My Review of George N. H. Peters, Theocratic Kingdom, Logos 5 Software

This past Monday, September 9, 2013, I received from Logos the digital edition of George N. H. Peters three volume work, The Theocratic Kingdom of Our Lord Jesus, the Christ. This must be one of the most amazing scholarly works on the subject of Bible prophecy ever written.

Logos 5 Software now has available George N. H. Peters valuable three-volume work, The Theocratic Kingdom.

I highly recommend this resource for Bible study, particularly the study of Bible prophecy. While I understand that this work is available free on the Internet, probably in PDF format, having it in Logos 5 Bible software is a great advantage. The advantage is that by hovering the computer mouse over any Bible reference, the text of the Bible is immediately displayed. Peters frequently makes reference to discussion given elsewhere in his volumes. These are “hyperlinked” in the Logos 5 software and are easy to go to. Just hovering the “mouse” over the hyperlink lets you read in a pop-up panel or box the material at the hyperlink without having to go to it. It is easy to search the text for a term or Scripture reference. I am thankful that this important study resource is now available in digital format from Logos for use with their Bible software.

While waiting for my copy of Peters to be “indexed” on my computer in Logos 5 after the download, I visited the Logos Forum, where I found a current thread on the topic of the Rapture. I participated briefly by submitting several comments, recommending the newly available work of Peters for studying Bible prophecy in greater depth. It took my computer about 20 minutes to completely index Peters. Quite a feat, I would say. Thanks to my son Tim for building me such a good computer! Thanks, also, to Logos for creating excellent Bible study resources.

Here is a snippet or so of what I discussed on the Logos Forum thread:

[Note that I have never yet figured out how to make “links” live in a post. Those who designed the software for this site need their heads examined. Nothing is necessary to make links live in a comment. The same should be made true in a post!]

From Monday, September 9, 2013 at 8:49 pm (5:49 pm as given on the site):

I enjoyed reading the responses on this thread.

As for the title of this thread, and the content of an early comment, though the term “Rapture” does not occur in the KJV English Bible, yet the Greek word which it represents as it occurs in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, is there rendered “caught up.” Since the meeting occurs “in the clouds” to meet the Lord in the air, that certainly says enough in context to indicate the movement is upward.

I happened upon this thread today while waiting for my newest Logos 5 resource, The Theocratic Kingdom of Our Lord Jesus, the Christ, in three volumes, was being “indexed.” That took 20 minutes. Reading all these interesting posts, especially those by the Preterists, took much longer than that.

I personally believe that the work by George N. H. Peters, The Theocratic Kingdom, is most helpful. I commend its careful study.

First reply to my comment:

Bruce Dunning | Forum Activity | Replied: Mon Sep 9, 2013 6:01 PM
Jerome Smith:
I personally believe that the work by George N. H. Peters, The Theocratic Kingdom, is most helpful. I commend its careful study.
I have not read this but it was released today.

Another kind reply:

Milford Charles Murray | Forum Activity | Replied: Mon Sep 9, 2013 6:16 PM
Jerome Smith:
I enjoyed reading the responses on this thread.
As for the title of this thread, and the content of an early comment, though the term “Rapture” does not occur in the KJV English Bible, yet the Greek word which it represents as it occurs in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, is there rendered “caught up.” Since the meeting occurs “in the clouds” to meet the Lord in the air, that certainly says enough in context to indicate the movement is upward.
I happened upon this thread today while waiting for my newest Logos 5 resource, The Theocratic Kingdom of Our Lord Jesus, the Christ, in three volumes, was being “indexed.” That took 20 minutes. Reading all these interesting posts, especially those by the Preterists, took much longer than that.
I personally believe that the work by George N. H. Peters, The Theocratic Kingdom, is most helpful. I commend its careful study.
Peace, Jerome! *smile* Thank you for contributing to the “sharings” on this thread. You may want to share this post on FaithLife at https://faithlife.com/christian-debate/activity

… and … then, again … You may not! *smile* I also, with Bruce and others, received Peters’ book today; however, I haven’t had a chance to peruse it as of yet!
Blessings!

My further response:

Jerome Smith | Forum Activity | Replied: Mon Sep 9, 2013 6:32 PM
I have read this work by Peters at least three times through. I have read it aloud to my family twice through.

This is without question one of the greatest works on Bible prophecy ever written. Peters examines alternate viewpoints most carefully, and answers mistaken positions with grace and kindness.

I had come to the Logos Forums to try to learn how to submit corrections for typos I find in Logos 5 books and resources. But I saw this discussion on the rapture first, and made my brief comment.

I have now learned how to submit corrections to Logos. I have a pile of them to submit!

Peters is a long “read.” It is worth every minute you can manage to give to it.

