The Urantia Book
PAPER 38
MINISTERING SPIRITS OF THE LOCAL
UNIVERSE
Presented by a Melchizedek acting by request of the Chief of the
Seraphic Hosts of Nebadon.
38:0.1 THERE are three distinct orders of the
personalities of the Infinite Spirit. The impetuous apostle
understood this when he wrote respecting Jesus, "who has gone to
heaven and is on the right hand of God, angels and authorities
and powers being made subject to him." Angels are the
ministering spirits of time; authorities, the messenger hosts of
space; powers, the higher personalities of the Infinite Spirit.
38:0.2 As the supernaphim in the central
universe and the seconaphim in a superuniverse, so the seraphim,
with the associated cherubim and sanobim, constitute the angelic
corps of a local universe.
38:0.3 The seraphim are all fairly uniform in
design. From universe to universe, throughout all seven of the
superuniverses, they show a minimum of variation; they are the
most nearly standard of all spirit types of personal beings.
Their various orders constitute the corps of the skilled and
common ministers of the local creations.
1. ORIGIN OF SERAPHIM
38:1.1 Seraphim are created by the Universe
Mother Spirit and have been projected in unit formation --
41,472 at a time -- ever since the creation of the "pattern
angels" and certain angelic archetypes in the early times of
Nebadon. The Creator Son and the universe representation of the
Infinite Spirit collaborate in the creation of a large number of
Sons and other universe personalities. Following the completion
of this united effort, the Son engages in the creation of the
Material Sons, the first of the sex creatures, while the
Universe Mother Spirit concurrently engages in her initial
solitary effort at spirit reproduction. Thus begins the creation
of the seraphic hosts of a local universe.
38:1.2 These angelic orders are projected at
the time of planning for the evolution of mortal will creatures.
The creation of seraphim dates from the attainment of relative
personality by the Universe Mother Spirit, not as the later
co-ordinate of the Master Son, but as the early creative helper
of the Creator Son. Previous to this event the seraphim on duty
in Nebadon were temporarily loaned by a neighboring universe.
38:1.3 Seraphim are still being periodically
created; the universe of Nebadon is still in the making. The
Universe Mother Spirit never ceases creative activity in a
growing and perfecting universe.
2. ANGELIC NATURES
38:2.1 Angels do not have material bodies, but
they are definite and discrete beings; they are of spirit nature
and origin. Though invisible to mortals, they perceive you as
you are in the flesh without the aid of transformers or
translators; they intellectually understand the mode of mortal
life, and they share all of man's nonsensuous emotions and
sentiments. They appreciate and greatly enjoy your efforts in
music, art, and real humor. They are fully cognizant of your
moral struggles and spiritual difficulties. They love human
beings, and only good can result from your efforts to understand
and love them.
38:2.2 Though seraphim are very affectionate
and sympathetic beings, they are not sex-emotion creatures. They
are much as you will be on the mansion worlds, where you will
"neither marry nor be given in marriage but will be as the
angels of heaven." For all who "shall be accounted worthy to
attain the mansion worlds neither marry nor are given in
marriage; neither do they die any more, for they are equal to
the angels." Nevertheless, in dealing with sex creatures it is
our custom to speak of those beings of more direct descent from
the Father and the Son as the sons of God, while referring to
the children of the Spirit as the daughters of God. Angels are,
therefore, commonly designated by feminine pronouns on the sex
planets.
38:2.3 The seraphim are so created as to
function on both spiritual and literal levels. There are few
phases of morontia or spirit activity which are not open to
their ministrations. While in personal status angels are not so
far removed from human beings, in certain functional
performances seraphim far transcend them. They possess many
powers far beyond human comprehension. For example: You have
been told that the "very hairs of your head are numbered," and
it is true they are, but a seraphim does not spend her time
counting them and keeping the number corrected up to date.
Angels possess inherent and automatic (that is, automatic as far
as you could perceive) powers of knowing such things; you would
truly regard a seraphim as a mathematical prodigy. Therefore,
numerous duties which would be tremendous tasks for mortals are
performed with exceeding ease by seraphim.
38:2.4 Angels are superior to you in spiritual
status, but they are not your judges or accusers. No matter what
your faults, "the angels, although greater in power and might,
bring no accusation against you." Angels do not sit in judgment
on mankind, neither should individual mortals prejudge their
fellow creatures.
