The Restoration of All Things:
How the Promise of Christ’s Return Brings Us Comfort Today
DETAILS:
Publisher: Baker Books
Publication Date: June 23, 2026
Format: eARC
Length: 176 pg.
Read Date: July 12-26, 2026
What’s The Restoration of All Things About?
So, I grew up in the shadow of The Late Great Planet Earth, even if the churches my parents attended weren’t big on preaching about eschatology (phew!) Hal Lindsey was the default position. And it terrified me—even as little as I understood. As Larry Norman put it: “Life was filled with guns and war / And everyone got trampled on the floor / Children died, the days grew cold / A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold.” There’s nothing there that sounds appealing. Chick Tracts and related comics about The End didn’t help, either. Frankly, the last thing I wanted was Jesus to return—I knew I was supposed to, but I didn’t want to go through all that.
As I got older, I started to understand that the Scriptures—from both Testaments—didn’t speak that way of The End. Yes, there are some warnings—some stark warnings about it, particularly from our Lord’s mouth. But also, there were all these promises—Earth would be renewed, the groanings of creation would be answered, justice would be established (for the first time post-Fall), suffering would be ended. I’m not talking about some “pie in the sky after you die”—but real change, real restoration on the and of the Earth.
It’s this that Vrbicek writes to remind his readers of. Possibly to inform them of it for the first time—but it largely doesn’t read that way. For those who get weighed down by the world and their circumstances, those who face the end with trepidation for one reason or another (including childhoods—or adulthoods—like mine), Vrbicek wants us to remember that typically, the writers of Scripture point to the End with hope, with confident expectation, even longing—that all things will be restored.
So, what did I think about The Restoration of All Things?
The concluding chapter is called “Loving His Appearing.” This is pretty much the call of the book—to take seriously the warnings, to take even more seriously the promises of Christ, to take seriously the problems and struggles of a world broken by sin—and to love His anticipated return. He’s clear that this should be the goal no matter what one’s eschatology is (although he suggests it’s easier as an amillennial). Then he goes on to give a solid list of reasons to love that appearing.
The book as a whole, is a solid work. Vrbicek isn’t trying to introduce a revolutionary understanding to anything—he’s just trying to blow off a layer or two of tradition and extra-biblical culture of dust off of classic understandings. But more than that, he’s trying to remind his Christian reader of the “main and plain” teachings, to focus on that, rather than to get distracted by the details of this or that eschatological topic. He will return. He will judge. He will restore all things—creating a new heavens and a new Earth for his resurrected people.
It’s that we should long for, should anticipate—should love.
I do think his section on the imprecatory Psalms could use some re-working, if not a reconsideration, it’s just not that convincing of an approach (while better than most, it’s not as good as others). That’s my major criticism of the book as a whole—and if we’re just talking about a few paragraphs, likely a couple of pages at best—that says a lot about the book as a whole, no?
In contrast, the primary thing I appreciated about this book is how Vrbicek kept returning to the Gospel. Reminding us of the heart and character of the Judge. Of the assurances we can draw from the gospel when it comes to considering things like death and the afterlife. To considering our approach to hardship and suffering in this life. And all the other topics. We’re all really good at thinking in terms of X prophecy and how it might be fulfilled, Y promise and what we should anticipate, and so on. But we need reminders like Vrbicek’s to tie X prophecy to the gospel, Y promise to Christ’s work, and so on.
Without resorting to—or slipping into—any type of triumphalism, Vrbicek gives one of the more encouraging books on the future and eschatology I’ve read in a while. The goal isn’t rescue from this life, or to get to heaven—it’s to look with sure hope to the restoration of all things. I recommend you grab this book and enjoy the reminder.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for this post which contains my honest opinion—thanks to both for this.
This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
My Favorite Theology/Christian Living Books of 2025
By HCNewton
On January 11, 2026
In News/Misc., Theology/Christian Living
It’s finally time to wrap these lists, with my favorites in Theology and Christian Living (and related things). There’s some overlap in some of these titles, which just shows what kinds of things I was thinking about this year, I guess. I didn’t read as many books along these lines as I expected to/usually do–mostly because the ones I did read took some work to get through (and I had too many “project reads”). But these would’ve floated to the top in any year.
As always, re-reads don’t count for these lists.
(in alphabetical order by author)
by Michael P. V. Barrett
Barrett writes brief devotional meditations on some Old Testament passages (I’m not sure how brief because I read electronically, but they didn’t take terribly long to read). Which is good enough for a book–but Barrett writes with a depth that I don’t think I’ve come across in a devotional before. He gets to the heart and the nitty-gritty of the passages he looks at–and writes in a way that the reader will find application for their life, understanding of the passage, and a new/renewed reason to worship and serve the One who bought them.
