"The English translation at the beginning of each section is France's own, designed to provide the basis for the commentary. This adept translation uses contemporary idioms and, where necessary, gives priority to clarity over literary elegance." -- BOOK JACKET.

If Jesus of Nazareth is the Jewish Messiah, then where is his messianic kingdom? According to the Old Testament prophets, the Messiah was supposed to rule as King of kings over Israel and the whole world, establishing a kingdom on earth characterized by peace, justice, righteousness, and prosperity. Instead, Jesus Christ was crucified, and after being resurrected, ascended to heaven without establishing his reign. The current fallen world remains under Satan's dominion where systemic strife, war, injustice, evil, and poverty continue. Does Christ have to return again to this earth in order to remove Satan and establish his 1,000-year messianic kingdom? Could it be that the kingdom of the triune God manifests itself as two kingdoms: one being the Son's messianic kingdom on this earth when it is restored to an Edenic paradise achieved through the "first resurrection" of the natural body of the departed saints; and the other being the Father's eternal kingdom in heaven achieved when Christ comes again, raptures the saints, destroys this Genesis creation, and takes the immortal sons of God to the new heavens and new earth (Rev. 20:4-5, 12)? This book explores the possibility that instead of Christ returning to this earth to establish his millennial kingdom, Christ remains in heaven seated at the right hand of the Father when he rules the world. He is God, after all. As such, he has a divine right to rule over his restored creation.

The future hope of heaven is pulled into the here-and-now in this illuminating description of the kingdom of God. Popular teacher and author R. Alan Streett exposes half-truths about the kingdom that many believers have unwittingly accepted. He contrasts these with the testimony of Scripture: Jesus inaugurated the kingdom of God on the earth—it has already begun. As ambassadors of the kingdom, we are to fulfill our responsibilities and enjoy its benefits here and now. Salvation does not culminate with the soul escaping the body and living forever in heaven. Our bodies will eventually be transformed, and we will live with God on a restored earth. The church is like an embassy of heaven in a foreign country. In their life together, believers demonstrate kingdom realities to the world. Readers will find hope and direction in this fresh presentation of the historic teaching on the kingdom.