When asked that question, how would you answer? What needs to be restored and when? If it involves the Bible, what would you think?
The Bible does speak about a restoration. It is a composite work by the Almighty God, Jehovah, and those who love Him very much. We learn from the Bible that for eons Jehovah was the center of all life in the Heavens. We learn that all life, everywhere was started when Jehovah created another spirit life similar to Himself, a Son, an only begotten Son. This means that the Son was a direct creation of Jehovah God and no one else. Jehovah and His Son spent eons of time together, to the point that the Son became just like His Father in principles and values of life. The beloved Son’s name in Heaven was Michael. He was born on Earth as Jesus.
Jehovah then began creating more sons; He used His First Son to help in creating millions of spirits called angels or Sons of God. Jehovah loves giving life to others; hundreds of millions of years ago He turned His attention toward preparing a home for a new type of life, a physical living being. Imagine the universe before its start, there was nothing to see, everything was a different type of life, a spiritual type. The whole universe and all the life we see was thought out and planned by Jehovah. The Bible states that Jehovah is abundant in Wisdom, Love, Justice and Power.
Times of Restoration: Point of Restoration before Sin
Jehovah with His First Son’s help created the first fish, birds and animals that we see today, along with many others that passed away many years ago. We see in those living things a creative artistry along with great wisdom which brings us a feeling of deep love that Jehovah is showing to them and us. Jehovah continued to create the first man, Adam. As Adam’s offspring we can see in our bodies a great design with all practical wisdom. We realize that with deep love Jehovah created us this way. For all the millions of years prior to this there was peace. Jehovah was the source and center of all life in heaven. Everyone looked up to Jehovah and sang His praises. After his creation, Adam looked up to Him also. Jehovah spoke with Adam often. This reverence Adam had towards Jehovah brought out bad feelings or wrong desires in one angel that was watching and listening. After many years, that angel made a statement that changed the proposed future of many angels, men and women and even animals.
Jehovah’s proposed future for men and women was to have children, filling the Earth with offspring who would all love Jehovah and revere Him as God. Jehovah proposed that Adam’s family would fill the Earth and extend the boundaries of the park like area of Eden they lived in at that time. Jehovah proposed too, that all the animals would be subdued towards men, imagine that no animal on earth would harm you or look at you as a meal. Complete peace between man and beast. Jehovah proposed that neither men nor women would ever die. Adam and Eve and all their children could be alive today, had the angel with bad desires had not made this one statement.
Who was that angel, we do not know what his heavenly name was, however we know from the Bible he was a beautiful angel. Today he is known as a Devil or Satan. What did he say that changed the future? He told Eve; Adams wife, that “Jehovah was a liar.” Jehovah had warned Adam that if he disobeyed Jehovah, Adam would die. Satan told Eve that was a lie. Satan deceived Eve into believing it. Eve in turn brought the fruit to Adam. Adam chose to disobey Jehovah, which is why men and women live a short life and die.
There were other angels in Heaven that were now emboldened to act rebelliously too. They came to Earth in bodies they had created to enjoy sexual relations as fleshly men. This had never been possible before in their lifetime, to enjoy sensual pleasures. This means that theories of life on other planets are all erroneous. All fleshly life began here on Earth. These acts by Satan and these others, has shaken the peace and order of even the Heavens which had been in order hundreds of millions of years. Jehovah allowed all these events to take place. The bad effects of them are still continuing today.
Times of Restoration: What was Lost
What has been lost? First and foremost is the sanctity of Jehovah and His name. He has been slandered, being called a liar by Satan. Imagine a pure white house, beautiful in appearance, until someone takes a handful of mud and throws it against the wall. What draws your attention every time you look at the house? The mud, right?
Jehovah, the Creator, the highest example of Righteousness, being called a liar is the mud that mars Him. Respect for Jehovah’s right as Creator to determine what is right and wrong has suffered. Many in Heaven followed Satan’s lead in rebelling against Jehovah. Jehovah has not changed, His sovereignty will exist forever. Time and the actions of rebels have shown that Satan’s actions have been detrimental to the Heavens and the Earth and all who want to live in peaceful harmony with Jehovah. Jehovah’s patience has shown that He is Righteous.
On Earth Adam was evicted from his park like home with abundant food into a harsh countryside where weeds would choke what food did grow. Jehovah made them one pair of clothes, that’s all. No tools, no skills, no protection from the weather and now the animals would increasingly become dangerous. Now, they knew they would die and there was no way to undo the bad choices they had made. Jehovah never spoke with Adam or Eve again.
