Spiritual Advice and Guidance Blog: Urantia Book

Q: If a woman has had three different husbands on earth, which one will she wind up with in Heaven?

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

When you get to heaven, you will be reunited with those people with whom you enjoyed some kind of meaningful relationship. This will possibly include parents, children, friends, and yes - spouses. No meaningful relationship is ever lost - nothing of real value ever disappears in the universe, and all relationships with other personalities are an end in themselves, with eternal value.

However, it is an error to think that a person's marriages continue in Heaven. While we do enjoy the fellowship of many personalities - both those that we knew on Earth, and many new ones - our life after death is for the purpose of guiding each individual along the Father's ascension plan; the only goal of that plan is to reach Paradise. Our mortal, physical bodies are not resurrected; instead we acquire a new form which is not physical. We no longer reproduce children, nor do we have sexual experiences as we do on earth. There is no need for marriage in Heaven as we know it on Earth, as that part of our earthly existence is over.

In truth, we will be more like the angels when we resurrect into our new life after death. Here is a passage from The Urantia Book which explains something of the way we will be after we pass from this life:

(38:2.2) Though seraphim are very affectionate and sympathetic beings, they are not sex-emotion creatures. They are much as you will be on the mansion worlds, where you will "neither marry nor be given in marriage but will be as the angels of heaven." For all who "shall be accounted worthy to attain the mansion worlds neither marry nor are given in marriage; neither do they die any more, for they are equal to the angels."

The "Mansion Worlds" are those stopping places on our way to Paradise, and where we will meet our loved ones from our earth-life.

The only part of us that survives this earthly life is our immortal soul, which is spiritual in nature. While you will know and be known, remembered and remembered by, your former earthly associates, the bonds of marriage that you enjoyed on earth will not continue into your eternal adventure.

Thanks very much for this interesting question. I hope that this reply has been useful to you...

Labels: heaven, Mansion Worlds, marriage, relationship, 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

Will You go to heaven????

Q: Will You go to heaven????

A: Personal belief and faith help define the mental personal realities we each live in but in order to be "real" they require a foundation based on the rock solidness of logical, objective reality. Most people give little thought and little introspection to logic or to objective reality, relying more on seat of the pants, what feels good, or just accepting what others believe for themselves. So, for example, while believing or having faith in the Easter Bunny or in Santa Clause may provide comfort for a believer, that doesn't make that belief "real."

Among all the other gifts God has given us, there's one that helps us overcome the tendency toward wishful thinking, helps us discern reality. If we're to make sense of this complicated and confusing life we need to rely on that gift; it's given to us for that purpose, and that gift is a logical mind... a mind that works to make order out of chaos and to sort fact from fiction, to give us real perspective.

Another gift from God is that of God reaching down to help draw us up toward him and one of the ways this is done is through revelation -- knowledge that's outside of evolutionary acquirement, knowledge that's true, beautiful, and good, knowledge that can be relied on.

Most who actually study the teachings of The Urantia Book eventually come to believe that its teachings are logical and grounded and they come to believe that it is what it claims to be, a divine revelation, that what it portrays is "real." So, based on those two beliefs it's not a difficult step to take to accept what The Urantia Book relates about heaven, which is much more complete and detailed than any other teaching one might encounter.

It's my firm conviction, based on years of study of The Urantia Book, which speaks to me in ways nothing else ever has, is that God is good, God loves me, God provides for me, God has a near infinite plan for my spiritual adventure and development, that this life is but the very first rung at the bottom of the ladder to paradise and eternity, and that when I die I do not disappear. Jesus, through his resurrection, made it evident that death is not an end but is just a transition. So yes, I am confident that when I die I will "go to heaven" although what that means entails much more than the common concept of "heaven."

How about you? Will you go to heaven? Have you checked out our more detailed study called "There is Life After Death" on our home page...

Do you have questions about what it says? Do the videos there give you pause to consider? Has this reply been of any benefit to you?

Thank you for your question and best wishes...

Labels: God, heaven, life after death, mind, The Urantia Book

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Can you please help me to understand the various levels of realms in the heavens...?

Q: Can you please help me to understand the various levels of realms in the heavens and their hierarchy? For instance Salvington, Uversa, Edentia, Jerusem etc. I'm confused about them. Thank you.

A:Thanks for this interesting question. Yes, the hierarchy of the realms...we have quite a journey ahead of us!

