Paper 12 Overview: The Universe of Universes

The immensity of the Universal Father's far-flung creation transcends the comprehensive capacity of finite imagination, with the enormousness of the master universe presenting a conceptual challenge even to beings of celestial order. Despite these inherent limitations of mortal intellect, human consciousness can be instructed regarding the plan and arrangement of the universes, acquiring substantive knowledge about their physical organization, administrative functionality, and the diverse intelligent beings populating both the seven superuniverses of time and the central universe of eternity. This paper presents a cosmological framework that reconciles the apparently boundless nature of creation with its actual finite parameters at any given temporal moment.

The paper articulates a sophisticated cosmic structure characterized by concentric space levels, universal gravity systems, and the dynamic interrelationships between matter, mind, and spirit. In eternal potential, material creation is conceptualized as infinite in correspondence with the infinite nature of the Universal Father; however, the observable material creation at any discrete moment in time functions within defined limitations, though these appear comparatively limitless to finite consciousness. Observational evidence from physical law and stellar phenomena suggests that the infinite Creator has not yet manifested the finality of cosmic expression, with much potential remaining self-contained and unrevealed. The experiential revelation of eternal purpose continues as an ongoing process, with the master universe exhibiting definite spatial parameters and organizational principles that define its current manifestation while allowing for continued evolution and expansion.

The vastness of the Universal Father's creation extends utterly beyond the grasp of finite imagination, with the enormousness of the master universe presenting a conceptual challenge that staggers even the narrator's advanced order of being. Despite this inherent limitation, mortal consciousness possesses the capacity to assimilate instructive knowledge regarding the plan and arrangement of the universes, gaining substantive insight into their physical organization, administrative mechanisms, and the diverse categories of intelligent beings who inhabit both the seven evolutionary superuniverses of time and the central universe of eternity. This epistemological framework provides mortals with a meaningful context for understanding their place within the cosmic hierarchy.

In principle, that is, in eternal potential, material creation is conceptualized as infinite because the Universal Father himself embodies infinite reality. However, when studying and observing the totality of material creation at any discrete moment in time, celestial observers recognize that it functions within definite limitations, though to finite consciousness it appears comparatively limitless and virtually boundless. From the systematic study of physical law and careful observation of stellar realms, higher beings have derived the conviction that the infinite Creator has not yet manifested the finality of cosmic expression, with significant cosmic potential remaining self-contained and unrevealed. The experiential revelation of eternal purpose continues as an ongoing process, with the master universe exhibiting definite spatial parameters and administrative principles that define its current manifestation while allowing for continued evolution.

The universe of universes does not constitute an infinite plane, boundless cube, or limitless circle, but manifests with definite dimensions that can be conceptually apprehended. The laws of physical organization and administration provide conclusive evidence that the vast aggregation of force-energy and matter-power ultimately functions as a space unit, an organized and coordinated whole. Observable behavior of material creation substantiates the existence of a physical universe with definite limitations, with final proof of its circular and delimited nature residing in the empirically verifiable fact that all forms of basic energy follow curved trajectories around the space levels of the master universe, obeying the incessant and absolute gravitational influence of Paradise.

The master universe exists as a series of concentric elliptical space levels of lessened resistance to motion, alternating with zones of relative quiescence. Proceeding outward from Paradise through the horizontal extension of pervaded space, the master universe manifests in six concentric ellipses encircling the central Isle: the Central Universe of Havona, the Seven Superuniverses, and four successive Outer Space Levels extending outward to the fourth and outermost level. Havona, the central universe, represents an eternal existence rather than a temporal creation, consisting of one billion spheres of sublime perfection surrounded by enormous dark gravity bodies, with the stationary and absolutely stabilized Isle of Paradise at its center surrounded by twenty-one satellites. The Paradise-Havona System constitutes the perfect and eternal nucleus around which all seven superuniverses and outer space regions revolve in established orbits, with the Grand Universe comprising Havona plus the seven superuniverses with their evolutionary potential for approximately seven trillion inhabited planets.

The seven superuniverses function not as primary physical organizations but as geographic space clusterings, each encompassing approximately one-seventh of the organized and partially inhabited post-Havona creation. Nebadon, our local universe, represents one of the newer creations in Orvonton, the seventh superuniverse. The current ragged edge and uneven periphery of the grand universe, along with the unsettled condition of the astronomical configuration, suggests to celestial observers that even the seven superuniverses remain uncompleted in their development. Far beyond the peripheral regions of the grand universe, at an enormous distance from the seven inhabited superuniverses, vast and stupendous force circuits and materializing energies are assembling, forming the beginnings of an unbelievable energy zone that increases in volume and intensity for over twenty-five million light-years, situated in the first outer space level that encircles the entire known organized and inhabited creation.

