Spiritual Advice and Guidance Blog: Urantia Book

Q: Why does God let the devil destroy the life of his creation? Why doesn't he always keep us affiliated to his beautiful world rather than exposing us to this evil world?

A: Thank you for your note to Truthbook.com, a website dedicated to the teachings of a website dedicated to the teachings of The Urantia Book.

It is tempting to blame all the ills of our world on the devil. After all, many of us have been taught from an early age that there is this force for evil, centered in the devil, that appears to have equal weight against the forces for good, centered in God. We have been taught to fear the devil, and we blame him for everything bad in the world. And when we are not blaming the devil, we are blaming God for letting the devil have his way so often.

God is not responsible for any personality's evil deeds; and the devil is not always responsible for the bad things that people do:

"The devil has been given a great deal of credit for evil which does not belong to him. Caligastia [the devil - see link below] has been comparatively impotent since the cross of Christ. " (53:8.9)

This is not to say that the devil does not exist. There is a personality who The Urantia Book calls "the devil," and you can read about him HERE. Â And he is not the only one; I am sure you are familiar with the names "Lucifer" and "Satan." These two personalities. along with the devil, Caligastia, pretty much constitute the "forces of evil" who have done untold harm on this planet from the days of it's earliest development.

Two of these personalities are no longer on this planet; the devil remains, but as a vanquished, hollow presence, who can only influence those who actually seek him out. His power is greatly diminished. The remnants of their evil deeds remain, but it can be overcome. Once we know the truth about these personalities, we realize that have much more power to assume responsibility for the changes we wish to see, instead of feeling that we are powerless under the influence of evil forces.

About God, and evil, Jesus said:

"My brother, God is love; therefore he must be good, and his goodness is so great and real that it cannot contain the small and unreal things of evil. God is so positively good that there is absolutely no place in him for negative evil. Evil is the immature choosing and the unthinking misstep of those who are resistant to goodness, rejectful of beauty, and disloyal to truth. Evil is only the misadaptation of immaturity or the disruptive and distorting influence of ignorance. Evil is the inevitable darkness which follows upon the heels of the unwise rejection of light. Evil is that which is dark and untrue, and which, when consciously embraced and willfully endorsed, becomes sin." (130:1.5)

Please read HERE about Jesus, and how he overcame the forces of evil when he was on Earth. (In this section, you'll read that Jesus was known as "Michael," which is his celestial title. But Michael and Jesus are one and the same personality.)
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God cannot force us to stay "affiliated with his beautiful world." unless he takes away our free will. But he never forces us. We must come willingly to God. Likewise, the evil things that happen on our earth - things that threaten the life of the creation - could be stopped by God if it was his will, but it was his will that men have freewill choice. If God had wanted a perfect world, he likely would have created it. Instead we find ourselves in a place where God's children have to struggle to find the perfection of GodÂ through faith. When we are exposed to a world that contains both good and evil, mankind then has the opportunity to choose the good and progress towards perfection. If there was no choice, we would not be freewill creatures anymore, and we could not experience the victorious joy of overcoming evil with goodness, as Jesus taught us to do.

But we are not alone in our struggles. God is still at work. Said Jesus:

"There lives within every human mind a divine spirit, the gift of the Father in heaven. This good spirit ever strives to lead us to God, to help us to find God and to know God." (133:3.7)

Every person has this divine spirit, and every person has free will. It is up to each of us to seek God out - not everyone does. But we all carry within us that spark of divinity which can help us immeasurably to stay affiliated with his "beautiful world" - the kingdom of heaven within - by our own choosing.Â Then, no matter what happens in the outer world, we find ourselves with the inner peace of the kingdom of God.

When you find yourself worried over the state of the world, please consider this Urantia Book passage:

"As you view the world, remember that the black patches of evil which you see are shown against a white background of ultimate good. You do not view merely white patches of good which show up miserably against a black background of evil.Â

When there is so much good truth to publish and proclaim, why should men dwell so much upon the evil in the world just because it appears to be a fact? The beauties of the spiritual values of truth are more pleasurable and uplifting than is the phenomenon of evil." (195:5.12)

God's only will for us is goodness. It is ourselves that we must change so that we learn to think with God, if we want to change the world...only in this way will be able to experience more goodness.

I hope this answer has been helpful...please click on the links provided, and always practice the advice that Jesus was fond of giving: "Fear not."

Labels: evil, God, God within, goodness, Jesus, Lucifer, Satan, the devil

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Are Satan and Lucifer real?

Q: Are Satan and Lucifer real?

A: Thanks for this question to Truthbook.com.

Satan and Lucifer are both quite real.

I am giving you a link to a previous answer regarding Lucifer HERE so that you can read about both of these personalities, as well as Caligastia, our one-time Planetary Prince who followed them into rebellion against God.

In addition, we have recently added some new topical studies regarding "the devil" as well as Satan and Lucifer. I hope you will find all of this information helpful...

Thanks for writing to us here at Truthbook.

Labels: Lucifer, Satan, the devil, The Urantia Book

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Monday, September 14, 2009

If Heaven has its own language, does Satan also have his own?

Q: If Heaven has its own language, does Satan also have his own?

A: Thanks for your note to Truthbook.com. We are always happy to hear from our visitors.

The language of heaven is harmony and spiritual peace. The Urantia Book tells us that "Forever, music will remain the universal language of men, angels, and spirits."

I like to think of a Heaven where we will sing to one another in beautiful musical tones. And even here on earth, we can learn to communicate with one another in the harmonious language of the Spirit that connects us all under the beneficent Fatherhood of God. It may not be strictly musical here on Earth, but it is harmonious...

On the other hand, Satan and his cohort, Lucifer, have a different way of communicating. Their call was not for harmony, but for insurrection against the Father's rule, causing great dis-harmony in the entire universe:

From The Urantia Book:

(53:4.1) The Lucifer manifesto was issued at the annual conclave of Satania on the sea of glass, in the presence of the assembled hosts of Jerusem, on the last day of the year, about two hundred thousand years ago, Urantia time. Satan proclaimed that worship could be accorded the universal forcesâ€”physical, intellectual, and spiritualâ€”but that allegiance could be acknowledged only to the actual and present ruler, Lucifer, the "friend of men and angels" and the "God of liberty."

Self-assertion was the battle cry of the Lucifer rebellion. One of his chief arguments was that, if self-government was good and right for the Melchizedeks and other groups, it was equally good for all orders of intelligence. He was bold and persistent in the advocacy of the "equality of mind" and "the brotherhood of intelligence."

Even though the Lucifer Rebellion has been over for many, many years on our planet, we still find its language ingrained into our world; we still bear the remnants of its destructive influence. We struggle with a disbelief in God, and we witness a prevailing attitude of self-will, as opposed to a heartfelt dedication to God's will. Many still seek "false liberty, the assumption of self-assertion."

But even so, the loud voices of sin and rebellion can be effectively replaced in our consciousness by a wholehearted desire to find the voice of God within ourselves. Even though it is a "still, small voice," it can be heard over the loud voice of evil when one takes the time, and seeks the quiet time to find it within. And when we become accustomed to seeking and finding that voice, we are then able to communicate its beauty to our world through love and brotherhood.

Thank you again for this interesting question. Please accept my invitation to subscribe to our free service - Quote of the Day - which will help you to hear that harmonious voice of Heaven every day through Urantia Book quotes.

