|
The 5th Epochal Revelation
-The Urantia Papers
PAPER 35
THE LOCAL UNIVERSE SONS OF GOD
35:0.1
THE Sons of God previously introduced have had a
Paradise origin. They are the offspring of the divine
Rulers of the universal domains. Of the first Paradise
order of sonship, the Creator Sons, there is in Nebadon
only one, Michael, the universe father and sovereign. Of
the second order of Paradise sonship, the Avonal or
Magisterial Sons, Nebadon has its full quota -- 1,062.
And these "lesser Christs" are just as effective and
all-powerful in their planetary bestowals as was the
Creator and Master Son on Urantia. The third order,
being of Trinity origin, do not register in a local
universe, but I estimate there are in Nebadon between
fifteen and twenty thousand Trinity Teacher Sons
exclusive of 9,642 creature-trinitized assistants of
record. These Paradise Daynals are neither magistrates
nor administrators; they are superteachers.
35:0.2
The types of Sons about to be considered are of local
universe origin; they are the offspring of a Paradise
Creator Son in varied association with the complemental
Universe Mother Spirit. The following orders of local
universe sonship find mention in these narratives:
1. Melchizedek Sons.
2. Vorondadek Sons.
3. Lanonandek Sons.
4. Life Carrier Sons.
35:0.3
Triune Paradise Deity functions for the creation of
three orders of sonship: the Michaels, the Avonals, and
the Daynals. Dual Deity in the local universe, the Son
and the Spirit, also functions in the creation of three
high orders of Sons: the Melchizedeks, the Vorondadeks,
and the Lanonandeks; and having achieved this threefold
expression, they collaborate with the next level of God
the Sevenfold in the production of the versatile order
of Life Carriers. These beings are classified with the
descending Sons of God, but they are a unique and
original form of universe life. Their consideration will
occupy the whole of the next paper.
1. THE FATHER MELCHIZEDEK
35:1.1
After bringing into existence the beings of personal
aid, such as the Bright and Morning Star and other
administrative personalities, in accordance with the
divine purpose and creative plans of a given universe,
there occurs a new form of creative union between the
Creator Son and the Creative Spirit, the local universe
Daughter of the Infinite Spirit. The personality
offspring resulting from this creative partnership is
the original Melchizedek -- the Father Melchizedek --
that unique being who subsequently collaborates with the
Creator Son and the Creative Spirit to bring into
existence the entire group of that name.
35:1.2
In the universe of Nebadon the Father Melchizedek acts
as the first executive associate of the Bright and
Morning Star. Gabriel is occupied more with universe
policies, Melchizedek with practical procedures. Gabriel
presides over the regularly constituted tribunals and
councils of Nebadon, Melchizedek over the special,
extraordinary, and emergency commissions and advisory
bodies. Gabriel and the Father Melchizedek are never
away from Salvington at the same time, for in Gabriel's
absence the Father Melchizedek functions as the chief
executive of Nebadon.
35:1.3
The Melchizedeks of our universe were all created within
one millennial period of standard time by the Creator
Son and the Creative Spirit in liaison with the Father
Melchizedek. Being an order of sonship wherein one of
their own number functioned as co-ordinate creator,
Melchizedeks are in constitution partly of self-origin
and therefore candidates for the realization of a
supernal type of self-government. They periodically
elect their own administrative chief for a term of seven
years of standard time and otherwise function as a
self-regulating order, though the original Melchizedek
does exercise certain inherent coparental prerogatives.
From time to time this Father Melchizedek designates
certain individuals of his order to function as special
Life Carriers to the midsonite worlds, a type of
inhabited planet not heretofore revealed on Urantia.
35:1.4
The Melchizedeks do not function extensively outside the
local universe except when they are called as witnesses
in matters pending before the tribunals of the
superuniverse, and when designated special ambassadors,
as they sometimes are, representing one universe to
another in the same superuniverse. The original or
first-born Melchizedek of each universe is always at
liberty to journey to the neighboring universes or to
Paradise on missions having to do with the interests and
duties of his order.
2. THE MELCHIZEDEK SONS
35:2.1
The Melchizedeks are the first order of divine Sons to
approach sufficiently near the lower creature life to be
able to function directly in the ministry of mortal
uplift, to serve the evolutionary races without the
necessity of incarnation. These Sons are naturally at
the mid-point of the great personality descent, by
origin being just about midway between the highest
Divinity and the lowest creature life of will endowment.
