Welcome to Outlook¹

OUTLOOK addresses all readers, from church, mosque, synagogue, temple, or without religious affiliation. Our focus is the significance of the Christ event for all history. Our purpose is to facilitate a common — but not institutionalized — witness to the import of that axial event.²

To appreciate the meaning of the Christ event, it should be recognized that “before” Creation God led a solitary self-existence. Because he longed for shared relationships with others, “in the beginning” (Genesis 1:1) God decided to create a universe that would include human beings. However, since he was alone, it was necessary for God to initially create by command, possession and power — all contrary to reciprocal relationships. Yet in his desire for mutual relationality, God also granted free process for nature and then the gift of free will to mankind. Nevertheless, God’s necessary use of command, possession and power led to a created order of dominant/subordinate relationships along with disaster, death and extinction.

Faced with these predicaments, God determined to bear the negative consequences of Creation through his own human manifestation as Jesus Christ. In his life and ministry Jesus bore — and sought to reverse — the burdens he had unavoidably imposed on Creation. In his death he initiated the termination of the old created order. And because of infinite grace, in his resurrection he inaugurated a new “human” order of relational co-existence, of free and loving equality, of positive free will, and of life eternal.

Now the Human One, who is relationally present with all humanity (Matthew 28:20; John 1:9), invites Creation to recognize his submission to cosmic judgment (cf. John 12:31, 32; 16:8, 11; Philippians 2:6-8). Through the gift of his grace, he calls for “others” to act as witnesses on his behalf before the court of the universe. As wise men, shepherds, and Simeon and Anna in the Temple, were representative witnesses at Christ’s First Coming (Matthew 2:1, 2; Luke 2:8-21, 25-38), so we are called to be representative witnesses in anticipation of his promised Second Coming (parousia) (Acts 1:8; cf. Deuteronomy 19:15; Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1). It is therefore time to celebrate the imminent full, final and irrevocable liberation of the Creator and his Creation from all suffering.

One-and-Only God, you are our Creator, Redeemer and Friend. Long ago you decided to create the universe, this world, all life and our humanity. Since you were alone, you necessarily acted initially by command, possession and power. Meanwhile, you granted Creation the freedom to respond both negatively and positively to your purpose. As a consequence, you have long witnessed good and bad, light and darkness, joy and sorrow, life and death. Yet in justice you accepted full responsibility for your Creation. According to your promise, you acted in love to become human, to bear the burden of all Creation, and to stand in judgment at Calvary. In the judgment of your death, you bore the burden of Creation to the grave. And in the judgment of your resurrection, you brought forth eternal faith in, hope for and love of a new and everlasting Creation. Now we choose to be your witnesses, to acknowledge your burden, to recognize your infinite sacrifice, and to celebrate your imminent transformational appearance according to your promise. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20)!

