PAPER 28
MINISTERING SPIRITS OF THE SUPERUNIVERSES
28:0.1 AS THE supernaphim are the angelic hosts of
the central universe and the seraphim of the local universes, so are the
seconaphim the ministering spirits of the superuniverses. In degree of
divinity and in potential of supremacy, however, these children of the
Reflective Spirits are much more like supernaphim than seraphim. They serve
not alone in the supercreations, and both numerous and intriguing are the
transactions sponsored by their unrevealed associates.
28:0.2 As presented in these narratives, the
ministering spirits of the superuniverses embrace the following three
orders:
1. The Seconaphim.
2. The Tertiaphim.
3. The Omniaphim.
28:0.3 Since the latter two orders are not so
directly concerned with the ascendant scheme of mortal progression, they will
be briefly discussed prior to the more extended consideration of seconaphim.
Technically, neither tertiaphim nor omniaphim are ministering spirits
of the superuniverses, though both serve as spirit ministers in
these domains.
1. THE TERTIAPHIM
28:1.1 These high angels are of record on the
superuniverse headquarters, and despite service in the local creations,
technically they are residents of these superuniverse capitals inasmuch as
they are not native to the local universes. Tertiaphim are children of the
Infinite Spirit and are personalized on Paradise in groups of one thousand.
These supernal beings of divine originality and near-supreme versatility are
the gift of the Infinite Spirit to the Creator Sons of God.
28:1.2 When a Michael Son is detached from the
parental regime of Paradise and is made ready to go forth on the universe
adventure of space, the Infinite Spirit is delivered of a group of one
thousand of these companion spirits. And these majestic tertiaphim accompany
this Creator Son when he embarks upon the adventure of universe
organization.
28:1.3 Throughout the early times of universe
building, these one thousand tertiaphim are the only personal staff of a
Creator Son. They acquire a mighty experience as Son assistants during these
stirring ages of universe assembling and other astronomical manipulations.
They serve by the side of the Creator Son until the day of the personalization
of the Bright and Morning Star, the first-born of a local universe. Thereupon
the formal resignations of the tertiaphim are tendered and accepted. And with
the appearance of the initial orders of native angelic life, they retire from
active service in the local universe and become the liaison ministers between
the Creator Son of former attachment and the Ancients of Days of the
superuniverse concerned.
2. THE OMNIAPHIM
28:2.1 Omniaphim are created by the Infinite Spirit
in liaison with the Seven Supreme Executives, and they are the exclusive
servants and messengers of these same Supreme Executives. Omniaphim are of
grand universe assignment, and in Orvonton their corps maintains headquarters
in the northerly parts of Uversa, where they reside as a special courtesy
colony. They are not of registry on Uversa, nor are they attached to our
administration. Neither are they directly concerned with the ascendant scheme
of mortal progression.
28:2.2 The omniaphim are wholly occupied with the
oversight of the superuniverses in the interests of administrative
co-ordination from the viewpoint of the Seven Supreme Executives. Our colony
of omniaphim on Uversa receives instructions from, and makes reports to, only
the Supreme Executive of Orvonton, situated on conjoint executive sphere
number seven in the outer ring of Paradise satellites.
3. THE SECONAPHIM
28:3.1 The secoraphic hosts are produced by the
seven Reflective Spirits assigned to the headquarters of each superuniverse.
There is a definite Paradise-responsive technique associated with the creation
of these angels in groups of seven. In each seven there are always one
primary, three secondary, and three tertiary seconaphim; they always
personalize in this exact proportion. When seven such seconaphim are created,
one, the primary, becomes attached to the service of the Ancients of Days. The
three secondary angels are associated with three groups of Paradise-origin
administrators in the supergovernments: the Divine Counselors, the Perfectors
of Wisdom, and the Universal Censors. The three tertiary angels are attached
to the ascendant trinitized associates of the superuniverse rulers: the Mighty
Messengers, Those High in Authority, and Those without Name and
Number.
28:3.2 These seconaphim of the superuniverses are
the offspring of the Reflective Spirits, and therefore reflectivity is
inherent in their nature. They are reflectively responsive to all of each
phase of every creature of origin in the Third Source and Center and the
Paradise Creator Sons, but they are not directly reflective of the beings and
entities, personal or otherwise, of sole origin in the First Source and
Center. We possess many evidences of the actuality of the universal
intelligence circuits of the Infinite Spirit, but even if we had no other
proof, the reflective performances of the seconaphim would be quite sufficient
to demonstrate the reality of the universal presence of the infinite mind of
the Conjoint Actor.
