Subsequent to John's writing of the Book of Revelation large portions were lost and other portions were removed. It is preserved in only fragmentary and adulterated form. [139:4:14] No doubt later Christian religious leaders with their own ax to grind also revised the Book of Revelation. Therefore, any effort to unravel this book is guaranteed to give you an Excedrin headache.
     However, the authors of The Urantia Book from time to time explained some of the scriptures in the Book of Revelation.

[1] The Great Seven Year Tribulation.
At various places in the Book of Revelation [and in other passages in the Bible] a seven year period is described during which horrific conditions will prevail on earth during the Great Tribulation. [Daniel 12:1 for example]
      However, this period of great tribulation may refer to the bitter seven crucial years about 200,000 years ago during which all celestial personalities on our planet were required to decide whether they would remain loyal to Jesus and God or join Lucifer in his rebellion. [67:3:2]

[2] The Four and Twenty Counselors [Elders] on Jerusem.
Revelation 4:2,4: And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
     The throne in the center of this group is the judgment seat of the presiding archangel, the throne of the resurrection roll call of mercy and justice for all Satania [our local system]. This judgment seat has always been on Jerusem, but the twenty-four surrounding seats were placed in position no more than nineteen hundred years ago, soon after Christ Michael was elevated to the full sovereignty of Nebadon [our local universe]. [Revelation, Chapters 4,5 and other places] [45:4]
     Christians will recognize the name of several of the counselors: Adam, Eve, Enoch, Moses, Elijah, Machiventa Melchizedek [the sage of Salem], and John the Baptist.
     Enoch, and then Elijah, fused with their Thought Adjuster (the Indwelling Spirit) during their life in the flesh on earth. The fusion of the Thought Adjuster with the morontial soul during physical life instantly consumes the material; the human beings who might witness such a spectacle would only observe the translating mortal disappear "in chariots of fire." [45:4:13,15] [97:2] [110:7:2] [II Kings 2:11]

[3] The Seven Spirits of God.
Revelation 4:5: "And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God." The voices are the universe broadcasts from Salvington to the local systems.
     These seven adjutants [spirits] are the spirit of wisdom, the spirit of worship, the spirit of counsel, the spirit of knowledge, the spirit of courage, the spirit of understanding, and the spirit of intuition [of quick perception]. The seven spirits are stationed on Salvington, the capital of our local universe of Nebadon. [34:4:7-9] [Revelation 3:1 ~ 4:5 ~ 5:6]

[4] The Sea of Glass.
Revelation 4:6: And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: . . .
     In Edentia, the capital of our constellation Norlatiadek, the sea of glass is the receiving area. This sea of glass is one enormous circular crystal about one hundred miles in circumference and about thirty miles in depth. This magnificent crystal serves as the receiving field for all transport seraphim and other beings arriving from points outside the sphere; such a sea of glass greatly facilitates the landing of transport seraphim. A crystal field on this order is found on almost all architectural worlds; and it serves many purposes aside from its decorative value, being utilized for portraying superuniverse reflectivity to assembled groups and as a factor in the energy-transformation technique for modifying the currents of space and for adapting other incoming physical-energy streams.
     [Architectural worlds are worlds that are constructed according to plans and specifications. They are not evolutionary worlds as is our planet. Worlds in the capitals are all architectural worlds.]
     The sea of glass mentioned in Revelation 15:2 is located in Jerusem, capital of our local system of Satania. [43:1:7,10,11]

[5] The Seven Trumpets.
The sounding of the seven trumpets [angels] is described in Revelation, Chapters 8-11.
     The angels of nation life are the "angels of the trumpets," directors of the political performances of Urantia national life. The group now functioning [in the mid-1930s] in the overcontrol of international relations is the fourth corps to serve on the planet. It is particularly through the ministry of this seraphic division that "the Most Highs rule in the kingdoms of men." [114:6:8] [Daniel 4:25]
     When the first governor general arrived on Urantia, concurrent with the outpouring of the Spirit of Truth, he was accompanied by twelve corps of special seraphim, Seraphington graduates, who were immediately assigned to certain special planetary services. These exalted angels are known as the master seraphim of planetary supervision and are, aside from the overcontrol of the planetary Most High observer, under the immediate direction of the resident governor general. [114:3] [114:6:1,8] [Paper 194]
     [Paper 114 describes in some detail our seraphic planetary government. It contains fascinating information regarding the celestial oversight of our planet.]