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— Worldview Publications

Outlook Articles “The Eternal Journey I: Prologue” (March/April 2012) “‘In the Beginning’” (January/February 2012) “Truth Triumphant III: Parousia and Transformation” (November/December 2011) “Truth Triumphant II: Death and Resurrection” (September/October 2011) “Truth Triumphant I: Creation and Incarnation” (July/August 2011) “Out of Egypt VI: The Final Appearance” (June 2011) “Out of Egypt V: The Open Fracture” (May 2011) “Out of Egypt IV: The Apocalypse” (April 2011) “Out of Egypt III: Emergence of Gnosticism” (March 2011) “Out of Egypt II: Probable Origin of Gnosticism” (February 2011) “Out of Egypt I: Introduction to Gnosticism” (January 2011) “Armageddon — Plain or Mountain?” (December 2010) “‘The Gift of God’” (November 2010) “‘Ye Shall Be Free Indeed’” (October 2010) “‘For Judgment I AM . . . ’” (September 2010) “‘The Sky Is Falling’” (August 2010) “The Divine Struggle for ‘I’ and ‘Thou’ X: The Second Coming” (July 2010) “The Divine Struggle for ‘I’ and ‘Thou’ IX: ‘I AM’ with ‘You’” (June 2010) “The Divine Struggle for ‘I’ and ‘Thou’ VIII: The Incarnate God” (May 2010) “The Divine Struggle for ‘I’ and ‘Thou’ VII: Silent Presence” (April 2010) “The Divine Struggle for ‘I’ and ‘Thou’ VI: Empowerment” (March 2010) “The Divine Struggle for ‘I’ and ‘Thou’ V: Self-Consciousness” (February 2010) “The Divine Struggle for ‘I’ and ‘Thou’ IV: Possession” (January 2010) “The Divine Struggle for ‘I’ and ‘Thou’ III: Command” (December 2009) “The Divine Struggle for ‘I’ and ‘Thou’ II: Origin” (November 2009) “The Divine Struggle for ‘I’ and ‘Thou’ I: Prologue: I and Thou—A Book Review” (October 2009) “The ‘Fall’ ” (September 2009) “The Gifts of the Jews—A Book Review” (August 2009) “ ‘My Lord Delayeth His Coming’ ” (July 2009) “ ‘Rejoice Greatly’ ” (June 2009) “The Reconciliation” (May 2009) “Who Is He?” (April 2009) “Born Again” (March 2009) “Corporate Personality in Ancient Israel—A Book Review” (February 2009) “The Secret Message of Jesus—A Book Review” (January 2009) “The End of Religion—A Book Review” (December 2008) “Apocalypse Now—A Book Review” (November 2008) “World in Crisis” (October 2008) “Do Not Despair!” (September 2008) “God as the Judgment” (August 2008) “Called to Be Witnesses” (July 2008) “The Gospel for the Postmodern World VIII: Returning the Gifts” (June 2008) “The Gospel for the Postmodern World VII: Reflections on ‘The Gift Abused’ II” (May 2008) “The Gospel for the Postmodern World VI: Reflections on ‘The Gift Abused’ I” (April 2008) “The Gospel for the Postmodern World V: The Gift Abused” (March 2008) “The Gospel for the Postmodern World IV: The Gift of God” (February 2008) “The Gospel for the Postmodern World III: The ‘Other Side’ of God” (January 2008) “The Gospel for the Postmodern World II: The ‘I AM’” (December 2007) “The Gospel for the Postmodern World I: The ‘Good News’ of the Triune God” (November 2007) “The Historical Jesus XVII: The Gospel of John: Jesus as the New ‘I AM’” (October 2007) “The Historical Jesus XVI: The Gospel of John: Authorship” (September 2007) “The Historical Jesus XV: The Gospel of Luke: Jesus as the New Adam” (August 2007) “The Historical Jesus XIV: The Gospel of Matthew: Jesus as the New Moses” (July 2007) “The Historical Jesus XIII: The Gospel of Mark: Jesus as the New Joshua” (June 2007) “The Historical Jesus XII: The Pauline Gospel” (May 2007) “The Historical Jesus XI: The Petrine Gospel” (April 15, 2007) “The Historical Jesus X: The Gnostic Gospels” (April 1, 2007) “The Historical Jesus IX: The Gospel According to Whom?” (March 15, 2007) “The Historical Jesus VIII: The Origins of Christianity” (March 1, 2007) “The Historical Jesus VII: The Public Life of Jesus” (February 15, 2007) “The Historical Jesus VI: The Hidden Years of Jesus” (February 1, 2007) “The Historical Jesus V: Herod the Great” (January 15, 2007) “The Historical Jesus IV: Nativity and Early Life” (January 1, 2007) “The Historical Jesus III: The Birth Date of Jesus II” (December 2006) “The Historical Jesus II: The Birth Date of Jesus I” (November 2006) “The Historical Jesus I: His Existence” (October 2006) “Atonement VII: Transformation” (September 2006) “Atonement VI: Satisfaction” (August 2006) “Atonement V: Ransom” (July 2006) “Atonement IV: Orthodox” (June 2006) “Atonement III: Personal” (May 2006) “Atonement II: Pagan” (April 2006) “Atonement I: Prehistoric” (March 2006) “The Divine Resolution VII: Parousias” (February 2006) “The Divine Resolution VI: Creation and Resurrection” (January 2006) “The Divine Resolution V: Creation and Apocalyptic” (November/December 2005) “The Divine Resolution IV: Creation and Power” (September/October 2005) “The Divine Resolution III: Creation by Possession” (July/August 2005) “The Divine Resolution II: Creation by Command” (May/June 2005) “The Divine Resolution I: Pre-Creation” (March/April 2005) “The Divine Predicament” (January/February 2005) “The Mythology of Evil” (November/December 2004) “The Most Painful Difficulty” (September/October 2004) “The ‘Other’ Question” (July/August 2004) “ ‘We Will All Be Changed’ ” (May/June 2004) “ ‘Ye Shall Be As Gods’ ” (March/April 2004) “The Second Temple: Hellenistic Period” (January/February 2004) “The Second Temple: Reformation Period” (November/December 2003) “Origins of Human Destiny” (September/October 2003) “ ‘Both Jews and Greeks’ ” (July/August 2003) “ ‘By What Authority...’ ” (May/June 2003) “Covenant and Creation” (March/April 2003) “The Divine Presence” (January/February 2003) “Resolving the Threefold Paradox” (November/December 2002) “ ‘His Judgment Is Come’ ” (September/October 2002) “ ‘His Unspeakable Gift’ ” (July/August 2002) “ ‘Life Is Bound Up’ ” (April/June 2002) “Sin and Atonement” (March 2002) “Contract versus Covenant” (February 2002) “The Second Temple: Persian Period” (January 2002) “The First Temple: Divided Monarchical Period” (December 2001) “The First Temple: United Monarchical Period” (November 2001) “The Dawn of Self-Consciousness” (October 2001) “Origins” (September 2001)

Context for the Christ Event Messianism V: Claimants (2006.12) Messianism IV: Israel (2006.11) Messianism III: Second Temple Models (2006.10) Messianism II: First Temple Models (2006.09) Messianism I: Pagan Models (2006.08) Galilean III: “Ornament of All Galilee” (2006.07) Galilean II (2006.06) Galilean I (2006.05) Hasmonean III (2006.04) Hasmonean II (2006.03) Hasmonean I (2006.02) Hellenism (2006.01) Persian II (2005.12) Persian I (2005.11) Israelite III (2005.10) Israelite II (2005.09) Israelite I (2005.08) Canaanite III (2005.07) Canaanite II (2005.06) Canaanite I (2005.05) Egyptian III (2005.04) Egyptian II (2005.03) Egyptian I (2005.02) Akkadian (2005.01)

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