4. THE PRIMARY SECONAPHIM
28:4.1 The primary seconaphim, of assignment to the
Ancients of Days, are living mirrors in the service of these triune rulers.
Think what it means in the economy of a superuniverse to be able to turn, as
it were, to a living mirror and therein to see and therewith to hear the
certain responses of another being a thousand or a hundred thousand
light-years distant and to do all this instantly and unerringly. Records are
essential to the conduct of the universes, broadcasts are serviceable, the
work of the Solitary and other messengers is very helpful, but the Ancients of
Days from their position midway between the inhabited worlds and Paradise --
between man and God -- can instantly look both ways, hear both ways, and
know both ways.
28:4.2 This ability -- to hear and see, as it were,
all things -- can be perfectly realized in the superuniverses only by the
Ancients of Days and only on their respective headquarters worlds. Even there
limits are encountered: From Uversa, such communication is limited to the
worlds and universes of Orvonton, and while inoperative between the
superuniverses, this same reflective technique keeps each one of them in close
touch with the central universe and with Paradise. The seven supergovernments,
though individually segregated, are thus perfectly reflective of the authority
above and are wholly sympathetic, as well as perfectly conversant, with the
needs below.
28:4.3 The primary seconaphim are found to incline
by inherent nature towards seven types of service, and it is befitting that
the first serials of this order should be so endowed as inherently to
interpret the mind of the Spirit to the Ancients of Days:
28:4.4 1. The Voice of the Conjoint Actor. In
each superuniverse the first primary seconaphim and every seventh one of that
order subsequently created exhibit a high order of adaptability for
understanding and interpreting the mind of the Infinite Spirit to the Ancients
of Days and their associates in the supergovernments. This is of great value
on the headquarters of the superuniverses, for, unlike the local creations
with their Divine Ministers, the seat of a supergovernment does not have a
specialized personalization of the Infinite Spirit. Hence these secoraphic
voices come the nearest to being the personal representatives of the Third
Source and Center on such a capital sphere. True, the seven Reflective Spirits
are there, but these mothers of the secoraphic hosts are less truly and
automatically reflective of the Conjoint Actor than of the Seven Master
Spirits.
28:4.5 2. The Voice of the Seven Master
Spirits. The second primary seconaphim and every seventh one thereafter
created incline towards portraying the collective natures and reactions of the
Seven Master Spirits. Though each Master Spirit is already represented on a
superuniverse capital by some one of the seven Reflective Spirits of
assignment, such representation is individual, not collective. Collectively,
they are only reflectively present; therefore do the Master Spirits welcome
the services of these highly personal angels, the second serials of the
primary seconaphim, who are so competent to represent them before the Ancients
of Days.
28:4.6 3. The Voice of the Creator Sons. The
Infinite Spirit must have had something to do with the creation or training of
the Paradise Sons of the order of Michael, for the third primary seconaphim
and every seventh serial thereafter possess the remarkable gift of being
reflective of the minds of these Creator Sons. If the Ancients of Days would
like to know -- really know -- the attitude of Michael of Nebadon regarding
some matter under consideration, they do not have to call him on the lines of
space; they need only call for the Chief of Nebadon Voices, who, upon request,
will present the Michael seconaphim of record; and right then and there the
Ancients of Days will perceive the voice of the Master Son of
Nebadon.
28:4.7 No other order of sonship is thus
"reflectible," and no other order of angel can thus function. We do not fully
understand just how this is accomplished, and I doubt very much that the
Creator Sons themselves fully understand it. But of a certainty we know it
works, and that it unfailingly works acceptably we also know, for in all the
history of Uversa the secoraphic voices have never erred in their
presentations.
28:4.8 You are here beginning to see something of
the manner in which divinity encompasses the space of time and masters the
time of space. You are here obtaining one of your first fleeting glimpses of
the technique of the eternity cycle, divergent for the moment to assist the
children of time in their tasks of mastering the difficult handicaps of space.
And these phenomena are additional to the established universe technique of
the Reflective Spirits.
