Mortal Education--From Earth to Paradise
There is in the mind of God a plan which embraces every creature of all his vast domains, and this plan is an eternal purpose of boundless opportunity, unlimited progress, and endless life. And the infinite treasures of such a matchless career are yours for the striving! [UB 32:5:7]
When man’s ascending soul stands before the Supreme Judge, the decision of eternal import will not be determined by material successes or quantitative achievements; the verdict reverberating through the high courts declares: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few essentials; you shall be made ruler over universe realities.” [UB 25:1:6]
But first we must work and study toward the day, billions of years in the future, when we actually stand before the Supreme Judge.
Evolutionary mortals are born on the planets of space, pass through the morontia worlds, ascend the spirit universes, traverse the Havona spheres, find God, attain Paradise, and are mustered into the primary Corps of the Finality, therein to await the next assignment of universe service. [UB 31:10:13]
The goal of eternity is ahead! The adventure of divinity attainment lies before you! The race for perfection is on! whosoever will may enter, and certain victory will crown the efforts of every human being who will run the race of faith and trust, depending every step of the way on the leading of the indwelling Adjuster and on the guidance of that good spirit of the Universe Son, which so freely has been poured out upon all flesh. [UB 32:5:8]
[UB 32:5:8]
Following is a description of the marvelous destiny for those mortals who survive and who choose the Paradise Ascension Program.
But worry not! Tuition, text books, room and
board, transportation, and entertainment are all free. All we have to do to
earn these marvelous benefits is to work hard, study hard, and do our
assigned work to the best of our ability while steadily ascending to ever
higher levels of spiritual development. Age upon age of years of work and study
will pass before we stand in the presence of God the Father on Paradise.
All mortals around the world who strive daily to live according to the will of God, can look forward to their resurrection in heaven. What kind of future awaits mortals who choose eternal life?
Following is a brief summary of the educational program that surviving mortals from our planet will pursue.
1. Planetary Mortals.
Mortals are all animal-origin evolutionary beings of ascendant potential. In origin, nature, and destiny these various groups and types of human beings are not wholly unlike the Urantia [earth] peoples. The human races of each world receive the same ministry of the Sons of God and enjoy the presence of the ministering spirits of time. After natural death all types of ascenders fraternize as one morontia family on the mansion worlds [heaven]. [UB 30:4:3]
2. Sleeping Survivors.
A. All mortals of survival status, in the custody of personal guardians of destiny, pass through the portals of natural death and, on the third period [day], personalize on the mansion worlds.
B. Those accredited beings who have, for any reason, been unable to attain that level of intelligence mastery and endowment of spirituality which would entitle them to personal guardians, cannot thus immediately and directly go to the mansion worlds. Such surviving souls must rest in unconscious sleep until the judgment day of a new epoch, a new dispensation, the coming of a Son of God to call the rolls of the age and adjudicate the realm, and this is the general practice throughout all Nebadon [Our Local Universe]. It was said of Christ Michael [Jesus] that, when he ascended on high at the conclusion of his work on earth, "He led a great multitude of captives." And these captives were the sleeping survivors from the days of Adam to the day of the Master's resurrection on Urantia. [UB 30:4:4]
The passing of time is of no moment to sleeping mortals; they are wholly unconscious and oblivious to the length of their rest. On reassembly of personality at the end of an age, those who have slept five thousand years will react no differently than those who have rested five days. Aside from this time delay these survivors pass on through the ascension regime identically with those who avoid the longer or shorter sleep of death. [UB 30:4:5]
In Paper 114 Section 7 the author [the Chief of Seraphim stationed on earth] describes the mortals who are enrolled in The Reserve Corps of Destiny. Mortals enrolled in this corps will be resurrected in heaven on the third day following death. All other surviving mortals must rest in unconscious sleep until the next group resurrection. [UB 114:7]
How many persons are currently enrolled [November 2008] in The Reserve Corps of Destiny I do not know. Nor do I know how many of these persons are actively working with celestial beings in preparation for the forthcoming events of the End Times.
During the mid-1930s there were about one thousand persons worldwide enrolled in this reserve corps. [UB 114:7:10]
3. Mansion World Students.
All surviving mortals who awaken on the mansion worlds belong to this class: Mansion World Students.
