Paper 37 Overview: Personalities of the Local Universe

Paper 37 provides a comprehensive exposition of the diverse personalities that populate, administer, and sustain the local universe of Nebadon. At the administrative apex stands Michael, the Creator and Master Son, functioning in divine partnership with the Divine Minister of Salvington, who together constitute the Father-Son and Spirit-Mother of all native creatures. The paper principally describes the Universe Aids, a specialized intervening group of personalities including Gabriel (the Bright and Morning Star), the Brilliant Evening Stars, Archangels, Most High Assistants, High Commissioners, Celestial Overseers, and Mansion World Teachers. It further examines the higher spirit orders assigned from the Infinite Spirit's family and the permanent citizens who provide stability to the evolving cosmos, while concluding with a review of specialized entities that perform essential but often unheralded functions.

Through this systematic examination, the paper reveals the intricate administrative structure that facilitates Nebadon's growth and progression. The Universe Aids function as essential extensions of Michael's administration, while Paradise-origin beings temporarily stationed in Nebadon provide vital connections to higher universe levels. Of particular significance is the revelation concerning Spirit-fused ascenders who constitute the High Commissioners, offering insight into an alternative evolutionary destiny distinct from the Adjuster fusion path followed by Urantia mortals. The educational infrastructure maintained by the Celestial Overseers exemplifies the fundamental principle that universe advancement occurs through experiential education paired with divine guidance. Ultimately, the paper demonstrates that the entire local universe functions as an elaborate training system for the pilgrims of time, with each personality type contributing to this grand purpose according to their unique capacities and divine assignments.

Of the first order of Universe Aids, the Bright and Morning Stars, there is just one in each local universe, and he is the firstborn of all creatures native to a local universe. The Bright and Morning Star of our universe is known as Gabriel of Salvington. He is the chief executive of all Nebadon, functioning as the personal representative of the Sovereign Son and as spokesman for his creative consort.

During the earlier times of Nebadon, Gabriel worked quite alone with Michael and the Creative Spirit. As the universe grew and administrative problems multiplied, he was provided with a personal staff of unrevealed assistants, and eventually, this group was augmented by the creation of the Nebadon corps of Evening Stars.

Many unique orders typically classified within this comprehensive category remain unrevealed to mortal understanding, but as presented within these papers, the Universe Aids encompass seven distinct orders: Bright and Morning Stars, Brilliant Evening Stars, Archangels, Most High Assistants, High Commissioners, Celestial Overseers, and Mansion World Teachers. Each order fulfills specialized functions within the administrative structure of Nebadon, collectively forming a coordinated network of service that extends from Salvington throughout the entire local universe.

Of particular significance is the first order, the Bright and Morning Stars, of which there exists precisely one in each local universe. This unique being stands as the first-born of all creatures native to a local universe. The Bright and Morning Star of our universe, known as Gabriel of Salvington, functions as the chief executive officer of all Nebadon, serving as the personal representative of the Sovereign Son and official spokesperson for his creative consort. During Nebadon's formative periods, Gabriel worked in relative isolation alongside Michael and the Creative Spirit. As the universe expanded and administrative complexities multiplied, he acquired a personal staff of unrevealed assistants, which was eventually augmented through the creation of the Nebadon corps of Evening Stars to facilitate his ever-increasing responsibilities.

These luminous beings were conceptualized by the Melchizedeks and subsequently brought into existence through the collaborative creation of the Creator Son and Creative Spirit. They fulfill numerous capacities but function primarily as liaison officers for Gabriel, the local universe chief executive. One or more of these beings operate as his official representatives at the administrative capital of every constellation and system throughout Nebadon, extending his executive authority throughout the local universe.

As chief executive of Nebadon, Gabriel serves ex officio as chairman or observer at most Salvington conclaves, with as many as one thousand such deliberative assemblies often occurring simultaneously. The Brilliant Evening Stars represent Gabriel on these occasions, compensating for his physical limitation of being unable to manifest in multiple locations concurrently. These superangels perform an analogous service for the corps of Trinity Teacher Sons. Despite his intensive administrative responsibilities, Gabriel maintains comprehensive contact with all aspects of universe life and affairs through the Brilliant Evening Stars, who regularly accompany him on planetary tours and frequently undertake special missions as his personal representatives, sometimes being referred to as "the angel of the Lord."

The Nebadon corps of these superangels currently numbers 13,641, comprising a distinctive twofold order—4,832 of created dignity and 8,809 ascendant spirits who have attained this exalted service position. Many of these ascendant Evening Stars began their universe careers as seraphim, while others have ascended from unrevealed levels of creature life. This high corps remains open to qualified ascension candidates so long as the universe has not achieved settled status in light and life. Both types are visible to morontia personalities and certain types of supermortal material beings, possessing a spirit force they can manifest independently of their personal presence. The head of these superangels, Gavalia, has been assigned to the ascendant mortal ministry since Christ Michael's triumphant bestowal on Urantia.

