Nobody loves theology more than I do, and nobody hates eschatology (end-times teaching) more than I do. Well, I guess I don’t hate eschatology so much as I can’t stand how confusing it is.
Well, that’s over—kinda—thanks to the innovation of Josh Byers. He’s compiled information related to the three main Christian views of the end of the world and presented them in an easy to read/understand infographic.
This will definitely be a go-to resource for me in the future:
You can download a Letter or Poster size version of the graphic for free, though Josh has made it possible to purchase the sources files, a hi-res PDF, or even a professional print. Check it out.
Let’s be civil, but what view to you adhere to?
Did this infographic help you understand your view or the opposing views any better?
[via Blogging Theologically and Josh Byers]
Adam Shields says
A premillineal version of amillinealism. Or maybe an amillineal version of premilinialism.
Good infographic but it leave out some of the options.
For instance, NT Wright has a pretty well known (and I think relatively orthodox) version that doesn’t really fit into any of these because he minimizes the crazier parts of premillenialism (think left behind books) and emphasizes the role of the church and the current work of the church (so a stream of amelinialism) in the new creation.
I think one of the problem of the graphic is that the placement of the new heaven and the new earth is not at the bottom for all of the streams. But you can’t get everything in a single graphic.
Phil Schneider says
I think I am a historic premillennialist, but my denomination generally holds to dispensational premillennialism, which lends itself to all kinds of extraneous details that would have never fit in this graphic. So, yeah, I agree: you can’t cover every thing in a single thing.
Thanks for the comment!
Josh Byers says
Hey Adam,
Thanks for your comments – you’re right its very hard to represent everything without the graphic losing its simplicity.
Also the eternal state (new heaven and new earth) is at the bottom where all three views converge. This is one of the things I find interesting – almost all views agree on the promise of the kingdom and the eternal state – its what’s in the middle that’s debated.
Phil Schneider says
Dude, Josh, this is awesome! What resources did you use in creating this?
Josh Byers says
Thanks. Illustrator was the program I used for the graphics. The information came from a variety of sources: seminary notes, online research, books, colleagues, etc.
Phil Schneider says
So cool. A job well done.
Adam Shields says
I think most agree there is a promised kingdom, but I think the amilliealist really places the new kingdom and new earth at the beginning of the millennial reign. Or at least some do.
So many details. So few really important parts.
Phil Schneider says
“So many details. So few really important parts.”
So true.
James Cooper says
I’m a pan-millennialist. God knows what he’s doing and it’ll all pan in the end!
Phil Schneider says
Brilliant!
John Wilkerson says
You beat me to it.
Phil Schneider says
He’s pretty swift.
Eric Dye says
This entire thread is brilliant.