the Universal Father sees the end from the beginning, and his divine plan and eternal purpose actually embrace and comprehend all the experiments and all the adventures of all his subordinates in every world, system, and constellation in every universe of his vast domains. (Pg34.3, P2.1.4) *
The Eternal Son is in everlasting liaison with the Father in the successful prosecution of the divine plan of progress: the universal plan for the creation, evolution, ascension, and perfection of will creatures. (Pg85.2, P7:4.1)
In the affairs of men's hearts the Universal Father may not always have his way; but in the conduct and destiny of a planet the divine plan prevails; the eternal purpose of wisdom and love triumphs. (Pg51.2, P3:5.3)
In January of this year, a document entitled Following Michaels Plan was published on its own website. (www.michaelsplan.org) This document was the result of a correspondence between six long-time readers which began following the 2007 Fellowship workshops at Dominican University, just outside of Chicago. We were concerned about ongoing problems of competing editions of The Urantia Book, separate publishers, and rivalry between different social organizations. We wanted to better understand how circumstances led to this state of affairs. We hoped to discover some way out of our current difficulties.
1. Where is Michael's Plan Found?
Our discussions originally involved a 1996 paper entitled The Plan for The Urantia Book Revelation. This paper considers a number of communications from the Revelatory Commission, which is the group of celestial personalities who gave us this revelation. These revelator communications were not included in the book. They deal with such matters as publishing and protecting the text, clearly identifying this revelation, and establishing organizations to support the revelation. Since the Revelatory Commission worked exclusively through a contact commission of six humans, these communications come to us through the same avenue as The Urantia Book.
In examining these revelator communications, as well as other things written by the contact commissioners, we concluded that they present a superhumanly conceived plan for the establishment and progress of this revelation on our planet: Michaels Plan. Considering the key elements and principles of this plan led us to organize and publish our findings in Following Michaels Plan.
There is a plan for the establishment and progress of this revelation which can be found in these communications. But the question then arises: How do we know that these communications are from the revelators?
2. How is it Known That These Communications are from the Revelators?
The Urantia Book stands on its own merits as a divinely coherent whole of compelling truth. Discerning this divine coherence is a personal proof that it is an epochal revelation. We know that the written communications from the revelators which constitute the book were conveyed to us exclusively by the contact commissioners. Seeing the divine coherence of The Urantia Book with our own eyes leads us, then, to the firm conviction that the contact commissioners were trustworthy; we are fully persuaded that they faithfully conveyed this epochal revelation to us from its celestial authors.
Since we are convinced that the contact commissioners were trustworthy, we believe them when they state that these communications are from the revelators. And we know that the contact commissioners made such statements about these particular communications. The nature and content of each of these communications were personally conveyed by one or more of the contact commissioners to two or more of the co-authors of Following Michaels Plan.
However, the origin of these communications remains a matter of personal belief. We choose to believe in the authenticity of these communications for what we deem to be good and sufficient reasons. But this is a personal matter. For those who may be unsure about the origin of these communications, we ask only that you keep an open mind as we proceed.