Labels: false liberty, God within, Harmony, heaven, language, Lucifer, Satan, The Urantia Book

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Sunday, August 09, 2009

A Question About Going Seriously Astray

Q: Do you think that mortal sons of God, after having tasted of the glories and beautiful realities of sonship with Father through faith can ever apostasize or turn iniquitous? Can truly enlightened mortal sons who have accepted son-ship ever reject Father after having known of His sweet will and unending glories? I think that apostasy (iniquity)of such deadly nature can only be exercised by heavenly enlightened creatures and not mortals.

A: It seems that you have made an important distinction between the iniquitous rejection of God by high spirit beings (such as Satan, Lucifer and Caligastia) and mortal beings like us who grasp God through faith. It is hard enough to understand how a high Son of God such as Lucifer, can be subject to rejecting God's love and mercy; it is harder still to understand how a faith-son of God can reject him, having once experienced his love and mercy as a result of that faith-decision. I don't know of anyone who has done that...but...

No matter how committed we are to God, and no matter how convicted we are of the truth of God - and even if we have tasted of the sweetness of his tender mercies, there always remains the possibility of going astray, simply because we have the freewill choice to do so. Until we have made the ultimate decision, and fused with our Thought adjuster, we are always free to decide differently.

I do think, like you, that once having made that leap of faith into acceptance of sonship with God, rejection of that sonship seems highly unlikely. For me, it seems an impossibility - maybe for you, too. But there always remains that possibility, remote as it might be.

In any event, Satan, or any other spirit being does not have any power to make that rejection for another. Even if a person may be somewhat half-hearted in their commitment to sonship with God, Satan does not have any power to affect their decisions unless that person knowingly seeks his influence, or decides to knowingly embrace sin. Again, all created beings retain the power of choice over their own souls; any rejection of God will come from within, not from without. The "devil" is given far more credit for influencing mortals than he deserves. Oftentimes, it is a person's own unwillingness to keep close to God, or to a tendency to fall prey to their own weaknesses that may separate them from God. The love of God is shed abroad in the hearts of mankind, and is available to all.

Jesus said:

"The child, being immature and lacking in the fuller understanding of the depth of the child-father relationship, must frequently feel a sense of guilty separation from a fatherâ€™s full approval, but the true father is never conscious of any such separation. Sin is an experience of creature consciousness; it is not a part of godâ€™s consciousness."(174:1.4)

Labels: evil, God, iniquity, Jesus, Lucifer, mortals, Satan, The Urantia Book

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Saturday, February 14, 2009

Is atheism a conspiracy theory?

Q: Is atheism a conspiracy theory?

A: The world abounds with conspiracy theories, but I have never heard of a serious one that involves atheism. Of course, if there were a serious effort afoot, maybe it would not advertise itself on the Internet.

To my understanding, atheism is a case of doubt as to the truth of the existence of God - not only doubt, but a conviction that there is no unseen Deity at all. Agnosticism allows room for doubt, but an avowed atheist is sure that there is no God.

I am sure that even persons who are honest of heart can be atheists. I have often thought, though, that a true atheist is one of the most spirit-minded of persons, as they devote their lives to dis-proving that which is not provable, except in the realm of faith and spiritual experience. Likewise, God's existence is neither able to be dis-proved. If there is such a conspiracy, I think that it will have little chance of ultimate success, as the overwhelming majority of people on Earth DO believe, and have always believed, in some form of Deity Presence.

The seeds of atheism were sown on this planet in the long-ago days of the Lucifer Rebellion. Lucifer himself taught evolving man that there was no God, and this was one of the cornerstones of his infamous Manifesto. Unfortunately, we still see the repercussions of his insanity even today in the form of atheism as a "philosophy." It takes quite a long time for the effects of rebellion to be eradicated.

Because we do not have the spiritual helpers that a normal planet enjoys, such as Adam and Eve and a resident Planetary Prince, we humans must rely on faith and desire to find God. For some, this is a leap that they are not prepared to take, and so they prefer instead to rely wholly upon their material senses, which are hardly adequate to discern spiritual presence. Little wonder that atheism can flourish in a world that glorifies the scientific method divorced from spiritual insight.

In our 21st Century world, atheism seems to be enjoying a resurgence, but is it a serious threat? Is there an organized and concerted effort to undermine belief in God? I have not ever heard of that, but that is not to say that some atheists may desire such an effort, as they can be quite strident in their unbelief. There is also a "church" whose members worship Satan, but does that constitute a "conspiracy theory?" I think these are just confused folks who have yet to learn the reality - or the possibility - of God through their own experience.

Having said all of this, I realize that there may be those who DO know God, but who deny him deliberately - not from honest doubt, but as a deliberate act of rebellion and rejection of his love and mercy. They may in turn try to convince others to do likewise. It has been pointed out to me that such persons are now, and have been in the past, hard at work to deny God. This sort of "atheist" is different, and far more sinister, I think - maybe in line with the sophistries of Lucifer, who did the same thing in those dark, long-ago days of the Rebellion. I suppose there may be a flavor of "Conspiracy" connected with such an effort, but I seriously doubt whether many people who already know God will be tempted to join such a movement...but to answer your question - in this case, atheism just MAY be a conspiracy theory...

Labels: atheism, conspiracy theories, God, Lucifer, Lucifer Manifesto

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Why Do The Urantia Book authors flatter Satan and Lucifer?

Q: Is it not misleading of the TUB authors to be so flattering in their descriptions of Lucifer, Satan, Caligastia and Cano? How can these people be phrased as so brilliant when they ignored God?

A: That is a good question - the authors of The Urantia Book waste no glowing words when describing these rebels as they were before they decided to ignore God. In my opinion, I think they do this just to provide a vivid contrast upon which to view the enormity of their transgressions. They were all high and brilliant beings, capable of so much, and entrusted with so much - and yet, despite their high station, each of them succumbed to the all-too-familiar delusions of ego and self-interest. I find it a fascinating portrayal.

What I come away with is that no one is exempt from God's rule, and no one can expect to escape the repercussions of knowingly and willingly going against God's will, no matter how brilliant they may seem to be. We have a saying: "The bigger they are, the harder they fall." It seems to fit here...

At the same time, the authors also waste no words in describing their shortcomings, or the effects of their planet-changing decisions - on them and on us - and that is quite a contrast as well, when we realize just how far they fell. These once esteemed beings made a big mess for us here, and now, they are fallen so far that their very existence is threatened - by their own choices.

Perhaps another reason that we are told so much about their one-time brilliance is so that we, as mortals, are not tempted to glorify our own egos. By knowing more about how even such elevated beings such as Lucifer, Satan and Caligastia can fall from grace, we may be less tempted to think that we are immune from such folly ourselves - even in our lowly, mortal estate. It is something to think about...

I consider the case of Cano a bit differently, as it seems to me that he was something of an unwitting player in Eve's default - indirectly encouraged by the wiles of Caligastia, through Serapatatia. He was deluded, but not as haughty in his transgression of the Father's will as the others, as he seems to have truly thought, like Eve and Serapatatia, that he was doing a good thing. He was impatient for results, like Eve, and he was over-awed by the seeming brilliance of supposedly "higher" beings than himself. In the cases of Lucifer, Satan and Caligastia, their downfall seems to have sprung from their own arrogance, and I fault them as the instigators, preying on innocence to further their aims. We learn no more of Cano following his death, but I like to think that his transgressions have been forgiven.

