This BIBLE DOCTRINE is neither taught, nor preached, nor even mentioned, in the churches of Christianity; yet, in Acts 3:21, we read these statements:

Acts 3:21  “The times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”

What do the words “restitution of all things” really mean? What do they involve? How far reaching are they?

Well, here are some Scriptures which will answer these questions quite clearly — Scriptures which in some cases are also ignored in the churches of Christendom, and in other cases are given a different meaning, are misapplied.

John 1:29  “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Note that “the sin” (singular) is Adam’s sin of disobeying his Creator’s law, for which he was sentenced to death (death being the opposite of life). This is referred to by the Apostle Paul in these words:

Rom. 5:12  “Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Once Adam and Eve fell from their perfection by their disobedience, all of their posterity was also imperfect, for which reason the Apostle continues:

Rom. 5:18  “Therefore as by the offence of one [Adam] judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [Christ Jesus] the free gift came upon all men [by his sacrificial death on the cross] unto justification of life [to be received in God’s due time].” The Apostle then concludes:

Rom. 5:21  “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

That is exactly the meaning of the words of Jesus in Luke 19:10: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost,” namely, the eternal life Adam would have maintained by remaining obedient, but which he lost by his disobedience. Jesus adds to this:

John 3:16–17  “For God so loved the world [not this evil world of mankind, but the world to come, for which Adam and his posterity was, and is, purposed], that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him [during “the times of restitution of all things” soon to begin] should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

Oh yes, it is God’s express will: “to have all men to be saved” (1 Tim. 2:4). The Apostle Paul adds these statements (which can be understood by anyone):

1 Cor. 15:21–22  “For since by man [Adam] came death, by man [the man Christ Jesus] came also the resurrection of the dead [in due time]. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive [during — and as a result of — “the times of restitution of all things”]”. And it is for this reason that the Apostle Paul also states:

Heb. 2:9  “That he [the man Christ Jesus] by the grace of God should taste death for every man [for Adam and, by extension, for all his posterity].”

All this is based on the Bible doctrine that Jesus Christ “gave himself a ransom for all” (1 Tim. 2:6). The Greek word “antilutron”, translated “ransom”, has the meaning of an absolute equivalent, viz, an absolute equivalent to the one sentenced to death: an absolute equivalent to the perfect human being, Adam. In God’s justice, no other being could be acceptable.

All this, by the way, is also stated in a few words by the announcement of the Gospel message in Luke 2:10–11: “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Indeed, Christ the Lord, who redeems the Adamic race by giving himself “a ransom”, thus provides the basis by which the Adamic race will receive back “that which was lost” in the garden of Eden: Eternal Life in full harmony with the laws of God, which all the human race will then learn to appreciate, and to obey gladly, during “the times of restitution of all things”, because it is then: “when thy judgments are in the earth, [that] the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness” (Is. 26:9), because then: “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Is. 11:9); because then also (the Lord saith): “Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail [hard-hitting truths] shall sweep away the refuge of lies [which have been created and preached by the religious systems of mankind], and the waters shall overflow the hiding place” (Is. 28:17; pure water is a general symbol of divine truth, whereas stale or polluted water represents error).

To corroborate the Apostle Peter’s statement that “the times of restitution of all things” has been spoken of by all of God’s holy prophets, here are some examples in which reference is given to this Bible doctrine (and these examples surely cannot be misunderstood!):

In Job 14:13, we read: “O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave [Job did not believe that the dead go to a hell of torment], that thou wouldest keep me secret [in the state of oblivion, in non-existence, in death], until thy wrath be past [until, in God’s due time, a resurrection of the dead would occur, in which Job believed], that thou wouldest appoint me a set time [“the times of restitution of all things”], and remember me.”

Then Job continues (verses 14–15): “If a man die, shall he live again?” Job answers this question himself in this way: “All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come [viz, I gladly go into death, into non-existence, for the time God has purposed to expire (until the time when the resurrection will occur and he will experience the change from being dead to becoming alive again)]. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.”

Jesus, in John 5:28–29, expresses the same thought, saying: “For the hour is coming [the appointed time is sure to come], in the which all that are in the graves [not in hell] shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life [all those who have received God’s approval previous to “the times of restitution of all things”]; and they that have done evil [all the rest of mankind, from Adam all the way down the ages], unto the resurrection of judgment [the word “damnation” is a wrong translation]”, a judgment which will last all the way through “the times of restitution of all things”. The resurrection is a process in which the Adamic race will be lifted up, up, and up: until, at the end of “the times of restitution of all things”, man will have reached that perfection which Adam and Eve had in the garden of Eden before their disobedience. Christ, who will not only be the King of kings and Lord of lords, but also the Mediator between God and man: will establish all this.

But even clearer than Job’s anticipation of a resurrection, and the following mercy of God to bless “the work of thine hands”, is the oath-bound promise of God to Abraham:

Gen. 22:16–18  “By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”

This Scripture tells us several very important points:

1. God confirms his promise to Abraham by an oath: “By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD”; and since God cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:18), and since we have God’s word for it that: “I am the LORD, I change not!” (Mal. 3:6), therefore, just as surely “as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Is. 55:10–11).

The LORD prefaces this statement pertaining to his plans and purposes with these words: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Is. 55:8–9).