Since then, men have worshipped thousands of gods. There are more than ten thousand religious organizations today. Even among Christians there are doctrinal differences that actually question the truthfulness of Jehovah and Jesus. For instance some churches claim that while Jesus was on Earth, He only pretended to pray to God, because they assert he is God. Jesus said he was the Son of God are men going to call him a liar and worship him as God anyway? Could Mary be the Mother of God? People today worship her as such, however, the Ten Commandments and the verses at Deuteronomy 6:4-9 make it clear that Jehovah alone is who we must worship. All respect for Jehovah God and the truthfulness of His inspired written word, the Bible, has been lost in the world’s churches and their doctrines of men.
Restoring truth. The easiest way to find Bible truth is believe what it states. For instance at 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is inspired of God….” Each book of the Bible was inspired by the same God, Jehovah. The men used to write the Bible were allowed their own style; the thought was inspired by God. Since it was the Same God, the line of thought should harmonize from beginning to end as it does. Genesis explains the preparation that God made over millions or billions of years. It describes the different stages of the Earth and life on it, which order scientist attest to.
The Bible describes how men and women came to be, that woman would be a compliment to man, the feminine one. The Bible describes where things went wrong and why we suffer and die. The Bible describes at Genesis 3:15 how Jehovah is going to use a seed from His Heavenly woman (faithful angels) to destroy Satan and his offspring (all rebelling against Jehovah). Later in Genesis Jehovah states that a seed from Abraham would be a blessing to all mankind. The Bible always referred to Jehovah as God Almighty, the Creator, Sovereign Lord, the Eternal and the one who “Gave” His Son.
The Bible describes through what lineage that Seed became Jesus and how he would become a King of Gods Kingdom with 144,000 others bought from the Earth. This administration under Jehovah’s Universal Sovereignty would be used to set all things straight during a 1000 year period (Judgment Day). At the end of that time, Jesus would hand over all that had been restored back to Jehovah God ending man alienation from God for all eternity. This also set a judicial precedent “Jehovah’s principles of right and wrong are in the best interest of mankind and global peace and security.” No rebels will need to be given time to see if their way of alternative governing is better, we see the outcome of 6000 years of man’s governments today.
Times of Restoration: Begin in Heaven
At Acts 3:21 it states “Heaven must hold this one within itself until the times of restoration of all things of which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets of old.” This shows that Jesus would be in the Heavens when the 1000 year period begins. What did the prophets of God foretell?
The Peace and unity of all those who live in the Heavens would be first to be restored. In harmony with Genesis 3:15 the next action after Jesus death and resurrection (the heel wound) would be a death blow (the head wound) to Satan and his followers. Satan and every spirit that has rebelled against Jehovah’s sovereignty would be cast out of the Heavens and then abyssed during the tribulation. See Revelation 12:7-12.
After Satan and every rebelling spirit are abyssed; Jesus will turn his attention toward every living person on Earth at that time. The Bible describes a great worldwide education campaign at Matthew 24:14 that would occur up until the last days of the human governments. A person’s future will be determined by how they reacted to learning that Jesus is going to rule the Earth with 144,000 others that Jehovah has assigned as Kings and Priests of the Kingdom of God to rule over those on the Earth. It is saddening to see so many sincere people worship God with unacceptable lies. “God is a spirit and those worshipping Him MUST worship with spirit and truth.” John 4:24 verse 23 states that Jehovah has been LOOKING for them. Why is it so hard for people in other religions to see that there is One God and One Truth. 2 Corinthians 4:4 shows how Satan has blinded them, it takes prayer for the truth and prayer for God’s help to break free from his grip and the lies that influence the world today.
Think about it, why would God have several different organizations, teaching different beliefs and with no moral restraints at all? He organized the whole universe; don’t you think He could organize religion? He is a God of Order, that order is brought out at Ephesians 4:4 “One body there is, and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” One Way, One Road, United as One.
Times of Restoration: Starts with Tribulation
The verse below (Daniel 12:1) shows that there would occur a great tribulation. The tribulation would be the worst that has ever occurred and will never be repeated. This tribulation is referenced at Matthew 24:21 and Mark 13:24 and Revelation 7:14. When would that Great Tribulation begin? Jesus gave a composite sign of when it would occur. That sign is referenced at Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. Matthew 24:21 shows it would begin after a worldwide preaching campaign about the Kingdom of God and the rise of a Disgusting Thing. Daniel 2:43,44 states it would begin after a time of disunity among the last world power and other world rulers. Daniel 11:44,45 shows it to start after the King of the North goes forth in a great rage. Luke 21:25 informs us about other facets “Also, there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and its agitation. 26. People will become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” Today we see the anger of people against the ruling authority and the fear of people because of the disunity and violence.