38:2.5 You do well to love them, but you
should not adore them; angels are not objects of worship. The
great seraphim, Loyalatia, when your seer "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."
38:2.6 In nature and personality endowment the
seraphim are just a trifle ahead of mortal races in the scale of
creature existence. Indeed, when you are delivered from the
flesh, you become very much like them. On the mansion worlds you
will begin to appreciate the seraphim, on the constellation
spheres to enjoy them, while on Salvington they will share their
places of rest and worship with you. Throughout the whole
morontia and subsequent spirit ascent, your fraternity with the
seraphim will be ideal; your companionship will be superb.
3. UNREVEALED ANGELS
38:3.1 Numerous orders of spirit beings
function throughout the domains of the local universe that are
unrevealed to mortals because they are in no manner connected
with the evolutionary plan of Paradise ascension. In this paper
the word "angel" is purposely limited to the designation of
those seraphic and associated offspring of the Universe Mother
Spirit who are so largely concerned with the operation of the
plans of mortal survival. There serve in the local universe six
other orders of related beings, the unrevealed angels, who are
not in any specific manner connected with those universe
activities pertaining to the Paradise ascent of evolutionary
mortals. These six groups of angelic associates are never called
seraphim, neither are they referred to as ministering spirits.
These personalities are wholly occupied with the administrative
and other affairs of Nebadon, engagements which are in no way
related to man's progressive career of spiritual ascent and
perfection attainment.
4. THE SERAPHIC WORLDS
38:4.1 The ninth group of seven primary
spheres in the Salvington circuit are the worlds of the
seraphim. Each of these worlds has six tributary satellites,
whereon are the special schools devoted to all phases of
seraphic training. While the seraphim have access to all
forty-nine worlds comprising this group of Salvington spheres,
they exclusively occupy only the first cluster of seven. The
remaining six clusters are occupied by the six orders of angelic
associates unrevealed on Urantia; each such group maintains
headquarters on one of these six primary worlds and carries on
specialized activities on the six tributary satellites. Each
angelic order has free access to all the worlds of these seven
diverse groups.
38:4.2 These headquarters worlds are among the
magnificent realms of Nebadon; the seraphic estates are
characterized by both beauty and vastness. Here each seraphim
has a real home, and "home" means the domicile of two seraphim;
they live in pairs.
38:4.3 Though not male and female as are the
Material Sons and the mortal races, seraphim are negative and
positive. In the majority of assignments it requires two angels
to accomplish the task. When they are not encircuited, they can
work alone; neither do they require complements of being when
stationary. Ordinarily they retain their original complements of
being, but not necessarily. Such associations are primarily
necessitated by function; they are not characterized by sex
emotion, though they are exceedingly personal and truly
affectionate.
38:4.4 Besides designated homes, seraphim also
have group, company, battalion, and unit headquarters. They
forgather for reunions every millennium and are all present in
accordance with the time of their creation. If a seraphim bears
responsibilities which forbid absence from duty, she alternates
attendance with her complement, being relieved by a seraphim of
another birth date. Each seraphic partner is thereby present at
least every other reunion.
5. SERAPHIC TRAINING
38:5.1 Seraphim spend their first millennium
as noncommissioned observers on Salvington and its associated
world schools. The second millennium is spent on the seraphic
worlds of the Salvington circuit. Their central training school
is now presided over by the first one hundred thousand Nebadon
seraphim, and at their head is the original or first-born angel
of this local universe. The first created group of Nebadon
seraphim were trained by a corps of one thousand seraphim from
Avalon; subsequently our angels have been taught by their own
seniors. The Melchizedeks also have a large part in the
education and training of all local universe angels -- seraphim,
cherubim, and sanobim.
38:5.2 At the termination of this period of
training on the seraphic worlds of Salvington, seraphim are
mobilized in the conventional groups and units of the angelic
organization and are assigned to some one of the constellations.
They are not yet commissioned as ministering spirits, although
they have well entered upon the precommissioned phases of
angelic training.
38:5.3 Seraphim are initiated as ministering
spirits by serving as observers on the lowest of the
evolutionary worlds. After this experience they return to the
associate worlds of the headquarters of the assigned
constellation to begin their advanced studies and more
definitely to prepare for service in some particular local
system. Following this general education they are advanced to
the service of some one of the local systems. On the
architectural worlds associated with the capital of some Nebadon
system our seraphim complete their training and are commissioned
as ministering spirits of time.
