The Times Of Restoration Of All Things, What & When?

[Serenity]

The February 2024 Study Edition of the Watchtower has an article entitled, "I Will Never Abandon You"! Paragraphs 9 and 10 of the article reads, in part, as follows:

“The times of restoration of all things.”..... What is our time period called? We might initially refer to it as “the last days” of this wicked system of things. (2 Tim. 3:1) But the Bible shows that a greater and longer era began at the same time. This era is called “the times of restoration of all things.” (Acts 3:21) This period began in 1914. What was then restored? Well, Jesus was enthroned as King in heavens... Soon after that, pure worship began to be restored at last! (Isa. 2:2-4; Ezek. 11:17-20

10 Read Isaiah 54:17. “No weapon formed against you will have any success”! Those inspired words are being fulfilled today.... "You will fear nothing and have no cause for terror, for it will not come near you.” (Isa. 54:13, 14) .....Pure worship has been restored, and it will never be corrupted again. It is here to stay, for all eternity. No weapon formed against us will succeed!"
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So the Watchtower is saying that the "times of restoration" began in 1914, and that Jesus was enthroned in heaven then, and pure worship began to be restored then, has been restored, and it will never be corrupted again. Also, it says that the prophecy Isaiah 54:17, "No weapon formed against you will have any success." is currently undergoing fulfillment.

Anyone have any thoughts about whether we are living in the time frame that the scriptures refer to as "the times of restoration of all things?" If you think we are not, why do you think that we are not and when do you think the "times of restoration of all things" will begin, and what will it mean for mankind? What will it mean for all creation, including those in heaven? The scripture at Acts 3:21 doesn't specify what the "all things" are that will be restored. So, what will be restored of which God spoke through the mouth of holy prophets of old time?

“Repent, therefore, and turn around so as to get YOUR sins blotted out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the person of Jehovah and that he may send forth the Christ appointed for YOU, Jesus, whom heaven, indeed, must hold within itself until the times of restoration of all things of which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets of old time." Acts 3:19-21

 

[Frank D]

“Repent, therefore, and turn around so as to get YOUR sins blotted out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the person of Jehovah and that he may send forth the Christ appointed for YOU, Jesus, whom heaven, indeed, must hold within itself until the times of restoration of all things of which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets of old time." Acts 3:19-21

Anyone have any thoughts about whether we are living in the time frame that the scriptures refer to as "the times of restoration of all things?" If you think we are not, why do you think that we are not and when do you think the "times of restoration of all things" will begin,

Just my thoughts.

It would seem that since the time Jesus ascended to heaven in May 33c.e. he has remained there and will continue to do so until he comes again, from heaven. It seems as though that when 'the time of restoration of all things' are to begin, at that point heaven must not hold Jesus within itself any longer, so that will be when he returns, which the following shows Jesus coming from heaven after the 42 months of the 8th king.

[9 After he had said these things, while they were looking on, he was lifted up and a cloud caught him up from their sight. 10 And as they were gazing into the sky while he was on his way, suddenly two men in white garments stood beside them 11 and said: “Men of Galʹi·lee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus who was taken up from you into the sky will come in the same manner as you have seen him going into the sky.”]

[7 But you who suffer tribulation will be given relief along with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels 8 in a flaming fire, as he brings vengeance on those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus. 9 These very ones will undergo the judicial punishment of everlasting destruction from before the Lord and from the glory of his strength, 10 at the time when he comes to be glorified in connection with his holy ones and to be regarded in that day with wonder among all those who exercised faith, because the witness we gave met with faith among you.]

[31 “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.]

 

[Serenity]

Just my thoughts.

It would seem that since the time Jesus ascended to heaven in May 33c.e. he has remained there and will continue to do so until he comes again, from heaven. It seems as though that when 'the time of restoration of all things' are to begin, at that point heaven must not hold Jesus within itself any longer, so that will be when he returns, which the following shows Jesus coming from heaven after the 42 months of the 8th king.