The physical body of mortal flesh is not a part of the reassembly of the sleeping survivor; the physical body has returned to dust. The seraphim of assignment sponsors the new body, the morontia form, as the new life vehicle for the immortal soul and for the indwelling of the returned Adjuster [Indwelling Spirit]. The Adjuster is the custodian of the spirit transcript of the mind of the sleeping survivor. The assigned seraphim is the keeper of the surviving identity--the immortal soul--as far as it has evolved. And when these two, the Adjuster and the seraphim, reunite their personality trusts, the new individual constitutes the resurrection of the old personality, the survival of the evolving morontia identity of the soul. Such a reassociation of soul and Adjuster is quite properly called a resurrection, a reassembly of personality factors; but even this does not entirely explain the reappearance of the surviving personality. Though you will probably never understand the fact of such an inexplicable transaction, you will sometime experientially know the truth of it if you do not reject the plan of mortal survival. [UB 30:4:8]
The plan of initial mortal detention on seven worlds of progressive training is nearly universal in Orvonton [the name of our superuniverse]. In each local system of approximately one thousand inhabited planets there are seven mansion worlds, usually satellites or subsatellites of the system capital. [The name of our system is Satania. Jerusem is the capital of our local system.] They are the receiving worlds for the majority of ascending mortals. [UB 30:4:9]
Sometimes all training worlds of mortal residence are called universe "mansions," and it was to such spheres that Jesus alluded when he said: "In my Father's house are many mansions." From here on, within a given group of spheres like the mansion worlds, ascenders will progress individually from one sphere to another and from one phase of life to another, but they will always advance from one stage of universe study to another in class formation. [UB 30:4:10] [John 14:2]
4. Morontia Progressors.
From the mansion worlds on up through the spheres of the system, constellation, and the local universe, mortals are classed as morontia progressors; they are traversing the transition spheres of mortal ascension. As the ascending mortals progress from the lower to the higher of the morontia worlds, they serve on countless assignments in association with their teachers and in company with their more advanced and senior brethren. [Most mortals from our planet will proceed through all seven mansion worlds from number one to number seven.] [UB 30:4:11]
Morontia progression pertains to continuing advancement of intellect, spirit, and personality form. Survivors are still three-natured beings. Throughout the entire morontia experience they are wards of the local universe. The regime of the superuniverse does not function until the spirit career begins. [UB 30:4:12]
Mortals acquire real spirit identity just before they leave the local universe headquarters [Salvington] for the receiving worlds of the minor sectors of the superuniverse. Passing from the final morontia stage to the first or lowest spirit status is but a slight transition. The mind, personality, and character are unchanged by such an advance; only does the form undergo modification. But the spirit form is just as real as the morontia body, and it is equally discernible. [UB 30:4:13]
Before departing from their native local universes for the superuniverse receiving worlds, the mortals of time are recipients of spirit confirmation from the Creator Son [Jesus] and the local universe Mother Spirit [Creative Spirit]. [Jesus and the Creative Spirit are our parents. We can be viewed as grandchildren of God the Father.] From this point on, the status of the ascending mortal is forever settled. Superuniverse wards have never been known to go astray. [UB 30:4:14]
5. Superuniverse Wards.
All ascenders arriving on the training worlds of the superuniverses become the wards of the three Ancients of Days; they have traversed the morontia life of the local universe and are now accredited spirits. [Each of the seven superuniverses is ruled by three Ancients of Days.] As young spirits they begin the ascension of the superuniverse system of training and culture, extending from the receiving spheres of their minor sector in through the study worlds of the ten major sectors and on to the higher cultural spheres of the superuniverse headquarters [Uversa]. [UB 30:4:15]
As morontia ascenders [ascending mortals] studied and worked on the worlds of the local universe, so spirit ascenders continue to master new worlds while they practice at giving out to others that which they have imbibed at the experiential founts of wisdom. But going to school as a spirit being in the superuniverse career is very unlike anything that has ever entered the imaginative realms of the material mind of man. [UB 30:4:16]
Before leaving the superuniverse for Havona, these ascending spirits receive the same thorough course in superuniverse management that they received during their morontia experience in local universe supervision. Before spirit mortals reach Havona, their chief study, but not exclusive occupation, is the mastery of local and superuniverse administration. The reason for all of this experience is not now fully apparent, but no doubt such training is wise and necessary in view of their possible future destiny as members of the Corps of the Finality. [UB 30:4:17]
The superuniverse regime is not the same for all ascending mortals. They receive the same general education, but special groups and classes are carried through special courses of instruction and are put through specific courses of training. [UB 30:4:18]