[6] The Fifth Trumpet.
Revelation 9:1-10: And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power; And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men; And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions; And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails . . .
     It is likely that the description of these locusts fell prey to some creative writing by later religious leaders after John recorded his vision. If we remove the embellishment, we are still left with some very vicious locusts.
     We are told that the explosions on the Day of Armageddon will act as a powerful X-ray on every living cell on the planet which will result in the significant modification of the DNA of every living creature or thing. What will be the effect of this powerful X-ray on locusts? Mosquitoes? Scorpions? Wasps? Their stings may be almost unbearable.
     If hiding places can be found, persons will surely hide themselves wherever concealment is available to avoid the vicious stings:
     Revelation 6:15,16: Men hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us . . .
     Revelation 9:6: And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

[7] Sleeping Survivors: "Jesus led a great multitude of captives."
Revelation 7:9: . . . I beheld . . . a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, [who] stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands . . .
     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 earth. [30:4:4]

[8] The "Devil"--Caligastia, the Fallen Planetary Prince.
There are numerous references to the devil [or devils] in the Book of Revelation. The doctrine of a personal devil on Urantia, though it had some foundation in the planetary presence of the traitorous and iniquitous Caligastia, was nevertheless wholly fictitious in its teachings that such a "devil" could influence the normal human mind against its free and natural choosing. Even before Michael's [Jesus'] bestowal on earth, neither Caligastia nor Daligastia was ever able to oppress mortals or to coerce any normal individual into doing anything against the human will. The free will of man is supreme in moral affairs; even the indwelling Thought Adjuster [Indwelling Spirit] refuses to compel man to think a single thought or to perform a single act against the choosing of man's own will.
     Caligastia, the "devil" and rebel of the realm, now shorn of all power to harm his former subjects, awaits the final adjudication by the *Uversa Ancients of Days of all who participated in the Lucifer rebellion.
     *Uversa is the capital of our superuniverse of Orvonton. [53:8:9] [66:8:6,7] [95:6:6]

[9] Jerusem.
John the Revelator saw a vision of the arrival of a class of advancing mortals from the seventh mansion world to the glories of Jerusem:
Revelation 15:2: And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and those who had gained the victory over the beast that was originally in them and over the image that persisted through the mansion worlds and finally over the last mark and trace, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God, and singing the song of deliverance from mortal fear and death. [47:10:2]
     On Mansion World Number 6 you "are becoming more and more adorable as you leave behind the coarse vestiges of planetary animal origin." It is on Mansion World Number 7 that we "will be purged of all the remnants of unfortunate heredity, unwholesome environment, and unspiritual planetary tendencies." The last remnants of the "mark of the beast" are here eradicated. [47:8:7] [47:9:1]
     [At birth all mortals bear the mark of the beast because we are descended from animals.]
     [Perfected space communication is to be had on all these worlds in Jerusem; and your anywhere reception of such communications is made possible by carrying the "harp of God," a contrivance compensating for the inability to directly adjust the immature morontia sensory mechanism to the reception of space communications.] [47:10:2]

[10] The Four Beasts.
Revelation, Chapters 4,5,6: John envisaged the directional control creatures of the local universe, the living compasses of the headquarters world. This directional control in Nebadon is maintained by the four control creatures of *Salvington, who operate over the universe currents and are ably assisted by the first functioning mind-spirit, the adjutant of intuition, the spirit of "quick understanding." There are numerous references in the Book of Revelation describing the four beasts. The description of these four creatures--called beasts--has been sadly marred; they are of unparalleled beauty and exquisite form. [34:4:9]
     *Salvington is the capital of our local universe of Nebadon. Jesus (Michael) is the Sole Sovereign of our local universe.

