Restitution of All Things, The

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 14
 
This expression is found in Acts 3:2121Whom 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. (Acts 3:21) and refers to all the things which the prophets of Israel had prophecied concerning the nation’s blessing under its Messiah in the world to come. It coincides with the Lord’s statement about Elijah’s coming and restoring “all things” (Matt. 17:1111And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. (Matthew 17:11)).
The statement, “the restitution of all things,” has been erroneously used to support the false doctrine of universalism—the eventual salvation of all God’s creatures, so that none end up in Hell. However, Peter qualified his remark concerning the restitution of all things by adding, “Which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets.” Thus, the “all things” that he was referring to were those things which the prophets of Israel had prophecied—namely, the restoration of the nation and its blessing under its Messiah.