The tribulation had to occur because prophecy had already fixed it as the necessary period before Christ's return and the kingdom.
Peter knew from the Old Testament prophets that after Israel rejected the Messiah, the next predicted event was the tribulation. Israel's repentance would not cancel the tribulation; it would only allow it to begin immediately and run its course.
Acts 3:21 — Peter tells Israel that heaven must receive Jesus Christ until the times of restitution of all things—the period identified with the tribulation.
Daniel 9:27 — This verse describes the final week of Daniel's seventy-week prophecy, the prophetic period that is the tribulation.
Scripture records that the Old Testament prophets spoke of a coming time of restitution and restoration before the kingdom. Peter quoted this in Acts 3:21, saying that heaven must receive Jesus Christ 'until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.' Daniel 9:24 says that 'seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city,' showing that God's prophetic program for Israel included a specific, determined period. Daniel 9:27 adds that 'he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.' These verses establish the final week—the tribulation—as part of the prophetic plan, not an optional event. The apostles also declared that all the prophets from Samuel onward had foretold these days (Acts 3:24).
Les Feldick shows that Peter knew exactly where the prophetic calendar stood. In Acts 2, Peter told the Jews that everything they had seen in Jesus' ministry was coming right according to prophecy. Les explains that Peter knew the next thing on the agenda was the tribulation, then the return of Israel's King and the kingdom. In Acts 3, Peter called the nation to repentance, explaining that if Israel repented, God would send Jesus Christ, who remains in heaven 'until the times of restitution of all things.' Les identifies the restitution of all things with the seven years of tribulation—the lifting of the curse, the defeat of Satan, and the restoration of the earth. Therefore, Les teaches that the tribulation was unavoidable. Even if Israel had repented, God would have immediately brought in the tribulation, allowed it to run its course, and then sent Christ to establish the kingdom. It was not an event that could be skipped. Les ties this to Daniel's prophecy: the seven years belong to the 490-year prophecy given to Daniel, and since Israel rejected Christ, those years have been postponed and are still future. After Israel rejected Peter and the eleven's appeal, God set the nation aside, and the remaining prophetic events are now waiting for their final fulfillment.
Peter's message in Acts was thoroughly prophetic. He told the crowd that all the prophets from Samuel and those after him had foretold the days of Messiah's coming, rejection, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. Les points out that Peter could see the whole prophetic program and knew that after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit the next event was the tribulation, followed by the return of Israel's King and the kingdom. When Peter spoke in Acts 3, he called Israel to repent so that the times of refreshing could come, but he also said that heaven must receive Christ until the restitution of all things.
No. Les Feldick makes this explicit: God was still dealing with Israel, and if the nation would repent of its national sins and believe who Jesus was, God would have brought in the tribulation. It would have run its course, Christ could have returned, and Israel could have had the kingdom. Peter also knew that the kingdom could not come in until the restitution of all things—the tribulation—was completed. So repentance was the condition that would trigger the final seven years, not a way to avoid them.
Les describes the restitution of all things as everything the Old Testament prophesied before the King and the kingdom could appear. He lists it as the lifting of the curse, the tribulation, the defeat of Satan, and the earth being regenerated to be gloriously beautiful for the kingdom reign. In the same context, Peter said Jesus must remain in heaven until these times arrive. Les connects the restitution directly to Daniel's 70th week.
Instead of repenting, Israel continued to reject the message of Peter and the eleven. Les points out that after roughly seven years of this constant rejection, God set the nation aside. The Roman armies destroyed the temple and Jerusalem, and the Jewish people went into a dispersion that lasted until the modern era. But the seven years of tribulation were not cancelled; they belong to Daniel's 490-year prophecy and have simply been postponed into the future. The modern regathering of Israel, Les says, is now positioning the world for the fulfillment of the prophetic Word.
Why Peter Said "Whom You Crucified" — Acts 3 & 4 Explained
Hello and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
The Prophetic Order: Tribulation Then Kingdom
Les explains that Peter understood the next prophetic event after the Messiah's ministry and resurrection was the tribulation, followed by Christ's return and the kingdom.
Israel's Repentance Could Trigger—Not Skip—the Tribulation
Les says that if Israel repented of national sins, God would have brought in the tribulation, let it run, and then sent Christ to establish the kingdom.
All Prophets Foretold These Days
Les shows Peter appealing to all the prophets from Samuel onward, proving the Messiah's rejection and return were forecast long in advance.
The Restitution of All Things
Les identifies the restitution of all things with the seven years of tribulation, the lifting of the curse, and the defeat of Satan before the kingdom.
Daniel's 70th Week and the Kingdom
Les connects the tribulation to Daniel's 70th week and says the kingdom could not come until the restitution, or tribulation, had taken place.
The Seven Years Belong to Daniel's 490-Year Prophecy
Les explains that the final seven years of tribulation are part of Daniel's 490-year prophecy, which remains unfulfilled after Israel's rejection.
Israel's Rejection and Future Fulfillment
Les says God set Israel aside after years of rejection, and the modern return to the land is preparing for the still-future fulfillment of prophecy.
Daniel 9:24: Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
This verse establishes the seventy-week period determined for Israel and Jerusalem.
Daniel 9:27: And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
This describes the final week of Daniel's seventy weeks, when sacrifices cease.
Acts 3:19: Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Peter called Israel to repent so that sins could be blotted out and the times of refreshing could come.
Acts 3:20: And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Peter promised that God would send Jesus Christ upon Israel's repentance.
Acts 3:21: Whom 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.
This is the key verse: heaven must receive Jesus until the times of restitution of all things.
Acts 3:24: Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
Peter says all the prophets from Samuel onward foretold these days.
No. According to Les Feldick, if Israel had repented, God would have brought the tribulation in immediately and let it run its course. The kingdom could not come until the restitution of all things was fulfilled.
Peter used that phrase in Acts 3:21. Les teaches that it describes the seven years of tribulation, the lifting of the curse, the defeat of Satan, and the earth being renewed for the kingdom.
Yes. Les says the seven years were not cancelled; they belong to Daniel's 490-year prophecy and are still future. Israel was set aside, but the prophetic program will be fulfilled.
Peter told Israel that heaven must receive Christ until the times of restitution of all things. Les explains Peter knew the tribulation was the next prophesied event, and he called Israel to repent so it could begin.
Watch the Teaching: Why Peter Said "Whom You Crucified" — Acts 3 & 4 Explained