3. Why is it Called Michaels Plan?
Why is the plan found in these revelator communications attributed to Michael? As the world of his mortal incarnation, Urantia is the personal ward of Christ Michael; our world is wholly subject to whatever plans Michael may choose to make and carry out. A Perfector of Wisdom from Uversa informs us, a Michael-bestowal world becomes the individual and personal ward of a Master Son and, as such, is wholly subject to his own plans and rulings. (Pg227.3, P20:4.5) [Master Michael] Sons do make and carry out the plans of their own choosing in all matters of special planetary needs, in particular regarding the worlds of their creature sojourn and still more concerning the realm of terminal bestowal, the planet of incarnation in the likeness of mortal flesh. (Pg241.3, P21:5.6)
Urantia is more than the personal ward of Michael. Michael also has direct charge over Urantia since he became our Planetary Prince in the third week of September, 25 A.D. on Mount Hermon. A Secondary Lanonandek Son explains that a Planetary Princes work is quite independent of the missions of the higher Sons, being designed to foster the development of planetary civilization. (Pg576.4, P50:5.1) As our Planetary Prince, Michael is responsible for making and carrying out plans for planetary progress. Of the plans of the former Planetary Prince, this Lanonandek Son writes: On Urantia these plans for planetary progress and cultural advancement were well under way, proceeding most satisfactorily, when the whole enterprise was brought to a rather sudden and most inglorious end by Caligastias adherence to the Lucifer rebellion. (Pg576.1, P50:4.6)
Urantia receives the personal attention of Michael as the Creator Son of Nebadon and it is also under his direct charge as Planetary Prince. It is not surprising, then, that Michael was directly involved in submitting the special request for The Urantia Book. According to an Archangel, our planetary celestial supervisors initiated the petitions for the book. (Pg865.6, P77:8.13) Clearly, Michael must have approved and submitted these petitions. These petitions were required because epochal revelation is always presented by a celestial personality. Exemption from this universal procedure would have required Gabriels approval, since he has final jurisdiction over all Planetary Princes. (Pg573.2, P50:2.1) Gabriels grant of authority to present Parts II and III of the book is recorded just after the title page. Gabriels authorization for Part IV is recorded at the beginning of Paper 120. These authorizations support the inference that these petitions were submitted by the Planetary Prince of Urantia.
While recognizing the work of others, it is Michael we have to thank, ultimately, for bringing us The Urantia Book. Since the Revelatory Commission give us this book as part of Michaels Plan and they also give us guidance for its establishment and progress, it is entirely logical to conclude that Michaels Plan for mans participation in this epochal project is contained in these revelator communications.
4. Why isnt Michaels Plan in The Urantia Book?
The Urantia Book is the most important part of Michaels Plan, but it is not the whole of it. It is clear from the historical record that the contact commissioners, the Forum, the Seventy, Urantia Foundation, and a brotherhood are also parts of Michaels Plan. However, none of these historical events or human associations is mentioned in the book. One reason for this is that divine things endure but human things change.
The Forum was organized officially in September, 1925, and eventually became the First Urantia Society of Chicago on June 17, 1956. Some members of the Forum organized for more serious study as the Seventy in 1939 and then reorganized as the School of Urantia Brotherhood in 1956. Urantia Brotherhood was formed in January, 1955 but then ceased to function under the name Urantia Brotherhood in 1989. Human associations which are part of Michaels Plan may change, and have. While the strategic design of Michaels Plan is based upon enduring principles, the detailed human outworking of this plan is contingent upon ever-changing circumstances and mans many limitations.
Jesus began his bestowal with a strategic plan, but actual conditions led him to modify it. Immanuel counseled Michael to act primarily as a teacher, and Jesus began his public work as the Son of Man. But circumstances dictated changes in this planned approach. The secondary midwayer explains, Jesus had sincerely endeavored to lead his followers into the spiritual kingdom as a teacher, then as a teacher-healer, but they would not have it so . He sought to establish the Father's kingdom as the Son of Man, but his followers would not go forward in the adventure. Jesus, seeing this, then elected to meet his believers part way and in so doing prepared openly to assume the role of the bestowal Son of God. (Pg1749.5, P157:6.6)
The details of the plan for the planetary progress of the fifth epochal revelation depend upon both our willing participation and our current circumstances. When circumstances require it and wisdom permits it, God will modify the details of his plan to meet us part way. But the provisional status of these details makes it inappropriate to include them in The Urantia Book.
5. What is Michael's Plan?
Michaels Plan describes three key elements to support the planetary progress of this revelation: The Urantia Book, the Foundation, and a brotherhood of revelation. These three elements are strategically related to one another by spiritual principles which promote a unity of purpose in our community. In Following Michaels Plan we summarized this as One Book, one Foundation, and one Brotherhood, unified in spiritual purpose under God. The overarching goal of Michaels Plan is to give birth to a new age of religion on this planet. This is adopted from the April 4, 1955, Publication Mandate: "(You) who have dedicated (your) lives to the service of the Book and the Brotherhood can little realize the import of (your) doings. (You) will doubtless live and die without fully realizing that (you) are participating in the birth of a new age of religion on this world.