They thus become the natural intermediaries between the
higher and divine levels of living existence and the
lower, even the material, forms of life on the
evolutionary worlds. The seraphic orders, the angels,
delight to work with the Melchizedeks; in fact, all
forms of intelligent life find in these Sons
understanding friends, sympathetic teachers, and wise
counselors.
35:2.2
The Melchizedeks are a self-governing order. With this
unique group we encounter the first attempt at
self-determination on the part of local universe beings
and observe the highest type of true self-government.
These Sons organize their own machinery for their group
and home-planet administration, as well as that for the
six associated spheres and their tributary worlds. And
it should be recorded that they have never abused their
prerogatives; not once throughout all the superuniverse
of Orvonton have these Melchizedek Sons ever betrayed
their trust. They are the hope of every universe group
which aspires to self-government; they are the pattern
and the teachers of self-government to all the spheres
of Nebadon. All orders of intelligent beings, superiors
from above and subordinates from below, are wholehearted
in their praise of the government of the Melchizedeks.
35:2.3
The Melchizedek order of sonship occupies the position,
and assumes the responsibility, of the eldest son in a
large family. Most of their work is regular and somewhat
routine, but much of it is voluntary and altogether
self-imposed. A majority of the special assemblies
which, from time to time, convene on Salvington are
called on motion of the Melchizedeks. On their own
initiative these Sons patrol their native universe. They
maintain an autonomous organization devoted to universe
intelligence, making periodical reports to the Creator
Son independent of all information coming up to universe
headquarters through the regular agencies concerned with
the routine administration of the realm. They are by
nature unprejudiced observers; they have the full
confidence of all classes of intelligent beings.
35:2.4
The Melchizedeks function as mobile and advisory review
courts of the realms; these universe Sons go in small
groups to the worlds to serve as advisory commissions,
to take depositions, to receive suggestions, and to act
as counselors, thus helping to compose the major
difficulties and settle the serious differences which
arise from time to time in the affairs of the
evolutionary domains.
35:2.5
These eldest Sons of a universe are the chief aids of
the Bright and Morning Star in carrying out the mandates
of the Creator Son. When a Melchizedek goes to a remote
world in the name of Gabriel, he may, for the purposes
of that particular mission, be deputized in the name of
the sender and in that event will appear on the planet
of assignment with the full authority of the Bright and
Morning Star. Especially is this true on those spheres
where a higher Son has not yet appeared in the likeness
of the creatures of the realm.
35:2.6
When a Creator Son enters upon the bestowal career on an
evolutionary world, he goes alone; but when one of his
Paradise brothers, an Avonal Son, enters upon a
bestowal, he is accompanied by the Melchizedek
supporters, twelve in number, who so efficiently
contribute to the success of the bestowal mission. They
also support the Paradise Avonals on magisterial
missions to the inhabited worlds, and in these
assignments the Melchizedeks are visible to mortal eyes
if the Avonal Son is also thus manifest.
35:2.7
There is no phase of planetary spiritual need to which
they do not minister. They are the teachers who so often
win whole worlds of advanced life to the final and full
recognition of the Creator Son and his Paradise Father.
35:2.8
The Melchizedeks are well-nigh perfect in wisdom, but
they are not infallible in judgment. When detached and
alone on planetary missions, they have sometimes erred
in minor matters, that is, they have elected to do
certain things which their supervisors did not
subsequently approve. Such an error of judgment
temporarily disqualifies a Melchizedek until he goes to
Salvington and, in audience with the Creator Son,
receives that instruction which effectually purges him
of the disharmony which caused disagreement with his
fellows; and then, following the correctional rest,
reinstatement to service ensues on the third day. But
these minor misadaptations in Melchizedek function have
rarely occurred in Nebadon.
35:2.9
These Sons are not an increasing order; their number is
stationary, although varying in each local universe. The
number of Melchizedeks of record on their headquarters
planet in Nebadon is upward of ten million.
3. THE MELCHIZEDEK WORLDS
35:3.1
The Melchizedeks occupy a world of their own near
Salvington, the universe headquarters. This sphere, by
name Melchizedek, is the pilot world of the Salvington
circuit of seventy primary spheres, each of which is
encircled by six tributary spheres devoted to
specialized activities. These marvelous spheres --
seventy primaries and 420 tributaries -- are often
spoken of as the Melchizedek University. Ascending
mortals from all the constellations of Nebadon pass
through training on all 490 worlds in the acquirement of
residential status on Salvington. But the education of
ascenders is only one phase of the manifold activities
taking place on the Salvington cluster of architectural
spheres.
