Paper 40 Overview: The Ascending Sons of God

Paper 40 describes the seven distinct classifications of the Ascending Sons of God, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding the diverse pathways through which various beings progress toward Paradise attainment. Beginning with the lowliest animal-origin mortals and extending to the exalted Personalized Adjusters of the Universal Father, the narrative presents an intricate tapestry of spiritual progression, illuminating the mechanisms through which creatures of vastly different origins and natures can achieve immortality and divine service. This systematic examination reveals the profound wisdom inherent in the divine plan, wherein multiple avenues of ascension serve complementary functions within the grand universe administration.

The paper emphasizes that while these ascending orders follow divergent paths, each with unique characteristics, limitations, and opportunities, none is inherently superior or inferior to the others in the divine estimation. Through detailed analysis of Father-fused, Son-fused, and Spirit-fused mortals, alongside evolutionary seraphim, ascending Material Sons, translated midwayers, and Personalized Adjusters, the narrative reveals how various beings fulfill specific functions within the cosmic ecology of spiritual administration. This revelation culminates in the profound assertion that despite their differing destinies, each ascending son is loved by the Universal Father with an affection that is true, holy, divine, unlimited, eternal, and uniquely personal—a love that transcends all other considerations and establishes sonship as the supreme relationship between creature and Creator.

Seven general classifications of the Ascending Sons of God have been revealed across the universe: Father-fused Mortals, Son-fused Mortals, Spirit-fused Mortals, Evolutionary Seraphim, Ascending Material Sons, Translated Midwayers, and Personalized Adjusters. The narrative of these beings, spanning from the lowly animal-origin mortals of evolutionary worlds to the Personalized Adjusters of the Universal Father, constitutes a glorious recital of the unstinted bestowal of divine love and gracious condescension throughout all time and across the far-flung creation of the Paradise Deities. These presentations began with a description of the Deities, and group by group, the narrative has descended the universal scale of living beings until reaching the lowest order of life endowed with immortality potential; now a Mighty Messenger, once a mortal from an evolutionary world, has been dispatched from Salvington to elaborate on the eternal purpose of the Gods regarding the ascending orders of sonship, particularly concerning the mortal creatures of time and space.

Since the greater part of this narrative will focus on discussing the three basic orders of ascending mortals, consideration will first be given to the nonmortal ascending orders of sonship: seraphic, Adamic, midwayer, and Adjuster. This approach provides a comprehensive context for understanding the intricate relationships between different ascending beings and their unique spiritual trajectories. The paper systematically examines how various entities, despite their diverse origins and natures, participate in the divine plan of progressive spiritual attainment and eventual Paradise citizenship. Through this structured analysis, the narrative illuminates the unifying principle of divine love that permeates all ascension schemes, regardless of the specific mechanisms through which different beings achieve spiritual advancement.

Mortal creatures of animal origin are not the only beings privileged to enjoy sonship, as the angelic hosts also share the supernal opportunity to attain Paradise through service and experience. Guardian seraphim, through their dedicated ministry to ascending mortals of time, achieve the status of ascendant sonship and advance to Paradise through Seraphington, with many ultimately being mustered into the Corps of Mortal Finality alongside the very beings they once guarded. This remarkable process demonstrates the universe principle that service to others creates opportunities for personal spiritual advancement, as these angels transcend their created status to achieve experiential growth and ultimate Paradise citizenship. Their journey represents a transformation from created beings with predetermined functions to experiential entities who have earned their status through dedicated service and spiritual growth.

For an angel to ascend to the supernal heights of finaliter sonship with God constitutes a masterly achievement that far transcends the attainment of eternal survival available to mortals through the plan of the Eternal Son and the assistance of the indwelling Adjuster. The magnitude of this accomplishment cannot be fully appreciated by mortal creatures, as it represents a fundamental transformation of an angel's nature and purpose in the cosmic order. While such angelic ascension is not commonplace, guardian seraphim and occasionally other angels do successfully navigate this extraordinary spiritual trajectory, demonstrating that even beings created as ministers can themselves become participants in the highest forms of spiritual attainment. This pattern illustrates the overarching principle that service-oriented existence ultimately leads to expanded opportunity and enhanced status in the hierarchical structure of universe reality.

The Material Sons of God, created within the local universe alongside the Melchizedeks and their associates, are initially classified as descending Sons, coming to inhabited worlds from their spheres of origin at the capitals of local systems. These Planetary Adams, the Material Sons and Daughters of evolutionary worlds, function as biological uplifters for the races of their assigned planets, representing a crucial link in the divine plan for improving the physical and genetic foundations of evolving mortal societies. Their status as descending Sons reflects their initial movement from higher to lower realms of existence for the purpose of service, distinguishing them from ascending beings who progress from lower to higher states through experiential growth and spiritual development.