Michaels Plan is not a step-by-step list of things to do. It is a strategic plan to guide us as we try to decide what to do together. For example, having a single book that is recognized by all as the original Urantia Book is a strategic objective of obvious value. One way to do this is to obtain a US copyright. This tactic is no longer available to us. But there are a number of others avenues still open to us. There are steps we can take to achieve this strategic objective, but the tactics we might employ are not necessarily prescribed in Michaels Plan.
1. The Religion of Light and Life
Michaels Plan is a strategic plan with a clear mission statement: the birth of a new age of religion on this world. The religion of Jesus is the living ideal of this new age. The secondary midwayer describes the religion of Jesus as, religion based on personal spiritual relations with the Universal Father and wholly validated by the supreme authority of genuine personal experience." (Pg2087.4, P196:0.4) He also tells us, The religion of Jesus fosters the highest type of human civilization in that it creates the highest type of spiritual personality and proclaims the sacredness of that person. (Pg2063.5, P194:3.7)
The religion of Jesus has never really been known on this planet. The secondary midwayer tells us that Christianity unintentionally transformed the religion of Jesus into a religion about Jesus. (Pg2075.2, P195:4.4) The world has heard of the theologic religion about Jesus as the risen and glorified Christ, the Son of God, but it has not heard much about the living religion of Jesus, the Son of Man and the Master of men. (cf. Pg2090.3, P196:1.2)
The religion of Jesus unifies the Fatherhood of God with the brotherhood of the sons of God. The growth of our sacred personal relationship with the Father leads directly to the spiritual civilization of the sons of the Father. There can be no higher personal and social ideal. The religion of Jesus is the religion of light and life which is realized first personally, then socially, and finally globally the kingdom in its fullness. (Pg1863.3, P170:4) The Urantia Book presents the religion of Jesus the religion of light and life to the world, really, for the first time.
2. The Spiritual Culture of Light and Life
It is part of Michaels Plan to reveal some idea of the spiritual culture of light and life. An idea of this culture is presented in the descriptions of the fourth and fifth mansion worlds. A Brilliant Evening Star tells us, The intellectual and social culture of this fourth mansion world is comparable to the mental and social life of the post-Teacher Son age on the planets of normal evolution. (Pg536.5, P47:6.4) Ascenders are all becoming self-conscious of God-knowing, God-revealing, God-seeking, and God-finding. (Pg536.4, P47:6.3) The post-Teacher Son age is prelude to the era of light and life. The culture of this [fifth] mansion world corresponds in general to that of the early era of light and life on the planets of normal evolutionary progress. (Pg537.1, P47:7.1) A real birth of cosmic consciousness takes place ... (Pg537.5, P47:7.5) the average mortal ascender begins to manifest bona fide experiential enthusiasm for the Havona ascent. (Pg537.5, P47:7.5) Study is becoming voluntary, unselfish service natural, and worship spontaneous. (Pg537.5, P47:7.5)
These are characteristics of a spiritual cultural which we can begin to imagine: genuine enthusiasm for the Havona ascent, voluntary study, unselfish service, spontaneous worship. The Urantia Book reveals a truer vision of heaven above and also of heaven on earth; it reveals both Paradise and the sure and certain destiny of Urantia. Urantias destiny of light and life is assured, despite all fears to the contrary. The Divine Counselor tells us: In the affairs of men's hearts the Universal Father may not always have his way; but in the conduct and destiny of a planet the divine plan prevails; (Pg51.2, P3:5.3)
3. Revealed Knowledge Leading to Light and Life
It is part of Michaels Plan to reveal the existence and nature of Havona and Paradise. This is a level of knowledge about the universe which is normally revealed by the Trinity Teacher Sons. The Trinity Teacher Sons come to a world when it is ready to move from the evolutionary ages into the era of light and life. Urantia is a backward and confused world, hardly a planet which appears to be on the verge of a transition to light and life. Despite these appearances, Michael has decided, in his greater wisdom, that we need this knowledge now. This decision by Michael implies that appearances are deceiving in this case. This implication is supported by the secondary midwayer, who writes: Urantia is now quivering on the very brink of one of its most amazing and enthralling epochs of social readjustment, moral quickening, and spiritual enlightenment. (Pg2082.7, P195:9.2)
It is Michaels Plan to reveal the religion of light and life, the spiritual culture of light and life, and that universe knowledge which is prelude to light and life. We are assured that our planetary destiny is light and life; the Fathers divine plan for this world will prevail. Michaels Plan gives us guidance on how we might best set about realizing this planetary destiny of light and life. And Urantia is just now at the very beginning an amazing and enthralling epoch of spiritual enlightenment.