[9 After he had said these things, while they were looking on, he was lifted up and a cloud caught him up from their sight. 10 And as they were gazing into the sky while he was on his way, suddenly two men in white garments stood beside them 11 and said: “Men of Galʹi·lee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus who was taken up from you into the sky will come in the same manner as you have seen him going into the sky.”]

[7 But you who suffer tribulation will be given relief along with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels 8 in a flaming fire, as he brings vengeance on those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus. 9 These very ones will undergo the judicial punishment of everlasting destruction from before the Lord and from the glory of his strength, 10 at the time when he comes to be glorified in connection with his holy ones and to be regarded in that day with wonder among all those who exercised faith, because the witness we gave met with faith among you.]

[31 “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.]

Thanks for the great scriptures Frank.

And it makes sense that heaven holds Jesus Christ within itself until the times of restoration of all things. Heaven is still witholding Jesus within itself, is it not; or has Jesus left heaven? I think not. I don't believe that even the Watchtower teaches that Jesus has left heaven. The Watchtower says he now reigns in heaven. But the scrpture says that heaven holds Jesus within itself until the times of restoration, so there's an apparent discrepency there, and it doesn't seem to make sense; not to me anyway.

 

[Watchman]

The WT frequently quotes Isaiah 54:17: “No weapon formed against you will have any success!” Applying this to the organization now is part of the elaborate 1914 delusion. It is demonstrably not true. Look at Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. After the dissolution of the atheistic USSR, Jehovah's Witnesses came out from underground. They began preaching and holding public meetings and big conventions. Kingdom Halls sprung up everywhere, and the WT built a branch office in St Petersburg. But look what happened. Putin successfully liquidated the organization. There are no Kingdom Halls. The branch office has been confiscated. There is no public preaching. If any JW dares to preach, they face arrest and long prison sentences. People in Russia cannot even access the jw dot org. How can the WT boast that no weapon formed against them can succeed? Is it not rather the case that in spite of the successful campaign Russia waged against the Society the GB have not taken it to heart? Instead, they act defiantly in Jehovah's presence, and so God is now intent on liquidating the whole thing. The haughty boasters will be successfully silenced.

 

[Serenity]

The WT frequently quotes Isaiah 54:17: “No weapon formed against you will have any success!” Applying this to the organization now is part of the elaborate 1914 delusion. It is demonstrably not true. Look at Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. After the dissolution of the atheistic USSR, Jehovah's Witnesses came out from underground. They began preaching and holding public meetings and big conventions. Kingdom Halls sprung up everywhere, and the WT built a branch office in St Petersburg. But look what happened. Putin successfully liquidated the organization. There are no Kingdom Halls. The branch office has been confiscated. There is no public preaching. If any JW dares to preach, they face arrest and long prison sentences. People in Russia cannot even access the jw dot org. How can the WT boast that no weapon formed against them can succeed? Is it not rather the case that in spite of the successful campaign Russia waged against the Society the GB have not taken it to heart? Instead, they act defiantly in Jehovah's presence, and so God is now intent on liquidating the whole thing. The haughty boasters will be successfully silenced.

So then, you don't feel that we are living in "the times of restoration of all things" as the Watchtower states?

 

[Watchman]

So then, ou don't feel that we are living in "the times of restoration of all things" as the Watchtower states?

Definitely not. The restoration comes after the destruction of "Jerusalem" during the great tribulation. If you read the context of Isaiah 54, it might become clear. For example, verses 7-10 states: “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great mercy I will gather you back. In a flood of indignation I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting loyal love I will have mercy on you,” says your Repurchaser, Jehovah. “This is like the days of Noah to me. Just as I have sworn that the waters of Noah will no more cover the earth, so I swear that I will no more become indignant toward you or rebuke you. For the mountains may be removed and the hills may be shaken, but my loyal love will not be removed from you, nor will my covenant of peace be shaken,” says Jehovah, the One having mercy on you.