All of the worlds that you mentioned are architectural spheres, meaning that they are not evolutionary planets such as Urantia, but are specially created for the express purposes of mortal ascension. Following are some of the features of these planets (as well as some you did not mention, but which are part of our ascension journey), and the order in which we will visit them. From the Urantia Book:

(15:7.5) Jerusem, the headquarters of your local system of Satania, has its seven worlds of transition culture, each of which is encircled by seven satellites, among which are the seven mansion worlds of morontia detention, man's first postmortal residence. As the term heaven has been used on Urantia, it has sometimes meant these seven mansion worlds, the first mansion world being denominated the first heaven, and so on to the seventh.

Edentia, the headquarters of your constellation of Norlatiadek, has its seventy satellites of socializing culture and training, on which ascenders sojourn upon the completion of the Jerusem regime of personality mobilization, unification, and realization.

Salvington, the capital of Nebadon, your local universe, is surrounded by ten university clusters of forty-nine spheres each. Hereon is man spiritualized following his constellation socialization.

Uminor the third, the headquarters of your minor sector, Ensa, is surrounded by the seven spheres of the higher physical studies of the ascendant life.

Umajor the fifth, the headquarters of your major sector, Splandon, is surrounded by the seventy spheres of the advancing intellectual training of the superuniverse.

Uversa, the headquarters of Orvonton, your superuniverse, is immediately surrounded by the seven higher universities of advanced spiritual training for ascending will creatures. Each of these seven clusters of wonder spheres consists of seventy specialized worlds containing thousands upon thousands of replete institutions and organizations devoted to universe training and spirit culture wherein the pilgrims of time are re-educated and re-examined preparatory to their long flight to Havona. The arriving pilgrims of time are always received on these associated worlds, but the departing graduates are always dispatched for Havona direct from the shores of Uversa.

Here are some additional study aids for you:

Ascension Plan Topical Study

Ascension Career Chart

Journey to Paradise Chart

You may also use our terrific search engine HERE to plug in any of the names of all of our future destinations to get even more information about the amazing journey that awaits us!

Labels: ascension scheme, Edentia, heaven, Jerusem, Salvington, The Urantia Book, Uversa

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Monday, March 27, 2006

Did Jesus die for the sins of mankind?

Q: Did Jesus die on the cross for the sins of mankind? Did God send Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins so we could go to heaven?

A: Did Jesus die for the sins of mankind? In the Frequently Asked Questions section, upper right corner of our home page - Truthbook FAQ - listed under the heading "About Jesus" you'll find answers to "Do you believe Jesus died to save us?" and "What does The Urantia Book say about Jesus being the Saviour?" which will give you a more detailed answer than this one, but basically, no, God doesn't require the shedding of innocent blood in order to win his favor or to divert fictitious divine wrath.

The concept of original sin, as well as the doctrine of blood atonement are contrary to the idea of a loving Father-God. This is completely covered in The Urantia Book within the first five papers, which reveal to us the exact nature of God, and his relationship to us mortals, his created beings. The Cross of Jesus acquires new and deeper meaning in this light, and again, this subject is well-covered in Part IV, the papers that deal with the life, teachings, passion, death and resurrection of Jesus.

There's also a good section in the center of our home page titled "There is Life after Death" that describes in vivid detail heaven and the life we experience once this life is over. In addition, there is a flash movie titled "After You Die," which you might find quite illuminating in light of your questions.

Labels: atonement, death, heaven, Jesus, sin, the Cross, The Urantia Book

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Friday, November 18, 2005

When I die and go to Heaven, how can I be happy when I realize that someone I love is not in Heaven with me?

Q: When I die and go to Heaven, how can I be happy when I realize that someone I love is not in Heaven with me, but suffering in hell?

A: Your question reminds me of a similar question I asked myself some 34 years ago when I was just 16 and studying the Bible with a group of religionists. While these folks did not believe in Hell, they did believe in Armageddon. Their doctrine was that at Armageddon, God would destroy everyone on earth who was not a part of their church.

At the time, I met a woman (whom I'd never seen before nor since) and I was talking to her about the teachings of this group. She told me something I never forgot. She said, "Paula, you have the ability to know the truth in your own heart. If something grinds against your own natural and logical beliefs don't except it as being true." I felt then that this made a great deal of sense, in fact it actually rang as truth to me, so I took it to heart.