We can all take a lesson in humility from these stories. We are led to infer that closeness to God, and sincerity of heart is of paramount importance, and that seeking, and doing, the Father's will is always the best course of action, no matter what our limited minds may think.

And we can be sure by these contrasts, that God does not play favorites, or tolerate willing disobedience from any personality. But we also see that God's love, forgiveness and mercy is ever available, even when we have done the wrong thing - another lesson which the rebels have yet to learn, apparently.

Labels: Cano, God, Lucifer, Lucifer Manifesto, Satan, The Urantia Book

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Saturday, December 27, 2008

Patience and Impatience

Q: The Urantia Book gives specific examples of the dangers of being impatient. Where does the line go between being inactive or impatient?

A: That is a good question, and thanks for writing...

As you observed, The Urantia Book does give several examples of the dangers of impatience. I will list them here, for the benefit of other readers:

Impatience is a spirit poison; anger is like a stone hurled into a hornet's nest. 48:7.10

Most of the liberties which Lucifer sought he already had; others he was to receive in the future. All these precious endowments were lost by giving way to impatience and yielding to a desire to possess what one craves now and to possess it in defiance of all obligation to respect the rights and liberties of all other beings composing the universe of universes. Ethical obligations are innate, divine, and universal. 54:4.4

The "golden age" is a myth, but Eden was a fact, and the Garden civilization was actually overthrown. Adam and Eve carried on in the Garden for one hundred and seventeen years when, through the impatience of Eve and the errors of judgment of Adam, they presumed to turn aside from the ordained way, speedily bringing disaster upon themselves and ruinous retardation upon the developmental progression of all Urantia. 74:8.14

Probably no Material Sons of Nebadon were ever faced with such a difficult and seemingly hopeless task as confronted Adam and Eve in the sorry plight of Urantia. But they would have sometime met with success had they been more farseeing and patient. Both of them, especially Eve, were altogether too impatient; they were not willing to settle down to the long, long endurance test. They wanted to see some immediate results, and they did, but the results thus secured proved most disastrous both to themselves and to their world. 75:1.6

Serapatatia [associate chairman of the Edenic commission on tribal relations] was entirely loyal to the plan of building up a strong reserve of the violet race before attempting the world-wide upstepping of the confused peoples of Urantia. But this would require hundreds of years to consummate, and he was impatient; he wanted to see some immediate resultsâ€”something in his own lifetime. He made it clear to Eve that Adam was oftentimes discouraged by the little that had been accomplished toward uplifting the world. 75:3.6

One day when Ganid asked Jesus why he had not devoted himself to the work of a public teacher, he said: "My son, everything must await the coming of its time. You are born into the world, but no amount of anxiety and no manifestation of impatience will help you to grow up. You must, in all such matters, wait upon time. Time alone will ripen the green fruit upon the tree. Season follows season and sundown follows sunrise only with the passing of time. 130:5.3

It is easy to see that most of these references have to do with either the default of Adam and Eve or with the Lucifer Rebellion. Both of these vital missions of spiritual truth to our planet were irreparably harmed because of the impatience of those who wanted results, and they wanted them NOW.

It is a fine line that has to be drawn between taking action, and displaying impatience. In the case of these high spirit beings, upon whom so much depended, that line was crossed, to the detriment of the whole planet - even the whole of our planetary system. In our daily lives, we will likely not have those kinds of dire consequences to face if we jump the gun in our efforts to see results, but still, impatience can harm us, and mar our future lives.

We are creatures of time - and time is a vital element in the unfolding of our lives. As Jesus says, "...everything must await the coming of its time." One of the challenges that we face is this idea of allowing our lives to unfold - of cherishing the present time and living in the now, which is all we can experience of eternity. We can envision the future, we can work for it, but the most important work we can do is to live right here, right now, doing the next best thing. In this way, we create a future that is good. We can certainly make things happen by precipitous action, but is it the right thing to do? Unfortunately, as in the case of Adam and Eve, the consequences of actions are not felt or realized until after the actions are taken. So, it would seem that thoughtful deliberation and prayer must be employed before we decide to "make it so." Sometimes, the future that we envision, a future that could be forced by our action, might not be the future that is the best one for us, and then we must suffer because of our impatience. If we "wait upon time," we might even gain even more than we thought possible.

I think that one of the best things we can do in this regard is to follow the example of Jesus, who spent quiet times of meditation and prayerful receptivity. He was fond of communing with the Father in this way, and as we know, his life unfolded according to God's will always. Many times he said: "My hour has not yet come," while awaiting the right time to begin his ministry to the world. One has to wonder what might have happened if he had decided on his own to begin his public work before the time was right...

In my opinion, impatience seems to have its roots in pride - a childish pride that demands a result that, while it may be a good thing, could prove disastrous when not allowed to flower on its own, with the patience and endurance of time. Again, Jesus says it all: "Time alone will ripen the green fruit upon the tree." That idea of an end result may be good, but it is unripe until the passage of time allows it to ripen. Unripe fruit can be very bitter...

I think that when we sincerely determine to live our lives in the eternal "now," that we are prompted, or otherwise receive some inner wisdom to act when necessary. With prayer and sincerity, following the example of the Master, we can act with assurance when the time is right. With practice, and by experiencing the fruits of our actions, we may eventually learn to toe that line between right action and impatience. This is a benefit of growing older, I have found - although I still suffer from impatient action, much to my own dismay. Youth is notoriously impetuous, and many times acts on impulse or out of impatience and inexperience. The wisdom of age shows us the value of being still and waiting upon time, and even the young can learn this lesson.

Thanks again for this great question!

Labels: activity, Adam and Eve, impatience, Jesus, Lucifer, patience

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Thursday, December 11, 2008

How Can I Share The Urantia Book? And What is "Satania?"

Q: How is one to proceed when trying to discuss Urantia with a Christian, and why, of all names, is our local system named Satania?

A: I think all devoted Urantia Book readers want to share our beloved revelation with others. Sometimes we're successful and sometimes we're not. I have been a reader/student for 25 years, and I still have spotty success, so first of all, don't be discouraged.

I have discovered that when trying to share any spiritual truth, it is important to understand where the other person is, spiritually speaking. Is s/he searching? Is s/he a truth-seeker? Or is s/he secure and content with the spirituality s/he already has? If it is the latter, you may have a more difficult time showing this person the truth that you have found. Many times, new spiritual truth is only perceived when a person is in some amount of spiritual turmoil, or is actively seeking a different way.

However you proceed, try to direct your conversation to the Spirit that indwells the mind of your friend. Follow the lead of Jesus, as in this passage from The Urantia Book:

Always the burden of his message was: the fact of the heavenly Father's love and the truth of his mercy, coupled with the good news that man is a faith-son of this same God of love. Jesus' usual technique of social contact was to draw people out and into talking with him by asking them questions. The interview would usually begin by his asking them questions and end by their asking him questions. He was equally adept in teaching by either asking or answering questions. As a rule, to those he taught the most, he said the least. Those who derived most benefit from his personal ministry were overburdened, anxious, and dejected mortals who gained much relief because of the opportunity to unburden their souls to a sympathetic and understanding listener, and he was all that and more. And when these maladjusted human beings had told Jesus about their troubles, always was he able to offer practical and immediately helpful suggestions looking toward the correction of their real difficulties, albeit he did not neglect to speak words of present comfort and immediate consolation. And invariably would he tell these distressed mortals about the love of God and impart the information, by various and sundry methods, that they were the children of this loving Father in heaven.
p1460:6 (132:4.2)

Everybody has problems and concerns - and everyone loves to talk about themselves. Learn, as Jesus demonstrated, how to ask questions that are meaningful, and then be a good listener. Practice the Golden Rule always in dealing with others. Really listen, and try to put yourself in their shoes, so you understand how they feel. Practice non-judgmental listening, and try to develop real compassion for those with whom you speak. You can then address the problems as Jesus did, with the Truth that you understand it to be. Always go into a conversation with prayer beforehand, asking for inspiration from your own indwelling Spirit; ask this good Spirit to speak for you if you get confused. Remember to put your small "self" aside...and then relax.