When an Adam and Eve successfully complete their planetary mission as biological uplifters, they eventually share the destiny of the inhabitants of their world when it reaches the advanced stages of light and life. At this juncture, these faithful Material Sons and Daughters may resign their administrative duties and, after being liberated from their descending adventure, register themselves as perfected Material Sons in the records of the local universe. Similarly, Material Sons of stationary status whose planetary assignments are long delayed may withdraw from their status spheres and register as perfected Material Sons. Following these formalities, these liberated Adams and Eves are accredited as ascending Sons of God and immediately commence their long journey to Havona and Paradise, beginning at their current level of spiritual attainment and continuing in the company of mortal and other ascending Sons until they find God and achieve membership in the Corps of Mortal Finality in the eternal service of the Paradise Deities.

Although midway creatures are initially deprived of the immediate benefits of the planetary bestowals of the descending Sons of God and experience a long delay in their Paradise ascent, they are eventually released from planetary duty when their evolutionary world attains the intermediate epochs of light and life, if not before. The majority of these beings are often translated, alongside their human cousins, on the momentous day when the temple of light descends and the Planetary Prince is elevated to the dignity of Planetary Sovereign, marking a significant milestone in planetary development. Upon being relieved of their planetary obligations, both orders of midway creatures, primary and secondary, are registered in the local universe as ascending Sons of God and immediately embark upon the long Paradise ascent, following the precise routes ordained for the progression of the mortal races from the material worlds.

The translated midwayers diverge in their ultimate destinations according to their inherent nature and function, with the primary group destined for various finaliter corps, while the secondary or Adamic midwayers are all directed toward enrollment in the Mortal Corps of Finality. This differentiation reflects the unique contributions and characteristics of each midwayer type, even as both groups participate in the broader pattern of Paradise ascension. The translation of midway creatures represents yet another facet of the divine plan through which beings of diverse origins and natures can achieve spiritual progression and ultimate Paradise citizenship, demonstrating the inclusive and comprehensive nature of the ascension scheme. Their journey illustrates how loyal service on an evolutionary world eventually leads to liberation from planetary constraints and the opportunity to pursue higher spiritual attainment in the wider universe.

When mortals of time fail to achieve the eternal survival of their souls in planetary association with the spirit gifts of the Universal Father, such failure is never attributable to neglect of duty, ministry, service, or devotion on the part of the indwelling Adjuster. At mortal death, these Monitors from non-surviving individuals return to Divinington and may subsequently, following the adjudication of the non-survivor, be reassigned to the worlds of time and space for further service with other mortal minds. In certain exceptional circumstances, following repeated services of this nature or after an unusual experience such as functioning as the indwelling Adjuster of an incarnated bestowal Son, these efficient Adjusters may be personalized by the Universal Father, transitioning from their prepersonal status to a unique form of personality existence.

Personalized Adjusters constitute beings of a unique and unfathomable order within the hierarchy of universe personalities. Originally existing in an existential prepersonal status, they achieve experientialization through participation in the lives and careers of the lowly mortals on material worlds, gaining valuable insights and experiences that would be otherwise unattainable. The personality bestowed upon these experienced Thought Adjusters derives its origin and wellspring from the Universal Father's personal and continuing ministry of experiential personality bestowal upon his creature creation, representing a direct and extraordinary gift from the First Source and Center. Because of this divine origin of their personality, these Personalized Adjusters are classified as ascending Sons of God, occupying the highest position among all such orders of sonship due to their intimate connection with the Universal Father and their unique experiential history of indwelling mortal minds.

Mortals represent the final link in the chain of beings designated as sons of God, wherein the personal touch of the Original and Eternal Son passes downward through a series of decreasingly divine and increasingly human personalizations until reaching beings much like humans—creatures that can be seen, heard, and touched. Similarly, the Original and Infinite Spirit, through a long series of decreasingly divine and increasingly human orders, draws progressively nearer to the struggling creatures of the realms, reaching the limit of expression in the angels, beings only slightly higher than humans, who personally guard and guide mortals throughout their temporal journey. The Universal Father, while unable to downstep himself to make direct personal contact with the almost limitless number of ascending creatures throughout the universe of universes, establishes intimate connection through the indwelling Thought Adjusters, the divine Monitors, thereby drawing nearest to mortal beings through the personality circuit and inner spiritual communion with their very souls.