The Watchtower used to claim that Jehovah became indignant and abandoned the Bible Students during the First World War. At least that made sense. Now, the GB makes the preposterous claim that Christians went into spiritual captivity to Babylon the Great 1,700 years ago! And does that fit the description of "a brief moment" of abandonment? Also, the "flood of indignation is a metaphor for the expression of God's anger. That flood will wash away the place of concealment for those who have hidden themselves in falsehood. (See Isaiah 28) And When God states that the hills and mountains may be shaken and removed, he is referring to the nations being rocked during the tribulation, which parallels the opening of the sixth seal of Revelation.

The restoration is when the Kingdom comes, and the chosen ones are sealed. Prior to that Christ's congregation will be crushed and scattered and abandoned.

 

[Frank D]

“For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great mercy I will gather you back. In a flood of indignation I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting loyal love I will have mercy on you,” says your Repurchaser, Jehovah. “This is like the days of Noah to me. Just as I have sworn that the waters of Noah will no more cover the earth, so I swear that I will no more become indignant toward you or rebuke you. For the mountains may be removed and the hills may be shaken, but my loyal love will not be removed from you, nor will my covenant of peace be shaken,” says Jehovah, the One having mercy on you.

So, does this mean the restoration comes after the destruction of Jerusalem and the destruction of Jerusalem = the holy place/city being trampled on for 42-months during the 8th king rule, the brief moment of abandonment is the 42 months which then after such time will be gathered back?

And the restoration is when the kingdom comes, and the kingdom comes when Jesus comes and when he comes is when the gathering takes place which is after the 42-months?

[24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations until the appointed times of the nations are fulfilled.
2 But as for the courtyard that is outside the temple sanctuary, leave it out and do not measure it, because it has been given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city underfoot for 42 months.
5 It was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and it was given authority to act for 42 months. 7 It was permitted to wage war with the holy ones and conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.10 If anyone is meant for captivity, he will go into captivity. If anyone will kill with the sword, he must be killed with the sword. This is where it calls for endurance and faith on the part of the holy ones.
17 Between the porch and the altar Let the priests, the ministers of Jehovah, weep and say: ‘Do feel pity, O Jehovah, for your people;
Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, Letting the nations rule over them. Why should the peoples say, “Where is their God?”’]


[3 “For look! in those days and in that time, When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will also gather together all the nations And bring them down to the Valley of Je·hoshʹa·phat. I will enter into judgment with them there In behalf of my people and my inheritance Israel, For they scattered them among the nations, And they divided up my land among themselves.
26 And then they will see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels and will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from earth’s extremity to heaven’s extremity.
31 “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will put the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right: ‘Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. 41 “Then he will say to those on his left: ‘Go away from me, you who have been cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.]

 

[Serenity]

Definitely not. The restoration comes after the destruction of "Jerusalem" during the great tribulation. If you read the context of Isaiah 54, it might become clear. For example, verses 7-10 states: “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great mercy I will gather you back. In a flood of indignation I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting loyal love I will have mercy on you,” says your Repurchaser, Jehovah. “This is like the days of Noah to me. Just as I have sworn that the waters of Noah will no more cover the earth, so I swear that I will no more become indignant toward you or rebuke you. For the mountains may be removed and the hills may be shaken, but my loyal love will not be removed from you, nor will my covenant of peace be shaken,” says Jehovah, the One having mercy on you.

The Watchtower used to claim that Jehovah became indignant and abandoned the Bible Students during the First World War. At least that made sense. Now, the GB makes the preposterous claim that Christians went into spiritual captivity to Babylon the Great 1,700 years ago! And does that fit the description of "a brief moment" of abandonment? Also, the "flood of indignation is a metaphor for the expression of God's anger. That flood will wash away the place of concealment for those who have hidden themselves in falsehood. (See Isaiah 28) And When God states that the hills and mountains may be shaken and removed, he is referring to the nations being rocked during the tribulation, which parallels the opening of the sixth seal of Revelation.

The restoration is when the Kingdom comes, and the chosen ones are sealed. Prior to that Christ's congregation will be crushed and scattered and abandoned.