35:3.2
The 490 spheres of the Salvington circuit are divided
into ten groups, each containing seven primary and
forty-two tributary spheres. Each of these groups is
under the general supervision of some one of the major
orders of universe life. The first group, embracing the
pilot world and the next six primary spheres in the
encircling planetary procession, is under the
supervision of the Melchizedeks. These Melchizedek
worlds are:
1. The pilot world -- the home world of the Melchizedek
Sons.
2. The world of the physical-life schools and the
laboratories of living energies.
3. The world of morontia life.
4. The sphere of initial spirit life.
5. The world of mid-spirit life.
6. The sphere of advancing spirit life.
7. The domain of co-ordinate and supreme
self-realization.
35:3.3
The six tributary worlds of each of these Melchizedek
spheres are devoted to activities germane to the work of
the associated primary sphere.
35:3.4
The pilot world, the sphere
Melchizedek,
is the common meeting ground for all beings who are
engaged in educating and spiritualizing the ascending
mortals of time and space. To an ascender this world is
probably the most interesting place in all Nebadon. All
evolutionary mortals who graduate from their
constellation training are destined to land on
Melchizedek, where they are initiated into the regime of
the disciplines and spirit progression of the Salvington
educational system. And never will you forget your
reactions to the first day of life on this unique world,
not even after you have reached your Paradise
destination.
35:3.5
Ascending mortals maintain residence on the Melchizedek
world while pursuing their training on the six
encircling planets of specialized education. And this
same method is adhered to throughout their sojourn on
the seventy cultural worlds, the primary spheres of the
Salvington circuit.
35:3.6
Many diverse activities occupy the time of the numerous
beings who reside on the six tributary worlds of the
Melchizedek sphere, but as concerns the ascending
mortals, these satellites are devoted to the following
special phases of study:
35:3.7
1. Sphere number one is occupied with the review of the
initial planetary life of the ascending mortals. This
work is carried on in classes composed of those who hail
from a given world of mortal origin. Those from Urantia
pursue such an experiential review together.
35:3.8
2. The special work of sphere number two consists in a
similar review of the experiences passed through on the
mansion worlds encircling the premier satellite of the
local system headquarters.
35:3.9
3. The reviews of this sphere pertain to the sojourn on
the capital of the local system and embrace the
activities of the remainder of the architectural worlds
of the system headquarters cluster.
35:3.10
4. The fourth sphere is occupied with a review of the
experiences of the seventy tributary worlds of the
constellation and of their associated spheres.
35:3.11
5. On the fifth sphere there is conducted the review of
the ascendant sojourn on the constellation headquarters
world.
35:3.12
6. The time on sphere number six is devoted to an
attempt to correlate these five epochs and thus achieve
co-ordination of experience preparatory to entering the
Melchizedek primary schools of universe training.
35:3.13
The schools of universe administration and spiritual
wisdom are located on the Melchizedek home world, where
also are to be found those schools devoted to a single
line of research, such as energy, matter, organization,
communication, records, ethics, and comparative creature
existence.
35:3.14
In the Melchizedek College of Spiritual Endowment all
orders -- even the Paradise orders -- of the Sons of God
co-operate with the Melchizedek and the seraphic
teachers in training the hosts who go forth as evangels
of destiny, proclaiming spiritual liberty and divine
sonship even to the remote worlds of the universe. This
particular school of the Melchizedek University is an
exclusive universe institution; student visitors are not
received from other realms.
35:3.15
The highest course of training in universe
administration is given by the Melchizedeks on their
home world. This College of High Ethics is presided over
by the original Father Melchizedek. It is to these
schools that the various universes send exchange
students. While the young universe of Nebadon stands low
in the scale of universes as regards spiritual
achievement and high ethical development, nevertheless,
our administrative troubles have so turned the whole
universe into a vast clinic for other near-by creations
that the Melchizedek colleges are thronged with student
visitors and observers from other realms. Besides the
immense group of local registrants there are always
upward of one hundred thousand foreign students in
attendance upon the Melchizedek schools, for the order
of Melchizedeks in Nebadon is renowned throughout all
Splandon.