[11] Mercy Credits for Persons Choosing Eternal Life.
Revelation 20:11-13: And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Daniel 7:9,10: I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of Days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

Tertiary Seconaphim: Memories of Mercy.
     The Memories of Mercy maintain a full, replete, and up to the minute record of every mortal. This record discloses the moral debt of the children of mercy--their spiritual liabilities--to be set down against their assets of the saving provision established by the Sons of God. In revealing the Father’s pre-existent mercy, the Sons of God establish the necessary credit to insure the survival of all. A mercy credit is established for the survival of each rational creature, a credit of lavish proportions and one of sufficient grace to insure the survival of every soul who really desires divine citizenship.
     The Memory of Mercy is a living trial balance, a current statement of your account with the supernatural forces of the realms. These are the living records of mercy ministration which are read into the testimony of the courts of *Uversa when each individual’s right to unending life comes up for adjudication, when "thrones are cast up and the Ancients of Days are seated. The broadcasts of Uversa issue and come forth from before them, and then thousand times ten thousand stand before them. The judgment is set, and the books are opened." Your individual drawing credits are always far in excess of your ability to exhaust the reserve if you are sincere of purpose and honest of heart.
     However, when mercy is exhausted, when a mortal’s mercy credits are totally depleted, then does justice prevail and righteousness decree. For mercy is not to be thrust upon those who despise it; mercy is not a gift to be trampled under foot by the persistent rebels of time. [28:6:5-7]
     *Uversa is the capital of our superuniverse of Orvonton.

[12] Events of the far future.
Revelation 21:1,2: I [John] saw a new heaven and a new earth and the new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a princess adorned for the prince. [52:7:11]
     This is the same renovated earth, the advanced planetary stage, that the olden seer [Isaiah] envisioned when he wrote: "For, as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, so shall you and your children survive; and it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another and from one Sabbath to another all flesh shall come to worship before me," says the Lord. [Isaiah 66:22,23] [52:7:12]
     The Apostle Peter made two statements regarding events of the distant future after mortals have achieved a significantly higher level of spiritual development:
     It is the mortals of such a distant age who are described as "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, an exalted people; and you shall show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into this marvelous light." [I Peter 2:9] [52:7:13]

     All the worlds of Satania [our local system] can join in the hope of the one [the Apostle Peter] who wrote: "Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless." [II Peter 3:13,14] [52:7:15]

[13] The Great Seraphim, Loyalatia.
Revelation 22:8,9: The great seraphim, Loyalatia, when your seer [John] "fell down to worship before the feet of the angel," said: "See that you do it not; I am a fellow servant with you and with your races, who are all enjoined to worship God." [38:2:5]
     When Jesus had prayed the second time in Gethsemane just before his arrest, a mighty angel came down by his side and, speaking to him, touched him and strengthened him. [182:3:2]
     Whether this mighty angel who spoke to Jesus was Loyalatia I do not know at this time.

[14] In the Presence of God on Paradise.
Revelation 21:3-4;23: After billions of years of work and study, we awake to life everlasting on the shores of the eternal abode: It is on Paradise that we will stand in the presence of God the Father: The last rest of time has been enjoyed; the last transition sleep has been experienced; now you awake to life everlasting on the shores of the eternal abode. "And there shall be no more sleep. The presence of God and his Son are before you, and you are eternally his servants; you have seen his face, and his name is your spirit. There shall be no night there; and they need no light of the sun, for the Great Source and Center [God the Father] gives them light; they shall live forever and ever. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things have passed away." [27:1:4,5]

[15] Nuclear Winter.
Revelation 6:12: . . . and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair . . .
Revelation 6:14: . . . Every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Isaiah 24:1: . . . The Lord turneth it [the earth] upside down . . .

     How will these events affect global weather patterns? During the period when the sun is obscured, there will be a drop in worldwide temperature. Will the drop in global temperature be significant? Is it possible that in some areas the temperatures will drop to freezing or near-freezing?
Revelation 8:7: The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood . . .
Revelation 11:19: . . . there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Revelation 16:21: And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
     If in some areas the temperature drops to freezing or near-freezing, then large numbers of persons who survive the Day of Armageddon will freeze to death before they can starve to death. It is difficult to visualize how there might be hail in the midst of the thousands of explosions. If the force of the explosions can cause mountains to move or melt, could the force and the heat of the explosions melt all the snow and ice at both poles?