28:4.9 Though apparently deprived of the personal
presence of the Master Spirits above and of the Creator Sons below, the
Ancients of Days have at their command living beings attuned to cosmic
mechanisms of reflective perfection and ultimate precision whereby they may
enjoy the reflective presence of all those exalted beings whose personal
presence is denied them. By and through these means, and others unknown to
you, God is potentially present on the headquarters of the
superuniverses.
28:4.10 The Ancients of Days perfectly deduce the
Father's will by equating the Spirit voice-flash from above and the Michael
voice-flashes from below. Thus may they be unerringly certain in calculating
the Father's will concerning the administrative affairs of the local
universes. But to deduce the will of one of the Gods from a knowledge of the
other two, the three Ancients of Days must act together; two would not be able
to achieve the answer. And for this reason, even were there no others, the
superuniverses are always presided over by three Ancients of Days, and not by
one or even two.
28:4.11 4. The Voice of the Angelic Hosts.
The fourth primary seconaphim and every seventh serial prove to be angels
peculiarly responsive to the sentiments of all orders of angels, including the
supernaphim above and the seraphim below. Thus the attitude of any commanding
or supervising angel is immediately available for consideration at any council
of the Ancients of Days. Never a day passes on your world that the chief of
seraphim on Urantia is not made conscious of the phenomenon of reflective
transference, of being drawn upon from Uversa for some purpose; but unless
forewarned by a Solitary Messenger, she remains wholly ignorant of what is
sought and of how it is secured. These ministering spirits of time are
constantly furnishing this sort of unconscious and certainly, therefore,
unprejudiced testimony concerning the endless array of matters engaging the
attention and counsel of the Ancients of Days and their associates.
28:4.12 5. Broadcast Receivers. There is a
special class of broadcast messages which are received only by these primary
seconaphim. While they are not the regular broadcasters of Uversa, they work
in liaison with the angels of the reflective voices for the purpose of
synchronizing the reflective vision of the Ancients of Days with certain
actual messages coming in over the established circuits of universe
communication. Broadcast receivers are the fifth serials, the fifth primary
seconaphim to be created and every seventh one thereafter.
28:4.13 6. Transport Personalities. These are
the seconaphim who carry the pilgrims of time from the headquarters worlds of
the superuniverses to the outer circle of Havona. They are the transport corps
of the superuniverses, operating inward to Paradise and outward to the worlds
of their respective sectors. This corps is composed of the sixth primary
seconaphim and every seventh one subsequently created.
28:4.14 7. The Reserve Corps. A very large
group of seconaphim, the seventh primary serials, are held in reserve for the
unclassified duties and the emergency assignments of the realms. Not being
highly specialized, they can function fairly well in any of the capacities of
their diverse associates, but such specialized work is undertaken only in
emergencies. Their usual tasks are the performance of those generalized duties
of a superuniverse which do not fall within the scope of the angels of
specific assignment.
5. THE SECONDARY SECONAPHIM
28:5.1 Seconaphim of the secondary order are no less
reflective than their primary fellows. Being classed as primary, secondary,
and tertiary does not indicate a differential of status or function in the
case of seconaphim; it merely denotes orders of procedure. Identical qualities
are exhibited by all three groups in their activities.
28:5.2 The seven reflective types of secondary
seconaphim are assigned to the services of the co-ordinate Trinity-origin
associates of the Ancients of Days as follows:
28:5.3 To the Perfectors of Wisdom -- the Voices of
Wisdom, the Souls of Philosophy, and the Unions of Souls.
28:5.4 To the Divine Counselors -- the Hearts of
Counsel, the Joys of Existence, and the Satisfactions of Service.
28:5.5 To the Universal Censors -- the Discerners of
Spirits.
28:5.6 Like the primary order, this group is created
serially; that is, the first-born was a Voice of Wisdom, and the seventh
thereafter was similar, and so with the six other types of these reflective
angels.
28:5.7 1. The Voice of Wisdom. Certain of
these seconaphim are in perpetual liaison with the living libraries of
Paradise, the custodians of knowledge belonging to the primary supernaphim. In
specialized reflective service the Voices of Wisdom are living, current,
replete, and thoroughly reliable concentrations and focalizations of the
co-ordinated wisdom of the universe of universes. To the well-nigh infinite
volume of information circulating on the master circuits of the
superuniverses, these superb beings are so reflective and selective, so
sensitive, as to be able to segregate and receive the essence of wisdom and
unerringly to transmit these jewels of mentation to their superiors, the
Perfectors of Wisdom. And they so function that the Perfectors of Wisdom not
only hear the actual and original expressions of this wisdom but also
reflectively see the very beings, of high or lowly origin, who gave voice to
it.
