Paper 13 Overview: The Sacred Spheres of Paradise

Situated between the central Isle of Paradise and the innermost Havona planetary circuit are three distinctive circuits of specialized spheres, each serving unique and often undisclosed cosmic functions. This cosmic arrangement comprises the seven secret spheres of the Universal Father in the innermost circuit, the seven luminous worlds of the Eternal Son in the intermediate circuit, and the seven immense spheres of the Infinite Spirit in the outermost circuit, the latter serving as executive-headquarters for the Seven Master Spirits who preside over the destinies of the seven superuniverses. These twenty-one extraordinary worlds exhibit unparalleled grandeur and possess material constitutions of an order unrevealed to mortal comprehension, each circuit featuring distinct materialization, and each world—save for the uniform physical constitution of the Son's seven realms—manifesting unique characteristics.

The functional significance of these sacred spheres extends beyond human comprehension, with each circuit fulfilling specialized cosmic responsibilities. The Universal Father's spheres reflect the spiritual luminosity of the eternal Deities throughout Paradise and Havona, while harboring the profound personality secrets of the universe. The Eternal Son's realms generate the impersonal energies of spirit luminosity, directionizing pure spirit illumination to the seven superuniverses. The Infinite Spirit's administrative worlds house the Seven Master Spirits, who transmit the spiritual illumination of the Third Person of Deity to the time-space creations. These twenty-one Paradise satellites embody potentials essential to the master universe's function, though only circumscribed glimpses of their activities are afforded in revelations concerning the present universe age.

Between the central Isle of Paradise and the innermost of the Havona planetary circuits exist three lesser circuits of special spheres occupying intermediate spatial positions. The innermost circuit consists of seven secret spheres belonging to the Universal Father; the second group comprises seven luminous worlds of the Eternal Son; and the outermost circuit contains seven immense spheres of the Infinite Spirit, which function as the executive-headquarters worlds of the Seven Master Spirits. These three seven-world circuits represent domains of unexcelled grandeur and unimagined glory, with physical compositions of an order unrevealed to mortal comprehension.

Each circuit possesses distinctive material properties, and every world within each circuit manifests unique characteristics, with the exception of the seven worlds of the Eternal Son, which share similar physical constitutions. All twenty-one spheres are of enormous proportions, with each group of seven being differently eternalized. These worlds share the eternal nature of Paradise itself; no records or traditions exist regarding their origin, as they have apparently existed throughout eternity. The seven secret spheres of the Universal Father, circulating in close proximity to Paradise, reflect the spiritual luminosity of the eternal Deities throughout the central shining of Paradise and illuminate the seven circuits of Havona, while the Son's worlds originate impersonal spirit energies and the Spirit's worlds house the administrative centers of the superuniverse government.

The Father's circuit of sacred life spheres contains the only inherent personality secrets in the universe of universes, representing the sole forbidden domains concerned with personality in the central universe. While both nether Paradise and the worlds of the Son are likewise closed to personalities, neither of these realms is directly concerned with personality development or functions. These Paradise worlds of the Father are administered by the highest order of the Stationary Sons of the Trinity, the Trinitized Secrets of Supremacy, about whose manifold activities little can be revealed. The secrecy surrounding these worlds stems partly from the fact that each sacred sphere possesses a specialized representation or manifestation of the Deities composing the Paradise Trinity—not a personality, but a unique presence of Divinity that can only be comprehended by particular groups of intelligences residing on or admitted to that specific sphere.

These home worlds of diverse spiritual orders constitute tremendous and stupendous spheres whose matchless beauty and superb glory equal that of Paradise itself. Serving as rendezvous worlds and reunion spheres, they provide permanent cosmic addresses for their respective inhabitants. Although finaliters will be officially domiciled on Paradise, Ascendington will perpetually remain their home address, a place of sentimental memories and reminiscent recollections even after they attain seventh-stage spirit being status and potentially relinquish their residential standing on Paradise. Should outer universes currently be in formation, destined to be inhabited by time creatures with ascension potential, these future children will likewise consider Ascendington as their Paradise home world.

Ascendington stands as the only sacred sphere that will be unreservedly open to inspection by Paradise arrivals, while Vicegerington remains the only sacred sphere wholly accessible to the narrator's scrutiny. Despite sharing common origin, Trinity-origin beings and trinitized beings exhibit fundamental differences in nature. Trinity-origin beings do not fully participate in the Father's worlds, maintaining their exclusive homes on Paradise in proximity to the Most Holy Sphere, though they occasionally appear on Ascendington to fraternize with those ascending from the lower worlds of space. One might assume that Creator Sons, being of Father-Son origin, would consider Vicegerington as their home, but this does not apply during the present universe age of God the Sevenfold's function. This is one of many perplexities encountered when attempting to comprehend matters so close to Paradise.