Since Thought Adjusters constitute the only spirits with fusion potential to be identified with humans during material existence, mortals of time and space are primarily classified according to their relationship with these divine gifts. This classification system includes three main categories: mortals experiencing transient or experiential Adjuster sojourn, mortals of non-Adjuster-fusion types, and mortals with Adjuster-fusion potential. The first series designation is temporary for evolving planets during their early developmental stages, encompassing primitive human minds that may acquire survival capacity without achieving Adjuster fusion. The second series comprises specialized human types who cannot effect eternal union with their indwelling Adjusters due to physiological or other modifications in their nature. The third series, which includes most humans on advanced worlds like Urantia, represents those with the potential for eternal fusion with their indwelling fragment of the Universal Father, the highest destiny available to mortals of time and space. This classification system provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the spiritual potential and ultimate destinies of various mortal types throughout the universe.

The mortal races stand as representatives of the lowest order of intelligent and personal creation, yet they are divinely beloved by the Universal Father and hold an esteemed position in the cosmic hierarchy of being. Mortals are officially reckoned as ascending sons the instant fusion takes place between the surviving soul and some type of eternal and immortal spirit, but prior to this transformative event, their status is that of faith sons—beings who exist in a transitional state between purely material existence and confirmed spiritual destiny. This intermediate position as faith sons represents a solemn and supernal fact that illustrates the extraordinary relationship between the lowest order of personal creation and the highest source of divine reality, highlighting the remarkable potential inherent in even the most humble intelligent beings in the universe.

All evolutionary worlds of mortal habitation harbor these faith sons of God, creatures belonging to the divine family who are accordingly called sons of God despite their material nature. Urantia mortals qualify for this designation of divine sonship for several significant reasons: they are sons of spiritual promise who have accepted the status of sonship through faith, establishing an eternally real relationship with God; they are truly related as spiritual brothers to Christ, the victorious Michael, and therefore share sonship with the Universal Father; they have received the spirit of a Son that continually draws them toward both the divine Son and the Paradise Father; they have been endowed with a measure of divine spontaneity of freewill action that God shares with all potential sons; and they are indwelt by a fragment of the Universal Father himself, creating a direct and intimate connection to the First Source and Center. These five factors establish the foundation for the mortal claim to divine sonship, demonstrating that even the lowest creatures of intelligent will can participate meaningfully in the family of God.

The bestowal of Thought Adjusters and their indwelling of mortal minds constitutes one of the unfathomable mysteries of God the Father in his relationship with created beings. These fragments of the divine nature carry within them the potential for creature immortality, and successful union with them confers eternal life upon the soul of the fused mortal. Father-fused mortals include the human races that survive physical death and progress through the mansion worlds, representing planetary sons with evolutionary origins who have been modified by the Adamic life infusion—beings who possess ascension potential to the highest heights of glory and divinity attainment. This potential for spiritual advancement is actualized through faith and freewill cooperation with the spiritualizing activities of the indwelling Adjuster, a process that culminates in the final and permanent fusion of the mortal identity with the divine Monitor.

When a mortal and their Adjuster are finally and forever fused, becoming one unified being much as Christ Michael unified the Son of God and Son of Man natures, they truly become ascending sons of God in the fullest sense. The Adjuster's career of indwelling ministry on probationary and evolutionary planets represents an extensive and profound process that embraces the mortal's entire career, from early physical existence through the ascending journey in Nebadon, Orvonton, and Havona, ultimately reaching Paradise itself. The Universal Father's command to "Be you perfect, even as I am perfect" reflects the divine expectation for these beings, as the Father has bestowed himself upon mortals by placing his own spirit within them. This supernal adventure of human ascent from the mortal spheres of time to the divine realms of eternity constitutes an intriguing recital not fully covered in this narrative, but it represents the supreme study worthy of mortal contemplation. For Adjuster-fused mortals, the career of universal service stands wide open, offering a dignity of destiny and glory of attainment that many fail to fully comprehend while navigating the challenges of material existence.

While the majority of surviving mortals achieve fusion with their Adjusters either on the mansion worlds or immediately upon their arrival on the higher morontia spheres, certain cases experience delayed fusion, with some mortal candidates for never-ending life failing to attain identity fusion with their faithful Adjusters even after reaching the final educational worlds of the universe headquarters. These mortals have been deemed worthy of survival by the adjudicational authorities, and their Adjusters, returning from Divinington, have concurred with their ascension to the mansion worlds, yet fusion remains elusive despite numerous opportunities—specifically, the "seventy times seven" chances for union. This pattern of non-fusion represents an intriguing anomaly in the ascension scheme, suggesting that certain inherent factors or synchronizing difficulties may prevent some otherwise worthy mortals from achieving the standard pattern of Adjuster fusion.