28:5.8 It is written, "If any man lack wisdom, let
him ask." On Uversa, when it becomes necessary to arrive at the decisions of
wisdom in the perplexing situations of the complex affairs of the
superuniverse government, when both the wisdom of perfection and of
practicability must be forthcoming, then do the Perfectors of Wisdom summon a
battery of the Voices of Wisdom and, by the consummate skill of their order,
so attune and directionize these living receivers of the enminded and
circulating wisdom of the universe of universes that presently, from these
secoraphic voices, there ensues a stream of the wisdom of divinity from the
universe above and a flood of the wisdom of practicality from the higher minds
of the universes below.
28:5.9 If confusion arises regarding the
harmonization of these two versions of wisdom, immediate appeal is made to the
Divine Counselors, who forthwith rule as to the proper combination of
procedures. If there is any doubt as to the authenticity of something coming
in from realms where rebellion has been rife, appeal is made to the Censors,
who, with their Discerners of Spirits, are able to rule immediately as to
"what manner of spirit" actuated the adviser. So are the wisdom of the ages
and the intellect of the moment ever present with the Ancients of Days, like
an open book before their beneficent gaze.
28:5.10 You can just faintly comprehend what all
this means to those who are responsible for the conduct of the superuniverse
governments. The immensity and the comprehensiveness of these transactions are
quite beyond finite conception. When you stand, as I repeatedly have, in the
special receiving chambers of the temple of wisdom on Uversa and see all this
in actual operation, you will be moved to adoration by the perfection of the
complexity, and by the surety of the working, of the interplanetary
communications of the universes. You will pay homage to the divine wisdom and
goodness of the Gods, who plan and execute with such superb technique. And
these things actually happen just as I have portrayed them.
28:5.11 2. The Soul of Philosophy. These
wonderful teachers are also attached to the Perfectors of Wisdom and, when not
otherwise directionized, remain in focal synchrony with the masters of
philosophy on Paradise. Think of stepping up to a huge living mirror, as it
were, but instead of beholding the likeness of your finite and material self,
of perceiving a reflection of the wisdom of divinity and the philosophy of
Paradise. And if it becomes desirable to "incarnate" this philosophy of
perfection, so to dilute it as to make it practical of application to, and
assimilation by, the lowly peoples of the lower worlds, these living mirrors
have only to turn their faces downward to reflect the standards and needs of
another world or universe.
28:5.12 By these very techniques do the Perfectors
of Wisdom adapt decisions and recommendations to the real needs and actual
status of the peoples and worlds under consideration, and always do they act
in concert with the Divine Counselors and the Universal Censors. But the
sublime repleteness of these transactions is beyond even my ability to
comprehend.
28:5.13 3. The Union of Souls. Completing the
triune staff of attachment to the Perfectors of Wisdom, are these reflectors
of the ideals and status of ethical relationships. Of all the problems in the
universe requiring an exercise of the consummate wisdom of experience and
adaptability, none are more important than those arising out of the
relationships and associations of intelligent beings. Whether in human
associations of commerce and trade, friendship and marriage, or in the
liaisons of the angelic hosts, there continue to arise petty frictions, minor
misunderstandings too trivial even to engage the attention of conciliators but
sufficiently irritating and disturbing to mar the smooth working of the
universe if they were allowed to multiply and continue. Therefore do the
Perfectors of Wisdom make available the wise experience of their order as the
"oil of reconciliation" for an entire superuniverse. In all this work these
wise men of the superuniverses are ably seconded by their reflective
associates, the Unions of Souls, who make available current information
regarding the status of the universe and concurrently portray the Paradise
ideal of the best adjustment of these perplexing problems. When not
specifically directionized elsewhere, these seconaphim remain in reflective
liaison with the interpreters of ethics on Paradise.
28:5.14 These are the angels who foster and promote
the teamwork of all Orvonton. One of the most important lessons to be learned
during your mortal career is teamwork. The spheres of perfection are
manned by those who have mastered this art of working with other beings. Few
are the duties in the universe for the lone servant. The higher you ascend,
the more lonely you become when temporarily without the association of your
fellows.
