The Restoration of All Things

When we think about the end of all things, we usually think about the book of Revelation…

AI pictures of the beasts in Revelation

We aren’t going to get into to trying to solve those mysteries tonight, we’re going to talk about what are think are the four most important parts of this coming restoration.

King Jesus will return to restore all things from the effects of sin and establish his eternal Kingdom.

pray

Jesus will return

He is coming back to send his enemies away to be punished and gather his people to his Kingdom.

You ever have to look at one of your siblings and say, “wait until mom and dad get home!”?

Acts 1:9–11 ESV

And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

He knew that He would be back…

Matthew 19:28 ESV

Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Well that sounds great! When is He coming? Someone asked Him, here’s what He said…

Mark 13:32-37

Knowing this gives us hope, gives us strength to endure the suffering and difficulty of this life. Knowing how good it will be and focussing on being with Jesus helps us remember that we can endure this for a little while.

Like when you travel, the traveling isn’t usually fun…

But thinking about the destination let’s you endure the traveling.

So what will it be like?

Creation will be restored

Nature will be fixed. Have you ever thought about the ways that nature is messed up from sin? We know it is because God talked about it in Genesis 3, but what all does that mean?…

Romans 8:21–22 ESV

that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

So just like us, creation is waiting for restoration. The prophet Isaiah painted a picture of that restoration of nature…

Isaiah 11:6-9

Peace. I think that means that there will be peace in nature. There won’t be anymore crazy giraffe fights… I think it may also mean that meat is off the menu, which sounds terrible to me! But I trust that somehow what we have will still be better than what we have now.

And what about us?

God’s people will be restored

All people will be resurrected, but only God’s people will be restored. Given “glorified bodies”, as Paul talks about. He says in

Philippians 3:20–21 ESV

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

1 Corinthians 15:42–43 ESV

So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.

Isaiah also prophesied about it…

Isaiah 35:5–6 ESV

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;

I think that that basically means we’ll all be able to dunk!

We will enjoy this restoration forever

Satan is defeated. The war was won on the cross. But the final battle is yet to take place, but when Jesus returns that is on his to do list. Then He will sit on his throne forever!

Revelation 11:15 ESV

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”

And we get to live in the glory and paradise of his rule forever! It’s a beautiful picture!

Revelation 21:1-5; 22-27; 22:5

Long for his return. Live in light of his return! Jesus told us to pray for his return…

Are you read for his return?