"The Times of Restoration" Are at Hand!

Shortly before Jesus ascended to heaven, some of his faithful disciples asked him:  "Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?"  Jesus' answer implied that some time would elapse before the Kingdom would come.  During that time, his followers would have a great work to do.  They were to be witnesses of Jesus "both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and the most distant part of the earth." -Acts 1:6-8.


THAT assignment could not be accomplished  in a matter of a few days, weeks, or months.  Without the slightest hesitation, however, the disciples began to preach.  But they did not lose interest in the subject of restoration.  To a large crowd gathered in Jerusalem, the apostle Peter spoke about it, saying: "Repent . ..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.


These "times of restoration" were to usher in "seasons of refreshing" from Jehovah.  The foretold restoration was to come in two stages.  First, there would be a refreshing spiritual restoration, which is now under way.  Second, this would be followed by the establishing of a physical paradise on earth.

Next time: "The Times of Restoration" Are at Hand! - The Time of Restoration Begins

The Watchtower, 2000