When Urantia astronomers direct their increasingly powerful telescopes into the mysterious expanses of outer space, they witness the astounding evolution of almost countless physical universes unfolding across cosmic immensity. While celestial beings possess evidence suggesting the presence of Paradise personality influences throughout these vast energy manifestations, the space regions extending beyond the outer borders of the seven superuniverses are generally recognized as constituting the domains of the Unqualified Absolute. The unaided human eye can perceive only two or three nebulae outside the borders of Orvonton, but technological instrumentation reveals millions of physical universes in various stages of formation, most within Orvonton's boundaries, while photographic techniques allow larger telescopes to penetrate far beyond the grand universe's borders into outer space domains where untold universes are undergoing organization.

In the not-distant future, advancing telescopic technology will reveal to Urantian astronomers no less than 375 million new galaxies in the remote stretches of outer space, simultaneously demonstrating that many island universes formerly believed to exist in outer space actually constitute part of Orvonton's galactic system. The seven superuniverses continue to expand their peripheries as new nebulae undergo stabilization and organization. Uversa star students observe that the grand universe is surrounded by ancestors of a series of starry and planetary clusters that encircle the present inhabited creation as concentric rings of outer universes upon universes. Physicists calculate that the energy and matter in these outer and uncharted regions already equal many times the total material mass and energy embraced within all seven superuniverses, with the metamorphosis of cosmic force in these outer space levels functioning under the Paradise force organizers, though Orvonton power directors have no jurisdiction over these distant realms.

All forms of force-energy, whether material, mindal, or spiritual, are subject to those universal presences collectively designated as gravity. Personality likewise responds to gravity or specifically to the Father's exclusive circuit; however, while this circuit remains exclusive to the Father, he is not excluded from other circuits. The Universal Father functions through all four absolute-gravity circuits operating in the master universe: the Personality Gravity of the Universal Father, the Spirit Gravity of the Eternal Son, the Mind Gravity of the Conjoint Actor, and the Cosmic Gravity of the Isle of Paradise. These four circuits function independently of time and space as absolute presence circuits rather than as force, energy, or power circuits, and they have no relationship to the nether Paradise force center.

Recent observations by the corps of gravity researchers on Uversa have yielded significant conclusions regarding different gravity systems operating in the master universe. Physical gravity calculations indicate that the total gravity action on the grand universe represents only about five percent of the estimated gravity pull of Paradise, suggesting that ninety-five percent of the active cosmic-gravity action is currently engaged in controlling material systems beyond the organized universes' borders. Spirit gravity studies reveal that practically the entire spirit gravity of the Eternal Son functions within the grand universe, suggesting outer space universes remain wholly nonspiritual in their current evolutionary state. Mind gravity research suggests that approximately eighty-five percent of the mind-gravity response to the Conjoint Actor originates within the existing grand universe, possibly indicating mind activities involved with physical activities in outer space realms.

All units of cosmic energy engage in primary revolution while executing their missions along the endless circuits of the master universe space levels. Nothing remains stationary in the entire master universe except the very center of Havona, the eternal Isle of Paradise, which functions as the absolute center of gravity. The relationship between the Unqualified Absolute and motion presents an unresolved cosmological question, particularly whether motion inherits inherently in this Absolute. Celestial opinion suggests that the Conjoint Actor initiates motion in space, though this cannot be conclusively demonstrated, while the Universal Absolute appears to equalize and control tensions originated by motion rather than initiating initial movement.

Space itself manifests several categories of motion: primary motion (space respiration, the movement of space itself), secondary motion (alternate directional swings of successive space levels), relative motions (those not evaluated with Paradise as a base point), and compensatory movements coordinating all other motions. The relationship between our solar system and surrounding stellar clusters creates an impression of comparative stationarity with outward flight of surrounding systems, but this perception fails to recognize the present outward and uniform expansion of physical creations throughout pervaded space. All seven superuniverses participate in two-billion-year cycles of space respiration along with the outer regions of the master universe. Spectroscopic estimations of astronomical velocities, while reliable within superuniverse domains, become unreliable regarding outer space realms, where apparent recessional velocities create the illusion of systems fleeing at unbelievable rates exceeding thirty thousand miles per second due to various distortions and observational limitations.

