The Redeemers Return

"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; And He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 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" (Acts 3:19-21). The "Times of Restitution" here promised to Israel on the condition of their national repentance is one of the names of the Millennium itself. It is termed thus because at that time Israel shall be restored to favor with God again. It is termed thus because at that time Palestine shall be restored, restored to its original fertility, when it shall again be "a land that floweth with milk and honey." It is termed thus because at that time the animal creation shall be restored, restored to Edenic conditions, when once again "the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb." It is termed thus because at that time Creation shall be restored and delivered from its present bondage of corruption, restored to its original freedom and glory.

The "Times of Restitution" is defined in the very passage where this expression occurs, defined in the previous words "the Times of Refreshing" which shall come from the presence of the Lord." Note particularly that these "Times of Restitution" cannot come until Christ Himself comes back again. This is expressly affirmed in the words "Whom the heaven must receive until." Observe it does not say "Whom the heaven must receive or retain during the Times of Restitution," still less "until the end of the Times of Restitution" -- which it most certainly would say were the teaching of post-millennialism true -- but "until the Times of Restitution," that is, until those times arrive. When these "Times" come then shall the Lord arrive. When these "Times" come then shall the Lord return, and when He returns then shall come "Times of Refreshment" for His people on earth.

Observe, further, that we are told, these "Times of Restitution" were spoken of by all God's holy prophets. Of what "Times of Restitution" then did the Old Testament prophets speak? We answer, of Millennial "Times," when all nations of the earth shall be brought beneath the sway of Messiah's scepter. The Old Testament prophets uniformly connect the Times of "Restitution" with the Coming of Christ to the earth and they certainly knew of no Kingdom being brought in by the efforts of the Church. The able declaration of Peter then proves two things: First, that until the Times of Restitution the Heaven must retain our Lord; second, that as soon as these "Times" arrive, Christ shall assuredly return. Hence, there can be no Millennium until Christ comes back again to the earth, but as soon as He does come back again the Millennium will be inaugurated.