The Restoration of All Things
Act 3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Act 3:21 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.
Note: The NKJV has "the restoration of all things". Jesus' coming to "restore all things" is the message God proclaimed through His prophets, since the fall, the destruction of all things. Our salvation is an integral part of that!!!
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Note: It is as though creation's groanings are the labor pains of the birth process of the new creation. Creation is anticipating, longing for the revealing of the children of God in new, glorified bodies so that creation might be delivered from the corruption of the fall. No more road kill! No more earth quakes, typhoons, tornadoes and on and on. Verses 24-25 imply that this restoration is integral to the hope of the children of God.
Heb 2:5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
Heb 2:6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visit him?
Heb 2:7 Thou made him a little lower than the angels; thou crowned him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
Heb 2:8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Note: Man was created to be "set over the works of the Creators' hands, everything was to be set under his feet. But the fall interrupted that, things have "gotten out of hand". Weeds, thorns and thistles seem to grow right out from under our feet over night. But God's purpose cannot be thwarted. We see Jesus, the Creator (Heb 1:2), made like man to redeem man to the purpose and design of the plan of God, restoring the image of God in man (Heb. 1:3), and fulfilling God's purpose in all Creation. This is the "gathering together in one all things in Christ" of the Father's will as revealed in Ephesians 1:9-10.
Sanctified Speculation (I hope!): In Gen 3:17-18, God spells out the curse in terms of the earth bringing forth thorns and thistles-stickers and tumbleweeds! I believe that is the significance of Jesus, the Lord of Creation, being crowned with a crown of thorns. In a perverse way, the Roman soldiers were proclaiming that the Lord of Creation had come to restore His creation, to end the curse of thorns and thistles at a horribly bloody price!!!
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.
Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Note: Christ Jesus is the restoration of the Image of God in man!!! He is not only the Creator of all things, they were created for Him. They were to show forth His Glory, the Father's Pleasure in His Son. It is only because of the Son and His delight to do the Father's will that the "all things" don't spin off into oblivion. He sustains all things, and through His supreme sacrifice, assures that "all things" will be reconciled to the Father's prefect Will, showing forth the Love that the Father has had for the Son from all Eternity.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
Note: The "day of the Lord" is essential for the restoration of all things. This old earth and everything in it is not as it should be. It will never get better. Just as fallen flesh cannot be improved, neither can the fallen earth and all that is in it be improved, man's deluded ego notwithstanding! But we are not told to look only for the Day of the Lord, but rather we are to look also for "new heavens, and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. The Day of the Lord is real and will soon come to pass. This earth and the vileness that is in it must be destroyed, but we are to live in holy anticipation of a new heavens and a new earth!!! Our God's Word is sure, and He has promised it!
Act 3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Act 3:21 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.
Note: The NKJV has "the restoration of all things". Jesus' coming to "restore all things" is the message God proclaimed through His prophets, since the fall, the destruction of all things. Our salvation is an integral part of that!!!
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Note: It is as though creation's groanings are the labor pains of the birth process of the new creation. Creation is anticipating, longing for the revealing of the children of God in new, glorified bodies so that creation might be delivered from the corruption of the fall. No more road kill! No more earth quakes, typhoons, tornadoes and on and on. Verses 24-25 imply that this restoration is integral to the hope of the children of God.
Heb 2:5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
Heb 2:6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visit him?
Heb 2:7 Thou made him a little lower than the angels; thou crowned him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
Heb 2:8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Note: Man was created to be "set over the works of the Creators' hands, everything was to be set under his feet. But the fall interrupted that, things have "gotten out of hand". Weeds, thorns and thistles seem to grow right out from under our feet over night. But God's purpose cannot be thwarted. We see Jesus, the Creator (Heb 1:2), made like man to redeem man to the purpose and design of the plan of God, restoring the image of God in man (Heb. 1:3), and fulfilling God's purpose in all Creation. This is the "gathering together in one all things in Christ" of the Father's will as revealed in Ephesians 1:9-10.
Sanctified Speculation (I hope!): In Gen 3:17-18, God spells out the curse in terms of the earth bringing forth thorns and thistles-stickers and tumbleweeds! I believe that is the significance of Jesus, the Lord of Creation, being crowned with a crown of thorns. In a perverse way, the Roman soldiers were proclaiming that the Lord of Creation had come to restore His creation, to end the curse of thorns and thistles at a horribly bloody price!!!
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.
Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Note: Christ Jesus is the restoration of the Image of God in man!!! He is not only the Creator of all things, they were created for Him. They were to show forth His Glory, the Father's Pleasure in His Son. It is only because of the Son and His delight to do the Father's will that the "all things" don't spin off into oblivion. He sustains all things, and through His supreme sacrifice, assures that "all things" will be reconciled to the Father's prefect Will, showing forth the Love that the Father has had for the Son from all Eternity.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
Note: The "day of the Lord" is essential for the restoration of all things. This old earth and everything in it is not as it should be. It will never get better. Just as fallen flesh cannot be improved, neither can the fallen earth and all that is in it be improved, man's deluded ego notwithstanding! But we are not told to look only for the Day of the Lord, but rather we are to look also for "new heavens, and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. The Day of the Lord is real and will soon come to pass. This earth and the vileness that is in it must be destroyed, but we are to live in holy anticipation of a new heavens and a new earth!!! Our God's Word is sure, and He has promised it!
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