Time emerges as a derivative of motion combined with mind's inherent awareness of sequentiality. From a practical perspective, motion proves essential for time, though no universal time unit exists except the arbitrarily recognized Paradise-Havona standard day. The totality of space respiration nullifies its local value as a time source. Space, though originating from Paradise, cannot be characterized as infinite or absolute, as it is pervaded by the Unqualified Absolute, whose absolute limits remain unknown to celestial beings. Space and time maintain an inseparable relationship exclusively within the time-space creations, specifically the seven superuniverses, while nontemporal space and nonspatial time exist theoretically, with Paradise area representing the only truly nontemporal place.

Conscious awareness of time manifests in three distinct cognitive modalities: mind-perceived time (consciousness of sequence, motion, and duration), spirit-perceived time (insight into Godward motion and awareness of ascending divinity levels), and personality-created time (a unique temporal sense derived from Reality insight, presence consciousness, and duration awareness). Unspiritual animals comprehend only past experience and present existence, while spirit-indwelt humans possess prevision: the ability to visualize and conceptualize the future. Only forward-looking and progressive attitudes embody personal reality, as static ethics and traditional morality represent merely superanimal extensions of consciousness. Ethics and morality achieve truly human significance only when they manifest as dynamic and progressive forces, alive with universe reality, transcending stoicism as a higher form of self-realization. The human personality transcends its status as a concomitant of time-space events to function as a potential cosmic cause of such events.

The universe manifests not as a static reality but as a dynamic system whose stability derives not from inertia but from balanced energies, cooperative minds, coordinated morontias, spirit overcontrol, and personality unification. Stability throughout creation remains invariably proportional to divinity. In the physical control of the master universe, the Universal Father exercises priority and primacy through the Isle of Paradise; in spiritual administration, God functions with absolute authority through the Eternal Son; and in the domains of mind, the Father and Son operate coordinately through the Conjoint Actor, who maintains equilibrium and coordination between physical and spiritual energies through his absolute grasp of cosmic mind and exercise of universal physical and spiritual gravity complements.

The universe manifests high predictability in quantitative and gravity-measurement aspects, but primal physical forces, higher mind meanings, and true spirit values of ultimate universe realities transcend linear gravity response. Qualitatively, the universe exhibits limited predictability regarding new associations of forces, whether physical, mindal, or spiritua, particularly when matter, mind, and spirit achieve unification through creature personality, resulting in freewill decisions that defy complete prediction. The unpredictable freedom of reaction displayed by emerging universe actualities likely reveals activities of the Ultimate and the presence-performances of the Absolutes that antedate the functions of universe Creators. While individuals, planets, systems, and universes each have designated rulers laboring for their domains' welfare, the master universe as a whole receives existential overcare from the Paradise Trinity and experiential development through the Absolutes in potential, the Ultimate in direction, the Supreme in evolutionary coordination, and the Architects of the Master Universe in administration prior to the appearance of specific rulers.

An inexorable and impersonal law operates throughout time and space regarding all reality, functioning as a cosmic providence governing universal relationships. Mercy characterizes God's love attitude toward individuals, while impartiality motivates his approach toward the totality. Divine will does not necessarily prevail in every particular instance but it absolutely rules the whole, the universe of universes. The laws of God represent not arbitrary impositions but the habitual patterns of divine action, his repeated methodology for accomplishing things optimally within each circumstance. As the best approach is invariably the right approach, infinite wisdom consistently implements the precise and perfect methodology appropriate to each situation.

The Father's love individualizes each personality as a unique child without duplication in infinity—an irreplaceable will creature throughout eternity. This divine love glorifies each child of God, illuminating each member of the celestial family and silhouetting their unique nature against the impersonal levels outside the fraternal circuit. This individualizing love reveals the transcendent value placed upon each will creature from the highest creator personality of Paradise status to the lowest personality among primitive human tribes on evolutionary worlds. This very love of God for individuals establishes the divine family of all individuals: the universal brotherhood of the Father's freewill children. Brotherhood, in its universal manifestation, discloses not merely individual relationships but the all-encompassing relationship that characterizes the whole, revealing qualities of totality rather than particularities. This constitutes a reality of relationship binding every personality in universal existence, from which no being can escape either benefits or penalties that result from relationship with others.

