Veteran biblical scholar Mark Allan Powell provides an easy and readable survey of an important theme in the teachings of Jesus and the writings of his followers. He traces the "already" and the "not yet" of God's rule in our world, explaining what the Bible says God will do (and won't do)--and for whom this is typically good news. Readers will gain new appreciation for some well-known sayings and parables of Jesus and may be surprised to discover that phrases like "eternal life" and "the kingdom of heaven" mean far more than they ever thought. Powell shows us that the emphasis in Scripture is on the transforming effect of God's rule in our current environment--shaping the lives of individuals and communities--but he concludes the book with a captivating portrait of what the Bible says about the glorious kingdom called Paradise that awaits people beyond death.