38:5.4 When once seraphim are commissioned,
they may range all Nebadon, even Orvonton, on assignment. Their
work in the universe is without bounds and limitations; they are
closely associated with the material creatures of the worlds and
are ever in the service of the lower orders of spiritual
personalities, making contact between these beings of the spirit
world and the mortals of the material realms.
6. SERAPHIC ORGANIZATION
38:6.1 After the second millennium of sojourn
at seraphic headquarters the seraphim are organized under chiefs
into groups of twelve (12 pairs, 24 seraphim), and twelve such
groups constitute a company (144 pairs, 288 seraphim), which is
commanded by a leader. Twelve companies under a commander
constitute a battalion (1,728 pairs or 3,456 seraphim), and
twelve battalions under a director equal a seraphic unit (20,736
pairs or 41,472 individuals), while twelve units, subject to the
command of a supervisor, constitute a legion numbering 248,832
pairs or 497,664 individuals. Jesus alluded to such a group of
angels that night in the garden of Gethsemane when he said: "I
can even now ask my Father, and he will presently give me more
than twelve legions of angels."
38:6.2 Twelve legions of angels comprise a
host numbering 2,985,984 pairs or 5,971,968 individuals, and
twelve such hosts (35,831,808 pairs or 71,663,616 individuals)
make up the largest operating organization of seraphim, an
angelic army. A seraphic host is commanded by an archangel or by
some other personality of co-ordinate status, while the angelic
armies are directed by the Brilliant Evening Stars or by other
immediate lieutenants of Gabriel. And Gabriel is the "supreme
commander of the armies of heaven," the chief executive of the
Sovereign of Nebadon, "the Lord God of hosts."
38:6.3 Though serving under the direct
supervision of the Infinite Spirit as personalized on
Salvington, since the bestowal of Michael on Urantia, seraphim
and all other local universe orders have become subject to the
sovereignty of the Master Son. Even when Michael was born of the
flesh on Urantia, there issued the superuniverse broadcast to
all Nebadon which proclaimed, "And let all the angels worship
him." All ranks of angels are subject to his sovereignty; they
are a part of that group which has been denominated "his mighty
angels."
7. CHERUBIM AND SANOBIM
38:7.1 In all essential endowments cherubim
and sanobim are similar to seraphim. They have the same origin
but not always the same destiny. They are wonderfully
intelligent, marvelously efficient, touchingly affectionate, and
almost human. They are the lowest order of angels, hence all the
nearer of kin to the more progressive types of human beings on
the evolutionary worlds.
38:7.2 Cherubim and sanobim are inherently
associated, functionally united. One is an energy positive
personality; the other, energy negative. The right-hand
deflector, or positively charged angel, is the cherubim -- the
senior or controlling personality. The left-hand deflector, or
negatively charged angel, is the sanobim -- the complement of
being. Each type of angel is very limited in solitary function;
hence they usually serve in pairs. When serving independently of
their seraphic directors, they are more than ever dependent on
mutual contact and always function together.
38:7.3 Cherubim and sanobim are the faithful
and efficient aids of the seraphic ministers, and all seven
orders of seraphim are provided with these subordinate
assistants. Cherubim and sanobim serve for ages in these
capacities, but they do not accompany seraphim on assignments
beyond the confines of the local universe.
38:7.4 The cherubim and sanobim are the
routine spirit workers on the individual worlds of the systems.
On a nonpersonal assignment and in an emergency, they may serve
in the place of a seraphic pair, but they never function, even
temporarily, as attending angels to human beings; that is an
exclusive seraphic privilege.
38:7.5 When assigned to a planet, cherubim
enter the local courses of training, including a study of
planetary usages and languages. The ministering spirits of time
are all bilingual, speaking the language of the local universe
of their origin and that of their native superuniverse. By study
in the schools of the realms they acquire additional tongues.
Cherubim and sanobim, like seraphim and all other orders of
spirit beings, are continuously engaged in efforts at
self-improvement. Only such as the subordinate beings of power
control and energy direction are incapable of progression; all
creatures having actual or potential personality volition seek
new achievements.