2. While Abraham himself will be blessed greatly, God declares also that in his seed (in Abraham’s seed): “all the nations of the earth shall be blessed”.

3. In the finality, there will be two different kinds of the Abrahamic seed: one will be “as the stars of heaven”, and the other “as the sand which is upon the sea shore”.

This last point may sound very peculiar, but it is actually a very simple but clear statement, that that part of the future seed which is to bless “all the families of the earth”: will be “as the stars of heaven”. In other words: it will develop into a “spiritual” seed, because only a spiritual seed, a spiritual government: has the capabilities, the necessary powers and means, “to bless all the nations of the earth”. In the first mention of this promise, in Gen. 12:3, these words are being used: “In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

In the New Testament we find the real application of this aspect of God’s Plan of Salvation for Adam and all his posterity. The Apostle Paul declares that: Christ is the seed of Abraham (Gal. 3:16), and then he adds (verses 26–29): “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. … And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye [part of] Abraham’s seed”, because Christ is the “Head”, and the true Church of Christ is his “body”.

In Rom. 6:3, the Apostle Paul emphasizes this point by a particular condition: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” In other words, just to belong to a christian Church, just to be a member of a religious system or group which claims to be “christian”: is not enough. The Bible definition of a true Christian, of a member of the body of Christ, of a member of the Little Flock: is an entirely different one. But only these are to be co-inheritors with Christ — in his glory, and station, and office, and work!

An other picture shows it in this way: Christ, the bridegroom, and the “little flock”, the true Church of Christ, his bride, when united in heavenly glory: will indeed then “bless all the families of the earth”, during “the times of restitution of all things”.

How will Christ (“the King of kings and Lord of lords”) and his associates (the true saints of God) “bless all the families of the earth”? Well, consider the following:

First of all, in all of God’s plans and purposes, there is a principle which cannot be violated: God’s absolute Justice. In Ps. 89:14, this is stated in these words: “Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: [nevertheless] mercy and truth shall go before thy face.” This principle is also upheld, of course, by the ruling King of kings and Lord of lords, during “the times of restitution of all things”, which is clearly — and without any reservations — declared in Is. 28:17: “Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail [hard-hitting truth] shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place”, because, in fact, at that time (during “the times of restitution of all things”), “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Is. 11:9).

But Christ is not only a King of kings and Lord of lords, but also a “High Priest”, as well as the Mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 5:5–10). As such, he — The Christ, head and body — will bring about what we read in Is. 35:5–10:

“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened [not just the literal eyes, but also the mental eyes], and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped [not only the literal ones, but the ability to mentally comprehend and understand]. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing [all physical illnesses, or handicaps shall be eliminated; the physical body will experience a rejuvenation]: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert [oh yes, the earth also will develop (undergo a transformation) into a glorious habitation for the human race]. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness [a symbolic highway of the human mind]; the unclean shall not pass over it [a mind which will persist in evil conceptions and doings will not be permitted there]; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men [those who desire to truly come into harmony with God and his fellow men], though fools, shall not err therein [one does not have to go to a university to understand then what is going on; everything will be made very clear]. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there [no lion-like people, no vicious-minded people, will be permitted to exist there]; but the redeemed shall walk there: and the ransomed of the Lord shall return [all that are in the graves shall return to be part of these “times of restitution of all things”], and come to Zion [the spiritual, the heavenly Government: The Christ] with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

Furthermore: nature’s creatures will also undergo a change in that there won’t be any more predatory activities (life styles), as is pointed out in Is. 11:6–9:

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain [in all my holy Kingdom; in Biblical symbolism, a mountain represents a kingdom]”.

Oh yes, when God declares that “the heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool” (Is. 66:1), and that “I will make the place of my feet glorious” (Is. 60:13), and while the present conditions are still such that: “One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh” (Eccl. 1:4), it should not lead the wise of this world to conclude that this principle is also applicable to the earth itself. Oh no, because the LORD also declares: “… but the earth abideth for ever” (Eccl. 1:4); because: “God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited” (Is. 45:18).

These Scriptures not only corroborate the principles of “the times of restitution of all things”, but the fulfillments of them will also coincide with “the times of restitution of all things.”

It is for all these reasons that the people of mankind will then (finally) see and understand the true God of the Bible, viz, his four basic attributes: Justice, Wisdom, Power, and Love, and will say in that day: “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him [hoping for such a God in the far corners of our hearts], and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation” (Is. 25:9).

It is for all these reasons (and many, many more) that all the people of mankind will then (finally) see and understand who the crucified, and risen, and glorified Christ really is; and then (during “the times of restitution of all things”) the Apostle Paul’s words in Phil. 2:10–11 will come to pass: “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

And that they will do, not because God forces them to do so, but because they are urged from within, and desire to do so. They then will understand clearly the working of God’s plans and purposes; they then will realize and comprehend: all that which God did in preparation for “the times of restitution of all things”, even to give “his only begotten Son”, who willingly “gave himself a ransom for all”, and who said of himself: “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me [throughout the Bible, this loving bond between God the Father and his only begotten Son can be found], I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart” (Ps. 40:7–8). This is explained most dramatically by the Apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 15:24–28:

“Then cometh the end [the end of “the times of restitution of all things”], when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. … But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.”

And now, let the Psalmist have the last word:

“Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear [reverence] him.” (Ps. 67:3–7)