28:5.15 4. The Heart of Counsel. This is the
first group of these reflective geniuses to be placed under the supervision of
the Divine Counselors. Seconaphim of this type are in possession of the facts
of space, being selective for such data in the circuits of time. Especially
are they reflective of the superaphic intelligence co-ordinators, but they are
also selectively reflective of the counsel of all beings, whether of high or
low estate. Whenever the Divine Counselors are called upon for important
advice or decisions, they immediately requisition an ensemble of the Hearts of
Counsel, and presently there is handed down a ruling which actually
incorporates the co-ordinated wisdom and advice of the most competent minds of
the entire superuniverse, all of which has been censored and revised in the
light of the counsel of the high minds of Havona and even of Paradise.
28:5.16 5. The Joy of Existence. By nature
these beings are reflectively attuned to the superaphic harmony supervisors
above and to certain of the seraphim below, but it is difficult to explain
just what the members of this interesting group really do. Their principal
activities are directed toward promoting reactions of joy among the various
orders of the angelic hosts and the lower will creatures. The Divine
Counselors, to whom they are attached, seldom use them for specific joy
finding. In a more general manner and in collaboration with the reversion
directors, they function as joy clearinghouses, seeking to upstep the pleasure
reactions of the realms while trying to improve the humor taste, to develop a
superhumor among mortals and angels. They endeavor to demonstrate that there
is inherent joy in freewill existence, independent of all extraneous
influences; and they are right, although they meet with great difficulty in
inculcating this truth in the minds of primitive men. The higher spirit
personalities and the angels are more quickly responsive to these educational
efforts.
28:5.17 6. The Satisfaction of Service. These
angels are highly reflective of the attitude of the directors of conduct on
Paradise, and functioning much as do the Joys of Existence, they strive to
enhance the value of service and to augment the satisfactions to be derived
therefrom. They have done much to illuminate the deferred rewards inherent in
unselfish service, service for the extension of the kingdom of
truth.
28:5.18 The Divine Counselors, to whom this order is
attached, utilize them to reflect from one world to another the benefits to be
derived from spiritual service. And by using the performances of the best to
inspire and encourage the mediocre, these seconaphim contribute immensely to
the quality of devoted service in the superuniverses. Effective use is made of
the fraternal competitive spirit by circulating to any one world information
about what the others, particularly the best, are doing. A refreshing and
wholesome rivalry is promoted even among the seraphic hosts.
28:5.19 7. The Discerner of Spirits. A
special liaison exists between the counselors and advisers of the second
Havona circle and these reflective angels. They are the only seconaphim
attached to the Universal Censors but are probably the most uniquely
specialized of all their fellows. Regardless of the source or channel of
information, no matter how meager the evidence at hand, when it is subjected
to their reflective scrutiny, these discerners will forthwith inform us as to
the true motive, the actual purpose, and the real nature of its origin. I
marvel at the superb functioning of these angels, who so unerringly reflect
the actual moral and spiritual character of any individual concerned in a
focal exposure.
28:5.20 The Discerners of Spirits carry on these
intricate services by virtue of inherent "spiritual insight," if I may use
such words in an endeavor to convey to the human mind the thought that these
reflective angels thus function intuitively, inherently, and unerringly. When
the Universal Censors behold these presentations, they are face to face with
the naked soul of the reflected individual; and this very certainty and
perfection of portraiture in part explains why the Censors can always function
so justly as righteous judges. The discerners always accompany the Censors on
any mission away from Uversa, and they are just as effective out in the
universes as at their Uversa headquarters.
28:5.21 I assure you that all these transactions of
the spirit world are real, that they take place in accordance with established
usages and in harmony with the immutable laws of the universal domains. The
beings of every newly created order, immediately upon receiving the breath of
life, are instantly reflected on high; a living portrayal of the creature
nature and potential is flashed to the superuniverse headquarters. Thus, by
means of the discerners, are the Censors made fully cognizant of exactly "what
manner of spirit" has been born on the worlds of space.
28:5.22 So it is with mortal man: The Mother Spirit
of Salvington knows you fully, for the Holy Spirit on your world "searches all
things," and whatsoever the divine Spirit knows of you is immediately
available whenever the secoraphic discerners reflect with the Spirit
concerning the Spirit's knowledge of you. It should, however, be mentioned
that the knowledge and plans of the Father fragments are not reflectible. The
discerners can and do reflect the presence of the Adjusters (and the Censors
pronounce them divine), but they cannot decipher the content of the mindedness
of the Mystery Monitors.