Shortly after that, I went to study with the woman who was helping me learn the church's doctrines, which adherents of this church simply called "The Truth." I had been studying with her for about 6 months at the time. She told me, "Paula, if you don't convert your parents to 'The Truth' God will have to kill them at Armageddon and it will be your fault."

Well, here was a perfect example of something posed as "truth" that most certainly did "grind against my own natural and logical beliefs." I unequivocally balked at her audacious statement, and replied, "Are you saying that God is going to kill my parents?!"

To which she replied, "Well, yes, he will have to dispose of anyone who is not in The Truth."

I thought for a moment and then said, "My parents are the most loving people I know. They are kind and loyal and trusting and sincere. They are truly good, even wonderful people and you say that God is going to kill people like them just because they don't belong to your religious group?"

Again, she vainly tried to explain to me how God would have no choice but to do such a thing.

I then told her, "You may think it would be Heaven to live forever on earth in peace, where the lion lays down with the lamb, etc., knowing that God had killed your loving parents. But that wouldn't be Heaven for me, that would be Hell."

At this point she was aghast, and she exclaimed, "Oh you can't feel that way!"

I simply said, "I'm sorry but I do feel that way and I can't study with you anymore."

I left her standing there with her mouth open. As I walked alone the twelve blocks to my house, I talked to God. I said, "God, you may just as harsh and unforgiving as they say you are. Perhaps you are willing to kill good people because they don't follow one religion or another and if you are that way, I'm sorry but I can't worship you." Then, after a moment's reflection I thought, "Somehow God, I just can't believe that you are that way.

But if you want me to know who you really are, you are going to have to reveal yourself to me because I'm not getting involved with anymore religions." I felt good in my heart about that declaration and I left it at that.

Four years later, during the worst crisis of my life, The Urantia Book came into my life. It claims to be a revelation of God to humankind. Well, I asked God to reveal himself so my mind was open to such a thing. Imagine my joy when I found the God that was so loving, so merciful, so just, so perfect that I joyfully worship him with every fiber of my being.

Here are three great quotes from that wonderful book that I hope will reassure you that God, our truly loving Heavenly Father, takes no delight in causing any harm to any of his children.

P.39 - Â§1 It is wrong to think of God as being coaxed into loving his children because of the sacrifices of his Sons or the intercession of his subordinate creatures, "for the Father himself loves you." It is in response to this paternal affection that God sends the marvelous Adjusters to indwell the minds of men. God's love is universal; "whosoever will may come." He would "have all men be saved by coming into the knowledge of the truth." He is "not willing that any should perish."

P.2017 - Â§3 When once you grasp the idea of God as a true and loving Father, the only concept which Jesus ever taught, you must forthwith, in all consistency, utterly abandon all those primitive notions about God as an offended monarch, a stern and all-powerful ruler whose chief delight is to detect his subjects in wrongdoing and to see that they are adequately punished, unless some being almost equal to himself should volunteer to suffer for them, to die as a substitute and in their stead. The whole idea of ransom and atonement is incompatible with the concept of God as it was taught and exemplified by Jesus of Nazareth. The infinite love of God is not secondary to anything in the divine nature.

P.60 - Â§3 The barbarous idea of appeasing an angry God, of propitiating an offended Lord, of winning the favor of Deity through sacrifices and penance and even by the shedding of blood, represents a religion wholly puerile and primitive, a philosophy unworthy of an enlightened age of science and truth. Such beliefs are utterly repulsive to the celestial beings and the divine rulers who serve and reign in the universes. It is an affront to God to believe, hold, or teach that innocent blood must be shed in order to win his favor or to divert the fictitious divine wrath.

I hope this helps.

Blessings.....Paula

Another view from Larry:

A: There would probably be no way in heaven that you could be happy if that were the case. I suspect that you are a Christian -- you may be interested to know that not all Christian sects promote a belief in hell. And, as you put it, if there were a hell wouldn't it seem contradictory for you to be happy in heaven?

The Urantia Book provides an exalted vision of God, that God is as Jesus saw him and described him, a loving heavenly Father even so much better than an earthly parent. And Jesus asked, if a loving earthly father would not exhibit wrath and retribution toward his own children why do we choose to believe that the heavenly Father of us all would treat us even worse than a human parent? That seems contradictory too doesn't it.

If you've not already done so, may I recommend subscribing to our Quote of the Day. It offers daily inspirational and meaningful quotes from The Urantia Book along with a great picture. It's an easy way to become familiar with the teachings of this marvelous book and is available from the upper right corner of our home page.

