Whom the heaven must receive] i.e. retain. This rendering is better than the alternative one, 'who must hold the heaven in possession.' Restitution of all things] In Matthew 17:11 a restitution of all things by Elijah is mentioned, in preparation for the first coming of Christ. The restitution here spoken of is the restoration of the whole universe to its original and intended perfection, which will take place when Christ comes again. It is the same as 'the regeneration' of creation spoken of by Christ, Matthew 19:23 as 'the new heavens and new earth' of 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1 and as 'the redemption' of the body and of the physical creation of Romans 8:18. Since the world began] The first such prophecy is Genesis 3:15, immediately after the Fall; and St. Peter not unfairly assumes that all the prophets, even those whose utterances have not been transmitted to us, looked forward to the coming of a Redeemer, and the final restoration of all things.

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