The Time and Nature of God’s Restoration: A Prophetic Insight
We read in the book of Acts, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:19-21, NKJV).[i]
There is much to understand from these three verses. However, we will focus on the last part, “Until the times of restoration of all things.”
The word restoration means the act or process of returning something to its original condition. In widely accepted eschatology, the church is mainly convinced that God’s renewing plans for the world will not happen until Christ returns. And yet, this scripture tells us that heaven must receive Christ until the (plurality of) times of restoration of all things. We conclude that the restoration of the church, and to some degree, the restoration of Israel, will happen before the return of Christ.
I believe in a dispensation called the “fullness of times,” during which all things will be gathered in Christ.[ii] However, times of restoration must take place first. As it is written, “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times” (Daniel 9:25).
It leaves us with two outstanding questions. First, when will the church and Israel see these times of restoration, and second, what are we being restored to?
Before we answer these questions, let me provide a theological framework. Initially, we need to understand that these times of restoration are predestined, meaning they will happen in God’s timing (Kairos moments) and will happen regardless of human intervention. In other words, these things will occur within our created earthly timeline according to God’s purposed time when He fulfills all things per the counsel of His will and not ours.[iii]
There are many great examples throughout biblical history of God’s preeminence, meaning times when God revealed Himself within our natural universe. The most remarkable, of course, were the immaculate conception, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ.
We can expect Christ’s return to be even more spectacular, according to the Lord’s predestined prophetic events unfolding before our eyes. These events directly correlate to God’s times of restoration spoken to all His holy prophets, which we have just read from the book of Acts.
In summary, these times are already written for us so that we might receive them as a sign of Christ’s imminent return, for it is written, “Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel From the Lord of hosts, Who dwells in Mount Zion” (Isaiah 8:18).
This verse in Isaiah is an apparent reference to Christ and the children of God, the church. We are a remnant whom the Lord has called out of every tongue, tribe, people, and nation to be a witness of Christ—through signs and wonders—in every nation, especially the nation of Israel. As the Apostle Paul said: “Jews request a sign…” (1 Corinthians 1:22).[iv] This is one primary reason why Paul was so passionate to communicate God’s desire for the Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy.[v]
Yeshua said these things to His disciples: “The works [i.e., signs] that I do he [we] will do also; and greater works than these he [we] will do…” (John 14:12). And what precisely are these works? We are told, “The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Matthew 11:5).
I am not talking about gold dust of feathers falling from the sky, although I admit that would be spectacular. Yeshua was talking about the conviction of sin by the power of the Holy Spirit in preaching the gospel for the salvation of Israel. As it says, “The poor shall have the gospel preached to them” (Matthew 11:5), “Therefore tongues [languages] are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers…” (1 Corinthians 14:22).
I also believe in other signs and wonders, including miraculous healings, deliverances, and raisings from the dead. All these, so that we might demonstrate and share the love of God to those who are called to become the Lord’s inheritance; as it is written, “The Portion of Jacob is not like them, For He is the Maker of all things, And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance…” (Jeremiah 10:16).
We should now understand that the times of restoration, first and foremost, pertain to the nation of Israel. It is no wonder that Yeshua said, “Learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near” (Matthew 24:32).
It is true that Yeshua also spoke of the many trees, but He specifically emphasized the fig tree, which is the biblical symbol for the nation of Israel. We should even understand that the restoration of Israel is directly linked to the church. These are our predestined good works that will provoke Israel to jealousy and ultimately lead to their salvation and times of restoration.[vi] The Gentiles are called and will participate in the restoration of Israel.[vii]
Throughout history, the restoration of Israel has come in waves—seasons that have spanned generations. As we near the end of the age, we will see an increase in the frequency and intensity of these restorative signs because we read: “until the times of restoration of all things.”
The word “until” suggests that God’s restorative power will increase in the world until He has completely fulfilled every prophetic word. Yeshua affirmed this when He said: “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things” (Matthew 17:11). Thus, he confirmed that God’s restoration for the church and Israel would begin before His return.
Also occurring at this time, we read: “Darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But [it is also true that] the Lord will arise over you [Israel], and His glory will be seen upon you” (Isaiah 60:2). Thus, light and darkness will cohabitate side-by-side in this world until Christ returns and abolishes all evil. Yeshua Himself said, “Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn” (Matthew 13:30).
We have witnessed part of Israel’s physical restoration with its rebirth in 1948 and her continual increase in global political and economic influence to this very day.[viii] Israel ranks 35th in the International Monetary Fund in terms of GDP and is considered one of the world’s top ten most potent militaries.[ix] In addition, Germany’s Deutsche Bank recently announced the Israeli Shekel as the world’s second-strongest currency.[x] How is this possible?
Israel is a small country, slightly larger than New Jersey, with just over 8 million people. So, how can it rank so high on the world’s power spectrum? Yet, I believe the Lord is giving the nations a sign that He is pouring His times of restoration upon Israel.
However, what exactly is Israel being restored to? And does their restoration influence God’s restoration of the broader ecclesia within the nations, the Gentile church? I have often heard people speak about the first-century church as a model of the future. But is that accurate?