[16] Bringing persons into the kingdom.
Revelation 3:20: Behold, I stand at the door and knock, and if any man will open, I will come in. [159:3:2]
     In August, 29 A.D., Jesus gave expression to the principles which should guide those who preach truth, and which should activate all who teach the gospel of the kingdom. [159:3]

[17] Tree of Life.
The Tree of Life was a gift from the Most Highs of Edentia, the capital of our constellation of Norlatiadek.
Revelation 2:7: . . . To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Revelation 22:2: . . . and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
     The Tree of Life first appeared on earth about 500,000 years ago when Caligastia [the Planetary Prince] and his Staff of One Hundred arrived from Jerusem, the capital of our local system of Satania.
     The members of the Staff of One Hundred, visible to mortals, were given specially constructed bodies by the *Life Carriers and other celestial beings so that with the aid of the fruit of the Tree of Life they were immortal or undying as long as they remained loyal to Jesus and God. [66:4:12,13]
     *The Life Carriers are one order of the Sons of God.

[18] The First Garden of Eden.
Revelation 2:7: . . . To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the paradise [the Garden of Eden] of God.
    The description of the first Garden of Eden in the Book of Genesis is quite limited. Paper 73 in The Urantia Book describes in some detail the planning and building of the first Garden of Eden. Van, one of the loyal members of Caligastia’s Staff of One Hundred, and his more than three thousand human associates were in charge of selecting and preparing the Garden.

     In the center of the Garden temple Van planted the long-guarded Tree of Life whose fruit had sustained him for more than 150,000 years. He knew that Adam and Eve would also require the fruit of the Tree of Life that would enable them to live on indefinitely as long as they did not default in their assignment.
     The first Garden, located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean, was probably the most beautiful spot of its kind in all the world, and the climate was then ideal. Nowhere else was there a location which could have lent itself so perfectly to becoming such a paradise of botanic expression. In this rendezvous the cream of civilization of Urantia was forgathering. Without and beyond, the world lay in darkness, ignorance, and savagery.
     Adam and Eve arrived on earth from the year A.D. 1934, 37,848 years ago. [73:2:3] [73:6:1,5] [74:0]

[19] Christians Marching to Waterloo: Defeat by Osama bin Laden.
Based on information in the Book of Revelation, I conjectured that Osama is the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and the Beast. [See my paper 18: OSAMA BIN LADEN: Antichrist? False Prophet? Beast?]
     Christians have been imbued with the supposedly infallible teachings that certain events must occur before Jesus returns. Their inflexible beliefs regarding these End Times Events will be one of the major reasons that virtually every Christian will perish either on the Day of Armageddon or during the days following the global catastrophe.

Following are some of the events that Christians believe must occur before Jesus returns:
A. The Great Seven Year Tribulation. [Also see Item 1]
Revelation 7:14: . . . And he said to me [John], These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Matthew 24:21,22: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
     Actually, mortals have experienced great tribulation ever since the first two humans were born about 993,000 years ago. [62:5:1] Primitive man believed himself to be at the mercy of just about everything both in the heavens and on the earth. Sacrifice followed sacrifice, day after day and year after year as fearful man tried to appease all those unseen cruel, jealous gods.
     To add insult to injury, about 200,000 years ago Caligastia and large numbers of administrative celestial personalities on our planet joined the cause of Lucifer. [Isaiah 14:12-17] [Some verses in Ezekiel 28:14-19 appear to be a reference to Lucifer.] [Paper 67]
     After joining Lucifer, Caligastia's primary objective became to destroy as many souls as possible. He and his equally traitorous followers have been enormously successful: countless souls have been destroyed. Caligastia and his followers have slowed and even stopped spiritual development among huge numbers of mortals by sowing seeds of resentment and hatred, by encouraging greed and corruption, by adulterating every religion on earth, and by employing numerous additional insidious methods. These cruel and sadistic traitors, invisible to humans and working behind the scenes, have multiplied by many fold the excruciating trials and tribulation of mankind.
     The good news for survivors is that coming up through great tribulation serves to make glorified mortals very kind and understanding, very sympathetic and tolerant. [47:8:7]
B. The Jewish nation must be reborn. The nation of Israel now exists. The Israelis control Jerusalem.
C. The Temple must be rebuilt on the Temple Mount. After the Six-Day War in 1967, the Arabs were given control of the Temple Mount, the platform on which the temple had stood. The Arabs show no inclination to surrender their control of the Temple Mount.
D. A new powerful nation must arise in the world. Most Bible scholars do not claim to yet know who or what will constitute this new power. Could it be a new Roman Empire? Apparently they are taking a "wait and see" attitude.