As for the second part of your question about the name of our local system: I will quote from an answer given to another reader's question about Lucifer in our FAQ section of Truthbook.com, which you can read HERE. This answer was written by one of our Truthbook team. The passage I want to share is this one:

"Because Lucifer was such a high spirit being, he delegated authority, as do all executives. In Lucifer's case, he delegated much of his authority on this planet to a very familiar figure: Satan. In fact, this system, of which our planet is a part, was given the name Satania, in honor of this selfsame Satan. This name was given before the rebellion, however, when Satan was still loyal to the Father. Thus, the name "Satania" has no sinister meaning, once this fact is understood."

It is unfortunate that the name "Satania" is still attached to our universe, but once you understand the circumstances, it becomes far less charged. You can share this with others by explaining the Lucifer Rebellion, and you'll find that the link I have given you above is a pretty comprehensive explanation. I find this story to be a really good one to share with Christians, as they are familiar with it; they know of Lucifer, and of course, Satan, but they are always amazed at the depth and the real facts of the story, as told to us in The Urantia Book. This story puts so many things into perspective, and sets the stage for explaining more about the true mission of Jesus of Nazareth.

Thank you very much for your questions, and I wish you all the best in your efforts to share The Urantia Book with your Christian friends. But more important than getting someone to read the book itself, is to share the amazing truths of the book; namely the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. Also, do your best to actually LIVE the truths you have discovered, and as people see these truths demonstrated in your life, as they experience the fruits of the spirit in your dealings with them, they will inevitably be drawn to your spiritual fragrance.

Labels: Christian, fruits of the spirit, Jesus, Lucifer, sharing, spirituality, The Urantia Book

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Sunday, January 27, 2008

I do not understand how evil can still exist, once you attain a certain level.

Q: I do not understand how evil can still exist, once you attain a certain level.(example - Lucifer). If I continue through my levels of existence, can I still do bad, and won't that prevent me from going further?

A: Thank you so much for this question. I hear in your question a bit of uneasiness, that maybe you are somehow going to be stopped in your eternal journey because evil is going to always be with you. Lucifer, a high Son of God, was influenced by evil, so how can you - a mere mortal - ever be free from it?

I have copied off the following discourse in the words of Jesus for you to look over. You will notice that there are three separate areas of separation from the Father - evil, sin, and iniquity - and they are quite different from each other.

4. EVIL, SIN, AND INIQUITY
p1659:8(148:4.1).1 It was the habit of Jesus two evenings each week to hold special converse with individuals who desired to talk with him, in a certain secluded and sheltered corner of the Zebedee garden. At one of these evening conversations in private Thomas asked the Master this question: "Why is it necessary for men to be born of the spirit in order to enter the kingdom? Is rebirth necessary to escape the control of the evil one? Master, what is evil?" When Jesus heard these questions, he said to Thomas:
p1660:1 148:4.2 "Do not make the mistake of confusing evil with the evil one, more correctly the iniquitous one. He whom you call the evil one is the son of self-love, the high administrator who knowingly went into deliberate rebellion against the rule of my Father and his loyal Sons. But I have already vanquished these sinful rebels. Make clear in your mind these different attitudes toward the Father and his universe. Never forget these laws of relation to the Father's will:

p1660:2 148:4.3 "Evil is the unconscious or unintended transgression of the divine law, the Father's will. Evil is likewise the measure of the imperfectness of obedience to the Father's will.

p1660:3 148:4.4 "Sin is the conscious, knowing, and deliberate transgression of the divine law, the Father's will. Sin is the measure of unwillingness to be divinely led and spiritually directed.

p1660:4 148:4.5 "Iniquity is the willful, determined, and persistent transgression of the divine law, the Father's will. Iniquity is the measure of the continued rejection of the Father's loving plan of personality survival and the Sons' merciful ministry of salvation.

p1660:5 148:4.6 "By nature, before the rebirth of the spirit, mortal man is subject to inherent evil tendencies, but such natural imperfections of behavior are neither sin nor iniquity. Mortal man is just beginning his long ascent to the perfection of the Father in Paradise. To be imperfect or partial in natural endowment is not sinful. Man is indeed subject to evil, but he is in no sense the child of the evil one unless he has knowingly and deliberately chosen the paths of sin and the life of iniquity. Evil is inherent in the natural order of this world, but sin is an attitude of conscious rebellion which was brought to this world by those who fell from spiritual light into gross darkness.

p1660:7 148:4.8 "Men are, indeed, by nature evil, but not necessarily sinful. The new birthâ€”the baptism of the spiritâ€”is essential to deliverance from evil and necessary for entrance into the kingdom of heaven, but none of this detracts from the fact that man is the son of God. Neither does this inherent presence of potential evil mean that man is in some mysterious way estranged from the Father in heaven so that, as an alien, foreigner, or stepchild, he must in some manner seek for legal adoption by the Father. All such notions are born, first, of your misunderstanding of the Father and, second, of your ignorance of the origin, nature, and destiny of man.

p1660:8 148:4.9 "The Greeks and others have taught you that man is descending from godly perfection steadily down toward oblivion or destruction; I have come to show that man, by entrance into the kingdom, is ascending certainly and surely up to God and divine perfection. Any being who in any manner falls short of the divine and spiritual ideals of the eternal Father's will is potentially evil, but such beings are in no sense sinful, much less iniquitous.

p1661:1 148:4.10 "Thomas, have you not read about this in the Scriptures, where it is written: `You are the children of the Lord your God.' `I will be his Father and he shall be my son.' `I have chosen him to be my sonâ€”I will be his Father.' `Bring my sons from far and my daughters from the ends of the earth; even every one who is called by my name, for I have created them for my glory.' `You are the sons of the living God.' `They who have the spirit of God are indeed the sons of God.' While there is a material part of the human father in the natural child, there is a spiritual part of the heavenly Father in every faith son of the kingdom."

I think you can see now, that Lucifer, far from being simply evil, was supremely sinful and iniquitous. And all this arose from his own mind. Likewise, we mortals sin, too. But once we have been born of the Spirit, and we know we are sons of God, our days of real sinning are over, if we are truly sincere in our faith. Wouldn't you agree? Sin is a conscious act - a deliberate transgression against God, and one would have to be pretty insincere in their commitment to God to keep it up for very long...

If we choose to embrace sin, after having been born of the Spirit, then we alone are responsible for the consequences, and that certainly could mean a blockage in our upward and inward journey to the Father if we don't mend our ways.

In my opinion, it becomes difficult to imagine how anyone who truly knows the love of the Father could keep on committing this or that sin, if they know it is an offense against love. Righteousness demands a change. I am sure you have experienced this, as have so many of our brothers and sisters. As for myself, once I experience the realization that something I am doing is not right, I want to change that behavior, because I know it is against God's will for me, and brings only sorrow and pain.