1. The Plan for Progressive Enlightenment by Epochal Revelation
As the fifth in a series, Michaels Plan for this revelation can be better seen within the context of all epochal revelations. There is an overall plan for progress on inhabited worlds which has revelatory personalities bring progressively higher truth at the start each new epoch. In the paper on Planetary Mortal Epochs, a Mighty Messenger describes the six epochs leading up to light and life. Epochal revelations reveal two distinct domains of truth: the intellectual and the spiritual. Spiritual truth concerns the concept of Deity associated with spiritual insight. Intellectual truth concerns mans knowledge of the universe and its affairs. This distinction is reflected in the Divine Counselors statement in the Foreword about the purpose of this revelation: to expand cosmic consciousness and enhance spiritual perception, (Pg1.2, P0:0.2)
| Personality | Deity Concept | Knowledge Level | Epoch Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| (Primitive Man) | (ghost worship) | (biologic religion) | 100,000 |
| Planetary Prince | System Sovereign | local system | 500,000 |
| Adam and Eve | Most High | constellation | 25,000 |
| Magisterial Son | Creator Son | local universe | 25,00050,000 |
| Bestowal Son | Ancients of Days | superuniverse | 10,000100,000 |
| Trinity Teacher Son | Paradise Trinity | central universe | 1,000 minimum |
| Personality | Deity Concept | Knowledge Level | Epoch Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| (Primitive Man) | (ghost worship) | (biologic religion) | 500,000 |
| Caligastia | System Sovereign | local system | 465,000 |
| Adam and Eve | Most High | constellation | 31,000 |
| Machiventa Melchizedek | Most High | local system | 1,973 |
| Jesus | Creator Son | local system | 1,972 |
| The Urantia Book | Paradise Trinity | central universe | 53 and counting |
Successive revelations have enhanced mans spiritual concept of Deity, although progress has not been even and systematic. The Planetary Prince and Adam and Eve did elevate mans Deity concept as planned, at least up until the rebellion. Machiventa was forced to again present the constellation level Deity concept of the Most High, because it was in danger of being lost following the demise of Eden. It appears that Jesus was able to upstep mans Deity concept to the local universe level of the Creator Son. Christianitys confusion of the Eternal Son with a Creator Son in the concept of the Christ indicates this. We are told that both the twelve apostles and Paul confused Jesus with the Eternal Son. (cf. Pg1784.3, P161:1.6 & Pg1144.8, P104:1.11) The Urantia Book enhances the spiritual concept of Deity from the Creator Son level, through the Ancients of Days, all the way up to the personalities of the Paradise Trinity.
On normal worlds mans spiritual concept of God is synchronized with his knowledge of the universe. On Urantia, spiritual knowledge of the universe has not generally progressed much beyond Jerusem. An Archangel tells us, the system headquarters is truly the heaven visualized by the majority of twentieth-century religious believers. (Pg519.1, P46:0.1) Neither Machiventa nor Jesus significantly expanded mans universe knowledge. The Urantia Book gives in one revelation that knowledge which is normally presented over four epochal revelations spanning some 35,000 years. Our spiritual knowledge of the universe is dramatically expanded from a hazy idea of Jerusem as heaven all the way up to an extensive revelation of Havona and the Isle of Paradise.