When it becomes apparent that some synchronizing difficulty is inhibiting Father fusion in these cases, the survival referees of the Creator Son convene a special court of inquiry, sanctioned by a personal representative of the Ancients of Days. If this tribunal determines that the ascending mortal bears no responsibility for the failure to attain fusion, they certify this finding in the records of the local universe and transmit this conclusion to the Ancients of Days. The indwelling Adjuster then returns to Divinington for confirmation by the Personalized Monitors, and upon this departure, the morontia mortal immediately fuses with an individualized gift of the Creator Son's spirit, becoming a Son-fused ascender. These Son-fused mortals share the morontia spheres of Nebadon with their Spirit-fused counterparts and participate in the services of Orvonton alongside their Adjuster-fused brethren, though they represent a relatively small population with fewer than one million in the superuniverse of Orvonton. Despite their different fusion pattern, they are in every way the equals of their Adjuster-fused associates, except for their ultimate residential destiny on Paradise, as they generally remain confined to the superuniverse of their nativity.

Ascending Spirit-fused mortals, while not classified as Third Source personalities, are included in the Father's personality circuit but have fused with individualizations of the premind spirit of the Third Source and Center rather than with Thought Adjusters. This Spirit fusion never occurs during the span of natural mortal life but takes place only during the process of morontia reawakening on the mansion worlds, marking a distinct difference from the pattern of Adjuster fusion, which can sometimes occur during physical life. During mortal existence, Adjusters indwell these potential Spirit-fusion candidates just as they do with Adjuster-fusion prospects, effectively building the same spirit counterpart of mortal nature, the soul, that they construct in candidates for Adjuster fusion. Up until mortal dissolution, the function of the Adjusters in these beings mirrors their work in other mortal types, but upon death, they permanently depart from these Spirit-fusion candidates, proceeding to Divinington to await new assignments.

When Spirit-fusion candidates are repersonalized on the mansion worlds, the vacated position of the departed Adjuster is filled by an individualization of the spirit of the Divine Minister, the representative of the Infinite Spirit in the local universe concerned. This spirit infusion constitutes these beings as Spirit-fused mortals, making them equals of other ascenders in mind and spirit qualities. They differ significantly from their ascendant brethren in one crucial respect: they lack mortal memory of human experience on the material worlds of origin, as this memory survives physical death only through the Adjuster's acquisition of a spirit counterpart or transcript of spiritually significant human events. Since the departed Adjusters take these experiential records with them, Spirit-fused mortals awaken in the resurrection halls of the morontia spheres without consciousness of their former existence, effectively becoming new creatures without memory of prior life. Through interaction with associated seraphim and cherubim, consultation of angelic records, and reliance on their soul's residual experiential-recognition-response to unremembered events, these beings gradually recover a functional understanding of their former lives, though their cosmic journey generally remains confined to the local universe as permanent citizens rather than proceeding to Paradise with Adjuster-fused mortals.

The spirits associated with mortal fusion invariably ascend to their level of origin, establishing a pattern wherein Spirit-fused mortals generally remain within the confines of their local universe, Son-fused survivors are restricted to their superuniverse, and Adjuster-fused mortals are destined to traverse the entire universe of universes. This distinctive arrangement ensures that different levels of universe administration benefit from the permanent presence of ascendant citizens with particular insights and experiential wisdom. The Thought Adjuster, originating from the Father on Paradise, never ceases its progressive journey until its mortal partner stands face to face with the eternal God, reflecting the Adjuster's inherent drive to return to its divine source with its mortal complement. While superficial analysis might suggest that this differentiated pattern represents a flaw in the ascension scheme or indicates inequity in opportunity, deeper understanding reveals that these varied destinies fulfill essential functions within the divine plan for universe administration and development.

Analysis of this diversified ascension pattern suggests that consigning all mortals to an ultimate Paradise destiny would create imbalance in the universe administration, as the courts of the Creator Sons and the Ancients of Days would become wholly dependent on beings in transit to higher realms rather than benefiting from permanent ascendant citizens. The present arrangement provides local and superuniverse governments with stable groups of glorified mortals who function as evolutionary complements to other administrative entities, enriching these realms through their experiential wisdom and developed competencies. While Adjuster-fused finaliters enjoy the widest service opportunity throughout the seven segments of the grand universe, Spirit-fused and Son-fused ascenders develop specialized wisdom through their focused experience in particular domains, potentially playing crucial roles when the Paradise finaliters pioneer the expanding frontiers of divinity in outer space. The Universal Father loves each of his sons with a true, holy, divine, unlimited, eternal, and uniquely personal affection that eclipses all other considerations, establishing sonship as the supreme relationship between the creature and Creator. This divine love ensures that every facility and all power have been provided for the ultimate attainment of the Paradise goal of divine perfection, regardless of the specific fusion pattern a particular ascender follows.