UNIVERSALISM or RESTORATIONISM?

UNIVERSALISM or RESTORATIONISM?

“Whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.” Acts 3:21

What is meant by the "restitution of all things" (Acts 3:21)?        

1. The people addressed are the Israelites and not all people (Acts 3:12).
2. It follows immediately upon the second coming of Christ (Acts 3:20-21).
3. It must then refer to the Kingdom of David and all that goes with it. It cannot refer to the wicked.
4. This verse then cannot be used to support the doctrine of universalism or restorationism.

According to David L. Cooper the following is God's seven-point program for Israel.

1. God sent His Son the First time to be the Messiah of Israel (Acts 3:13).
2. Israel rejected and crucified the Son of God, their Messiah (Acts 3:13-15).
3. God glorified His Son and He is now in Heaven again (Acts 3:13, 15).
4. Israel's present obligation is to repent and turn back (Acts 3:19).
5. Then the Messiah will come back to earth to assist them (Acts 3:20).
6. Whereupon the presence of the Lord will result in regeneration (Acts 3:19) of Isa. 66:8.
7. Having been regenerated, Christ will restore to them the kingdom (Acts 3:21).

The word "restore" is rendered from the Greek noun <apokatastasis> meaning <return to original conditions> (cp. Acts 1:6). The meaning is limited by the words: "as he [God] promised long ago through his holy prophets." The prophets speak of the restoration of Israel to the land (see Israel, Gen 12:2 - 3; Rom 11:26; also Palestinian Covenant, Deut. 30:3); and of the restoration of the Theocracy under David's Son. No prediction of the conversion and restoration of the wicked dead is found in the prophets or elsewhere. Cp. Rev 20:11 - 15. The animals restored to submission to man as to Noah and Adam. (cf. Isa 11:9). Garden restored.