In terms of the overall plan for progressive enlightenment, the fifth epochal revelation on Urantia is most comparable to the levels of truth revealed on a normal planet by its fifth epochal revelation, which is usually presented by a Trinity Teacher Son corps.
2. The Formulation of Plans for Epochal Revelations
Within this overall plan for progressive enlightenment on inhabited worlds, a more detailed plan is formulated for each epochal revelation. We know something about who formulated each plan and who authorized it.
Planetary Princes have overall responsibility for making and carrying out plans for planetary progress subject to the executive mandates of the System Sovereigns. (Pg573.2, P50:2.1) Caligastia made his plans, and we are told, On Urantia these plans for planetary progress and cultural advancement were well under way, proceeding most satisfactorily, when the whole enterprise was brought to a rather sudden and most inglorious end by Caligastias adherence to the Lucifer rebellion. (Pg576.1, P50:4.6)
The plan for the second revelation was formulated by the superiors of Adam and Eve on Jerusem and, presumably, Edentia. Solonia, the seraphic voice in the Garden, tells us that Adam and Eve were exhaustively instructed as to the plans to be pursued in accepting the responsibilities of rulership on such a strife-torn world. (Pg828.5, P74:1.4)
The plan for the third revelation was developed by the twelve Melchizedek receivers on Urantia at the time. Permission to carry out this plan was granted by the Salvington authorities. (Pg1014.5, P93:1.3)
The plan for the fourth revelation was formulated by Michael, himself, as Immanuel states in the bestowal commission to Michael. (Pg1327.1, P120:2.1) In giving the bestowal commission, Immanuel conveys Paradise approval of the plan, since Immanuel acts as the representative of the Trinity, and in some respects, of the Universal Father, to the local creation. (Pg212.3, P18:6.1)
Reasons have already been considered for why we conclude that Michael formulated the plan for the fifth epochal revelation. Part I is authorized by the Ancients of Days on Uversa. Parts II, III and IV are authorized by Gabriel.
3. The Pattern of Schools Accompanying Epochal Revelations
The overall plan of progressive enlightenment is fundamentally educational. Personal and planetary progress can only be acquired through enlightened experience. And there is a divine plan for enlightenment. A Brilliant Evening Star instructs us, The divine plan of education provides for the intimate association of work and instruction. We teach you how best to execute the things we command you to do. (Pg412.4, P37:6.4) The specific plan formulated for each epochal revelation is primarily concerned with the creation of schools staffed with qualified superhuman instructors.
A Planetary Prince establishes planetary schools soon after being assigned. It is the procedure, we are told, that The prince's corporeal staff early organize the planetary schools of training and culture, (Pg575.2, P50:4.1) The princes corporeal staff are the visible superhuman teachers of man. Ten councils were created in Dalmatia and each was headed by one of the corporeal staff. Each council was responsible for education in a particular area, except for the council headed by Van, which functioned as the supreme court of Urantia. The college of revealed religion, headed by Hap, was the planetary school which gave the most advanced instruction. A primary goal of this school was to substitute Creator fear for creature fear (ghost worship). (Pg747.3, P66:5.13) The schools of the Planetary Prince are a permanent part of the plan for planetary progress. The planetary capital is the established location from which higher truth consistently comes forth. The original school of the Planetary Prince, with its superhuman teachers, was fatally disrupted about 200,000 years ago.