It is my belief after reading numerous authors on the subject (I have a large bookcase in my living room by my reading chair with a whole library of works on prophetic subjects), I find Peters to be the most helpful. He is not always correct–no human author is–but his lifetime of scholarly study sheds much light on many issues.

I often think to myself, if modern or contemporary authors on all sides could have the benefit of studying Peters thoroughly before commencing their writing on prophetic subjects, a lot of mistaken notions would be nipped in the bud.

You may recall that I am the author/editor of a major Logos resource, The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, a book of extensive cross references to almost every verse in the Bible.

Response to my post:

Milford Charles Murray | Forum Activity | Replied: Mon Sep 9, 2013 6:40 PM
Peace, Jerome! *smile* Thanks for identifying yourself! Much-appreciated indeed!

I actually didn’t remember you until you mentioned it; then, I remembered your post from “older” days …

http://community.logos.com/forums/p/53608/391355.aspx#391355

Another response, from “Super Tramp”:

| Forum Activity | Replied: Mon Sep 9, 2013 6:42 PM
Jerome Smith:
I enjoyed reading the responses on this thread.
I must confess, it did get interesting.

My response to an earlier book recommendation:

Jerome Smith | Forum Activity | Replied: Mon Sep 9, 2013 6:47 PM
I’ve had Ladd’s volume since it first came out and have read it carefully. It surely is a shorter work than Peters!

Here is a most important response to my comment:

John | Forum Activity | Replied: Mon Sep 9, 2013 7:06 PM
Jerome Smith:
I have read this work by Peters at least three times through. I have read it aloud to my family twice through.
Jerome, thank you for posting the reference to this resource. I have downloaded a public domain copy of this and intend to take a look at it when I have time later this week.

At first glance, I see Propositions 58, 70, and 87 as suspect from a Biblical standpoint. I will be looking first at these portions to see what Biblical texts the author uses to support these propositions. If there are sound Biblical proofs here it may be a challenge to my view. But I suspect that there will not be. Either way, thanks for the reference.

My response to John:

Jerome Smith | Forum Activity | Replied: Yesterday 9:08 AM
John, you are in for a real treat in Bible study! You have shown great insight in selecting Propositions 58, 70, and 87 for review.

I just checked those this morning using my new Logos 5 edition first received yesterday.

May I offer a study suggestion or two. (1) Read carefully and thoroughly. (2) Do look up the Bible references Peters gives (an advantage for the Logos software). (3) Make sure to study all his footnotes, as that is often where he puts the “meat” of his Bible exposition. (4) Though it at first seems a tedious process, when Peters refers to other “Propositions” where related discussions are to be found, consulting these is usually most helpful.

Blessings on you regardless of the outcome of your study!

Then, after an intervening comment by another poster, this response, what I consider short-sighted if not rude, probably from a moderator?

tom | Forum Activity | Replied: Yesterday 11:09 AM
Let us remember that we are to talk about Logos’s products on these forums – not theology.

Quick Reply

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Jerome Smith | Forum Activity | Replied: Yesterday 12:34 PM
Tom, I trust that if you have any possible reference to what I have posted anywhere above, you reconsider your statement.

Certainly I have been talking about the marvelous new resource I received yesterday from Logos Software, Peters’ three-volume work on Bible prophecy, The Theocratic Kingdom.

May I kindly suggest you study that volume in detail in the manner I suggested above. You will be delighted at what you will learn from Scripture if you do!

Then follows a most important comment from John, a comment which motivated me to post all this here:

John | Forum Activity | Replied: Yesterday 5:06 PM
Jerome Smith:
John, you are in for a real treat in Bible study! You have shown great insight in selecting Propositions 58, 70, and 87 for review.
I already finished looking at Proposition 58. I found that the author had no scripture to back up his claim. Instead, he relies on other commentators opinions.

The claim is: Proposition 58 “Jesus, toward the close of his ministry, preached that the Kingdom was not nigh.”

There is no scripture to back up this claim. The best that any commentator could do is to make an argument from silence, and even that is difficult because if the previous teaching of Jesus regarding timing were later to be changed, that would mean he had taught falsehood earlier.

At this point, There is no need for me to study this author further, as the rest of his teaching will be building upon his incorrect conclusion here.

http://community.logos.com/forums/p/74886/524796.aspx#524796

[quote user=”Jerome Smith”]

John, you are in for a real treat in Bible study! You have shown great insight in selecting Propositions 58, 70, and 87 for review.

[/quote]

I already finished looking at Proposition 58. I found that the author had no scripture to back up his claim. Instead, he relies on other commentators opinions.

The claim is: Proposition 58 “Jesus, toward the close of his ministry, preached that the Kingdom was not nigh.”