Now that you better understand this issue a liitle bit better, I hope you feel better...nothing can prevent you from progressing eternally unless you decide otherwise, and I sense from your letter that you are a sincere person, and not likely to go that route!

Labels: evil, iniquity, Lucifer, sin, The Urantia Book

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Wednesday, February 14, 2007

When Will Urantia Be Free From Quarantine?

Q: When will Urantia be free from the quarantine, and when/where will Lucifer's judgement take place?

A: The judgment of Lucifer occurs in the spiritual realm, not in the physical material creation. The quarantine is also a spiritual event and has little if anything to do with material creation. Therefore there is little likelihood that we will know, need to know, or experience anything once it has transpired.

Although this world has experienced great spiritual loss due to the effects of the Lucifer rebellion we as individuals haven't suffered because of it -- God still loves us personally and individually, we still have our ministering angels, the Spirit of Truth and the Holy Spirit still connect with us, we each have an adjuster and we still participate in the ascension career; and we have the gift of the life and teachings of Jesus to guide us.

You may have heard from psychics that the Lucifer rebellion has been adjudicated and that "the circuits are open." Such a claim is intended to justify channeling and other psychic activity and give channelers credibility. But, as you may be aware, The Urantia Book does not support psychic activity as a method of spiritual development and warns against pursuing such mental activity, particularly since psychic activity stems from the subconscious mind and spiritual contact is through the superconscious mind. So what seems real to the psychic may be of some value to that psychic but is of little spiritual benefit to anyone else. It is best to ignore "the circuits are open" claims and to participate in the material life of this planet as a "normal" human being. There are no "inside tracks" to perfection.

Thank you for your question.

Larry Watkins
Truthbook.com

Labels: God, Larry Watkins, Lucifer, psychics, quarantine, Urantia

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Saturday, February 03, 2007

Evil, Sin and Iniquity

Q: I do not understand how evil can still exist, once you attain a certain level (example - Lucifer) so, my question is, if I continue through my levels of existence, can I still do bad? And won't that prevent me from going further?

A: Thank you so much for this question. I hear in your question a bit of uneasiness, that maybe you are somehow going to be stopped in your eternal journey because evil is going to always be with you. Lucifer, a high Son of God, was influenced by evil, so how can you - a mere mortal - ever be free from it?

I have copied off the following discourse in the words of Jesus for you to look over. He mentions Lucifer (not by name, but you'll recognize him), and you will notice that there are three separate areas of separation from the Father - evil, sin, and iniquity - and they are quite different from each other.

4. EVIL, SIN, AND INIQUITY
p1659:8 148:4.1 It was the habit of Jesus two evenings each week to hold special converse with individuals who desired to talk with him, in a certain secluded and sheltered corner of the Zebedee garden. At one of these evening conversations in private Thomas asked the Master this question: "Why is it necessary for men to be born of the spirit in order to enter the kingdom? Is rebirth necessary to escape the control of the evil one? Master, what is evil?" When Jesus heard these questions, he said to Thomas:
p1660:1 148:4.2 "Do not make the mistake of confusing evil with the evil one, more correctly the iniquitous one. He whom you call the evil one is the son of self-love, the high administrator who knowingly went into deliberate rebellion against the rule of my Father and his loyal Sons. But I have already vanquished these sinful rebels. Make clear in your mind these different attitudes toward the Father and his universe. Never forget these laws of relation to the Father's will:

p1660:2 148:4.3 "Evil is the unconscious or unintended transgression of the divine law, the Father's will. Evil is likewise the measure of the imperfectness of obedience to the Father's will.

p1660:3 148:4.4 "Sin is the conscious, knowing, and deliberate transgression of the divine law, the Father's will. Sin is the measure of unwillingness to be divinely led and spiritually directed.

p1660:4 148:4.5 "Iniquity is the willful, determined, and persistent transgression of the divine law, the Father's will. Iniquity is the measure of the continued rejection of the Father's loving plan of personality survival and the Sons' merciful ministry of salvation.

p1660:5 148:4.6 "By nature, before the rebirth of the spirit, mortal man is subject to inherent evil tendencies, but such natural imperfections of behavior are neither sin nor iniquity. Mortal man is just beginning his long ascent to the perfection of the Father in Paradise. To be imperfect or partial in natural endowment is not sinful. Man is indeed subject to evil, but he is in no sense the child of the evil one unless he has knowingly and deliberately chosen the paths of sin and the life of iniquity. Evil is inherent in the natural order of this world, but sin is an attitude of conscious rebellion which was brought to this world by those who fell from spiritual light into gross darkness.

p1660:7 148:4.8 "Men are, indeed, by nature evil, but not necessarily sinful. The new birthâ€”the baptism of the spiritâ€”is essential to deliverance from evil and necessary for entrance into the kingdom of heaven, but none of this detracts from the fact that man is the son of God. Neither does this inherent presence of potential evil mean that man is in some mysterious way estranged from the Father in heaven so that, as an alien, foreigner, or stepchild, he must in some manner seek for legal adoption by the Father. All such notions are born, first, of your misunderstanding of the Father and, second, of your ignorance of the origin, nature, and destiny of man.

p1660:8 148:4.9 "The Greeks and others have taught you that man is descending from godly perfection steadily down toward oblivion or destruction; I have come to show that man, by entrance into the kingdom, is ascending certainly and surely up to God and divine perfection. Any being who in any manner falls short of the divine and spiritual ideals of the eternal Father's will is potentially evil, but such beings are in no sense sinful, much less iniquitous.

p1661:1 148:4.10 "Thomas, have you not read about this in the Scriptures, where it is written: `You are the children of the Lord your God.' `I will be his Father and he shall be my son.' `I have chosen him to be my sonâ€”I will be his Father.' `Bring my sons from far and my daughters from the ends of the earth; even every one who is called by my name, for I have created them for my glory.' `You are the sons of the living God.' `They who have the spirit of God are indeed the sons of God.' While there is a material part of the human father in the natural child, there is a spiritual part of the heavenly Father in every faith son of the kingdom."

I think you can see now, that Lucifer, far from being simply evil, was supremely sinful and iniquitous. And all this arose from his own mind. Likewise, we mortals sin, too. But once we have been born of the Spirit, and we know we are sons of God, our days of real sinning are over, if we are truly sincere in our faith. Wouldn't you agree? Sin is a conscious act - a deliberate transgression against God, and one would have to be pretty insincere in their commitment to God to keep it up for very long...

If we choose to embrace sin, after having been born of the Spirit, then we alone are responsible for the consequences, and that certainly could mean a blockage in our upward and inward journey to the Father if we don't mend our ways.

In my opinion, it becomes difficult to imagine how anyone who truly knows the love of the Father could keep on committing this or that sin, if they know it is an offense against love. Righteousness demands a change. I am sure you have experienced this, as have so many of our brothers and sisters. Speaking just for myself, once I experience the realization that something I am doing is not right, I want to change that behavior, because I know it is against God's will for me, and it gives me a bad conscience. But evil - unconscious transgression - is something we all live with, to a relative degree. We just have to keep trying to overcome as best we can, by staying close to the Father, and by listening to the "still, small voice" that tells us the right thing to do.

Now that you understand this issue, I hope you feel better...nothing can prevent you from progressing eternally unless you decide otherwise, and I sense from your letter that you are a sincere person, and not likely to go that route!

Thanks so much for writing.