4. SPECIAL WORK OF THE MELCHIZEDEKS
35:4.1
A highly specialized branch of Melchizedek activities
has to do with the supervision of the progressive
morontia career of the ascending mortals. Much of this
training is conducted by the patient and wise seraphic
ministers, assisted by mortals who have ascended to
relatively higher levels of universe attainment, but all
of this educational work is under the general
supervision of the Melchizedeks in association with the
Trinity Teacher Sons.
35:4.2
While the Melchizedek orders are chiefly devoted to the
vast educational system and experiential training regime
of the local universe, they also function in unique
assignments and in unusual circumstances. In an evolving
universe eventually embracing approximately ten million
inhabited worlds, many things out of the ordinary are
destined to happen, and it is in such emergencies that
the Melchizedeks act. On Edentia, your constellation
headquarters, they are known as emergency Sons. They are
always ready to serve in all exigencies -- physical,
intellectual, or spiritual -- whether on a planet, in a
system, in a constellation, or in the universe. Whenever
and wherever special help is needed, there you will find
one or more of the Melchizedek Sons.
35:4.3
When failure of some feature of the Creator Son's plan
is threatened, forthwith will go a Melchizedek to render
assistance. But not often are they summoned to function
in the presence of sinful rebellion, such as occurred in
Satania.
35:4.4
The Melchizedeks are the first to act in all emergencies
of whatever nature on all worlds where will creatures
dwell. They sometimes act as temporary custodians on
wayward planets, serving as receivers of a defaulting
planetary government. In a planetary crisis these
Melchizedek Sons serve in many unique capacities. It is
easily possible for such a Son to make himself visible
to mortal beings, and sometimes one of this order has
even incarnated in the likeness of mortal flesh. Seven
times in Nebadon has a Melchizedek served on an
evolutionary world in the similitude of mortal flesh,
and on numerous occasions these Sons have appeared in
the likeness of other orders of universe creatures. They
are indeed the versatile and volunteer emergency
ministers to all orders of universe intelligences and to
all the worlds and systems of worlds.
35:4.5
The Melchizedek who lived on Urantia during the time of
Abraham was locally known as Prince of Salem because he
presided over a small colony of truth seekers residing
at a place called Salem. He volunteered to incarnate in
the likeness of mortal flesh and did so with the
approval of the Melchizedek receivers of the planet, who
feared that the light of life would become extinguished
during that period of increasing spiritual darkness. And
he did foster the truth of his day and safely pass it on
to Abraham and his associates.
5. THE VORONDADEK SONS
35:5.1
After the creation of the personal aids and the first
group of the versatile Melchizedeks, the Creator Son and
the local universe Creative Spirit planned for, and
brought into existence, the second great and diverse
order of universe sonship, the Vorondadeks. They are
more generally known as Constellation Fathers because a
Son of this order is uniformly found at the head of each
constellation government in every local universe.
35:5.2
The number of Vorondadeks varies in each local universe,
just one million being the recorded number in Nebadon.
These Sons, like their co-ordinates, the Melchizedeks,
possess no power of reproduction. There exists no known
method whereby they can increase their numbers.
35:5.3
In many respects these Sons are a self-governing body;
as individuals and as groups, even as a whole, they are
largely self-determinative, much as are the
Melchizedeks, but Vorondadeks do not function through
such a wide range of activities. They do not equal their
Melchizedek brethren in brilliant versatility, but they
are even more reliable and efficient as rulers and
farseeing administrators. Neither are they quite the
administrative peers of their subordinates, the
Lanonandek System Sovereigns, but they excel all orders
of universe sonship in stability of purpose and in
divinity of judgment.
35:5.4
Although the decisions and rulings of this order of Sons
are always in accordance with the spirit of divine
sonship and in harmony with the policies of the Creator
Son, they have been cited for error to the Creator Son,
and in details of technique their decisions have
sometimes been reversed on appeal to the superior
tribunals of the universe. But these Sons rarely fall
into error, and they have never gone into rebellion;
never in all the history of Nebadon has a Vorondadek
been found in contempt of the universe government.
35:5.5
The service of the Vorondadeks in the local universes is
extensive and varied. They serve as ambassadors to other
universes and as consuls representing constellations
within their native universe. Of all orders of local
universe sonship they are the most often intrusted with
the full delegation of sovereign powers to be exercised
in critical universe situations.