The early church was predominantly comprised of Jewish believers and lacked the diversity of every nation.[xi] However, the Lord had already promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations.[xii]
The early church was also far from perfect. Most of Paul’s epistles and the first three chapters in the Book of Revelation provide critique and corrective instruction to these early believers. Therefore, was this early church without a spot or wrinkle? Was she the pure bride that Christ was returning for?[xiii] I do not believe so.
Also, when in church history have the Gentiles, in mass, ever provoked Israel to jealousy? Never. Therefore, God’s predestined prophesies are yet to be fulfilled at an appointed time, and we are instructed to look for the signs fulfilling these prophecies.
Yeshua spoke of many things that will come at the end of the age, including deception, wars, famine, pestilence, and earthquakes. Although these are the negative signs, there is one imminent and very positive sign that the church will undoubtedly recognize.
It is written, “It shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy” (Acts 2:17-18).
There is more for us to experience before the return of Christ. I believe the next great event in human history, beyond the continued physical restoration of Israel, will be God’s saving grace poured out on all humanity, including the Jewish people. It is what the disciples proclaimed as the great sign fulfilled in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. Like the days of old, it will all start with God’s church, and I expect from Jerusalem.
For it is written, “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:2-3).
The Gentiles will not provoke Israel to jealousy by any arousal of their flesh or inner spirit man. But they will provoke Israel to jealousy when the most incredible outpouring of the Holy Spirit ever to fall on humanity descends upon the latter-days church. And I believe this end-times church will do more amazing things (in number, magnitude, size, and influence) before the rapture than even Yeshua did Himself.[xiv]
We know that the church, primarily the Gentile church (comprised of all nations), is called to restore Israel.[xv] Included in this restoration will be Israel’s royal and priestly lineages. For it is written, “David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel; nor shall the priests, the Levites, lack a man to offer burnt offerings before Me, to kindle grain offerings, and to sacrifice continually” (Jeremiah 33:17-18).
The kingly aspect pertains to the governmental authority and ruling of God’s Kingdom, and the priestly element relates to the service of God in the Temple. The church now is the Temple of the living God. As living Temples, we will serve in God’s physical Temple constructed during the millennial Kingdom.[xvi]
Israel is not just being restored to her former glory, as we read, “[For] The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts” (Haggai 2:9). Israel, and for that part, the church itself is being restored to a condition that has never existed on the earth since the beginning of creation. And it will be even more profound than the Garden of Eden, as it is written, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Remember that the word restoration means the act or process of returning something to its original condition. Original, therefore, would predate Abraham, as it is written, “For [even] he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10).
While the Abrahamic root and Hebraic foundation remains intact through this restoration process, the final expression of what the millennial church will look like is yet to be revealed.[xvii] I know this expression will include every tribe, tongue, people, and nation, and we will be united as one people of God. As it is written, “Then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the Lord, To serve Him with one accord” (Zephaniah 3:9).[xviii]
While God’s restoration plan has begun with Israel, His ultimate objective is to restore His entire creation. As the Lord promised, “I will preserve You and give You As a covenant to the people, to restore the earth, to cause them to inherit the desolate heritages” (Isaiah 49:8). In other words, this is a much more extensive and significant work of restoration than just Israel. It is ultimately about the entire assembly of God’s people coming together as one great assembly and one new man in Christ.
It is written, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him” (Ephesians 1:7-10).
Furthermore, it will be Israel that will be at the very heart and center of God’s restorative plans. The church, the New Covenant priesthood of believers, will be working with Christ to restore God’s earthly Kingdom; the heart and center are Jerusalem and the Jewish people. As we read, “Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you” (Zechariah 8:23).
Yes, days are coming, and predestined times of restoration may already be upon the church when the Lord fulfills His promises to Israel and, therefore, to the nations grafted into her. As the Prophet, Jeremiah declared: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that it shall no more be said, The Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt, but, The Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had driven them. For I will bring them back into their land which I gave to their fathers” (Jeremiah 16:14-15).
Even now, we see God’s restorative plans at work, with Israel rising in worldwide prominence. The church will soon be transformed into the bride without spot or wrinkle, empowered with all signs, wonders, and His living word to reap the greatest harvest of souls the world has ever seen. So, let us rejoice in knowing that we are part of God’s predestined good works to bring about His plans and times of restoration for Israel and all the nations.
[i] All Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Bible (NKJV) unless otherwise noted, Thomas Nelson Inc., 1982.
[ii] Ephesians 1:10.
[iii] Ephesians 1:11.
[iv] Revelation 5:9.
[v] Romans 10:19, 11:11.
[vi] Ephesians 2:10.
[vii] Isaiah 60:10.
[viii] Isaiah 66:8.
[ix] List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita. Wikipedia.
[x] Shekel emerges as world's second-strongest currency. Arutz Sheva, Israelnews.com.
[xi] Acts 15:17, Romans 9:24.
[xii] Genesis 17:4.
[xiii] Ephesians 5:27.
[xiv] John 1:50.
[xv] Isaiah 49:6, 60:10, Nahum 2:2.
[xvi] 2 Corinthians 6:16.
[xvii] Romans 11:18, 1 Corinthians 2:9.
[xviii] Isaiah 66:23.