On a normal world, the more practical education in the princes schools is later taken up by the schools of Eden. At this point, The schools of the Planetary Prince are primarily concerned with philosophy, religion, morals, and the higher intellectual and artistic achievements. (Pg587.2, P51:6.4) When Adam and Eve arrived on Urantia, they established a school in the east of Eden for their children. The Urantia schools were set up in the western part of Eden; the undying children of the violet race also served there, between the ages of sixteen and twenty, as instructors in the lower grades. We are told that, The entire purpose of the western school system of the Garden was socialization. (Pg835.5, P74:7.2) The curriculum included health, the golden rule, individual rights and community obligations, history, world trade, and civilized competition. These garden schools did not provide religious training, which was regarded as the province of the home, the duty of parents. (Pg835.5, P72:7.2)
On a normal world, the third epochal revelation brings the incarnation of a Magisterial Son, who elevates the concept of Deity to the Creator Son level and expands knowledge up to the affairs of the local universe. This Avonal Son of Paradise origin is a visible teacher to man. This Son incarnates as an adult of the realm, but does not experience human death. They may live on for generations in those cases where they remain as rulers on certain planets. When their missions are concluded, they yield up their planetary lives and return to their former status of divine sonship. (Pg594.6, P52:4.3) There is no mention of Magisterial Sons creating schools. On normal worlds, there would be no need. They would certainly teach primarily in the school of the Planetary Prince, which focuses on philosophy and religion. Machiventa Melchizedek incarnated as an adult of the realm and was a visible teacher, just as a Magisterial Son would have been. After ninety-four years, Machiventa ended his incarnation and returned to his former status. Machiventa had to create his own school to establish the third revelation. This was the Salem school.
The fourth epochal revelation normally brings a Bestowal Son who passes through the normal human experience of birth, life, and death. The concept of God is elevated to the Ancients of Days level. Again, there is no mention of Bestowal Sons creating schools. Jesus is our Bestowal Son and he was the visible teacher for the fourth revelation on Urantia. Like Machiventa, Jesus had to create schools in order to establish the fourth revelation. Jesus personally instructed the apostles from February, 26 A.D. until their ordination on January 12, 27 A.D. After fifteen months of public work, Jesus formed the school of the evangelists at Bethsaida. This school lasted from May 3rd to October 3rd, 28 A.D., during which time several thousand interested persons came and went. Jesus taught the apostles, but the apostles were the teachers in the school of the evangelists. A little over a year later on November 19, 29 A.D., Jesus chose seventy of these evangelists and ordained them, setting them apart as gospel messengers. (Pg1800.5, P163:1.3)
On a normal world, the fifth epochal revelation brings the Trinity Teacher Sons. A Trinity Teacher Son corps remains on a world for at least one thousand years and often longer. (Pg598.5, P52:7.2) They apparently teach in the school of the Planetary Prince. A Trinity Teacher Son is accompanied by a corps of eighty-five teachers from the central and superuniverse, who are referred to as Most High Assistants. The Most High Assistants include Perfectors of Wisdom, Divine Counselors, Universal Censors, Inspired Trinity Spirits, Trinitized Sons, and Solitary Messengers, among others. A Trinity Teacher Son corps is not visible to man but is accompanied by a pair of Brilliant Evening Stars, who can become visible to man. On such assignments the Evening Stars serve as liaisons between the mortals of the realm and the invisible corps of Teacher Sons. (Pg408.1, P37:2.5) The Brilliant Evening Stars of a local universe are the visible superhuman teachers of the fifth epochal revelation on normal worlds.
4. The Fifth Epochal Revelation on Urantia
Parallels between The Urantia Book and a Trinity Teacher Son corps have already been noted. Both are fifth epochal revelations. Both reveal a Deity concept and a universe knowledge up to the Paradise level. There are additional parallels. A Trinity Teacher Son corps consists of eighty-five Most High Assistants from beyond the local universe. There are approximately eighty authors of The Urantia Book, many of whom are Most High Assistants; the twenty-four Orvonton administrators who wrote Part I are all Most High Assistants. These Most High Assistants are not visible to man in either the usual case or in the case of this revelation. A Trinity Teacher Son corps remains on a world for at least one thousand years. A Melchizedek writes, We are not at liberty to anticipate the scientific discoveries of a thousand years. (Pg1109.3, P101:4.2) But these parallels seem to break down on two important points. Where the Brilliant Evening Stars are the visible teachers for the fifth revelation on a normal planet, there is no visible superhuman teacher for this revelation. Where these Evening Stars teach in the school of the Planetary Prince at the world capital on a normal planet, there is no such capital and the school of the Planetary Prince was lost 200,000 years ago.
