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The Coming Kingdom: What Is the Kingdom and How Is Kingdom Now Theology Changing the Focus of the Church?
God's theocratic, mediatorial kingdom is a vast, sweeping subject from the first book of the Bible to the last. Understanding this overarching biblical theme of God's clearly revealed and sovereign plan is essential not only for believers in Christ to make sense of the chaos in our world but also for the church to know and fulfill its God-ordained role in this era of world history. Are we currently living in God's promised kingdom? Yes, say a plethora of professing evangelicals today. No, say the careful reading of the Bible and the biblical evidence marshaled by Dr. Andy Woods in The Coming Kingdom. The conclusions of this book are based on accurate interpretation of Scripture, which are then insightfully compared and contrasted with the various forms of contemporary evangelical teaching about the kingdom. Are you confused by conflicting views on the kingdom? Do you long for something better than the current conditions you see in our world today? Then read The Coming Kingdom. This book shows convincingly from Scripture that the establishment of God's theocratic kingdom on earth is still future and it will be vastly superior to the conditions we see in our world today. The Coming Kingdom clarifies for readers the biblical truth of God's glorious kingdom, while exalting the coming King and edifying the soul of the reader with its constant appeal to God's Word.
460 pages, Paperback
Published July 25, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 25, 2017
The Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is real, tangible, terrestrial, and future. There is a large body of proponents of "Kingdom now" theology; those who state Jesus Christ is ruling and reigning now. The author, Andrew M. Woods, examines four ways this is not correct.
First, he surveys the entire biblical teaching of the kingdom of God, from Genesis to Revelation. Second, the author points out general problems with the interpretation of Kingdom now theology. Third, he examines New Testament texts which Kingdom now theologians use to prove their point. Fourth, the Church is not Israel.
Woods, includes a good chapter entitled, Lordship Salvation & Kingdom Now Theology. The Lordship Salvation gurus include MacArthur, Piper, Sproul, and others (although for the most part he only names them in the footnotes). It is worth reading as a stand-alone chapter.
One of my favorite chapters was Chapter 23. The author quotes, in length, from Clarence Larkin, who wrote one hundred years ago. Larkin warned of the dangers of the Church believing it was "bringing in the Kingdom." Only Jesus Christ can bring in the Kingdom. When the Church decides its purpose to do kingdom work, it loses its mission and focus. It becomes an organization rather than an organism. Larkin writes:
What is the purpose of the Church? Woods outlines it in Chapter 22:
First, the church exists to Glorify God.
Second, the church exists to edify or build up its members.
Third, the church exists to accomplish world evangelism.
The book is readable and is one I will consult often as a reference work. If a reader wants a grasp of the coming Kingdom of God, I recommend this informative book by Andrew M Woods.
First, he surveys the entire biblical teaching of the kingdom of God, from Genesis to Revelation. Second, the author points out general problems with the interpretation of Kingdom now theology. Third, he examines New Testament texts which Kingdom now theologians use to prove their point. Fourth, the Church is not Israel.
Woods, includes a good chapter entitled, Lordship Salvation & Kingdom Now Theology. The Lordship Salvation gurus include MacArthur, Piper, Sproul, and others (although for the most part he only names them in the footnotes). It is worth reading as a stand-alone chapter.
One of my favorite chapters was Chapter 23. The author quotes, in length, from Clarence Larkin, who wrote one hundred years ago. Larkin warned of the dangers of the Church believing it was "bringing in the Kingdom." Only Jesus Christ can bring in the Kingdom. When the Church decides its purpose to do kingdom work, it loses its mission and focus. It becomes an organization rather than an organism. Larkin writes:
The Church is not an Organization. The Church is an Organism. Therefore, it is not a Social Club, organized and supported solely for the benefit of its members. Neither is it a place of Amusement to pander to the carnal nature of man...Neither is it a Reform Bureau to save the bodies of men...not [a] Social Service...[that] is not the work or mission of the Church....The mission of the Church is her Commission to Evangelize the world. The Kingdom idea has robbed the Church of her Upward look, and of the Blessed Hope..."
What is the purpose of the Church? Woods outlines it in Chapter 22:
First, the church exists to Glorify God.
Second, the church exists to edify or build up its members.
Third, the church exists to accomplish world evangelism.
The book is readable and is one I will consult often as a reference work. If a reader wants a grasp of the coming Kingdom of God, I recommend this informative book by Andrew M Woods.
February 20, 2018
It took me a long time to read this book because of the deep subject matter. It required me to only read a few pages at a time and then contemplate the arguments presented, to digest the meaning of the pros and cons and then decide which side I was on.
I learned a lot about the meaning of the parables in Matthew. Andrew Wood’s explanation that they were addressed to Israel gave me much new insight of them. I have been teaching the Bible to children for many years and Wood’s commentary on these parables was true regarding the incorrect way they are explained in almost all curricula.
Thank you Andrew Wood for this grand book that has opened my eyes to the coming kingdom!
I learned a lot about the meaning of the parables in Matthew. Andrew Wood’s explanation that they were addressed to Israel gave me much new insight of them. I have been teaching the Bible to children for many years and Wood’s commentary on these parables was true regarding the incorrect way they are explained in almost all curricula.
