The Apostle Peter explains in Acts 3:19-21 that Jesus returns for the purpose of refreshing and restitution. “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.”
Restitution must be important if ALL the holy prophets spoke about it! Restitution means restoring all that was lost when Adam sinned.
For example, in Isaiah 35:5-6, God promises people will be restored to perfect health. “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing.” It will be a time of great thanksgiving.
Then “the ransomed (Jesus ransomed all mankind) of the Lord shall return (be resurrected) and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” Isaiah 35:10.
Isaiah 35:1-2, 6-7 even promises the physical earth will “blossom as a rose”!
Jesus will bring peace and prosperity to mankind. Then every person will be provided with a home, have food and even the animals will be at peace. Isaiah 65:21-25, “And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.”
The prophet Habakkuk (2:14) wrote of this time when “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the water cover the sea.” Jeremiah (31:34) similarly wrote of this universal knowledge. “No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
Thus, just as Adam was created in God’s image, Jesus returns to restore our fallen, sinful race back to God’s image. Mankind will know God as their loving, righteous, gracious Father once again!
Additional Resources:
Download the free PDF: “I Will Come Again”
Christian Questions Podcast Episode #1185: “What Are the True Reasons for Jesus’ Return to Earth?”
Uncovering the remarkable and inspiring mission of Jesus’ return
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes
For children, parents and Bible class teachers: CQ Kids video “Why did Jesus come to earth?”
