Paper 52 Overview: Planetary Mortal Epochs

From the beginning of life on a planet to its final state of light and life, there are seven main ages of human development. These ages are determined by the missions of divine Sons who visit the planet. On average planets, these seven ages happen in a specific order.

After a planet is physically ready for life, Life Carriers are sent to start life there. The time before humans appear is called the prehuman era, which comes before the seven mortal epochs described in this paper.

From the beginning of life on an evolutionary planet until the final age of light and life, there appear at least seven epochs of human life. These ages are determined by the missions of the divine Sons to the planet. On most inhabited worlds, these seven epochs appear in this order: Pre-Planetary Prince Man, Post-Planetary Prince Man, Post-Adamic Man, Post-Magisterial Son Man, Post-Bestowal Son Man, Post-Teacher Son Man, and The Era of Light and Life.

When planets in space are physically ready for life, they are registered by the Life Carriers. These Sons are sent to start life on these planets. The entire period from the beginning of life until humans appear is called the prehuman era and comes before the seven mortal epochs discussed in this paper.

From the time when humans first become able to choose to worship the Creator until the arrival of the Planetary Prince, they are called primitive men. There are six basic types or races of primitive humans who appear in the order of the rainbow colors, starting with red. The time of this early evolution varies greatly between worlds, lasting from 150,000 years to over one million years.

Primitive humans are strong hunters and fierce fighters during this time. The law of this age is survival of the strongest, and government is entirely tribal. During early racial struggles, some races are completely wiped out on many worlds, as happened on Urantia. Those who survive are usually later mixed with the violet race, the Adamic peoples.

With the arrival of the Planetary Prince, a new age begins with the appearance of government on earth. The advanced tribal period is reached during this time. Under normal conditions, people reach a high level of civilization during this age, but life on Urantia was changed by rebellion.

The average length of this period is about 500,000 years, with some being longer and some shorter. During this time, the planet is established in its system circuits. A full group of seraphic and other heavenly helpers is assigned to help the planet, and Thought Adjusters come in increasing numbers.

When primitive man has reached the highest possible level of evolutionary development, a Material Son and Daughter appear on the planet. They are sent by the System Sovereign to help the world advance to the next level. Thought Adjusters are given to more and more post-Adamic humans.

It is the main purpose of the Adamic era to influence evolving humans to move from the hunter and herder stage to become farmers and gardeners. Later, urban and industrial aspects of civilization are added. Ten thousand years of this period are enough to make amazing changes to a planet.

On normal and loyal planets, this age begins with the mortal races blended and biologically fit. There are no race or color problems because all nations are of one blood. The brotherhood of man is strong, and the nations live in peace and harmony. This world is ready for great intellectual development.

When an evolutionary world becomes ready for the magisterial age, one of the high order of Avonal Sons appears on a magisterial mission. The Planetary Prince and Material Sons are from the local universe, but the Magisterial Son comes from Paradise.

When a certain level of intellectual and spiritual development is reached on an inhabited world, a Paradise bestowal Son always arrives. On normal worlds, he does not appear until the races have reached the highest levels of intellectual development and ethical achievement. But on Urantia, the bestowal Son, your own Creator Son, appeared at the close of the Adamic dispensation.

The bestowal Son lives and dies for the spiritual uplift of the mortal races of a world. He establishes the "new and living way" by showing people the truth of Paradise in human form. Through his life, he shows the way to spiritual freedom.

The bestowal Son is the Prince of Peace who arrives with the message, "Peace on earth and good will among men." On normal worlds, this is a time of worldwide peace where nations no longer learn war. But these good influences did not come with the arrival of your bestowal Son, Christ Michael.

Urantia is not following the normal planetary order. Your Master warned his disciples that his coming would not bring the usual time of peace on Urantia. He told them there would be "wars and rumors of wars" and that nations would rise against nations.

The next Sons to arrive on average evolutionary worlds are the Trinity Teacher Sons, the divine Sons of the Paradise Trinity. Again, Urantia is out of step with other planets because Jesus has promised to return. No one knows whether his second coming will happen before or after the appearances of Magisterial or Teacher Sons on Urantia.

The Teacher Sons come in groups to spiritualizing worlds. They stay for a long time to help the planet move from the evolutionary ages to the era of light and life - at least one thousand years of planetary time and often much longer. Their mission is a Trinity contribution to the earlier efforts of all the divine beings who have helped an inhabited world.