There is no scripture to back up this claim. The best that any commentator could do is to make an argument from silence, and even that is difficult because if the previous teaching of Jesus regarding timing were later to be changed, that would mean he had taught falsehood earlier.

At this point, There is no need for me to study this author further, as the rest of his teaching will be building upon his incorrect conclusion here.

My Response:

John, both you and I made fast work of Proposition 58 in Peters.

Yet Proposition 58 is abundantly proven from Scripture, starting with Matthew 21:43. It is even a fulfillment of explicit Bible prophecy found in Micah 5:3. Using my study resource available in Logos 5, The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, you can find many additional Scripture passages given in the form of cross references which tie into this interesting theme. If you studied what Peters gives as Biblical proof, you will have noted he discusses in detail the interesting change in the nature and content of the later parables Jesus gave. Peters discusses each of the pertinent parables in detail. I noted with interest that Peters remarks about the testimony of a then well-known commentator on the parables of Christ who was stunned by the implications of one of the parables, and who changed his opinion as a result about issues pertaining to Bible prophecy. I think the author was Grenfeld or something similar. You’ll see it when you read Peters carefully.

As for Peters relying on other commentators opinions, you have unwittingly missed the point. Peters throughout his volumes carefully cites the leading scholarship of his day and those before him who disagreed with him, showing they unguardedly at other points admitted the validity of evidence contrary to their own stated views, evidence which proves the validity of Peters’ position. When you can get a presumed opponent of your position to solidly back your position on an important point, your opponent becomes a valuable witness to the validity of your position on that point. Peters often uses the inadvertent concessions of his opponents to good effect. I recall especially that Peters throughout his volumes points out the inconsistencies of Albert Barnes, one of the great commentators he frequently cites.

I invite you to actually read and study carefully study Proposition 70, the second Proposition you selected for study.

I carefully read Proposition 70 myself yesterday morning and found that is where the Biblical evidence is carefully set forth by Peters.

I urge anyone who has an interest in the broad subject of Bible prophecy to secure the Logos edition of Peters, The Theocratic Kingdom. I have been delighted so far with the quality of this digital edition.

I was afraid that having a digital edition of The Theocratic Kingdom would be impractical for reading such an extended text. But I have found already that having the text for reading on computer screen where I can adjust the size of the print is a great advantage for older eyes!

I have been reading Peters carefully and repeatedly since 1962. I have never found a single mention in his work of the Rapture, at least not using that term. The term does not occur in his extensive index. I seem to recall that the word may occur in a citation from another author cited by Peters, but I don’t recall where. My next little test of Logos 5 software may be to see if I can find the word in a citation used by Peters. That will be an interesting search, if I can figure out how to do it.

It is my firm belief that no one, layman or scholar, has done their homework in the field of understanding Bible prophecy, particularly the Kingdom of God, who has not carefully read this important work by George N. H. Peters.

I know of one former Jehovah’s Witness who decided to take a year or so to study the Bible independent of his Watchtower resources. He also learned of Peters’ work, and as a result of these studies, realized that what he had former believed as a Jehovah’s Witness regarding God’s Kingdom was not in accord with Scripture. As a result he was converted to Christ. You can read Kevin Quick’s testimony on the Internet.

Now I would perhaps be the last person on earth who would recommend any human author over the Scripture itself. I believe the truths discussed by Peters can indeed be learned from the Bible itself, if one were to study the subjects involved in the Bible using cross references. Yet even the Ethiopian in Acts 8 found it advantageous to have the help of Philip to understand Isaiah 53.

Christian Debate

https://faithlife.com/christian-debate/activity

I came here today from the Logos Forum where apparently discussion of “theology” is discouraged. Just how a Forum which has a thread regarding the “Rapture” can be responded to without addressing some aspect of theology (like eschatology, anyone?) is beyond me.

Some there hold the Preterist View, apparently. Others, I presume, may hold the Futurist View. While many great scholars have held the Preterist View, that all of Matthew 24 was fulfilled in AD 70, and that the New Testament was entirely written before AD 70, they have NOT done their homework in Bible study.

For example, the letter to the Ephesian church in the book of Revelation clearly depicts changes in the inner quality of that church, and even the organization of that church, changes which could not possibly have occurred since Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians was written. Consider especially that Paul sent Timothy to help at the Church of Ephesus.

Well, so much for Preterism (and my character limit!).

After posting the above

I used the search feature in Logos 5 software to see if Peters or anyone he quotes uses the term rapture. The word does not occur anywhere in his three-volume work. Just to be sure, I used an equivalent term that I know he does use, translation, and that search found many instances of that term, most of which pertained to Bible translation, but several to the term translation as it is used in the Bible itself. That verified for me that my search results were accurate, and that the term “rapture” in any sense does not occur in this work by Peters.