Sincerely,

MaryJo
Truthbook.com

Labels: evil, iniquity, Lucifer, Mary Jo, sin, The Urantia Book

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Friday, October 27, 2006

Who is Lucifer?

Who is Lucifer?

There is much misunderstanding on Urantia regarding Lucifer, and the Urantia Book gives us a clear picture of this fallen and disgraced Son of God. To begin with:

LUCIFER WAS A BRILLIANT primary Lanonandek Son of Nebadon. He had experienced service in many systems, had been a high counselor of his group, and was distinguished for wisdom, sagacity, and efficiency. Lucifer was number 37 of his order, and when commissioned by the Melchizedeks, he was designated as one of the one hundred most able and brilliant personalities in more than seven hundred thousand of his kind. From such a magnificent beginning, through evil and error, he embraced sin and now is numbered as one of three System Sovereigns in Nebadon who have succumbed to the urge of self and surrendered to the sophistry of spurious personal libertyâ€”rejection of universe allegiance and disregard of fraternal obligations, blindness to cosmic relationships.

Lucifer was a System Sovereign. To better understand Lucifer's role in the one-time administration of our world, it might be helpful to know what the role of a System Sovereign is:

p392:1 35:8.1 After the creation of the Vorondadeks, the Creator Son and the Universe Mother Spirit unite for the purpose of bringing into existence the third order of universe sonship, the Lanonandeks. Although occupied with varied tasks connected with the system administrations, they are best known as System Sovereigns, the rulers of the local systems, and as Planetary Princes, the administrative heads of the inhabited worlds.

p392:15 35:8.9 Since Lanonandeks are a somewhat lower order of sonship than the Melchizedeks and the Vorondadeks, they are of even greater service in the subordinate units of the universe, for they are capable of drawing nearer the lower creatures of the intelligent races. They also stand in greater danger of going astray, of departing from the acceptable technique of universe government. But these Lanonandeks, especially the primary order, are the most able and versatile of all local universe administrators. In executive ability they are excelled only by Gabriel and his unrevealed associates.

Here is more information about Lucifer:

p601:3 53:1.1 Lucifer was not an ascendant being; he was a created Son of the local universe, and of him it was said: "You were perfect in all your ways from the day you were created till unrighteousness was found in you."

p601:4 53:1.2 Lucifer was a magnificent being, a brilliant personality; he stood next to the Most High Fathers of the constellations in the direct line of universe authority. Notwithstanding Lucifer's transgression, subordinate intelligences refrained from showing him disrespect and disdain prior to Michael's bestowal on Urantia. Even the archangel of Michael, at the time of Moses' resurrection, "did not bring against him an accusing judgment but simply said, `the Judge rebuke you.'" Judgment in such matters belongs to the Ancients of Days, the rulers of the superuniverse.

p601:5 53:1.3 Lucifer is now the fallen and deposed Sovereign of Satania. Self-contemplation is most disastrous, even to the exalted personalities of the celestial world. Of Lucifer it was said: "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom because of your brightness." Your olden prophet saw his sad estate when he wrote: "How are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How are you cast down, you who dared to confuse the worlds!"

Because Lucifer was such a high spirit being, he delegated authority, as do all executives. In Lucifer's case, he delegated much of his authority on this planet to a very familiar figure: Satan. In fact, this system, of which our planet is a part, was given the name Satania, in honor of this selfsame Satan. This name was given before the rebellion, however, when Satan was still loyal to the Father. Thus, the name "Satania" has no sinister meaning, once this fact is understood.
In addition, there is another familiar name associated with this archrebel: Beelzebub. The folowing quote delineates the differences between these evil spirit beings:

p602:1 53:1.4 Very little was heard of Lucifer on Urantia owing to the fact that he assigned his first lieutenant, Satan, to advocate his cause on your planet. Satan was a member of the same primary group of Lanonandeks but had never functioned as a System Sovereign; he entered fully into the Lucifer insurrection. The "devil" is none other than Caligastia, the deposed Planetary Prince of Urantia and a Son of the secondary order of Lanonandeks. At the time Michael was on Urantia in the flesh, Lucifer, Satan, and Caligastia were leagued together to effect the miscarriage of his bestowal mission. But they signally failed.

p602:2 53:1.5 Abaddon was the chief of the staff of Caligastia. He followed his master into rebellion and has ever since acted as chief executive of the Urantia rebels. Beelzebub was the leader of the disloyal midway creatures who allied themselves with the forces of the traitorous Caligastia.

p602:3 53:1.6 The dragon eventually became the symbolic representation of all these evil personages. Upon the triumph of Michael, "Gabriel came down from Salvington and bound the dragon (all the rebel leaders) for an age." Of the Jerusem seraphic rebels it is written: "And the angels who kept not their first estate but left their own habitation, he has reserved in sure chains of darkness to the judgment of the great day."

I doubt whether any account of Lucifer can be complete without an examination of exactly why and how this magnificent being created such a world-changing event known as "the Lucifer rebellion." The following quotes will illuminate the nature of this terrible event:

p602:4 53:2.1 Lucifer and his first assistant, Satan, had reigned on Jerusem for more than five hundred thousand years when in their hearts they began to array themselves against the Universal Father and his then vicegerent Son, Michael.

p602:5 53:2.2 There were no peculiar or special conditions in the system of Satania which suggested or favored rebellion. It is our belief that the idea took origin and form in Lucifer's mind, and that he might have instigated such a rebellion no matter where he might have been stationed. Lucifer first announced his plans to Satan, but it required several months to corrupt the mind of his able and brilliant associate. However, when once converted to the rebel theories, he became a bold and earnest advocate of "self-assertion and liberty."

p602:6 53:2.3 No one ever suggested rebellion to Lucifer. The idea of self-assertion in opposition to the will of Michael and to the plans of the Universal Father, as they are represented in Michael, had its origin in his own mind. His relations with the Creator Son had been intimate and always cordial. At no time prior to the exaltation of his own mind did Lucifer openly express dissatisfaction about the universe administration. Notwithstanding his silence, for more than one hundred years of standard time the Union of Days on Salvington had been reflectivating to Uversa that all was not at peace in Lucifer's mind. This information was also communicated to the Creator Son and the Constellation Fathers of Norlatiadek.

p602:7 53:2.4 Throughout this period Lucifer became increasingly critical of the entire plan of universe administration but always professed wholehearted loyalty to the Supreme Rulers. His first outspoken disloyalty was manifested on the occasion of a visit of Gabriel to Jerusem just a few days before the open proclamation of the Lucifer Declaration of Liberty. Gabriel was so profoundly impressed with the certainty of the impending outbreak that he went direct to Edentia to confer with the Constellation Fathers regarding the measures to be employed in case of open rebellion.