I just read Isaiah 54 last night as I happen to be reading the book of Isaiah as part of my daily reading and I agree that this prophecy seems to have a future fullfillment. I found 2 other Watchtower articles from 1971 on this topic which say also that we are living in the times of restoration, so this isn't a new Watchtower teaching by any means.

At Matthew 17:11 Jesus used the term "restore all things": "In reply he said: "Elijah, indeed, is coming and will restore all things. However, I say to you that Elijah has already come and they did not recognize him but did with him the things that they wanted." Matthew 17:11, 12. This was a response to the disciples question about why the scribes said that Elijah must come first. Jesus was referring to John the Baptist as being Elijah, but when John was asked if he was Elijah, he said, "No I am not.", however, Jesus said he was.

▪︎Did John not know that he was the Elijah that was prophesied to come?
▪︎Why did he say he was not Elijah when Jesus said that he was Elijah?
▪︎Also, how did John the Baptist fulfill the role of Elijah and restore all things
▪︎And, what things did John restore?
▪︎Also, is there to be another Elijah before Christ's return who will do a similar restoration work?

Jehovah gave Malachi this prophecy: “Look! I am sending to YOU people E·liʹjah the prophet before the coming of the great and fear-inspiring day of Jehovah. And he must turn the heart of fathers back toward sons, and the heart of sons back toward fathers; in order that I may not come and actually strike the earth with a devoting [of it] to destruction.”

Thiis seems to indicate a dual fulfillment, in that Elijah would come before the day of Jehovah, which, at least the final Day of Jehovah, has not come yet.

▪︎Is this referring to the anointed ones who appeared on the scene in the 1800s?
▪︎Is there more than one restoration, or different types or phases, of the restoration of all things?

Perhaps this should be a separate Bible question. I asked it here as it seems related, but I'll post another thread on this question.

So I posted another thread for these Bible questions, but will leave this here as it it related.
Here's the link to the new thread:
Thread 'Does the prophecy of Malachi 4: 5, 6 about Elijah's coming to restore all things have a dual fulfillment?' https://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/in...tore-all-things-have-a-dual-fulfillment.3929/

 

[Serenity]

Definitely not. The restoration comes after the destruction of "Jerusalem" during the great tribulation. If you read the context of Isaiah 54, it might become clear. For example, verses 7-10 states: “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great mercy I will gather you back. In a flood of indignation I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting loyal love I will have mercy on you,” says your Repurchaser, Jehovah. “This is like the days of Noah to me. Just as I have sworn that the waters of Noah will no more cover the earth, so I swear that I will no more become indignant toward you or rebuke you. For the mountains may be removed and the hills may be shaken, but my loyal love will not be removed from you, nor will my covenant of peace be shaken,” says Jehovah, the One having mercy on you.

The Watchtower used to claim that Jehovah became indignant and abandoned the Bible Students during the First World War. At least that made sense. Now, the GB makes the preposterous claim that Christians went into spiritual captivity to Babylon the Great 1,700 years ago! And does that fit the description of "a brief moment" of abandonment? Also, the "flood of indignation is a metaphor for the expression of God's anger. That flood will wash away the place of concealment for those who have hidden themselves in falsehood. (See Isaiah 28) And When God states that the hills and mountains may be shaken and removed, he is referring to the nations being rocked during the tribulation, which parallels the opening of the sixth seal of Revelation.

The restoration is when the Kingdom comes, and the chosen ones are sealed. Prior to that Christ's congregation will be crushed and scattered and abandoned.

If there isn't more than one "restoration of all things" or if there are not different phases of the restoration of all things, and we are not living now in the times of restoration yet, but it is future, then it seems that it must be logically concluded that neither has the Elijah that was fortold to come before the day of Jehovah come yet, as was fortold in Malachi 4: 5, 6, because it is Elijah who restores all things. In other words, if the restoration of all things is in the future, and we are not living in the time of the restoration of all things, and it is Elijah, according to the prophecy, who restores all things, then Elijah has not yet arrived on the scene and his coming is yet in the future.