6. THE TERTIARY SECONAPHIM
28:6.1 In the same manner as their fellows, these
angels are created serially and in seven reflective types, but these types are
not assigned individually to the separate services of the superuniverse
administrators. All tertiary seconaphim are collectively assigned to the
Trinitized Sons of Attainment, and these ascendant sons use them
interchangeably; that is, the Mighty Messengers can and do utilize any of the
tertiary types, and so do their co-ordinates, Those High in Authority and
Those without Name and Number. These seven types of tertiary seconaphim are:
28:6.2 1. The Significance of Origins. The
ascendant Trinitized Sons of a superuniverse government are charged with the
responsibility of dealing with all issues growing out of the origin of any
individual, race, or world; and the significance of origin is the paramount
question in all our plans for the cosmic advancement of the living creatures
of the realm. All relationships and the application of ethics grow out of the
fundamental facts of origin. Origin is the basis of the relational reaction of
the Gods. Always does the Conjoint Actor "take note of the man, in what manner
he was born."
28:6.3 With the higher descendant beings, origin is
simply a fact to be ascertained; but with the ascending beings, including the
lower orders of angels, the nature and circumstances of origin are not always
so clear, though of equally vital importance at almost every turn of universe
affairs -- hence the value of having at our disposal a series of reflective
seconaphim who can instantly portray anything required respecting the genesis
of any being in either the central universe or throughout the entire realm of
a superuniverse.
28:6.4 The Significance of Origins are the living
ready-reference genealogies of the vast hosts of beings -- men, angels, and
others -- who inhabit the seven superuniverses. They are always ready to
supply their superiors with an up-to-date, replete, and trustworthy estimate
of the ancestral factors and the current actual status of any individual on
any world of their respective superuniverses; and their computation of
possessed facts is always up to the minute.
28:6.5 2. The Memory of Mercy. These are the
actual, full and replete, living records of the mercy which has been extended
to individuals and races by the tender ministrations of the instrumentalities
of the Infinite Spirit in the mission of adapting the justice of righteousness
to the status of the realms, as disclosed by the portrayals of the
Significance of Origins. The Memory of Mercy 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. And then, in accordance with
the findings of the Significance of Origins, 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.
28:6.6 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; thousands upon thousands minister to them, and ten thousand
times ten thousand stand before them. The judgment is set, and the books are
opened." And the books which are opened on such a momentous occasion are the
living records of the tertiary seconaphim of the superuniverses. The formal
records are on file to corroborate the testimony of the Memories of Mercy if
they are required.
28:6.7 The Memory of Mercy must show that the saving
credit established by the Sons of God has been fully and faithfully paid out
in the loving ministry of the patient personalities of the Third Source and
Center. But when mercy is exhausted, when the "memory" thereof testifies to
its depletion, 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. Nevertheless, though
mercy is thus precious and dearly bestowed, 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.
28:6.8 The mercy reflectors, with their tertiary
associates, engage in numerous superuniverse ministries, including the
teaching of the ascending creatures. Among many other things the Significances
of Origins teach these ascenders how to apply spirit ethics, and following
such training, the Memories of Mercy teach them how to be truly merciful.
While the spirit techniques of mercy ministry are beyond your concept, you
should even now understand that mercy is a quality of growth. You should
realize that there is a great reward of personal satisfaction in being first
just, next fair, then patient, then kind. And then, on that foundation, if you
choose and have it in your heart, you can take the next step and really show
mercy; but you cannot exhibit mercy in and of itself. These steps must be
traversed; otherwise there can be no genuine mercy. There may be patronage,
condescension, or charity -- even pity -- but not mercy. True mercy comes only
as the beautiful climax to these preceding adjuncts to group understanding,
mutual appreciation, fraternal fellowship, spiritual communion, and divine
harmony.
28:6.9 3. The Import of Time. Time is the one
universal endowment of all will creatures; it is the "one talent" intrusted to
all intelligent beings. You all have time in which to insure your survival;
and time is fatally squandered only when it is buried in neglect, when you
fail so to utilize it as to make certain the survival of your soul. Failure to
improve one's time to the fullest extent possible does not impose fatal
penalties; it merely retards the pilgrim of time in his journey of ascent. If
survival is gained, all other losses can be retrieved.