The Lucifer Manifesto

p603:2 53:3.1 Whatever the early origins of trouble in the hearts of Lucifer and Satan, the final outbreak took form as the Lucifer Declaration of Liberty. The cause of the rebels was stated under three heads:

p603:3 53:3. 1. The reality of the Universal Father. Lucifer charged that the Universal Father did not really exist, that physical gravity and space-energy were inherent in the universe, and that the Father was a myth invented by the Paradise Sons to enable them to maintain the rule of the universes in the Father's name. He denied that personality was a gift of the Universal Father.

p603:4 53:3.3 2. The universe government of the Creator Sonâ€”Michael. Lucifer contended that the local systems should be autonomous. He protested against the right of Michael, the Creator Son, to assume sovereignty of Nebadon in the name of a hypothetical Paradise Father and require all personalities to acknowledge allegiance to this unseen Father. He asserted that the whole plan of worship was a clever scheme to aggrandize the Paradise Sons. He was willing to acknowledge Michael as his Creator-father but not as his God and rightful ruler.

p603:5 53:3.4 Most bitterly did he attack the right of the Ancients of Daysâ€”"foreign potentates"â€”to interfere in the affairs of the local systems and universes. These rulers he denounced as tyrants and usurpers. He exhorted his followers to believe that none of these rulers could do aught to interfere with the operation of complete home rule if men and angels only had the courage to assert themselves and boldly claim their rights. p603:6 53:3.5 He contended that the executioners of the Ancients of Days could be debarred from functioning in the local systems if the native beings would only assert their independence. He maintained that immortality was inherent in the system personalities, that resurrection was natural and automatic, and that all beings would live eternally except for the arbitrary and unjust acts of the executioners of the Ancients of Days.

p604:1 53:3.6 3.The attack upon the universal plan of ascendant mortal training. Lucifer maintained that far too much time and energy were expended upon the scheme of so thoroughly training ascending mortals in the principles of universe administration, principles which he alleged were unethical and unsound. He protested against the agelong program for preparing the mortals of space for some unknown destiny and pointed to the presence of the finaliter corps on Jerusem as proof that these mortals had spent ages of preparation for some destiny of pure fiction. With derision he pointed out that the finaliters had encountered a destiny no more glorious than to be returned to humble spheres similar to those of their origin. He intimated that they had been debauched by overmuch discipline and prolonged training, and that they were in reality traitors to their mortal fellows since they were now co-operating with the scheme of enslaving all creation to the fictions of a mythical eternal destiny for ascending mortals. He advocated that ascenders should enjoy the liberty of individual self-determination. He challenged and condemned the entire plan of mortal ascension as sponsored by the Paradise Sons of God and supported by the Infinite Spirit.

p604:2 53:3.7 And it was with such a Declaration of Liberty that Lucifer launched his orgy of darkness and death.

In effect, Lucifer was denying the existence of God, and claiming for himself the loyalty and fealty that rightfully belongs to God. He was denigrating the eternal plans of the Universal Father to the beings for whom he was responsible as a sovereign and ambassador of the Eternal Father, essentially disenfranchising them from the reality of God and the chance to take part in the plan of eternal life. Lucifer's clarion call was "personal liberty:"

p604:3 53:4.1 The Lucifer manifesto was issued at the annual conclave of Satania on the sea of glass, in the presence of the assembled hosts of Jerusem, on the last day of the year, about two hundred thousand years ago, Urantia time. Satan proclaimed that worship could be accorded the universal forcesâ€”physical, intellectual, and spiritualâ€”but that allegiance could be acknowledged only to the actual and present ruler, Lucifer, the "friend of men and angels" and the "God of liberty."

p604:4 53:4.2 Self-assertion was the battle cry of the Lucifer rebellion. One of his chief arguments was that, if self-government was good and right for the Melchizedeks and other groups, it was equally good for all orders of intelligence. He was bold and persistent in the advocacy of the "equality of mind" and "the brotherhood of intelligence." He maintained that all government should be limited to the local planets and their voluntary confederation into the local systems

p605:1 53:4.4 While there had been two previous rebellions in Nebadon, they were in distant constellations. Lucifer held that these insurrections were unsuccessful because the majority of the intelligences failed to follow their leaders. He contended that "majorities rule," that "mind is infallible."

In time, the rebellion was finally confined to the system of Satania:

p605:4 53:4.7 Lucifer was permitted fully to establish and thoroughly to organize his rebel government before Gabriel made any effort to contest the right of secession or to counterwork the rebel propaganda. But the Constellation Fathers immediately confined the action of these disloyal personalities to the system of Satania. Nevertheless, this period of delay was a time of great trial and testing to the loyal beings of all Satania. All was chaotic for a few years, and there was great confusion on the mansion worlds.

The "War in Heaven:"

p606:2 53:5.6 "There was war in heaven; Michael's commander and his angels fought against the dragon (Lucifer, Satan, and the apostate princes); and the dragon and his rebellious angels fought but prevailed not." This "war in heaven" was not a physical battle as such a conflict might be conceived on Urantia. In the early days of the struggle Lucifer held forth continuously in the planetary amphitheater. Gabriel conducted an unceasing exposure of the rebel sophistries from his headquarters taken up near at hand. The various personalities present on the sphere who were in doubt as to their attitude would journey back and forth between these discussions until they arrived at a final decision.

p606:3 53:5.7 But this war in heaven was very terrible and very real. While displaying none of the barbarities so characteristic of physical warfare on the immature worlds, this conflict was far more deadly; material life is in jeopardy in material combat, but the war in heaven was fought in terms of life eternal.

While there was a war in Heaven, here on earth much damage was being done, and evil seeds were being planted in the minds of our less-developed and primitive ancestors. Our Planetary Prince at that time, Caligastia, was in league with Lucifer and Satan, and this misguided ruler did all he could to lead the peoples of the earth into this plan, promising "liberty." This is a legacy which has borne dire consequences for all succeeding generations, including the one in which we find ourselves.

p607:3 53:7.2 Throughout this period Caligastia was advocating the cause of Lucifer on Urantia. The Melchizedeks ably opposed the apostate Planetary Prince, but the sophistries of unbridled liberty and the delusions of self-assertion had every opportunity for deceiving the primitive peoples of a young and undeveloped world.

Why didn't God put a stop to this rebellion? Why was this archrebel permitted to execute his scheme, and mislead and deceive so many evolving planets of mortals - over 600 of them in the Satania System?

p615:3 54:3.1 The moral will creatures of the evolutionary worlds are always bothered with the unthinking question as to why the all-wise Creators permit evil and sin. They fail to comprehend that both are inevitable if the creature is to be truly free. The free will of evolving man or exquisite angel is not a mere philosophic concept, a symbolic ideal. Man's ability to choose good or evil is a universe reality. This liberty to choose for oneself is an endowment of the Supreme Rulers, and they will not permit any being or group of beings to deprive a single personality in the wide universe of this divinely bestowed libertyâ€”not even to satisfy such misguided and ignorant beings in the enjoyment of this misnamed personal liberty.

p615:4 54:3.2 Although conscious and wholehearted identification with evil (sin) is the equivalent of nonexistence (annihilation), there must always intervene between the time of such personal identification with sin and the execution of the penaltyâ€”the automatic result of such a willful embrace of evilâ€”a period of time of sufficient length to allow for such an adjudication of such an individual's universe status as will prove entirely satisfactory to all related universe personalities, and which will be so fair and just as to win the approval of the sinner himself.

p615:5 54:3.3 But if this universe rebel against the reality of truth and goodness refuses to approve the verdict, and if the guilty one knows in his heart the justice of his condemnation but refuses to make such confession, then must the execution of sentence be delayed in accordance with the discretion of the Ancients of Days. And the Ancients of Days refuse to annihilate any being until all moral values and all spiritual realities are extinct, both in the evildoer and in all related supporters and possible sympathizers.

p615:6 54:4.1 Another problem somewhat difficult of explanation in the constellation of Norlatiadek pertains to the reasons for permitting Lucifer, Satan, and the fallen princes to work mischief so long before being apprehended, interned, and adjudicated.

p616:1 54:4.2 Parents, those who have borne and reared children, are better able to understand why Michael, a Creator-father, might be slow to condemn and destroy his own Sons. Jesus' story of the prodigal son well illustrates how a loving father can long wait for the repentance of an erring child.

p616:2 54:4.3 The very fact that an evil-doing creature can actually choose to do wrongâ€”commit sinâ€”establishes the fact of free-willness and fully justifies any length delay in the execution of justice provided the extended mercy might conduce to repentance and rehabilitation.

p616:3 54:4.4 Most of the liberties which Lucifer sought he already had; others he was to receive in the future. All these precious endowments were lost by giving way to impatience and yielding to a desire to possess what one craves now and to possess it in defiance of all obligation to respect the rights and liberties of all other beings composing the universe of universes. Ethical obligations are innate, divine, and universal.