Daniel 12:4 states that these things would be hidden from discernment until the last days of man’s rule. Are the secrets of the Bible being hidden from the world today? Yes, consider the crowds that did not put faith in Jesus while he was here in the flesh. Even the vast crowds that were fed by 2 little fish and a few loaves of bread. Most of them did not benefit by his teachings because he appeared as just a man of faith who would not change their day-to-day lives. How can you benefit from the Bible? Before that tribulation begins you must build your faith in Jehovah and His Kingdom by a study of the Scriptures and meditation on His purpose to fulfill His purpose.You must pray to Him”please help me to know and understand the truth of your word”.
Times of Restoration: the Resurrection
The Restoration on Earth begins with the undoing of all the bad effects of Adam’s disloyalty. Daniel 12 shows us that,after the Great Tribulation, the people of who lived prior to Jesus birth knew about and hoped for a resurrection from the dead to Earthly life. They had hope that they would be remembered by God and resurrected back to life under better conditions following a great tribulation.
Then a resurrection of people who lived in the past, starting with the first man murdered, Abel. Many will be given the opportunity to live in Paradise on Earth Forever
Daniel 12:1 “During that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who is standing in behalf of your people. And there will occur a time of distress such as has not occurred since there came to be a nation until that time. And during that time your people will escape, everyone who is found written down in the book. 2. And many of those asleep in the dust of the earth will wake up, some to everlasting life and others to reproach and to everlasting contempt.”
Job had confidence in Jehovah’s ability to resurrect him that is why he prayed at Job 14:13 “O that in the Grave you would conceal me, That you would hide me until your anger passes by, That you would set a time limit for me and remember me!”
Hebrews 11:13 says of some who lived in pre-Christian times: “In faith all of these died, although they did not receive the fulfillment of the promises; but they saw them from a distance and welcomed them.”
Abraham’s strong faith in the resurrection enabled him to carry out Jehovah’s command to sacrifice his son Isaac if necessary as seen at Hebrews 11:17 “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, as good as offered up Isaac, the man who had gladly received the promises attempted to offer up his only-begotten son. 18. Although it had been said to him: “What will be called your offspring will be through Isaac.” 19. But he reasoned that God was able to raise him up even from the dead, and he did receive him from there in an illustrative way.”
Isaiah 25:8 “He will swallow up death forever,And the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all faces”.
These prophesies of resurrection from the dead were given to the many people who lived and died long before Jesus came to the Earth and died for all mankind. They understood the resurrection to be one that consisted of fleshly life on Earth.
Isaiah 26:19 states:“Your dead will live.My corpses will rise up.Awake and shout joyfully,You residents in the dust!
For your dew is as the dew of the morning,And the earth will let those powerless in death come to life.”Does this not help us to have hope that this life,under Satan’s cruel influence,is not the only life we will know?
Had there ever been a resurrection from the dead before Jesus came to Earth? Yes, there are two recorded as fact in the Bible. 2 Kings 13:21 it is stated “As some men were burying a man, they saw the marauder band, so they quickly threw the man into E·liʹsha’s burial place and ran off. When the man touched the bones of E·liʹsha, he came to life and stood on his feet”. This man was resurrected by God back to fleshly life on Earth.
The second resurrection was performed by Elisha and is recorded at 2 Kings 4:32-37. Both of these resurrected ones died again at a later date, but their experience gives hope to them and many others that what God has promised He is also able to do. Isaiah 55:11.
Times of Restoration: the Wicked Removed
Just as Satan and all others rebelling against Jehovah’s Sovereignty were removed from Heaven, the wicked will be removed from the Earth which leads to Peaceful conditions and Unity as brought out in these verses.
Psalms 37:10 “And just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more; And you will certainly give attention to his place, and he will not be.”
“As regards the wicked, they will be cut off from the very earth.”—Proverbs 2:22.
Times of Restoration: Peace Restored to the Earth
Psalms 37:11.”But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, And they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.”
Psalms 37:29. “The righteous themselves will possess the earth, And they will reside forever upon it.”
Isaiah 2:4 “And he will certainly render judgment among the nations and set matters straight respecting many peoples. And they will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore.”
“6. For there has been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us; and the princely rule will come to be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7. To the abundance of the princely rule and to peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom in order to establish it firmly and to sustain it by means of justice and by means of righteousness, from now on and to time indefinite. The very zeal of Jehovah of armies will do this.”
“They will actually dwell in security, with no one to make them tremble.”—Ezekiel 34:28.
Times of Restoration: Peace Restored with Animals
Isaiah 11:6 “And the wolf will actually reside for a while with the male lamb, and with the kid the leopard itself will lie down, and the calf and the maned young lion and the well-fed animal all together; and a mere little boy will be leader over them. 7 And the cow and the bear themselves will feed; together their young ones will lie down. And even the lion will eat straw just like the bull. 8. And the sucking child will certainly play upon the hole of the cobra; and upon the light aperture of a poisonous snake will a weaned child actually put his own hand. 9. They will not do any harm or cause any ruin in all my holy mountain; because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters are covering the very sea.”
