- Roman Catholicism
- Seventh Day Adventism
- Shepherd's Chapel
- Universalism
- Wicca
Secular Movements
Questions
- About Baptism
- About the Bible
- About Bible Verses
- About the Church
- About Demons
- About Doctrine
- About Evangelism
- About God
- About The Holy Spirit
- About Jesus
- About Marriage
- About Morality
- About Pastors
- About People
- About Philosophy
- About Religions
- About Salvation
- About Sanctification
- About Sexuality
- Other Questions
- Skeptics Ask
- Submit a Question
Verses Examined
- Gen. 4:16, Where did Cain get his wife?
- Isaiah 43:25, I will remember your sins no more.
- Matt 12:22-32, Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit
- Mark 16:16, Believe and be baptized
- Luke 10:25-37, The Good Samaritan
- Luke 15:1-2, 11-32, The Prodigal Son
- John 1:1, "The Word was 'a' god.
- Acts 2:38, Repent and be baptized
- Rom. 5:1, Justified by faith
- 1 Cor. 1:2, Call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.
- 2 Cor. 12:2, The third heaven
- Col. 1:15, "firstborn of all creation"
- Col. 1:16-17, "...all [other]things were created by him..."
- Col. 2:9, In him dwells all the fullness of deity in bodily form.
- James 2:24, Faith without works is dead