Archangels represent the direct offspring of the Creator Son and the Universe Mother Spirit, constituting the highest type of high spirit being produced in substantial numbers within a local universe. The most recent registry documented almost eight hundred thousand archangels in Nebadon. They are among the few groups of local universe personalities not typically under Gabriel's jurisdiction, as they focus not on routine administration but rather on creature survival work and advancing the ascending career of time-space mortals.

While not ordinarily subject to the Bright and Morning Star's direction, archangels sometimes function under his authority and collaborate with other Universe Aids, such as the Evening Stars. The archangel corps of Nebadon operates under the leadership of their first-born, and in recent times, a divisional headquarters of archangels has been established on Urantia—a circumstance that immediately captures the attention of extra-Nebadon student visitors. After discovering that certain Evening Star activities are directed from Satania's capital and that archangel activities are coordinated from an apparently insignificant inhabited world called Urantia, these visitors inevitably learn of Michael's bestowal on this planet, transforming their casual interest into profound curiosity.

This planetary distinction presages the future concentration of other ascendant activities on Michael's bestowal world, lending profound significance to his promise: "I will come again." Archangels typically undergo extensive preliminary training in all phases of ministering spirits' work before being assigned to the service and ministry of the Avonal order of sonship. A corps of one hundred archangels accompanies every Paradise bestowal Son to an inhabited world, temporarily serving under his authority throughout the bestowal. Two senior archangels are always assigned as personal aids to a Paradise Avonal on all planetary missions, whether involving judicial actions, magisterial missions, or bestowal incarnations.

The Most High Assistants constitute a group of volunteering beings originating outside the local universe who serve temporarily as central and superuniverse representatives to or observers of local creations. Their numbers constantly fluctuate but consistently remain in the millions. Periodically, Nebadon benefits from the ministry and assistance of Paradise-origin beings such as Perfectors of Wisdom, Divine Counselors, Universal Censors, Inspired Trinity Spirits, Trinitized Sons, Solitary Messengers, supernaphim, seconaphim, tertiaphim, and other gracious ministers who sojourn to assist native personalities in bringing Nebadon into greater harmony with Orvonton's ideas and Paradise's ideals.

Any of these beings may serve voluntarily in Nebadon, technically outside its jurisdiction, but when functioning by assignment, these personalities from super- and central universes are not entirely exempt from local universe regulations during their sojourn. Their general headquarters is situated in the Salvington sector of the Union of Days, and they operate subject to the oversupervision of this ambassador of the Paradise Trinity. When serving in unattached groups, these higher realm personalities are typically self-directing, but when serving by request, they often voluntarily place themselves entirely under the jurisdiction of supervising directors in their assigned functional domains.

Most High Assistants serve in local universe and constellation capacities but are not directly attached to system or planetary governments. They may, however, function anywhere in the local universe and can be assigned to any phase of Nebadon activity: administrative, executive, educational, and others. Most serve in assisting the Paradise personalities of Nebadon—the Union of Days, Creator Son, Faithfuls of Days, Magisterial Sons, and Trinity Teacher Sons. In certain universe affairs, it becomes prudent to temporarily withhold specific details from nearly all native personalities, and in such cases, these advanced Most High Assistants prove tremendously serviceable to universe administrators.

High Commissioners are Spirit-fused ascendant mortals rather than Adjuster-fused beings. While Urantia mortals are familiar with the universe-ascension career leading to Adjuster fusion, the high destiny available to all human beings since Christ Michael's bestowal, this was not the universal pattern in pre-bestowal ages on worlds like Urantia. On certain worlds during these earlier epochs, some mortals were never permanently indwelt by Thought Adjusters, though these Paradise monitors temporarily dwelled within them during physical life, serving as guiding patterns rather than for permanent fusion.

These Spirit-fused mortals achieve immortality through eternal fusion with an individualized fragment of the local universe Mother Spirit's spirit essence. They constitute a relatively small group, at least within Nebadon. On the mansion worlds, ascending mortals fraternize with these Spirit-fused beings as they progress together on the Paradise path as far as Salvington, where the Spirit-fused mortals typically reach the culmination of their ascent. Some may subsequently advance to higher universe levels, but the majority remain in perpetual service to the local universe, never attaining Paradise or the Corps of the Finality.