Times of Restoration: Perfect Health Restored
Isaiah 33:24 “And no resident will say: “I am sick.” The people that are dwelling in [the land] will be those pardoned for their error.”
Under Jesus reign as King of God’s Kingdom every virus that makes us sick will done away with. Nothing will spoil daily life at that time. Every disease will be overcome by our improved mental, physical and spiritual heath that comes from Priestly functions of Jesus and his 144,000 associates.
Isaiah 35:5 “At that time the eyes of the blind ones will be opened, and the very ears of the deaf ones will be unstopped. 6 At that time the lame one will climb up just as a stag does, and the tongue of the speechless one will cry out in gladness. For in the wilderness waters will have burst out, and torrents in the desert plain.”
Isaiah 40:29 “He is giving to the tired one power; and to the one without dynamic energy he makes full might abound. 30. Boys will both tire out and grow weary and young men themselves will without fail stumble, 31. but those who are hoping in Jehovah will regain power. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not tire out.”
Times of Restoration: Plenty of Food
Remember the Garden of Eden, abundant food grew naturally, all Adam and Eve had to do was pick and eat. Jehovah will once again bless the Earth. The following verses promise that.
“The earth itself will certainly give its produce; God, our God, will bless us.”—Psalm 67:6.
“There will come to be plenty of grain on the earth; on the top of the mountains there will be an overflow.”—Psalm 72:16.
Gardening and growing what we want to eat near our homes will be enjoyable, as will grooming the earth around us. These are things we were originally created for as Jehovah commanded Adam and Eve at Genesis 1:26-28 “…..Be fruitful and become many, fill the earth and subdue it……..”
Times of Restoration: Physical Perfection Restored
Adam was a perfect creation of Jehovah. He would never of grown old as we age today, his cells would have continued to replace themselves perfectly every time once a person reached full growth. If Adam had not acted disloyal toward Jehovah, he could be here today, looking like a 25-30 year old man in perfect health. He would never lose his hair or need glasses to see. The same is true of Jesus, if they had not killed him, he would be here with us now, looking and feeling much like he did then. After the Restoration there will be no need for dentists, doctors or hospitals or ambulances. There will be no police or fire trucks. Each day will become more and more peaceful and enjoyable for all those listening to Jehovah. See Isaiah 48:17,18.
Isaiah 35:5,6 “At that time the eyes of the blind will be opened, And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.6 At that time the lame will leap like the deer, And the tongue of the speechless will shout for joy. For waters will burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert plain.”
Times of Restoration: Your Own Home
After the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the Land promised them, they were allotted land according to family and began building their own homes. We can certainly look forward to this orderly arrangement to take place after the tribulation.
“They will certainly build houses and have occupancy, and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat their fruitage. They will not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not plant and someone else do the eating.”—Isaiah 65:21, 22.
Can you imagine what it will be like to build the home you want with your own hands? There will not be any rush or money restraints. In fact you may build two, one temporary and one that you spend a great deal of time and effort on, planting and growing the trees, creating special bricks and glass, even your own furniture. It seems reasonable to believe that anything a man can do today, can be improved on after thinking ability and health are restored to perfection.
The Final Day of the Restoration Spiritual Unity
In the final days of the restoration mankind will once again be united with Jehovah their God. Jesus will hand over all the fruitage of his rule as King of God’s Kingdom of a Thousand Years. We will have been alienated from Jehovah God for seven thousand years. At that time men will be allowed to speak directly to Jehovah and not be surprised that He speaks back. All Peace and Unity between Man and God will have been restored. The final act of Genesis 3:15 will have been accomplished, Satan and all who followed the same course of independence from God will have been destroyed. Just as it is foretold at Psalms 72:7,8 “In his days the righteous will flourish, And peace will abound until the moon is no more.8. He will have subjects from sea to sea. And from the River to the ends of the earth”
Why are millions of people sure that these prophesies will soon be fulfilled? Jehovah, who we now know cannot lie, promises us at Isaiah 55:11
“ So my word that goes out of my mouth will be.
It will not return to me without results,
But it will certainly accomplish whatever is my delight,
And it will have sure success in what I send it to do”.
Have you lost loved ones to death? Would you do all you can to see them again? We admonish you to study the written word of God, it is the only way to escape the changes that will soon over take those choosing to remain ignorant.Jehovah has allowed 6000 years to show us how life is outside of His Favor and Influence. How many days remain until He removes the wicked, we do not know which day is the last. We do know we are really close to it though. We admonish everyone to take control of their future by drawing closer to Jehovah God through knowledge of His Word.