The only thing that impressed me–almost every week–as much as the content was Barret’s ability to accomplish it so briefly.
by Mitchell L. Chase
My original post
I personally benefited from Chase’s definition of “wisdom” and how to find it in Scripture. I really appreciated his unwillingness to make Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and James the epicenter of his discussion, but to look for it throughout the Scriptures (see above). Tackling the topic of wisdom from a Redemptive Historical point of view rather than a Systematic perspective (which is what I’m used to, as I expect most are), really helped me to see the breadth of it—and even to help with my Systematic understanding of it (as it should).
All in all, this is a truly helpful and insightful read.
Why the Love of Money Is the Root of Racism and How the Church Can Create a New Way Forward
by Malcolm Foley
I’ve tried on at least four occasions to write a post about this book, and keep failing. I’m going to keep trying, but in the meantime, I’ll just say that this is one of the best books I read in 2025 regardless of genre/topic. Foley starts with Ida Wells’ point tying racism to money, and expands on that. He traces the connection between the love of money (which we know to be the root of all sorts of evil) and racism/racism-friendly policies and attitudes throughout U.S. History–particularly after the Civil War. And how the Church, to her shame, participates in those.
Then he points the way forward–using a variety of theological tools. Including the Westminster Larger Catechism’s teaching on the Eighth Commandment. It’s inspiring, it’s convicting, it’s full of hope.
by Carmen Joy Imes
My original post
Is this the most rigorous, robust work that I’ve ever read on The Church? No. Is this the most technical, theological work I’ve come across? No. Did this take a lot of effort to get through? No (and what a relief). Is this perhaps the most passionate work on the subject I’ve read? Yes. Is it perhaps the most persuasive about the need for individual believers (particularly in an individualist culture) to be involved with the Church? Also, yes.
It’s warm, it’s approachable, it’s learned in a non-off-putting way. Imes is a great guide through the topic and a fun companion through the stroll. She pointed out some things I hadn’t thought of before—and helped me grasp a couple of texts that I’ve struggled with for years.
by C. S. Lewis
There’s a lot of this book that I disagree with–but I appreciate the way that Lewis got to his conclusions. I also admit that Lewis might be closer to right than I am on those points. But the opening letter on prayer is one of the best things I’ve read on the topic, and while the rest of the book doesn’t reach those heights, I truly enjoyed and benefited from considering them. This is one of those books by him I hadn’t gotten around to reading in the past until my little Lewis-immersion project last year. It won’t be the last time.
by Zacharias Ursinus
As this is written by one of the chief authors of the Heidelberg Catechism, it’s impossible to get a more authoritative take on it. This is essentially the director’s cut of the catechism. Sure, we all know the answers, but how’d you get to that answer? Well, you think like so….
This is a treasure for anyone trying to understand and use the Heidelberg Catechism for personal use or for trying to raise the generation to follow.
by Drew Poplin
My original post
I hate the fact that books decrying the sin (or, in Poplin’s argument, heresy) of racism need to be written now. But the need for them is pretty clear to anyone in the American Church. This brief (perhaps too brief) book is a compelling read, calling racism what it is, an attack on God and His creation. Convicting, and hopefully convincing. It’s well worth the time to read.
by O. Palmer Robertson
Did this floor me as much as the first volume of this set (on the Gospels) did? Nope. But am I going to study Acts or Paul’s letters without consulting this in the future? Bigger nope. Robertson first traces the development of revelation and the Church’s understanding of it through Acts, then he spends the bulk of the book watching Paul’s themes develop and change over the course of his career–never contradictory, never inconsistent, but starting with certain emphases that develop into new ones given the events of his life and the needs of the Church throughout the First Century. It’s really a handy book to work through and to keep on hand for future use.
by Mikel Del Rosario
My original post
Del Rosario’s approach to the subject alone could put him on this list–let’s take an in-depth look at two passages and see what Jesus is claiming for himself in both. Let’s consider what the original audience heard–and seek to understand that by the way they reacted. Then let’s consider the implications of both. Del Rosario writes clearly and compellingly. The text—even when it gets technical—is straightforward and approachable by people who aren’t historical scholars.
Not only does reading this help buttress the confidence a reader has in the passage and Jesus’ claims in them, but Del Rosario gives his readers a model to follow when they come across similar passages.
by Cornelius Van Til
My original post
This is some pretty clear writing from a man widely considered not to be terribly clear all the time. Some of the commandments don’t get the same level of attention as others–and it makes sense given who Van Til is and his own driving focus.
It’s a very sound introduction, in line with the bulk of the Reformed stream of thought on the Law and its usage from the time of the Reformation forward. But a little more approachable given the length and the fact it was written in the 20th Century.