35:5.6
On those worlds segregated in spiritual darkness, those
spheres which have, through rebellion and default,
suffered planetary isolation, an observer Vorondadek is
usually present pending the restoration of normal
status. In certain emergencies this Most High observer
could exercise absolute and arbitrary authority over
every celestial being assigned to that planet. It is of
record on Salvington that the Vorondadeks have sometimes
exercised such authority as Most High regents of such
planets. And this has also been true even of inhabited
worlds that were untouched by rebellion.
35:5.7
Often a corps of twelve or more Vorondadek Sons sits en
banc as a high court of review and appeal concerning
special cases involving the status of a planet or a
system. But their work more largely pertains to the
legislative functions indigenous to the constellation
governments. As a result of all these services, the
Vorondadek Sons have become the historians of the local
universes; they are personally familiar with all the
political struggles and the social upheavals of the
inhabited worlds.
6. THE CONSTELLATION FATHERS
35:6.1
At least three Vorondadeks are assigned to the rulership
of each of the one hundred constellations of a local
universe. These Sons are selected by the Creator Son and
are commissioned by Gabriel as the
Most Highs of
the constellations for service during one dekamillennium
-- 10,000 standard years, about 50,000 years of Urantia
time. The reigning Most High, the Constellation Father,
has two associates, a senior and a junior. At each
change of administration the senior associate becomes
the head of the government, the junior assumes the
duties of the senior, while the unassigned Vorondadeks
resident on the Salvington worlds nominate one of their
number as candidate for selection to assume the
responsibilities of junior associate. Thus each of the
Most High rulers, in accordance with present policy, has
a period of service on the headquarters of a
constellation of three dekamillenniums, about 150,000
Urantia years.
35:6.2
The one hundred Constellation Fathers, the actual
presiding heads of the constellation governments,
constitute the supreme advisory cabinet of the Creator
Son. This council is in frequent session at universe
headquarters and is unlimited in the scope and range of
its deliberations but is chiefly concerned with the
welfare of the constellations and with the unification
of the administration of the entire local universe.
35:6.3
When a Constellation Father is in attendance upon duties
at the universe headquarters, as he frequently is, the
senior associate becomes acting director of
constellation affairs. The normal function of the senior
associate is the oversight of spiritual affairs, while
the junior associate is personally occupied with the
physical welfare of the constellation. No major policy,
however, is ever carried out in a constellation unless
all three of the Most Highs are agreed upon all the
details of its execution.
35:6.4
The entire mechanism of spirit intelligence and
communication channels is at the disposal of the
constellation Most Highs. They are in perfect touch with
their superiors on Salvington and with their direct
subordinates, the sovereigns of the local systems. They
frequently convene in council with these System
Sovereigns to deliberate upon the state of the
constellation.
35:6.5
The Most Highs surround themselves with a corps of
counselors, which varies in number and personnel from
time to time in accordance with the presence of the
various groups at constellation headquarters and also as
the local requirements vary. During times of stress they
may ask for, and will quickly receive, additional Sons
of the Vorondadek order to assist with the
administrative work. Norlatiadek, your own
constellation, is at present administered by twelve
Vorondadek Sons.
7. THE VORONDADEK WORLDS
35:7.1
The second group of seven worlds in the circuit of
seventy primary spheres surrounding Salvington comprise
the Vorondadek planets. Each of these spheres, with its
six encircling satellites, is devoted to a special phase
of Vorondadek activities. On these forty-nine realms the
ascending mortals secure the acme of their education
respecting universe legislation.
35:7.2
The ascending mortals have observed the legislative
assemblies as they functioned on the headquarters worlds
of the constellations, but here on these Vorondadek
worlds they participate in the enactment of the actual
general legislation of the local universe under the
tutelage of the senior Vorondadeks. Such enactments are
designed to co-ordinate the varied pronouncements of the
autonomous legislative assemblies of the one hundred
constellations. The instruction to be had in the
Vorondadek schools is unexcelled even on Uversa. This
training is progressive, extending from the first
sphere, with supplemental work on its six satellites, on
up through the remaining six primary spheres and their
associated satellite groups.
35:7.3
The ascending pilgrims will be introduced to numerous
new activities on these worlds of study and practical
work. We are not forbidden to undertake the revelation
of these new and undreamed-of pursuits, but we despair
of being able to portray these undertakings to the
material mind of mortal beings. We are without words to
convey the meanings of these supernal activities, and
there are no analogous human engagements which might be
utilized as illustrations of these new occupations of
the ascending mortals as they pursue their studies on
these forty-nine worlds. And many other activities, not
a part of the ascendant regime, are centered on these
Vorondadek worlds of the Salvington circuit.