28:6.10 In the assignment of trusts the counsel of
the Imports of Time is invaluable. Time is a vital factor in everything this
side of Havona and Paradise. In the final judgment before the Ancients of
Days, time is an element of evidence. The Imports of Time must always afford
testimony to show that every defendant has had ample time for making
decisions, achieving choice.
28:6.11 These time evaluators are also the secret of
prophecy; they portray the element of time which will be required in the
completion of any undertaking, and they are just as dependable as indicators
as are the frandalanks and chronoldeks of other living orders. The Gods
foresee, hence foreknow; but the ascendant authorities of the universes of
time must consult the Imports of Time to be able to forecast events of the
future.
28:6.12 You will first encounter these beings on the
mansion worlds, and they will there instruct you in the advantageous use of
that which you call "time," both in its positive employment, work, and in its
negative utilization, rest. Both uses of time are important.
28:6.13 4. The Solemnity of Trust. Trust is
the crucial test of will creatures. Trustworthiness is the true measure of
self-mastery, character. These seconaphim accomplish a double purpose in the
economy of the superuniverses: They portray to all will creatures the sense of
the obligation, sacredness, and solemnity of trust. At the same time they
unerringly reflect to the governing authorities the exact trustworthiness of
any candidate for confidence or trust.
28:6.14 On Urantia, you grotesquely essay to read
character and to estimate specific abilities, but on Uversa we actually do
these things in perfection. These seconaphim weigh trustworthiness in the
living scales of unerring character appraisal, and when they have looked at
you, we have only to look at them to know the limitations of your ability to
discharge responsibility, execute trust, and fulfill missions. Your assets of
trustworthiness are clearly set forth alongside your liabilities of possible
default or betrayal.
28:6.15 It is the plan of your superiors to advance
you by augmented trusts just as fast as your character is sufficiently
developed to gracefully bear these added responsibilities, but to overload the
individual only courts disaster and insures disappointment. And the mistake of
placing responsibility prematurely upon either man or angel may be avoided by
utilizing the ministry of these infallible estimators of the trust capacity of
the individuals of time and space. These seconaphim ever accompany Those High
in Authority, and never do these executives make assignments until their
candidates have been weighed in the secoraphic balances and pronounced "not
wanting."
28:6.16 5. The Sanctity of Service. The
privilege of service immediately follows the discovery of trustworthiness.
Nothing can stand between you and opportunity for increased service except
your own untrustworthiness, your lack of capacity for appreciation of the
solemnity of trust.
28:6.17 Service -- purposeful service, not slavery
-- is productive of the highest satisfaction and is expressive of the divinest
dignity. Service -- more service, increased service, difficult service,
adventurous service, and at last divine and perfect service -- is the goal of
time and the destination of space. But ever will the play cycles of time
alternate with the service cycles of progress. And after the service of time
there follows the superservice of eternity. During the play of time you should
envision the work of eternity, even as you will, during the service of
eternity, reminisce the play of time.
28:6.18 The universal economy is based on intake and
output; throughout the eternal career you will never encounter monotony of
inaction or stagnation of personality. Progress is made possible by inherent
motion, advancement grows out of the divine capacity for action, and
achievement is the child of imaginative adventure. But inherent in this
capacity for achievement is the responsibility of ethics, the necessity for
recognizing that the world and the universe are filled with a multitude of
differing types of beings. All of this magnificent creation, including
yourself, was not made just for you. This is not an egocentric universe.
The Gods have decreed, "It is more blessed to give than to receive," and said
your Master Son, "He who would be greatest among you let him be server of
all."
28:6.19 The real nature of any service, be it
rendered by man or angel, is fully revealed in the faces of these secoraphic
service indicators, the Sanctities of Service. The full analysis of the true
and of the hidden motives is clearly shown. These angels are indeed the mind
readers, heart searchers, and soul revealers of the universe. Mortals may
employ words to conceal their thoughts, but these high seconaphim lay bare the
deep motives of the human heart and of the angelic mind.