Even with this blatant and far-reaching rebellion - the outright defiance of the Universal Father - God's mercy was a factor in the progress, and outcome of the rebellion:

p616:5 54:4.6 Supreme justice can act instantly when not restrained by divine mercy. But the ministry of mercy to the children of time and space always provides for this time lag, this saving interval between seedtime and harvest. If the seed sowing is good, this interval provides for the testing and upbuilding of character; if the seed sowing is evil, this merciful delay provides time for repentance and rectification. This time delay in the adjudication and execution of evildoers is inherent in the mercy ministry of the seven superuniverses. This restraint of justice by mercy proves that God is love, and that such a God of love dominates the universes and in mercy controls the fate and judgment of all his creatures.

p616:7 54:4.8 But these mercy delays are not interminable. Notwithstanding the long delay (as time is reckoned on Urantia) in adjudicating the Lucifer rebellion, we may record that, during the time of effecting this revelation, the first hearing in the pending case of Gabriel vs. Lucifer was held on Uversa, and soon thereafter there issued the mandate of the Ancients of Days directing that Satan be henceforth confined to the prison world with Lucifer. This ends the ability of Satan to pay further visits to any of the fallen worlds of Satania. Justice in a mercy-dominated universe may be slow, but it is certain.

The legacy of the Lucifer rebellion on our planet is still having repercussions on our world. A quick read of the newspaper headlines can illustrate this point. Everywhere there is self-assertion - wars are fought and millions slaughtered in the name of self-assertion by governments and individuals. "I am right and you are wrong." Greed and avarice are rife, while the needy and downtrodden are ignored. The "me first" idea runs rampant in devious business practices. And worst of all, there is still disbelief in the reality of God. These are all remnants of the Lucifer rebellion.

p618:4 54:6.1 Whatever the difficulties evolutionary mortals may encounter in their efforts to understand the Lucifer rebellion, it should be clear to all reflective thinkers that the technique of dealing with the rebels is a vindication of divine love. The loving mercy extended to the rebels does seem to have involved many innocent beings in trials and tribulations, but all these distraught personalities may securely depend upon the all-wise Judges to adjudicate their destinies in mercy as well as justice.

p618:5 54:6.2 In all their dealings with intelligent beings, both the Creator Son and his Paradise Father are love dominated. It is impossible to comprehend many phases of the attitude of the universe rulers toward rebels and rebellionâ€”sin and sinnersâ€”unless it be remembered that God as a Father takes precedence over all other phases of Deity manifestation in all the dealings of divinity with humanity. It should also be recalled that the Paradise Creator Sons are all mercy motivated.

We are still paying a price for the sins of this former administration. Many have suffered and continue to suffer - either as misguided adherents to the false promise of "personal liberty," or as a result of the infliction of such unworthy ideas and practices on others. But The Urantia Book teaches us that even so, we still have our free will intact, and we are not going to be eternally bothered by this harmful episode in our distant history.

p618:6 54:6.3 If an affectionate father of a large family chooses to show mercy to one of his children guilty of grievous wrongdoing, it may well be that the extension of mercy to this misbehaving child will work a temporary hardship upon all the other and well-behaved children. Such eventualities are inevitable; such a risk is inseparable from the reality situation of having a loving parent and of being a member of a family group. Each member of a family profits by the righteous conduct of every other member; likewise must each member suffer the immediate time-consequences of the misconduct of every other member. Families, groups, nations, races, worlds, systems, constellations, and universes are relationships of association which possess individuality; and therefore does every member of any such group, large or small, reap the benefits and suffer the consequences of the rightdoing and the wrongdoing of all other members of the group concerned.

p619:1 54:6.4 But one thing should be made clear: If you are made to suffer the evil consequences of the sin of some member of your family, some fellow citizen or fellow mortal, even rebellion in the system or elsewhereâ€”no matter what you may have to endure because of the wrongdoing of your associates, fellows, or superiorsâ€”you may rest secure in the eternal assurance that such tribulations are transient afflictions. None of these fraternal consequences of misbehavior in the group can ever jeopardize your eternal prospects or in the least degree deprive you of your divine right of Paradise ascension and God attainment.

p620:1 54:6.9 One error of human thinking respecting these problems consists in the idea that all evolutionary mortals on an evolving planet would choose to enter upon the Paradise career if sin had not cursed their world. The ability to decline survival does not date from the times of the Lucifer rebellion. Mortal man has always possessed the endowment of freewill choice regarding the Paradise career.

In spite of the ravages of the Lucifer rebellion, there is much good on our world, and the good keeps growing. Over the intervening millenia, goodness has gradually overcome many of the effects of the rebellion, and good continues to accrue. As for the present time, you may be comforted to know the following:

p619:3 54:6.6 At first the Lucifer upheaval appeared to be an unmitigated calamity to the system and to the universe. Gradually benefits began to accrue. With the passing of twenty-five thousand years of system time (twenty thousand years of Urantia time), the Melchizedeks began to teach that the good resulting from Lucifer's folly had come to equal the evil incurred. The sum of evil had by that time become almost stationary, continuing to increase only on certain isolated worlds, while the beneficial repercussions continued to multiply and extend out through the universe and superuniverse, even to Havona. The Melchizedeks now teach that the good resulting from the Satania rebellion is more than a thousand times the sum of all the evil.

I hope that this accounting of Lucifer, and the history of his deeds, will help you to understand better why this once-beautiful being is now hated and feared by so many, and why the name "Lucifer" is now rightly seen as the embodiment of the devil himself.

Thank you for this most important question.

MaryJo
Truthbook.com

Labels: goodness, Lucifer, Lucifer Manifesto, Lucifer Rebellion, Mary Jo, mercy, Satan, Satania, System Sovereign, The Urantia Book

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Thursday, October 20, 2005

Lucifer

Q: Is Lucifer the same as the EGO in A Course in Miracles?

A: You'd get an answer better related to the ACIM perspective from the ACIM site. Many students of The Urantia Book also study ACIM although there are students of The Urantia Book who believe the two books are incompatible and the issue of ego is one of the areas where the concepts presented by the two books appear radically different.

Every human being is gifted with ego. ACIM sees the ego as a force to be struggled against, subjugated, overcome, and abolished. TUB explains that the ego is a natural part of the human makeup, that it's to be accepted and its impulses are to be controlled. Ego is part of what makes us us and contributes to making us unique.

Lucifer, on the other hand, is an individual being and personality, just like you and I are individual personalities. Lucifer holds no sway over your thoughts or actions, in the way ego does, unless you desire him to. This may not be so clearly put in ACIM as it is in TUB and so the confusion.

Labels: A Course In Miracles, ego, Lucifer, The Urantia Book

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