Thank you Andrew Wood for this grand book that has opened my eyes to the coming kingdom!
April 26, 2023
95% of this book is very good and worthwhile. On the flip side, 5% would be better left out.
His argument for the futurity of the kingdom is spot on. He not only argues from a fully Biblical point of view, but handles the arguments of critics extremely well. His focus on the restoration and conversion of national Israel is central to almost every chapter. And he does extremely well in making a distinction Biblically between Israel and the church. That is the 95%.
Now...I do not know Dr. Woods. I've never met him or conversed with him whatsoever. I did reach out to him via Facebook messenger, but he did not respond. This book comes across a bit argumentative at times (even when I agree with his positions). He may be the most humble man in the world—I do not know. I'm simply saying the book feels argumentative at times and it's a bit of a turnoff and may stop me from recommending it. I much prefer the writing style of Michael Vlach.
Woods also comes off a few times more like a hyper-dispensationalist with some whacky comments here and there. And he repeatedly argues with zeal for a restored millennial temple including a full sacrificial system. He bases this on the last several chapters of Ezekiel and says it's "clear". Though I am confidently premillennial, I cannot get away from the language of Ezekiel saying "clearly" that those sacrifices in his prophecy are for sin. And an understanding of the book of Hebrews simply will not allow me to believe there will one day be sacrifices for sin once again. Jesus's sacrifice on the cross ended such a need and replaced the old covenant. There may very well be a Temple in which Jesus reigns, however. I am open to that. I'm just not open to the sacrificial system.
Also, Dr. Woods chose—for some odd reason—to stick half a chapter in at the very end of the book against Lordship salvation. I believe he completely mischaracterizes everything I've ever read on the movement from solid theologians. He maintains that a person can have true faith in Jesus and live a life completely devoid of spiritual fruit. Not only was he wrong in a number of his statements, but the chapter added absolutely nothing to the subject of this book. It hurt the book, in fact. He clearly has some axe to grind with somebody (I'd guess John MacArthur) and so he stuck it in. If you choose to read this book by Woods, I'd suggest you at least read MacArthur's "The Gospel According to Jesus" for a more accurate presentation of Lordship salvation.
I gleaned a lot of good from this book. I do wish the last chapter wasn't in it. Though I'm glad I read it.
His argument for the futurity of the kingdom is spot on. He not only argues from a fully Biblical point of view, but handles the arguments of critics extremely well. His focus on the restoration and conversion of national Israel is central to almost every chapter. And he does extremely well in making a distinction Biblically between Israel and the church. That is the 95%.
Now...I do not know Dr. Woods. I've never met him or conversed with him whatsoever. I did reach out to him via Facebook messenger, but he did not respond. This book comes across a bit argumentative at times (even when I agree with his positions). He may be the most humble man in the world—I do not know. I'm simply saying the book feels argumentative at times and it's a bit of a turnoff and may stop me from recommending it. I much prefer the writing style of Michael Vlach.
Woods also comes off a few times more like a hyper-dispensationalist with some whacky comments here and there. And he repeatedly argues with zeal for a restored millennial temple including a full sacrificial system. He bases this on the last several chapters of Ezekiel and says it's "clear". Though I am confidently premillennial, I cannot get away from the language of Ezekiel saying "clearly" that those sacrifices in his prophecy are for sin. And an understanding of the book of Hebrews simply will not allow me to believe there will one day be sacrifices for sin once again. Jesus's sacrifice on the cross ended such a need and replaced the old covenant. There may very well be a Temple in which Jesus reigns, however. I am open to that. I'm just not open to the sacrificial system.
Also, Dr. Woods chose—for some odd reason—to stick half a chapter in at the very end of the book against Lordship salvation. I believe he completely mischaracterizes everything I've ever read on the movement from solid theologians. He maintains that a person can have true faith in Jesus and live a life completely devoid of spiritual fruit. Not only was he wrong in a number of his statements, but the chapter added absolutely nothing to the subject of this book. It hurt the book, in fact. He clearly has some axe to grind with somebody (I'd guess John MacArthur) and so he stuck it in. If you choose to read this book by Woods, I'd suggest you at least read MacArthur's "The Gospel According to Jesus" for a more accurate presentation of Lordship salvation.
I gleaned a lot of good from this book. I do wish the last chapter wasn't in it. Though I'm glad I read it.
April 21, 2020
Very good. It's repetitious owing to its origin being a series of articles on pre-trib.org. He surveys a lot of contrary literature, as well as supporting literature.
January 18, 2023
Scholarly but easy-to-read book that every dispensationalists should read
Scholarly but easy-to-read book that every dispensationalists should read. Also it should be a good eye-opening book for an honest seekers of the truth regarding the Kingdom of God.
Scholarly but easy-to-read book that every dispensationalists should read. Also it should be a good eye-opening book for an honest seekers of the truth regarding the Kingdom of God.
October 4, 2024
A scholarly survey of the Lord's coming Millennial Kingdom. It's worth the read. Well sourced and referenced.
July 17, 2025
very important, but very "heavy" to read
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews