Paper 38 Overview: Ministering Spirits of the Local Universe

The angelic hosts of a local universe encompass three distinct orders of the Infinite Spirit's personalities: angels as the ministering spirits of time, authorities as the messenger hosts of space, and powers as the higher personalities of the Infinite Spirit. Seraphim, accompanied by cherubim and sanobim, constitute the angelic corps of a local universe, displaying remarkable uniformity in design throughout the seven superuniverses while functioning as skilled and common ministers within local creations. These beings operate across multiple levels of reality, interfacing with both spiritual and material domains while maintaining a unique form of paired existence that facilitates their cosmic responsibilities.

The paper examines in detail the nature, origin, organization, and evolution of seraphim and their associates, cherubim and sanobim, describing their training methods, operational structure, and relationship to human beings. It further explores the unique position of midway creatures who bridge the gap between material and spiritual realms, functioning effectively as intermediaries between humans and angels. This intricate network of celestial beings forms a continuous chain of ministry extending from the highest spiritual realms down to the material worlds of time and space, all serving within the elaborate administrative structure of the local universe of Nebadon.

There are three distinct orders of the Infinite Spirit's personalities functioning across the grand universe: angels serving as ministering spirits of time, authorities operating as messenger hosts of space, and powers representing the higher personalities of the Infinite Spirit. The apostle understood this cosmic arrangement when writing about Jesus being at "the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him." Angelic hosts in the local universe consist primarily of seraphim supported by cherubim and sanobim, paralleling how the central universe employs supernaphim and the superuniverses utilize seconaphim for similar functions.

Seraphim exhibit remarkable design uniformity throughout all seven superuniverses, showing minimal variation across the universal domains. These beings represent the most standardized spirit type among all personal beings in creation. The various orders of seraphim constitute both the skilled specialists and common ministers operating throughout local universe domains, providing essential services that maintain the functionality of evolutionary worlds and support the progression of will creatures.

Seraphim are created by the Universe Mother Spirit, being projected in precisely measured unit formations of 41,472 angels at a time, dating back to the creation of the "pattern angels" and specific angelic archetypes during the early epochs of Nebadon's formation. The creative process follows a cosmic pattern wherein the Creator Son and the universe representation of the Infinite Spirit first collaborate to create numerous Sons and other universe personalities. Following this joint creative effort, the Son independently engages in creating the Material Sons, the first sex creatures, while simultaneously the Universe Mother Spirit undertakes her initial solitary endeavor at spirit reproduction, thus initiating the creation of the seraphic hosts within the local universe.

These angelic orders are projected concurrently with the planning phase for mortal will creatures' evolution, marking the Universe Mother Spirit's attainment of relative personality. The creation of seraphim correlates specifically with the Universe Mother Spirit's status not as the later co-ordinate of the Master Son but rather as the early creative helper of the Creator Son. Before this critical evolutionary milestone in Nebadon's development, seraphim serving within this domain were temporarily borrowed from a neighboring universe. The creation of these celestial beings continues periodically as the universe of Nebadon remains in ongoing development; the Universe Mother Spirit maintains unceasing creative activity throughout the expanding and perfecting universe.

Angels manifest as definite and discrete beings of spirit nature and origin despite lacking material bodies perceptible to mortal senses. They can perceive mortals in their physical form without requiring transformers or translators, comprehending the mode of mortal life while sharing all non-sensuous human emotions and sentiments. Angels genuinely appreciate human creative expressions in music, art, and humor, demonstrating full cognizance of mortals' moral struggles and spiritual difficulties. They harbor authentic love for human beings, ensuring that only positive outcomes can result from human efforts to understand and reciprocate that affection.

Though characterized by affectionate and sympathetic natures, seraphim are not sex-emotion creatures, resembling the state humans will attain on the mansion worlds where they will "neither marry nor be given in marriage but will be as the angels of heaven." Angels function effectively on both spiritual and literal levels, with few phases of morontia or spirit activity closed to their ministrations. While not excessively distant from humans in personal status, seraphim transcend mortals in certain functional capacities, possessing inherent and automatic powers far beyond human comprehension, such as their ability to know instantly things that would require tremendous computational effort for mortals. Despite their superior spiritual status, angels serve neither as judges nor accusers of mankind, bringing no accusations regardless of human faults. They deserve human love but not worship, as exemplified when the great seraphim Loyalatia corrected a human seer attempting to worship him, stating: "See that you do it not; I am a fellow servant with you and with your races, who are all enjoined to worship God."

Numerous orders of spirit beings operate throughout the local universe domains that remain unrevealed to mortals because they have no connection to the evolutionary plan of Paradise ascension. The term "angel" in this paper is deliberately restricted to designating those seraphic and associated offspring of the Universe Mother Spirit primarily concerned with implementing the plans for mortal survival. Six additional orders of related beings serve within the local universe, the unrevealed angels, who remain unconnected with universe activities pertaining to the Paradise ascent of evolutionary mortals. These groups are never called seraphim nor referred to as ministering spirits.

These unrevealed angelic personalities maintain complete occupation with administrative affairs and other engagements within Nebadon that bear no relationship to mankind's progressive spiritual ascent and perfection attainment. Their functions, while essential to universal administration, operate parallel to but distinct from the ministering spirits whose activities directly impact the evolutionary development and spiritual progression of will creatures throughout the worlds of time and space.

The ninth group of seven primary spheres within the Salvington circuit constitutes the worlds of the seraphim, each having six tributary satellites dedicated to specialized schools for all phases of seraphic training. While seraphim can access all forty-nine worlds comprising this group of Salvington spheres, they exclusively occupy only the first cluster of seven. The remaining six clusters accommodate the six orders of angelic associates unrevealed on Urantia, with each group maintaining headquarters on one of these six primary worlds while conducting specialized activities on the six tributary satellites. Every angelic order maintains free access to all worlds within these seven diverse groups.

These headquarters worlds rank among Nebadon's magnificent realms, with seraphic estates characterized by both beauty and vastness. Each seraphim possesses a genuine home, defined as the domicile for two seraphim who live in pairs. Although not divided into male and female counterparts like Material Sons and mortal races, seraphim exist as negative and positive complements, typically requiring two angels to accomplish assigned tasks. When not encircuited, they can function independently, but they generally maintain their original complements of being. These pairings arise primarily from functional necessity rather than emotional factors, though their relationships manifest as exceedingly personal and genuinely affectionate. Beyond their designated homes, seraphim also maintain group, company, battalion, and unit headquarters, assembling for reunions every millennium with attendance corresponding to their creation date. When responsibilities prevent a seraphim from attending, they alternate attendance with their complement, ensuring each partner attends at least every other reunion.

Seraphim dedicate their first millennium to service as noncommissioned observers on Salvington and its associated educational worlds. The second millennium is spent training on the seraphic worlds of the Salvington circuit, where the central training school operates under the leadership of the first one hundred thousand Nebadon seraphim, headed by the original or first-born angel of this local universe. Nebadon's first created seraphim received instruction from one thousand seraphim dispatched from Avalon, establishing a tradition where angels subsequently learn from their seniors. The Melchizedeks also contribute significantly to educating and training all local universe angels—including seraphim, cherubim, and sanobim.

Upon completing this intensive training period on Salvington's seraphic worlds, these angels undergo mobilization into conventional organizational groups and receive assignments to one of the constellations. Though not yet commissioned as ministering spirits at this stage, they have entered the precommissioned phases of angelic preparation. Seraphim begin their official service as ministering spirits through observational duties on the lowest evolutionary worlds, later returning to the headquarters worlds of their assigned constellation for advanced studies and more specific preparation for service within a particular local system. Following this comprehensive education on the architectural worlds associated with a Nebadon system capital, seraphim complete their training and receive commissioning as ministering spirits of time. Once commissioned, these angels may traverse all Nebadon and even Orvonton on assignment, performing boundless and unlimited work throughout the universe while maintaining close association with material creatures and consistently serving the lower orders of spiritual personalities by bridging communication between the spirit world and the material realms.

After their second millennium at seraphic headquarters, seraphim organize under chiefs into groups of twelve pairs (24 seraphim), with twelve such groups forming a company (144 pairs or 288 seraphim) commanded by a leader. Twelve companies under a commander constitute a battalion (1,728 pairs or 3,456 seraphim), while twelve battalions directed by a director equal a seraphic unit (20,736 pairs or 41,472 individuals). Furthermore, twelve units under a supervisor's command form a legion numbering 248,832 pairs or 497,664 individuals, a formation Jesus referenced in Gethsemane when stating he could ask for "more than twelve legions of angels."

The organizational structure extends further as twelve legions comprise a host of 2,985,984 pairs or 5,971,968 individuals, and twelve such hosts (35,831,808 pairs or 71,663,616 individuals) constitute the largest operational organization of seraphim, an angelic army. A seraphic host operates under the command of an archangel or personality of equivalent status, while angelic armies receive direction from the Brilliant Evening Stars or other immediate lieutenants of Gabriel. Gabriel himself serves as the "supreme commander of the armies of heaven," functioning as the chief executive of Nebadon's Sovereign and "the Lord God of hosts." Although originally functioning under the direct supervision of the Infinite Spirit as personalized on Salvington, seraphim and all other local universe orders have become subject to the Master Son's sovereignty since Michael's bestowal. Even during Michael's physical incarnation on Urantia, a superuniverse broadcast proclaimed throughout Nebadon, "And let all the angels worship him," establishing that all ranks of angels fall under his sovereignty as part of the group designated "his mighty angels."

Cherubim and sanobim possess essentially the same endowments as seraphim, sharing a common origin though not always the same destiny. These beings demonstrate wonderful intelligence, marvelous efficiency, and touching affection while displaying near-human qualities. As the lowest order of angels, they maintain closer kinship with the more progressive human types on evolutionary worlds. These beings exist in an inherently associated, functionally united relationship where one manifests as an energy-positive personality (the cherubim, senior or controlling personality) and the other as an energy-negative presence (the sanobim, the complement of being).

Each angel type faces significant limitations when functioning alone, typically serving in pairs due to their mutual dependence and always operating together when serving independently of their seraphic directors. Cherubim and sanobim function as faithful and efficient aids to seraphic ministers, with all seven orders of seraphim receiving these subordinate assistants. These helpers serve for extended periods in these capacities but do not accompany seraphim on assignments beyond the local universe boundaries. On nonpersonal assignments and during emergencies, they may temporarily replace a seraphic pair, but they never function as attending angels to human beings; that privilege remains exclusively seraphic. When assigned to planets, cherubim undertake local training courses, including studying planetary customs and languages. Like seraphim and all other spirit beings with actual or potential personal volition, cherubim and sanobim engage in continuous self-improvement efforts, consistently seeking new achievements and greater service opportunities.

Numerous advancement pathways remain open to cherubim and sanobim, potentially leading to enhanced status that the Divine Minister's embrace may further augment. These beings fall into three distinct classes regarding evolutionary potential: ascension candidates naturally oriented toward seraphic status; mid-phase cherubim with inherently limited ascension capacity; and morontia cherubim, the "fourth creatures" of angelic orders who retain quasi-material characteristics. The ascension candidates, though not inherently equal to seraphim, possess brilliant qualities that make it possible, through application and experience, to attain full seraphic standing. Mid-phase cherubim face inherent limitations in their advancement potential, with most remaining permanently as cherubim and sanobim, though more gifted individuals may achieve limited seraphic service.

Many experienced cherubim receive assignments to seraphic guardians of destiny, placing them directly in line for advancement to Mansion World Teachers when their seraphic seniors depart. Guardian seraphim relinquish their cherubim and sanobim helpers when their mortal wards attain morontia life. Similarly, when evolutionary seraphim receive clearance for Seraphington and Paradise, they must leave behind their former subordinates upon departing Nebadon's confines. The Universe Mother Spirit typically embraces these deserted cherubim and sanobim, enabling them to achieve a level equivalent to Mansion World Teachers in seraphic status. After extended service on the morontia spheres from lowest to highest, when their Salvington corps becomes overrecruited, these once-embraced cherubim and sanobim receive summons from the Bright and Morning Star. Upon administration of the personality transformation oath, the Universe Mother Spirit re-embraces these advanced seniors in groups of seven thousand, transforming them into full-fledged seraphim. This rebirth opens the complete seraphic career path with all its Paradise possibilities to these former cherubim and sanobim.

Midway creatures possess a threefold classification: properly categorized with ascending Sons of God, factually grouped with orders of permanent citizenship, and functionally counted among the ministering spirits of time due to their close association with angelic hosts in serving mortal beings on individual worlds. These unique beings exist on most inhabited worlds, invariably appearing on decimal or life-experiment planets like Urantia. Midwayers comprise two types, primary and secondary, emerging through specific techniques: primary midwayers form a standardized order uniformly derived from modified ascendant-mortal staffs of Planetary Princes, with precisely fifty thousand serving on any planet receiving their ministry; secondary midwayers, more materially oriented, vary considerably in number across different worlds though averaging around fifty thousand, originating through at least twenty-four diverse techniques involving planetary biologic uplifters (Adams and Eves) or their immediate progeny.

Neither midwayer group represents an evolutionary accident; both function as essential components in the universe architects' predetermined plans. Primary midwayers receive intellectual and spiritual energizing through angelic techniques, maintaining uniform intellectual status with no contact from adjutant mind-spirits except the sixth (worship) and seventh (wisdom), which minister to the secondary group. Secondary midwayers obtain physical energizing through Adamic techniques, spiritual encircuiting via seraphic means, and intellectual endowment through morontia transition mind. The gap between material and spiritual worlds finds perfect bridging through the serial association of mortal humans, secondary midwayers, primary midwayers, morontia cherubim, mid-phase cherubim, and seraphim. In normal worlds, primary midwayers serve as intelligence corps and celestial entertainers for the Planetary Prince, while secondary ministers cooperate with the Adamic regime to advance progressive planetary civilization. Eventually, faithful midwayers receive recognition for their agelong service maintaining the Creator Son's sovereignty, earning rewards for patiently ministering to material mortals. All accredited midway creatures ultimately join the ascending Sons of God, undergoing initiation into the Paradise ascent adventure alongside the very mortals they so zealously guarded and effectively served during their long planetary sojourn.