38:7.6 Cherubim and sanobim are by nature very
near the morontia level of existence, and they prove to be most
efficient in the borderland work of the physical, morontial, and
spiritual domains. These children of the local universe Mother
Spirit are characterized by "fourth creatures" much as are the
Havona Servitals and the conciliating commissions. Every fourth
cherubim and every fourth sanobim are quasi-material, very
definitely resembling the morontia level of existence.
38:7.7 These angelic fourth creatures are of
great assistance to the seraphim in the more literal phases of
their universe and planetary activities. Such morontia cherubim
also perform many indispensable borderline tasks on the morontia
training worlds and are assigned to the service of the Morontia
Companions in large numbers. They are to the morontia spheres
about what the midway creatures are to the evolutionary planets.
On the inhabited worlds these morontia cherubim frequently work
in liaison with the midway creatures. Cherubim and midway
creatures are distinctly separate orders of beings; they have
dissimilar origins, but they disclose great similarity in nature
and function.
8. EVOLUTION OF CHERUBIM AND SANOBIM
38:8.1 Numerous avenues of advancing service
are open to cherubim and sanobim leading to an enhancement of
status, which may be still further augmented by the embrace of
the Divine Minister. There are three great classes of cherubim
and sanobim with regard to evolutionary potential:
38:8.2 1. Ascension Candidates. These
beings are by nature candidates for seraphic status. Cherubim
and sanobim of this order are brilliant, though not by inherent
endowment equal to the seraphim; but by application and
experience it is possible for them to attain full seraphic
standing.
38:8.3 2. Mid-phase Cherubim. All
cherubim and sanobim are not equal in ascension potential, and
these are the inherently limited beings of the angelic
creations. Most of them will remain cherubim and sanobim,
although the more gifted individuals may achieve limited
seraphic service.
38:8.4 3. Morontia Cherubim. These
"fourth creatures" of the angelic orders always retain their
quasi-material characteristics. They will continue on as
cherubim and sanobim, together with a majority of their
mid-phase brethren, pending the completed factualization of the
Supreme Being.
38:8.5 While the second and third groups are
somewhat limited in growth potential, the ascension candidates
may attain the heights of universal seraphic service. Many of
the more experienced of these cherubim are attached to the
seraphic guardians of destiny and are thus placed in direct line
for advancement to the status of Mansion World Teachers when
deserted by their seraphic seniors. Guardians of destiny do not
have cherubim and sanobim as helpers when their mortal wards
attain the morontia life. And when other types of evolutionary
seraphim are granted clearance for Seraphington and Paradise,
they must forsake their former subordinates when they pass out
of the confines of Nebadon. Such deserted cherubim and sanobim
are usually embraced by the Universe Mother Spirit, thus
achieving a level equivalent to that of a Mansion World Teacher
in the attainment of seraphic status.
38:8.6 When, as Mansion World Teachers, the
once-embraced cherubim and sanobim have long served on the
morontia spheres, from the lowest to the highest, and when their
corps on Salvington is overrecruited, the Bright and Morning
Star summons these faithful servants of the creatures of time to
appear in his presence. The oath of personality transformation
is administered; and thereupon, in groups of seven thousand,
these advanced and senior cherubim and sanobim are re-embraced
by the Universe Mother Spirit. From this second embrace they
emerge as full-fledged seraphim. Henceforth, the full and
complete career of a seraphim, with all of its Paradise
possibilities, is open to such reborn cherubim and sanobim. Such
angels may be assigned as guardians of destiny to some mortal
being, and if the mortal ward attains survival, then do they
become eligible for advancement to Seraphington and the seven
circles of seraphic attainment, even to Paradise and the Corps
of the Finality.
9. THE MIDWAY CREATURES
38:9.1 The midway creatures have a threefold
classification: They are properly classified with the ascending
Sons of God; they are factually grouped with the orders of
permanent citizenship, while they are functionally reckoned with
the ministering spirits of time because of their intimate and
effective association with the angelic hosts in the work of
serving mortal man on the individual worlds of space.
38:9.2 These unique creatures appear on the
majority of the inhabited worlds and are always found on the
decimal or life-experiment planets, such as Urantia. Midwayers
are of two types -- primary and secondary -- and they appear by
the following techniques:
38:9.3 1. Primary Midwayers, the more
spiritual group, are a somewhat standardized order of beings who
are uniformly derived from the modified ascendant-mortal staffs
of the Planetary Princes. The number of primary midway creatures
is always fifty thousand, and no planet enjoying their ministry
has a larger group.