28:6.20 6 and 7. The Secret of Greatness and the
Soul of Goodness. The ascending pilgrims having awakened to the import of
time, the way is prepared for the realization of the solemnity of trust and
for the appreciation of the sanctity of service. While these are the moral
elements of greatness, there are also secrets of greatness. When the spiritual
tests of greatness are applied, the moral elements are not disregarded, but
the quality of unselfishness revealed in disinterested labor for the welfare
of one's earthly fellows, particularly worthy beings in need and in distress,
that is the real measure of planetary greatness. And the
manifestation of greatness on a world like Urantia is the exhibition of
self-control. The great man is not he who "takes a city" or "overthrows a
nation," but rather "he who subdues his own tongue."
28:6.21 Greatness is synonymous with divinity. God
is supremely great and good. Greatness and goodness simply cannot be
divorced. They are forever made one in God. This truth is literally and
strikingly illustrated by the reflective interdependence of the Secret of
Greatness and the Soul of Goodness, for neither can function without the
other. In reflecting other qualities of divinity, the superuniverse seconaphim
can and do act alone, but the reflective estimates of greatness and of
goodness appear to be inseparable. Hence, on any world, in any universe, must
these reflectors of greatness and of goodness work together, always showing a
dual and mutually dependent report of every being upon whom they focalize.
Greatness cannot be estimated without knowing the content of goodness, while
goodness cannot be portrayed without exhibiting its inherent and divine
greatness.
28:6.22 The estimate of greatness varies from sphere
to sphere. To be great is to be Godlike. And since the quality of greatness is
wholly determined by the content of goodness, it follows that, even in your
present human estate, if you can through grace become good, you are thereby
becoming great. The more steadfastly you behold, and the more persistently you
pursue, the concepts of divine goodness, the more certainly will you grow in
greatness, in true magnitude of genuine survival character.
7. MINISTRY OF THE SECONAPHIM
28:7.1 The seconaphim have their origin and
headquarters on the capitals of the superuniverses, but with their liaison
fellows they range from the shores of Paradise to the evolutionary worlds of
space. They serve as valued assistants to the members of the deliberative
assemblies of the supergovernments and are of great help to the courtesy
colonies of Uversa: the star students, millennial tourists, celestial
observers, and a host of others, including the ascendant beings in waiting for
Havona transport. The Ancients of Days take pleasure in assigning certain of
the primary seconaphim to assist the ascending creatures domiciled on the four
hundred ninety study worlds surrounding Uversa, and here also do many of the
secondary and tertiary orders serve as teachers. These Uversa satellites are
the finishing schools of the universes of time, presenting the preparatory
course for the seven-circuited university of Havona.
28:7.2 Of the three orders of seconaphim, the
tertiary group, attached to the ascendant authorities, minister most
extensively to the ascending creatures of time. You will on occasion meet them
soon after your departure from Urantia, though you will not freely make use of
their services until you reach the tarrying worlds of Orvonton. You will enjoy
their companionship when you become fully acquainted with them during your
sojourn on the Uversa school worlds.
28:7.3 These tertiary seconaphim are the timesavers,
space abridgers, error detectors, faithful teachers, and everlasting
guideposts -- living signs of divine surety -- in mercy placed at the
crossroads of time, there to guide the feet of anxious pilgrims in moments of
great perplexity and spiritual uncertainty. Long before attaining the portals
of perfection, you will begin to gain access to the tools of divinity and to
make contact with the techniques of Deity. Increasingly, from the time you
arrive on the initial mansion world until you close your eyes in the Havona
sleep preparatory to your Paradise transit, you will avail yourself of the
emergency help of these marvelous beings, who are so fully and freely
reflective of the sure knowledge and certain wisdom of those safe and
dependable pilgrims who have preceded you on the long journey to the portals
of perfection.
28:7.4 We are denied the full privilege of using
these angels of the reflective order on Urantia. They are frequent visitors on
your world, accompanying assigned personalities, but here they cannot freely
function. This sphere is still under partial spiritual quarantine, and some of
the circuits essential to their services are not here at present. When your
world is once more restored to the reflective circuits concerned, much of the
work of interplanetary and interuniverse communication will be greatly
simplified and expedited. Celestial workers on Urantia encounter many
difficulties because of this functional curtailment of their reflective
associates. But we go on joyfully conducting our affairs with the
instrumentalities at hand, notwithstanding our local deprivation of many of
the services of these marvelous beings, the living mirrors of space and the
presence projectors of time.
28:7.5 Sponsored by
a Mighty Messenger of Uversa.