6. Havona Pilgrims.
When spirit development is complete, even though not replete, then the surviving mortal prepares for the long flight to Havona, the haven of evolutionary spirits. On earth you were a creature of flesh and blood; through the local universe you were a morontia being; through the superuniverse you were an evolving spirit; with your arrival on the receiving worlds of Havona your spiritual education begins in reality and in earnest; your eventual appearance on Paradise will be as a perfected spirit. [UB 30:4:19]
The journey from the superuniverse headquarters of Uversa to the Havona receiving spheres is always made alone. From now on no more class or group instruction will be administered. You are through with the technical and administrative training of the evolutionary worlds of time and space. Now begins your personal education, your individual spiritual training. From first to last, throughout all Havona, the instruction is personal and threefold in nature: intellectual, spiritual, and experiential. [UB 30:4:20]
Havona is far distant from the local universe of Nebadon. It is of enormous dimensions and almost unbelievable mass and consists of one billion spheres of unimagined beauty and superb grandeur, but the true magnitude of this vast creation is really beyond the understanding grasp of the human mind. [UB 14:0:1]
On the billion worlds of Havona your attainment is intellectual, spiritual, and experiential. And there is a definite task to be achieved on each of the billion worlds. [UB 14:5:1]
Life on the divine worlds of the central universe is so rich and full, so complete and replete, that it wholly transcends the human concept of anything a created being could possibly experience. [UB 14:5:2]
There is a refreshing originality about this vast central creation. There is nothing in common between the worlds of Havona. Every one of these planets is an original, unique, and exclusive creation; each planet is a matchless, superb, and perfect production. And this diversity of individuality extends to all features of the physical, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of planetary existence. Each of these billion perfection spheres has been developed and embellished in accordance with the plans of the resident Eternal of Days. And this is just why no two of them are alike. [UB 14:5:6]
Your astonishment will be inexpressible as you progress from planet to planet within each of the seven circuits. Each of these billion study worlds is a veritable university of surprises. Continuing astonishment, unending wonder, is the experience of those who traverse these circuits and tour these gigantic spheres. Monotony is not a part of the Havona career. [UB 14:5:9]
The first act of your Havona career will be to recognize and thank your transport seconaphim for the long and safe journey. Then you are presented to those beings who will sponsor your early Havona activities. Next you go to register your arrival and prepare your message of thanksgiving and adoration for dispatch to the Creator Son [Jesus] of your local universe, the universe Father who made possible your sonship career. This concludes the formalities of the Havona arrival; whereupon you are accorded a long period of leisure for free observation, and this affords opportunity for looking up your friends, fellows, and associates of the long ascension experience. You may also consult the broadcasts to ascertain who of your fellow pilgrims have departed for Havona since the time of your leaving Uversa. [UB 30:4:21]
The fact of your arrival on the receiving worlds of Havona will be duly transmitted to the headquarters of your local universe and personally conveyed to your seraphic guardian, wherever that seraphim may chance to be. [UB 30:4:22]
The ascendant mortals have been thoroughly trained in the affairs of the evolutionary worlds of space; now they begin their long and profitable contact with the created spheres of perfection. What a preparation for some future work is afforded by this combined, unique, and extraordinary experience! But I cannot tell you about Havona; you must see these worlds to appreciate their glory or to understand their grandeur. [UB 30:4:23]
Perhaps this would be a good time to quote Paul's statement in 1Corinthians 2:9: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
7. Paradise Arrivals.
On reaching Paradise with residential status, you begin the progressive course in divinity and absonity. Your residence on Paradise signifies that you have found God, and that you are to be mustered into the Mortal Corps of the Finality. Of all the creatures of the grand universe, only those who are Father-fused are mustered into the Mortal Corps of the Finality. Only such individuals take the finaliter oath. Other beings of Paradise perfection or attainment may be temporarily attached to this finality corps, but they are not of eternal assignment to the unknown and unrevealed mission of this accumulating host of the evolutionary and perfected veterans of time and space. [UB 30:4:24]
Paradise arrivals are accorded a period of freedom, after which they begin their associations with the seven groups of the primary supernaphim. They are designated Paradise graduates when they have finished their course with the conductors of worship and then, as finaliters, are assigned on observational and co-operative service to the ends of the far-flung creation. As yet there seems to be no specific or settled employment for the Mortal Corps of Finaliters, though they serve in many capacities on worlds settled in light and life. [UB 30:4:25]
If there should be no future or unrevealed destiny for the Mortal Corps of the Finality, the present assignment of these ascendant beings would be altogether adequate and glorious. Their present destiny wholly justifies the universal plan of evolutionary ascent. But the future ages of the evolution of the spheres of outer space will undoubtedly further elaborate, and with more repleteness divinely illuminate, the wisdom and loving-kindness of the Gods in the execution of their divine plan of human survival and mortal ascension. [UB 30:4:26]
9. "The Third Heaven."
The heaven conceived by most of your prophets was the first of the mansion worlds of the local system. When the apostle [Paul] spoke of being “caught up to the third heaven,” he referred to that experience in which his Adjuster was detached during sleep and in this unusual state made a projection to the third of the seven mansion worlds. [2Corinthians 12:2-4]
Some of your wise men saw the vision of the greater heaven, “the heaven of heavens,” of which the sevenfold mansion world experience was but the first; the second being Jerusem; the third, Edentia and its satellites; the fourth, Salvington and the surrounding educational spheres; the fifth, Uversa; the sixth, Havona; and the seventh, Paradise. [UB 48:6:12]
Source: The Urantia Book; The King James Study Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville.
Note: Most statements in this paper were quoted verbatim from the source.
Revised November 26 2008