Paper 114 Overview: Seraphic Planetary Government

The Most Highs rule in the kingdoms of men primarily through seraphic ministry, with over one billion angels currently serving on Urantia. The planetary government has a unique structure due to seven special circumstances, including the Lucifer rebellion, the Adamic default, and Michael's bestowal mission on this world. Despite its unusual organization, this government functions effectively through a complex hierarchy that includes the twenty-four planetary supervisors, a resident governor general, and a Most High observer from Edentia.

The actual administrative structure includes twelve corps of master seraphim who oversee various aspects of planetary progress, from religious development to health, education, and industry. These angels do not directly control human affairs but work behind the scenes to influence events in alignment with cosmic plans. Additionally, a reserve corps of destiny comprised of selected humans works in coordination with celestial beings to manage planetary affairs during emergencies and ensure the forward progress of civilization during critical periods.

The Most Highs rule in the kingdoms of men primarily through celestial forces, particularly the ministry of seraphim. At the time of this record, Urantia hosted 501,234,619 pairs of seraphim, totaling over one billion individual angels, with a similar number of cherubim also present. These angels, assisted by midway creatures, function as the actual supermaterial ministers who execute the mandates of the resident governor general and all his associates.

Urantia's planetary government differs from all others in the Satania system due to seven unusual circumstances: the planet's life modification status, the disruptions of the Lucifer rebellion, complications from the Adamic default, Michael's bestowal on this world, the special function of the twenty-four planetary directors, the location of an archangels' circuit on the planet, and the recent designation of Machiventa Melchizedek as vicegerent Planetary Prince.

The original sovereignty of Urantia was held by the Satania system sovereign, who first delegated it to a joint commission of Melchizedeks and Life Carriers. After the downfall of Prince Caligastia during the Lucifer rebellion, Urantia had no secure relationship with the local universe until Michael completed his bestowal mission and was proclaimed Planetary Prince of Urantia. Rather than administering the planet personally, Michael established a Jerusem commission of twenty-four former Urantians to represent him in planetary government.

Recently, vicegerent authority to act for Michael as Planetary Prince has been vested in Machiventa Melchizedek, though he has made no moves to modify the current regime. Many celestial observers believe that in the near future, the plan of using one of the twenty-four counselors as governor general will be replaced by Machiventa's formal arrival as sovereign. Some even believe he will not come until the end of the current dispensation or until Michael himself returns to Urantia as promised.

Since Michael's bestowal on Urantia, the general management of the planet has been entrusted to a special group on Jerusem consisting of twenty-four former Urantians. All members of this commission were leaders on Urantia and have had their leadership qualities further enhanced by mansion world experience and Jerusem citizenship training. The selection process involves nomination by Lanaforge's cabinet, approval by various authorities, and final appointment by Gabriel according to Michael's mandate.

This board is particularly concerned with overseeing activities related to Michael's bestowal mission on Urantia. John the Baptist currently chairs the council when it meets on Jerusem, though the Assigned Sentinel of Satania serves as its ex officio head. These twenty-four counselors also function as advisory supervisors for the thirty-six other rebellion-isolated worlds in the system, but they are especially focused on Urantia's welfare and advancement. They will likely continue in their current roles until some significant planetary change occurs, such as Machiventa assuming full authority or the final adjudication of the Lucifer rebellion.

Every hundred years of Urantia time, the Jerusem corps of twenty-four planetary supervisors designates one of their members to reside on Urantia as their executive representative, the resident governor general. At the time these narratives were prepared, the nineteenth governor was being succeeded by the twentieth. The name of the current planetary supervisor is withheld because humans tend to venerate or even deify extraordinary compatriots and superhuman superiors.

The resident governor general has no actual personal authority over world affairs but functions as the coordinator of superhuman administration and is respected as the leader of all celestial beings on Urantia. Angels consider him their coordinating director, while the United Midwayers view successive governors as their planetary fathers. Although lacking direct authority, the governor issues many rulings and decisions that are accepted as final by all concerned parties. He serves more as a fatherly advisor than a technical ruler, functioning somewhat like a Planetary Prince but with an administration more similar to that of the Material Sons.

Urantia's sovereignty is further complicated by the Norlatiadek government's seizure of planetary authority after the Lucifer rebellion. A Vorondadek Son from Edentia remains on Urantia as an observer for the Most Highs and, in Michael's absence, serves as trustee of planetary sovereignty. The current Most High observer is the twenty-third to serve on Urantia and maintains close advisory relations with the planetary supervisors and race commissioners.

In a crisis, the actual sovereign head of government would be this Vorondadek Son, except in purely spiritual matters where the commanding archangel has supreme authority. The Most High observer is empowered to seize the planetary government during grave crises, which has occurred thirty-three times in Urantia's history. During such periods, the observer functions as the Most High regent with unquestioned authority over all ministers except the archangels. This arrangement is not unique to rebellion-isolated planets, as the Most Highs may intervene in any inhabited world's affairs when necessary.

The actual administration of Urantia is difficult to describe because it lacks a formal government structure with separate legislative, executive, and judicial departments. The twenty-four counselors most closely resemble a legislative branch, while the governor general serves as a provisional and advisory chief executive, with veto power held by the Most High observer. There are no authoritative judicial powers on the planet, only conciliating commissions to settle disputes.

Most problems involving seraphim and midwayers are decided by the governor general, though his rulings can be appealed to conciliating commissions or even to the System Sovereign. The absence of a corporeal Planetary Prince's staff and the Material Son and Daughter is partially compensated by the special ministry of seraphim and midway creatures. Despite its loose organization and somewhat personal administration, this planetary government functions effectively, largely due to the time-saving assistance of the archangels and their communication circuit, which is frequently used in emergencies and administrative difficulties.

When the first governor general arrived on Urantia concurrent with the outpouring of the Spirit of Truth, he was accompanied by twelve corps of special seraphim, graduates of Seraphington. These exalted angels, known as the master seraphim of planetary supervision, work under the general supervision of the resident governor general and the immediate direction of a seraphic council of twelve chiefs.

The twelve corps of master seraphim serve specific functions on Urantia: the epochal angels oversee each age; the progress angels foster social advancement; the religious guardians preserve valuable spiritual concepts; the angels of nation life direct political affairs; the angels of the races work to conserve the nine human races; the angels of the future plan for coming dispensations; the angels of enlightenment promote education; the angels of health assist medical agencies; the home seraphim preserve family life; the angels of industry foster economic development; the angels of diversion elevate recreation; and the angels of superhuman ministry assist other celestial beings.

The reserve corps of destiny consists of living men and women admitted to the special service of the superhuman administration of world affairs. This corps includes humans from each generation chosen by spirit directors to assist in conducting the ministry of mercy and wisdom to evolutionary worlds. Mortals are selected for this service based on their intelligence, spirituality, and unique capacity to serve in potential emergency situations relating to world affairs.

On Urantia, there are twelve reserve corps of destiny, one for each group of seraphic supervision, with a current total of 962 persons. Most members remain completely unconscious of their preparation for possible emergency functions, having been trained in the deep mind through the combined technique of Thought Adjuster and seraphic guardian ministry. These reservists may achieve contact with their Adjusters through the assistance of midway creatures, allowing for the transfer of vital information during planetary crises. Although rarely recognized in human history, these reserve personalities function during social emergencies and spiritual exigencies to prevent the breakdown of evolutionary culture or the extinction of truth.