Acts 3:19-21 (KJV):
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
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.
This is a good example of the faith and teaching of the apostles. Their hope was centred in the return from heaven of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 1:11) who is now seated at the right hand of God (Acts 2:34-35). God will send Jesus Christ who will remain in heaven until the times of refreshing and restoration of all things.
Peter in verses 12-18 spoke of Jesus' crucifixion, death and resurrection, and the need to have faith in his name. Then in these verses 19-21 Peter tells us that a future time of blessing has been spoken of by God through the mouth of all the holy prophets. As such he directs us to turn to the prophetic word of God to more fully understand these things.
He uses the term "refreshing" and this reminds us of
Psalm 72:6 (KJV):
6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.
This is set in the context of David praying to God to give rulership of the earth to David's descendant. Psalm 72 describes the blessing that will fill the earth at this future time. The promised descendant of David is to sit upon David's throne 2 Sam.7:12-16, Luke 1:32-33.
David's last words show how his heart was set on this future reign of Christ in
2 Sam.23:3-7:
There shall be a ruler over mankind
A righteous one
Ruling in the fear of God
And as the brightness of the morning
He shall rise the Sun of an unclouded dawn
Shining forth after rain upon
the tender grass out of the earth.
Peter said that it would also be the times of restitution of all things. The phrase "all things" alludes to the creation psalm, Psalm 8. This psalm depicts the new creation when the Son of Man comes to reign over all creation, and fulfil the promise of dominion that Adam lost (Heb.2:5-11).
The restoration of true worship, righteousness and peace amongst the nations is revealed in
Isa 2:1-4 (KJV):
1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
These are only a few examples, as Peter says, God has spoken of these things by ALL his holy prophets. Peter sets these things before us so that we can look beyond these times of trouble to that glorious time of refreshing and restoration, and that our hearts may be moved to love our Lord's appearing.
Kind regards
Trevor
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