     The Apostles believed that the second coming of Jesus would coincide with the end of the world. In Matthew 24:3 the Apostles ask: Tell us when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of their coming, and of the end of the world?
     In Matthew 24:4-31 Jesus lists numerous events that will signal his [supposed] second coming: Wars and rumors of wars, famines and pestilences, the rise of false prophets and false Christs who will show great signs and wonders, widespread iniquity, great tribulation . . .
     It appears doubtful that "false prophets and false Christs will show great signs and wonders." [Verse 24] Apparently an early Christian leader inserted this statement and erroneously attributed it to Jesus.

Will Jesus shorten the days?
Matthew 24:22: And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
     Based on the prophecies of John the Revelator and the prophet Isaiah, Jesus apparently will not shorten the days: About six billion persons will perish as the direct consequences of Osama’s Day of Armageddon. A place will be provided for those "few men" who choose to heed the warnings of the forthcoming day of doom. This does not appear to constitute a "shortening of the days." This statement, as in numerous other cases, was erroneously attributed to Jesus.
     It is true that Osama’s Day of Armageddon will end the world as we presently know it. But life will go on for those few persons who heed the warnings of the approaching world catastrophe.

[20] Future Events.
Some information regarding the End Times and far distant events is found in scriptures other than the Book of Revelation.

     Celestial personalities, speaking for God and Jesus, spoke many times to the prophets of the Old Testament regarding conditions that will prevail in the far distant future after mortals have achieved a much higher level of spiritual development. Some of those revelations, in addition to those mentioned in this paper, have survived in the Old Testament. However, it is sometimes difficult to determine which passages refer to events in the far future. Also, some passages contain statements that are not entirely true.
Isaiah 2:2-4: And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: and people shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Isaiah 65:17-25: For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. . . . The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord.
Jeremiah 31:33: . . . After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Ezekiel 36:27,34-35: And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. . . . And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the Garden of Eden, and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.
     According to the prophecies of John the Revelator and Isaiah, after the Day of Armageddon, vast areas of the earth will be wastelands, totally unsuitable for human habitation. Elijah, the Old Testament prophet, has been elevated to the position of World Ruler by Jesus. Under his guidance, perhaps the "desolate and waste" areas will be slowly reclaimed as additional land for a growing population is needed.

[21] The arrival of Elijah.
Malachi 4:5,6: Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers . . .
     Just when Elijah will appear I do not know at this time. If the statement in Malachi 4:5 is a literal statement, then we can expect that Elijah will arrive before the Day of Armageddon.
I Kings, Chapter 17:
     In a footnote for I Kings 17:1 we read the following: Elijah was a mighty prophet of God during the reigns of Ahab and Ahaziah in the northern kingdom of Israel (c. 873-852 B.C.). Elijah shaped the history of his times and dominated Hebrew thinking for centuries afterward. His prophecies emphasized the unconditional loyalty to God required of the nation of Israel. His strange dress and appearance, his fleetness of foot, and his cave-dwelling habits, all suggest a robust, outdoor-type personality.
    The information in I Kings, Chapters 17-19 pertaining to Elijah should be read with several grains of salt.
    Elijah fused with his Thought Adjuster [Indwelling Spirit] while still in the flesh. II Kings 2:11: And it came to pass, as Elisha and Elijah walked and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. [110:7:2]
     From the information given, I surmise that Elijah has had more than 2,800 years to prepare for his assignment on earth as World Ruler.

[22] Stages of Mortal Progression.
Papers 52 and 55 describe in some detail the stages mortals go through during our evolution from primitive man to the time in distant ages when, after achieving much higher levels of spiritual and intellectual development, our planet becomes settled in light and life.

Note: Numerous statements in this paper were quoted verbatim from the source.