38:9.4 2. Secondary Midwayers, the more
material group of these creatures, vary greatly in numbers on
the different worlds, though the average is around fifty
thousand. They are variously derived from the planetary biologic
uplifters, the Adams and Eves, or from their immediate progeny.
There are no less than twenty-four diverse techniques involved
in the production of these secondary midway creatures on the
evolutionary worlds of space. The mode of origin for this group
on Urantia was unusual and extraordinary.
38:9.5 Neither of these groups is an
evolutionary accident; both are essential features in the
predetermined plans of the universe architects, and their
appearance on the evolving worlds at the opportune juncture is
in accordance with the original designs and developmental plans
of the supervising Life Carriers.
38:9.6 Primary midwayers are energized
intellectually and spiritually by the angelic technique and are
uniform in intellectual status. The seven adjutant mind-spirits
make no contact with them; and only the sixth and the seventh,
the spirit of worship and the spirit of wisdom, are able to
minister to the secondary group.
38:9.7 Secondary midwayers are physically
energized by the Adamic technique, spiritually encircuited by
the seraphic, and intellectually endowed with the morontia
transition type of mind. They are divided into four physical
types, seven orders spiritually, and twelve levels of
intellectual response to the joint ministry of the last two
adjutant spirits and the morontia mind. These diversities
determine their differential of activity and of planetary
assignment.
38:9.8 Primary midwayers resemble angels more
than mortals; the secondary orders are much more like human
beings. Each renders invaluable assistance to the other in the
execution of their manifold planetary assignments. The primary
ministers can achieve liaison co-operation with both morontia-
and spirit-energy controllers and mind circuiters. The secondary
group can establish working connections only with the physical
controllers and the material-circuit manipulators. But since
each order of midwayer can establish perfect synchrony of
contact with the other, either group is thereby able to achieve
practical utilization of the entire energy gamut extending from
the gross physical power of the material worlds up through the
transition phases of universe energies to the higher
spirit-reality forces of the celestial realms.
38:9.9 The gap between the material and
spiritual worlds is perfectly bridged by the serial association
of mortal man, secondary midwayer, primary midwayer, morontia
cherubim, mid-phase cherubim, and seraphim. In the personal
experience of an individual mortal these diverse levels are
undoubtedly more or less unified and made personally meaningful
by the unobserved and mysterious operations of the divine
Thought Adjuster.
38:9.10 On normal worlds the primary midwayers
maintain their service as the intelligence corps and as
celestial entertainers in behalf of the Planetary Prince, while
the secondary ministers continue their co-operation with the
Adamic regime of furthering the cause of progressive planetary
civilization. In case of the defection of the Planetary Prince
and the failure of the Material Son, as occurred on Urantia, the
midway creatures become the wards of the System Sovereign and
serve under the directing guidance of the acting custodian of
the planet. But on only three other worlds in Satania do these
beings function as one group under unified leadership as do the
united midway ministers of Urantia.
38:9.11 The planetary work of both primary and
secondary midwayers is varied and diverse on the numerous
individual worlds of a universe, but on the normal and average
planets their activities are very different from the duties
which occupy their time on isolated spheres, such as Urantia.
38:9.12 The primary midwayers are the
planetary historians who, from the time of the arrival of the
Planetary Prince to the age of settled light and life, formulate
the pageants and design the portrayals of planetary history for
the exhibits of the planets on the system headquarters worlds.
38:9.13 Midwayers remain for long periods on
an inhabited world, but if faithful to their trust, they will
eventually and most certainly be recognized for their agelong
service in maintaining the sovereignty of the Creator Son; they
will be duly rewarded for their patient ministry to the material
mortals on their world of time and space. Sooner or later all
accredited midway creatures will be mustered into the ranks of
the ascending Sons of God and will be duly initiated into the
long adventure of the Paradise ascent in company with those very
mortals of animal origin, their earth brethren, whom they so
jealously guarded and so effectively served during the long
planetary sojourn.
38:9.14
Presented by a Melchizedek acting by request of the Chief of the
Seraphic Hosts of Nebadon.