8. THE LANONANDEK SONS
35:8.1
After the creation of the Vorondadeks, the Creator Son
and the Universe Mother Spirit unite for the purpose of
bringing into existence the third order of universe
sonship, the Lanonandeks. Although occupied with varied
tasks connected with the system administrations, they
are best known as System Sovereigns, the rulers of the
local systems, and as Planetary Princes, the
administrative heads of the inhabited worlds.
35:8.2
Being a later and lower -- as concerns divinity levels
-- order of sonship creation, these beings were required
to pass through certain courses of training on the
Melchizedek worlds in preparation for subsequent
service. They were the first students in the Melchizedek
University and were classified and certified by their
Melchizedek teachers and examiners according to ability,
personality, and attainment.
35:8.3
The universe of Nebadon began its existence with exactly
twelve million Lanonandeks, and when they had passed
through the Melchizedek sphere, they were divided in the
final tests into three classes:
35:8.4
1. Primary
Lanonandeks. Of the highest rank there were 709,841.
These are the Sons designated as System Sovereigns and
assistants to the supreme councils of the constellations
and as counselors in the higher administrative work of
the universe.
35:8.5
2. Secondary
Lanonandeks. Of this order emerging from Melchizedek
there were 10,234,601. They are assigned as Planetary
Princes and to the reserves of that order.
35:8.6
3. Tertiary
Lanonandeks. This group contained 1,055,558. These
Sons function as subordinate assistants, messengers,
custodians, commissioners, observers, and prosecute the
miscellaneous duties of a system and its component
worlds.
35:8.7
It is not possible, as it is with evolutionary beings,
for these Sons to progress from one group to another.
When subjected to the Melchizedek training, when once
tested and classified, they serve continuously in the
rank assigned. Neither do these Sons engage in
reproduction; their number in the universe is
stationary.
35:8.8
In round numbers the Lanonandek order of Sons is
classified on Salvington as follows:
Universe Co-ordinators and Constellation Counselors .
100,000
System Sovereigns and Assistants. . . . . . . . . . .
600,000
Planetary Princes and Reserves. . . . . . . . . .
.10,000,000
Messenger Corps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
400,000
Custodians and Recorders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
100,000
Reserve Corps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
800,000
35:8.9
Since Lanonandeks are a somewhat lower order of sonship
than the Melchizedeks and the Vorondadeks, they are of
even greater service in the subordinate units of the
universe, for they are capable of drawing nearer the
lower creatures of the intelligent races. They also
stand in greater danger of going astray, of departing
from the acceptable technique of universe government.
But these Lanonandeks, especially the primary order, are
the most able and versatile of all local universe
administrators. In executive ability they are excelled
only by Gabriel and his unrevealed associates.
9. THE LANONANDEK RULERS
35:9.1
The Lanonandeks are the continuous rulers of the planets
and the rotating sovereigns of the systems. Such a Son
now rules on Jerusem, the headquarters of your local
system of inhabited worlds.
35:9.2
The System Sovereigns rule in commissions of two or
three on the headquarters of each system of inhabited
worlds. The Constellation Father names one of these
Lanonandeks as chief every dekamillennium. Sometimes no
change in the head of the trio is made, the matter being
entirely optional with the constellation rulers. System
governments do not suddenly change in personnel unless a
tragedy of some sort occurs.
35:9.3
When System Sovereigns or assistants are recalled, their
places are filled by selections made by the supreme
council located on the constellation headquarters from
the reserves of that order, a group which is larger on
Edentia than the average indicated.
35:9.4
The supreme Lanonandek councils are stationed on the
various constellation headquarters. Such a body is
presided over by the senior Most High associate of the
Constellation Father, while the junior associate
supervises the reserves of the secondary order.
35:9.5
The System Sovereigns are true to their names; they are
well-nigh sovereign in the local affairs of the
inhabited worlds. They are almost paternal in their
direction of the Planetary Princes, the Material Sons,
and the ministering spirits. The personal grasp of the
sovereign is all but complete. These rulers are not
supervised by Trinity observers from the central
universe. They are the executive division of the local
universe, and as custodians of the enforcement of
legislative mandates and as executives for the
application of judicial verdicts, they present the one
place in all universe administration where personal
disloyalty to the will of the Michael Son could most
easily and readily intrench itself and seek to assert
itself.
