What does Acts 3:21 mean?
Heaven "received" Jesus when He ascended into heaven after the resurrection (Acts 1:9). At some time in the future, He will return and Israel will be restored. Not even Peter knows when this will happen, although he suspects it will be soon (Acts 1:6–7). And Jesus tells us that we should continue to live as if He can return at any moment—because He can! (Mark 13:32–37.)The Old Testament describes this restoration in several places:
- The relationships between fathers and children will be restored (Malachi 4:6).
- Israel will finally hold the geographical borders God promised (Genesis 15:18–21).
- God's promise to David, that his heir will sit on the throne forever, will come to be (2 Samuel 7:12, 16).
- The people of Israel will follow God with their whole hearts (Jeremiah 31:31–34).
- All nations will serve Jesus (Daniel 7:13–14).
- God will restore the peace of the animals from the fear He subjected them to after the flood (Isaiah 11:6–9; Genesis 9:2).