The apparent paradox of God's simultaneous existence as a highly personal self-conscious being with residential headquarters and his personal presence throughout the vast universe, in contact with an almost infinite number of beings, represents a mystery beyond human comprehension that should not diminish faith. Despite the magnitude of infinity and the immensity of eternity, the Father maintains intimate proximity to each individual; he dwells within human consciousness, and in him all beings literally move, live, and have their being. Through the Father fragment indwelling the human soul and mortal mind, God maintains intimate communion with his children—a relationship so sublime that it transcends comprehension even by higher beings. While the Universal Father remains on Paradise, his divine presence simultaneously dwells within the minds of his mortal children.

While "God is spirit," Paradise exists as a material reality rather than a spiritual entity. The material universe provides the arena wherein all spiritual activities unfold, with spirit beings and ascending mortals living and working on physical spheres of material reality. The bestowal of cosmic force, the domain of cosmic gravity, constitutes the function of the Isle of Paradise, from which all original force-energy proceeds. Matter for creating untold universes circulates throughout the master universe as a supergravity presence, forming the force-charge of pervaded space. Whatever transformations force undergoes in outlying universes, it remains subject to the never-ending, ever-present, unfailing pull of Paradise, inherently moving along the eternal space paths of the universes, demonstrating the stability, constancy, and eternity of Paradise as the central Isle.

The bestowal of spirit and spiritualization of personalities constitutes the domain of spiritual gravity, the realm of the Eternal Son, whose spirit gravity draws all spiritual realities toward himself with a force as real and absolute as Paradise's material grasp. As any personality's mind becomes increasingly spiritual and Godlike, it demonstrates diminished responsiveness to material gravity, revealing reality's dual nature: physical-gravity response as a quantitative determiner of nonspirit energy versus spiritual-gravity action as a qualitative measure of divinity's living energy. The Conjoint Actor functions in relation to mind as Paradise does to physical creation and the Eternal Son to the spiritual universe, serving as the universal minister to all intelligent beings by reacting to both material and spiritual realities.

Mind represents the technique whereby spirit realities become experiential to creature personalities, with even human mind's unifying possibilities—the ability to coordinate things, ideas, and values—transcending purely material functioning. Mortal intellect should comprehend three functioning levels of finite reality: matter (organized energy subject to linear gravity except as modified by motion and mind), mind (organized consciousness not wholly subject to material gravity and liberated when modified by spirit), and spirit (the highest personal reality, free from physical gravity and eventually becoming the motivating influence of all evolving personality energy systems). In cosmic evolution, matter functions as a philosophical shadow cast by mind in the presence of spirit luminosity of divine enlightenment, though this does not invalidate matter-energy's reality. All three elements, mind, matter, and spirit, maintain equal reality in personality experience, though they differ in value for divinity attainment.

Spirit constitutes the fundamental personal reality in the universes, with personality functioning as the essential foundation for all progressive experience with spiritual reality. Each phase of personality experience at every successive level of universe progression teems with clues leading to the discovery of alluring personal realities. Humanity's true destiny lies in creating new and spiritual goals and responding to the cosmic allurements of such supernal nonmaterial values that transcend purely physical existence. Love represents the secret of beneficial association between personalities, as a single contact cannot provide sufficient knowledge for truly understanding another personality. Just as one cannot appreciate music through mathematical deduction or know a person through their telephone number, personality transcends mere quantitative analysis.

Mathematics and material science, while indispensable for intelligent discussion of the universe's physical aspects, cannot fully explain higher realities or personal appreciation of spiritual truths. In both life realms and physical energy domains, combined elements often produce results exceeding or differing from predictable additive consequences. The union of two hydrogen atoms with one oxygen atom creates water, a qualitatively superadditive substance whose properties could not be predicted from analyzing its components separately. This understanding should have prevented the development of purely materialistic philosophy and mechanistic cosmology. Technical analysis cannot reveal what a person or thing can do in practice; water's ability to extinguish fire emerges from practical experience rather than chemical analysis, which would suggest hydrogen supports combustion. The human personality comprises a spirit nucleus around which mind functions as a personal-energy system within a material environment, establishing the universe potential for eternal personality identification that can be disrupted only when self-concepts displace the central spirit nucleus as the governing influence, thereby disrupting the cosmic scheme of personality identity.