Though not Adjuster-fused, these beings eventually enroll in the local universe Corps of Perfection, having spiritually obeyed the Father's command: "Be you perfect." After achieving this status, Spirit-fused ascenders may accept appointment as Universe Aids, becoming candidates for commissions to the elevated service of interpreting evolutionary creatures' viewpoints to celestial authorities. High Commissioners begin their service on planets as race commissioners, interpreting various human races' perspectives and portraying their needs. They demonstrate supreme devotion to these mortal races' welfare, continually seeking mercy, justice, and fair treatment in all relationships with other peoples, functioning as articulate expressions for whole groups of struggling mortals through planetary crises.

After extensive experience solving problems on inhabited worlds, these race commissioners advance to higher functional levels, eventually attaining High Commissioner status in the local universe. The last registration recorded slightly over one and one-half billion High Commissioners in Nebadon. These beings invariably participate in all justice tribunals from the lowest to the highest, not by engaging in the proceedings but by advising presiding magistrates about the antecedents, environment, and inherent nature of those under adjudication. They attach themselves to various messenger hosts of space and the ministering spirits of time, appearing at various universe assemblies. When fairness and justice require understanding how contemplated policies might affect evolutionary time races, these commissioners stand ready to present recommendations and speak for those who cannot advocate for themselves.

The Nebadon educational system operates under the joint administration of the Trinity Teacher Sons and the Melchizedek teaching corps, with much of its maintenance and development executed by the Celestial Overseers. These beings form a recruited corps encompassing all types of individuals connected with educating and training ascending mortals. Over three million of them serve in Nebadon, all volunteers who have qualified through experience to function as educational advisers throughout the realm. From their headquarters on the Salvington worlds of the Melchizedeks, these overseers traverse the local universe as inspectors of the educational techniques designed to facilitate mind training and spirit education for ascending creatures.

This comprehensive training encompasses all levels from the worlds of human origin through the system mansion worlds and other spheres of progress, the seventy socializing realms of Edentia, and the four hundred and ninety spirit progress spheres surrounding Salvington. On the universe headquarters itself exist numerous specialized schools, including Melchizedek colleges, Universe Son universities, seraphic universities, and schools of the Teacher Sons and the Union of Days. Every possible provision facilitates the qualification of the universe's various personalities for advancing service and improved function.

The methodologies employed in many higher educational institutions transcend human conceptual capacity, but character acquisition through enlightened experience represents the foundational principle. Teachers provide enlightenment; the universe station and ascender's status afford experiential opportunities; and wise utilization of these factors enhances character development. The Nebadon educational system fundamentally assigns specific tasks and simultaneously provides qualified instructors to teach the ideal and divine methods for optimal performance of those assignments. The divine plan of education pairs work and instruction intimately, teaching you how best to execute the very things you are commanded to do.

The progression of eternity includes not only spiritual development but also intellectual acquisition, with mind and spirit afforded equal opportunities for training and advancement. In this superb mind and spirit training, ascending beings are forever free from the handicaps of mortal flesh, no longer needing to constantly referee the conflicting contentions of divergent spiritual and material natures. Eventually, these beings qualify to enjoy the unified urge of a glorified mind long since divested of primitive animalistic tendencies toward material things.

The Mansion World Teachers consist of recruited and glorified cherubim who, like most Nebadon instructors, receive their commissions from the Melchizedeks. They function throughout most educational enterprises of morontia life, with numbers far beyond mortal comprehension.

As an attainment level of cherubim and sanobim, the Mansion World Teachers will receive further consideration in the next paper, while as teachers playing an important part in the morontia life, they will be more extensively discussed in the paper of that name.

Beyond the power centers and physical controllers, certain higher-origin spirit beings from the Infinite Spirit's family receive permanent assignment to the local universe. Among these elevated spirit orders assigned to Nebadon are: Solitary Messengers, Universe Circuit Supervisors, Census Directors, Associate Inspectors, Universal Conciliators, Technical Advisers, and Celestial Recorders. Each fulfills specialized functions essential to the efficient operation of the local universe administration.

Solitary Messengers, when functionally attached to local universe administration, provide invaluable service in overcoming time and space limitations. Even when not specifically assigned, these unique beings willingly assist in problem-solving and mandate execution. Andovontia, the tertiary Universe Circuit Supervisor stationed in Nebadon, concerns himself exclusively with spirit and morontia circuits rather than those under power directors' jurisdiction. He isolated Urantia during the Caligastia betrayal and Lucifer rebellion, and now anticipates the planet's eventual restoration to universe circuits under his supervision.