Status on any of these secret worlds depends on both service and nature of origin, with successive universe ages potentially redistributing certain personality groupings. The worlds of the inner circuit primarily function as fraternal or status spheres rather than residential domains, with mortals permitted to attain varied degrees of access to these realms based on their spiritual progress. Upon reaching Havona, mortals receive clearance for Ascendington but remain excluded from the other six sacred worlds. After progressing through the Paradise regime and gaining admission to the Corps of the Finality, mortals acquire clearance for Sonarington, acknowledging their dual status as both ascenders and sons of God, though one-seventh of Sonarington, the sector containing the incarnation secrets of divine Sons, remains perpetually closed to their scrutiny.

The seven luminous spheres of the Eternal Son constitute the domains of the seven phases of pure-spirit existence. These shining orbs serve as the source of the threefold light that illuminates Paradise and Havona, their influence largely confined to the central universe. Personality is absent on these Paradise satellites, making it challenging to convey much information about these pure-spirit abodes to mortal and material personalities. These worlds teem with the otherwise-than-personal life forms associated with the Eternal Son, entities potentially being assembled for ministry in projected new universes of outer space. Paradise philosophers maintain that each Paradise cycle, approximately two billion years of Urantia time, witnesses the creation of additional reserves of these orders on the secret worlds of the Eternal Son.

As far as the author's knowledge extends, no personality has ever visited any of these spheres of the Eternal Son throughout his extensive experience in and beyond Paradise. Even personalities co-created by the Eternal Son do not access these worlds. The author infers that all types of impersonal spirits, regardless of parentage, might be admitted to these spirit realms. Despite being a person with a spirit form, the author believes such a world would appear empty and deserted even if visitation were permitted. High spirit personalities avoid gratifying purposeless curiosity or engaging in useless adventures, as there exists an abundance of intriguing and purposeful tasks that preclude interest in projects perceived as futile or unreal.

Between Havona's inner circuit and the Eternal Son's shining spheres orbit the seven distinctive worlds of the Infinite Spirit. These spheres serve as habitation for the offspring of the Infinite Spirit, the trinitized sons of glorified created personalities, and various other unrevealed beings involved in the effective administration of numerous enterprises spanning different realms of universal activity. The Seven Master Spirits function as the supreme and ultimate representatives of the Infinite Spirit, maintaining their personal stations and power focuses on the periphery of Paradise while conducting all operational management and direction of the grand universe from these seven special executive spheres. These Master Spirits collectively constitute the mind-spirit balance wheel of the universe of universes—an all-embracing, all-encompassing, and all-coordinating power operating from a central location.

From these seven specialized spheres, the Master Spirits work to equalize and stabilize the cosmic-mind circuits throughout the grand universe. They also influence the differential spiritual attitudes and presence of the Deities throughout the grand universe. While physical reactions maintain uniformity, instantaneity, and automaticity throughout creation, experiential spiritual presence varies according to the underlying conditions and states of spiritual receptivity inherent in individual minds across the realms. The physical authority, presence, and function of Deity remain unvarying throughout all universes, but the spiritual presence or reaction of Deity fluctuates based on the differential recognition and reception by will creatures. The functioning presence of subabsolute and experiential Deity is directly influenced by the decisions, choices, and will-attitudes of finite beings, reflecting the loyalty and devotion of individuals, planets, systems, constellations, and universes.

The differential in spiritual presence lies within the hearts and minds of intelligent beings, manifesting through their choices, mental decisions, and will determinations. This differential exists inherently in the freewill reactions of intelligent personal beings—a capacity the Universal Father intentionally established. The Deities consistently respond to the ebb and flow of their spirits, increasing their presence when creatures sincerely desire it and withdrawing when creatures exercise their divinely bestowed freedom of choice adversely. Thus, the spirit of divinity humbly conforms to the choices made by the universe's inhabitants. The Seven Master Spirits each preside over one superuniverse from these executive worlds, which provide for every aspect of sub-Paradise administration of the seven superuniverses. Though residential status is limited to native beings and those who work there, these administrative planets remain accessible to all beings wishing to visit who possess the necessary transportation means.