Restitution of All Things

Concise Bible Dictionary:

This expression, which is found in Acts 3:21²¹Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. (Acts 3:21), has been taken out of its connection and used in the attempt to prove Universalism, namely, that all mankind will be eventually saved. The restitution mentioned in scripture is of all things “which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets.” The thought is thus limited to what had been stated in the prophets. In Matthew 17:1¹And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, (Matthew 17:1)1 Christ speaks of Elias coming and “restoring” all things. All such expressions clearly have reference to God’s dispensational dealings on earth, to which the term “all things” refers, and do not touch one way or another the idea of universal salvation. See also RECONCILIATION.

From Anstey’s Doctrinal Definitions:

This expression is found in Acts 3:21²¹Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. (Acts 3:21) and refers to all the things which the prophets of Israel had prophecied concerning the nation’s blessing under its Messiah in the world to come. It coincides with the Lord’s statement about Elijah’s coming and restoring “all things” (Matt. 17:11¹¹And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. (Matthew 17:11)).

The statement, “the restitution of all things,” has been erroneously used to support the false doctrine of universalism—the eventual salvation of all God’s creatures, so that none end up in Hell. However, Peter qualified his remark concerning the restitution of all things by adding, “Which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets.” Thus, the “all things” that he was referring to were those things which the prophets of Israel had prophecied—namely, the restoration of the nation and its blessing under its Messiah.