Salsatia, the Nebadon Census Director, maintains headquarters within Gabriel's sector of Salvington, automatically cognizant of will's birth and death, and accurately registering the exact number of will creatures functioning within the local universe. Working closely with personality recorders on the archangels' record worlds, he tracks all will beings with precision. The Associate Inspector resident on Salvington personally represents Orvonton's Supreme Executive, while Universal Conciliators, the traveling courts of time and space, function from evolutionary worlds upward through every section of the local universe and beyond.

Technical Advisers, the realm's legal minds, number approximately one-half billion, serving as living experiential law libraries of all space. The Celestial Recorders, ascending seraphim, number seventy-five in Nebadon, with nearly four billion advancing students of this order in training. The ministry of seventy billion Morontia Companions in Nebadon is addressed in narratives concerning the transition planets of time pilgrims. Though each universe maintains its native angelic corps, higher spirits from outside the local creation occasionally render assistance, including supernaphim performing rare services, reflective seconaphim encountered wherever superuniverse personnel function, and tertiaphim serving temporarily as Most High Assistants.

As with the super- and central universes, the local universe maintains orders of permanent citizenship. These include created types such as: Susatia, Univitatia, Material Sons, and Midway Creatures. Together with Spirit-fused ascenders and spironga (classified separately), these beings constitute a relatively permanent citizenship, generally neither ascending nor descending creatures, but providing stability to the evolving cosmos. While their experiences continuously expand, these beings typically remain available to the universe at their origin level, though this principle is not absolutely true of the Adamic Sons and midway creatures.

The Susatia, marvelous beings residing as permanent citizens on Salvington, emerge as brilliant offspring of the Creator Son and Creative Spirit. They associate closely with the ascendant citizens, specifically the Spirit-fused mortals of the Nebadon Corps of Perfection. The Univitatia constitute the permanent population inhabiting the constellation headquarters architectural sphere clusters. They exist approximately halfway between Material Sons' semi-material status on system headquarters and the more spiritual plane of Spirit-fused mortals and susatia, though they are not morontia beings. They contribute significantly to ascending mortals traversing constellation spheres, similar to how Havona natives assist pilgrim spirits in the central creation.

Material Sons of God originate when the Creator Son personalizes in dual form his final concept of being, confirming his own dual origin by creating the beautiful Sons and Daughters of the material order, the original Adam and Eve of each local system. As a reproducing order of sonship created male and female, their progeny serve as relatively permanent citizens of system capitals, though some receive commissions as Planetary Adams. On planetary missions, Material Sons establish the Adamic race, designed to eventually amalgamate with that world's mortal inhabitants. They are both descending and ascending Sons, though typically classified as ascending.

Midway Creatures emerge in the early days of most inhabited worlds and often withdraw upon the Planetary Adams' arrival. Transactions involving these beings and Material Sons' efforts to improve evolutionary races sometimes produce limited numbers of creatures difficult to classify. These are unique beings midway between Material Sons and evolutionary creatures, hence their designation. From the Planetary Prince's arrival to the far-distant time of planetary settlement in light and life, they remain the only intelligent beings continuously on the sphere (in practical terms, the citizens of Urantia). While mortals physically inhabit evolutionary worlds, their brief lifespans contrast with midwayers' continuity, providing consistent planetary administration amid constantly shifting celestial ministries and transient mortal inhabitants.

Beyond the seraphic and mortal orders addressed in separate papers, numerous additional beings participate in maintaining and perfecting Nebadon's gigantic organization, which currently encompasses more than three million inhabited worlds with ten million more anticipated. The diverse Nebadon life types far exceed this paper's cataloging capacity, but two unusual orders functioning extensively on the 647,591 architectural spheres merit mention.

The Spironga, spirit offspring of the Bright and Morning Star and the Father Melchizedek, are exempt from personality termination but are neither evolutionary nor ascending beings. They bear no functional relationship to the evolutionary ascension regime but serve as spirit helpers executing routine spirit tasks throughout Nebadon. The Spornagia, devoted to physical upkeep and material culture of the architectural headquarters worlds from Jerusem to Salvington, are neither spirits nor persons but represent an animal order of existence; if they were visible to human perception, they would appear as perfect animals.

Various courtesy colonies reside on Salvington and elsewhere, while reversion directors operate primarily on local system capitals. Attached to universe service is a corps of ascending mortals, including glorified midway creatures, who, after attaining Salvington, serve in an almost endless variety of activities administering universe affairs. From each achievement level, these advancing mortals extend help to following fellows in the upward climb. Such mortals temporarily sojourning on Salvington receive assignments on requisition to practically all celestial personality corps as helpers, students, observers, and teachers. Additional intelligent life forms participate in local universe administration, but this narrative's plan does not accommodate further revelation of these creation orders.