Add the “Historic Premillennial” Viewpoint
I have been studying Eschatology for about 2 years now off and on as the radio pastors and teachers touch on it. I recently finished reading a book by Larry Simmons called, Unmasking Pre-Trib Fallacies (© 1997). I found the book to be of excellent quality and very easy reading, so I was looking online to see what else of his could be found. In my searches, the below webpage popped up:
Home > Suggestions > Books on Eschatology
By Divinesoteriology
Saturday, October 27, 2012 at 9:51 PM
http://community.logos.com/forums/p/57522/548525.aspx
I was shocked to find a result on Logos’ Forums so checked it out. In it Divinesoteriology recommended 45 Post-Tribulation Rapture books for possible inclusion on Logos. One of which being, 42 Months to Glory: Unlocking the Mysteries of End Time Prophecy by Larry Simmons (1994), which I have not read as yet. The final post was on 12/03/2013 by Divinesoteriology, in which they state, “Been a little over a year since the last post. Since then there has been no post trib books added that I am aware of... 
”
This was a shock to me, that a program such as Logos would have no Historic Pre-Millennial resources within its library. This program is huge and not all that cheap, even if it would be three times as expensive to buy everything hard copy. I e-mailed Logos Support about my findings, which revealed more than 25 results for references to “Post-Tribulation” and “Historic Pre-Millennial” along with every possible spelling variance I could think of, but not a single one was from that perspective.
In their defense they recommended I read the following article by Logos’ C.E.O. Bob Pritchett:
Home > General > What kind of books does Logos publish?
By Bob Pritchett, President and CEO of Logos Bible Software
Wednesday July 6, 2011 at 5:38 PM
http://community.logos.com/forums/p/35460/266673.aspx
In a summery, Bob Pritchett says that they want Logos to be a one stop shop for all things Bible-related. He also points out they are always attempting to expand their library accordingly, no matter if they agree with the view of the author or not. I can see the logic behind his case and agree in most aspects.
With knowledge of the goal behind Logos, which was my original assumption based on the implications given at the 30 minute preview I got in-person years ago, I just have one question in regards to Eschatology. Why is it that the only position given as the author’s personal viewpoint the Pre-Tribulation, Dispensational Pre-Millennial position? Why no Post-Tribulation, Historic Pre-Millennial position? Or Mid-Tribulation, Pre-“Vials of Wrath” position?
There is a serious void here and it needs to be rectified in light of what Logos is intended to be. Even beyond that, though, it’s no accident that an alternate term for Post-Trib is “Historical”, that being it was the historic view of the Early Church. In chapter 7 of Larry Simmons’ book Unmasking Pre-Trib Fallacies he quotes Dr. John Walvoord, “Frequently the same writers who seemed to imply immanency later detailed events that must precede the Rapture and the second coming of Christ. At best, the situation is confused.” Quote taken from The Rapture Question page 52.
It should be noted that even Logos shows Dr. Walvoord to be a Pre-Tribulationist, see Faithlife Study Bible under the Views of the Millennium table, “Proponents” section. In addition, this list was put together by Pre-Tribalationists, yet the oldest proponent for their view in history is John Darby (1800-1882), who some believe founded the doctrine in 1830FN. Yet the oldest Post-Tribulationist proponent listed is St. Irenaeus (circa 125-202 AD), who was a “Church Father”.
So, there should be no doubt about where the Early Church stood since even Pre-Trib teachers can tell they were not Pre-Trib, but perhaps still believers in immanency. Therefore, to lack this view on Logos is to lack the days of the Church Fathers.
Please, add the “Historical Pre-Millennialism” viewpoint to Logos’ library. Thank you!
Footnote: http://www.bible.ca/rapture-origin-john-nelson-darby-1830ad.htm
Comments
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Nathanael,
welcome to the Logos user forums! I don't think you need long words to persuade anybody to include a valid theological perspective - you cited yourself that Logos aims at offering a broad selection. This forum works best with suggestions of specific titles or publishers.
From your post (and the one in the other thread) I take that you want to suggest adding books from the "historical premillenial" viewpoint. I must confess that I'm not an expert in eschatological views, but I found that a search for "premillenial" in the logos.com store gives over eighty hits - the second of which happens to be the very first suggestion in divinesoteriology's list: https://www.logos.com/product/31407/a-case-for-historic-premillennialism-an-alternative-left-behind-eschatology . It may well be that a number of the books you are requesting is already available.
I also tend to think that when authors adhere to a specific interpretation, this will permeate their books even if the publishers don't title them thus. Moreover, since you claim that the Early Church Fathers adhered to this viewpoint, it may be that Logos holds the greatest library of ECF resources available in bible software. Thus, I suspect that there is a lot of material from the "historical pre-millenial" viewpoint already in Logos.
It would be good if you check for that and maybe offer additional resources by title.
Have joy in the Lord!
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Dear Mick,
Thank you for your welcome! As for my “long words” I am not used to merely suggesting things. In my experience, often people need reasons to include things. I figured to offer a few basic ones would be in order. Besides, most people are not very knowledgeable in this area so it was a good opportunity for some info to get out. I do recognize Logos wants to give a wide variety and it is very respectable, and I did provide one title of my own but mostly I made use of Divinesoteriology’s hard work from 2 years ago. He deserves to have his efforts pay off.
Thank you for your example of how to search things on Logos. Good to see that Divinesoteriology’s list is making an appearance on Logos now. Until now I did not know that. If there are others already on Logos then that is good news indeed. I just assumed that with Pre-Trib teaching as the dominant view today, Logos would need to dig around for any Post-Trib. If they were not putting up an effort for this or that reason, then it was needed to remind them it exists. I am relieved that they do know so.
It is true that whatever your view, it will influence everything you write. On the Early Church Fathers, this may be true that they have the largest selection in any Bible Software. Regretfully, everything of substance from them on Logos are in the multi-hundreds of dollars, when many Church Father works are online for free, being they are all Public Domain. Seems rather poor taste to make one pay so much for all their work when not necessary. It’s starting to seem Logos is only for the rich, which I did not expect when I initially paid for it.
Thank you for all your help Mick! God bless.
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There are many other Historical Premillennial works in Logos.
For example:
George Eldon Ladd
https://www.logos.com/product/5384/the-last-things-an-eschatology-for-laymenMillard Erickson
https://www.logos.com/product/30807/a-basic-guide-to-eschatology-making-sense-of-the-millenniumWayne Grudem
https://www.logos.com/product/8413/systematic-theology-an-introduction-to-biblical-doctrineMichael Bird
https://www.logos.com/product/33987/evangelical-theology
And if you speak Spanish, Logos has James Buswell and J. Barton Payne. (Don't ask me why these aren't available in English!)
https://www.logos.com/product/3218/teologia-sistematica-tomo-4-escatologia
https://www.logos.com/product/40055/gran-enciclopedia-de-la-profecia-biblica0