Thank you for your question.

Larry Watkins
Truthbook.com

Labels: Armageddon, atonement, Christian, God, heaven, hell, Jesus, Larry Watkins, love, Paula, religion, revelation, The Urantia Book, truth

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Thursday, October 13, 2005

The Religion of Jesus

Q: You question the use of the term â€œreligion of Jesus.â€�

Jesus came here as an ambassador of The Kingdom of Heaven. The assumption that he was a divine being, a Son of God, would lead us to believe that he existed before coming here. He was not a Christian; Christianity arose around the fact of Jesusâ€™ life on this world. Neither was he a Jew. He was raised as a Jew but had he been a devout Jew (in the sense of the Jewish beliefs and practices of his day) he would hardly have been crucified as a heretic and law-breaker. The Urantia Book defines religion in many ways but I like this one, â€œIn its true essence, religion is a faith-trust in the goodness of God.â€� The religion of Jesus, then, is his whole life, his philosophy of living, the way he lived and the way he treated others with love, respect and dignity. He showed us how to live in grace and in accordance with Godâ€™s will. He showed us the real meaning of devoted and religious living. Religion is so much more than just the church you organized religious sect you belong to. To understand what is meant by â€œthe religion of Jesusâ€� one must expand oneâ€™s own concepts of the word â€œreligion.â€�

Who is Jesus?

Jesus came forth directly from the Father. He is a perfect representation of the Father. Many times he said, â€œHe who has seen me has seen the Father.â€� Do you say that Jesus is not the Father? The Urantia Book says that Jesus is as a Father/Brother to humanity. Always he pointed to the one true God, the Father of all and always did he tell us that the kingdom of God was within us.

Does God really exist?

What The Urantia Book points out is that if you are not already inclined to believe in the existence of God, there is nothing, no scientific experiment, or anything that anyone can say or do to convince you that he does exist. Only a personal experience of faith can do that. Carl Baugh already believes in God and so he is going to feel his evidence is irrefutable. Scientist that donâ€™t already believe in God feel quite the opposite about Carlâ€™s conclusions, and this is the point. Here is the entire quote: â€œThe existence of God can never be proved by scientific experiment or by the pure reason of logical deduction. God can be realized only in the realms of human experience; nevertheless, the true concept of the reality of God is reasonable to logic, plausible to philosophy, essential to religion, and indispensable to any hope of personality survival.â€�

Are angels real?

The Urantia Book says that all humans have angels who watch over them but that not all have â€œpersonal guardians.â€� Some Angels are assigned to groups of mortals but a personal guardian is assigned only to those mortals who have reached a certain level in their spiritual growth. It is absolutely true that God is not respecter of persons, and any person can potentially have their very own guardian angel if the work diligently to grow in spirit. The creation of God is fair and just, God rewards those mortals who willingly strive to know him and be like him. This is, in part, what Jesus meant when he said, â€œTo him who has, more shall be given, while to him who has not, even that which he has shall be taken away.â€�

Is there only one way to heaven?

It is true that no person will come to the Father except by Jesus. The Urantia Book suggests that this is a literal truth. In your journey inward and upward to Paradise you literally will not advance except that Jesus will be the one to send you on. Literally, not one being in this universe will get to God, except through Jesus. Christians use this too often as a condemnation to Jews and Muslims and Buddhists, teaching that unless one accepts Jesus, now, as the only way to God, they are doomed. Jesus is the way shower to God, but every human who bears the fruits of the spirit and who loves God and values the ways of God, truth, beauty and goodness, has a equal opportunity to advance. Christians do Jesus and mankind a great disservice when they presume to judge (by their own imperfect scriptural interpretation) who has eternal value and who does not. â€œYou can only judge men by their acts, but my Father looks into the hearts of his children and in mercy adjudges them in accordance with their intents and real desires." Anyone can say anything, God looks into the heart.

Your quote: 'And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or lo, he is there; believe him not. For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.'

Jesus himself was accused of being false. He was the one who also chastised the religious leaders of his day for persecuting and killing the prophets of God. Too often folks use this passage as an excuse to discount anything that disagrees with their cherished beliefs and interpretations of scripture. It was Jesus who said, â€œThe old things are passing away, behold, all things are becoming new.â€� I think he was referring to our religious beliefs as much as anything else.

Thanks for writing and be of good cheer!

Paula

Labels: angels, Christian, God, heaven, Jesus, kingdom of heaven, Paula, religion