35:9.6
Our local universe has been unfortunate in that over
seven hundred Sons of the Lanonandek order have rebelled
against the universe government, thus precipitating
confusion in several systems and on numerous planets. Of
this entire number of failures only three were System
Sovereigns; practically all of these Sons belonged to
the second and third orders, Planetary Princes and
tertiary Lanonandeks.
35:9.7
The large number of these Sons who have lapsed from
integrity does not indicate any fault in creatorship.
They could have been made divinely perfect, but they
were so created that they might better understand, and
draw near to, the evolutionary creatures dwelling on the
worlds of time and space.
35:9.8
Of all the local universes in Orvonton, our universe
has, with the exception of Henselon, lost the largest
number of this order of Sons. On Uversa it is the
consensus that we have had so much administrative
trouble in Nebadon because our Sons of the Lanonandek
order have been created with such a large degree of
personal liberty in choosing and planning. I do not make
this observation by way of criticism. The Creator of our
universe has full authority and power to do this. It is
the contention of our high rulers that, while such
free-choosing Sons make excessive trouble in the earlier
ages of the universe, when things are fully sifted and
finally settled, the gains of higher loyalty and fuller
volitional service on the part of these thoroughly
tested Sons will far more than compensate for the
confusion and tribulations of earlier times.
35:9.9
In the event of rebellion on a system headquarters, a
new sovereign is usually installed within a
comparatively short time, but not so on the individual
planets. They are the component units of the material
creation, and creature free will is a factor in the
final adjudication of all such problems. Successor
Planetary Princes are designated for isolated worlds,
planets whose princes of authority may have gone astray,
but they do not assume active rulership of such worlds
until the results of insurrection are partially overcome
and removed by the remedial measures adopted by the
Melchizedeks and other ministering personalities.
Rebellion by a Planetary Prince instantly isolates his
planet; the local spiritual circuits are immediately
severed. Only a bestowal Son can re-establish
interplanetary lines of communication on such a
spiritually isolated world.
35:9.10
There exists a plan for saving these wayward and unwise
Sons, and many have availed themselves of this merciful
provision; but never again may they function in those
positions wherein they defaulted. After rehabilitation
they are assigned to custodial duties and to departments
of physical administration.
10. THE LANONANDEK WORLDS
35:10.1
The third group of seven worlds in the Salvington
circuit of seventy planets, with their respective
forty-two satellites, constitute the Lanonandek cluster
of administrative spheres. On these realms the
experienced Lanonandeks belonging to the ex-System
Sovereign corps officiate as administrative teachers of
the ascending pilgrims and the seraphic hosts. The
evolutionary mortals observe the system administrators
at work on the system capitals, but here they
participate in the actual co-ordination of the
administrative pronouncements of the ten thousand local
systems.
35:10.2
These administrative schools of the local universe are
supervised by a corps of Lanonandek Sons who have had
long experience as System Sovereigns and as
constellation counselors. These executive colleges are
excelled only by the administrative schools of Ensa.
35:10.3
While serving as training spheres for ascending mortals,
the Lanonandek worlds are the centers for extensive
undertakings having to do with the normal and routine
administrative operations of the universe. All the way
in to Paradise the ascending pilgrims pursue their
studies in the practical schools of applied knowledge --
actual training in really doing the things they are
being taught. The universe educational system sponsored
by the Melchizedeks is practical, progressive,
meaningful, and experiential. It embraces training in
things material, intellectual, morontial, and spiritual.
35:10.4
It is in connection with these administrative spheres of
the Lanonandeks that most of the salvaged Sons of that
order serve as custodians and directors of planetary
affairs. And these defaulting Planetary Princes and
their associates in rebellion who choose to accept the
proffered rehabilitation will continue to serve in these
routine capacities, at least until the universe of
Nebadon is settled in light and life.
35:10.5
Many of the Lanonandek Sons in the older systems,
however, have established wonderful records of service,
administration, and spiritual achievement. They are a
noble, faithful, and loyal group, notwithstanding their
tendency to fall into error through fallacies of
personal liberty and fictions of self-determination.
35:10.6
Sponsored by the Chief of Archangels acting by authority
of Gabriel of Salvington.
*
|
.jpg)