The only visible thing about this revelation is The Urantia Book, itself. But the book did not suddenly appear one day; a process was followed. The contact commissioners were the intermediaries in this process of materializing a visible book in response to an invisible Revelatory Commission. In the plan for progressive enlightenment followed on normal inhabited worlds, the role of the contact commissioners can only be compared to that of the corporeal staff of the Planetary Prince, but only in the sense of conveying revelation from invisible teachers. The contact commissioners consistently presented themselves only as intermediaries, never as spiritual teachers. They repeatedly asserted, the Celestial Revelators do not want any human being -- any human name -- ever to be associated with The Urantia Book. They want this revelation to stand on its own declarations and teachings. They were unswerving in their insistence that only the names of the Celestial Revelators ever be associated with the book, and their names are given at the end of each paper.
This recognition of the celestial authors of the book as the spiritual teachers of this revelation is fully consistent with how the book was received. The Forum was, first and last, a school in which mortals were taught by invisible superhuman teachers through written communications. According to Dr. Sadlers History of the Urantia Movement, there was a total of 486 members in the Forum during the process of receiving the book, which extended from 1925 until 1942. Dr. Sadler writes, This was the procedure followed throughout the many years of the reception of the Urantia Papers. No questionsno Papers. and During the period of the reception of the Urantia Papers upward of 300 different persons participated in asking these genetic questions. This was a school of revelation in the full sense; mortal students asked questions of superhuman teachers and received answers.
This revelation follows the pattern of previous epochal revelations and the usual universe procedure, although in a most unusual way. A planetary school was initiated to receive epochal truth. The superhuman teachers in this planetary school are the celestial authors of The Urantia Book.
1. The Immediate Objective of Michael's Plan
The Fathers divine plan for the destiny of Urantia will prevail. The divine plan of progressive enlightenment through epochal revelations is explained to us. The basic plan for each previous revelation on this planet is explained to us, and in each of these plans schools of revelation are essential. On a normal world, the school of the Planetary Prince is a permanent part of all of these plans. It is always initiated upon the arrival of the prince, and it continues without interruption into the era of light and life. This school at the planetary capital is where each new epoch of revelation first begins. It is from this school at the planetary capital that advancing truth and spiritual culture are disseminated, gradually reaching out to embrace and uplift a planet. This school is irreplaceable in carrying out the plan of gradually evolving planetary culture and civilization over a long period of time; it exerts a constant and visible pressure for spiritual progress.
On Urantia, the school of the Planetary Prince was lost. Urantia had no recognized Planetary Prince for 200,000 years until Michael accepted this responsibility. One of the first things a Planetary Prince does is to establish a school of revelation. The Urantia Book, the contact commissioners, the Foundation, and the Forum all come into being as part of Michaels Plan. It is apparent that the immediate objective of Michaels Plan is to initiate a new planetary school of revelation. It is entirely appropriate, then, to say that Michaels Plan initiates the School of the New Planetary Prince.
The Celestial Revelators in The Urantia Book can exert a constant and enduring spiritual pressure which fosters planetary progress. They can be the superhuman teachers in this irreplaceable planetary school of revelation. On normal worlds, the visible staff of the Planetary Prince convey what is given to them by invisible revelators. The contact commissioners did this for their generation; the Foundation was established to do this for all generations. Unlike normal worlds, neither the contact commissioners nor the Foundation can instruct; neither are superhuman in any sense. They cannot teach; they can only pass on the written teachings of the Celestial Revelators without editorializing or interpreting. The Forum was the initial student body of this planetary school of revelation.
2. Establishing the School of the Planetary Prince
Michaels Plan provides the Celestial Revelators as the teachers for this school. It provides the Foundation to serve as a guardian to preserve and publish the writings of these teachers. It provides for a brotherhood of students. This brotherhood of students was initially the Forum, which was, first and last, a school. However, things have changed; direct physical contact with the revelators has been severed; human associations have reorganized. There are no visible superhuman teachers now, and it is not clear exactly what form the new School of the Planetary Prince now takes. If the primary objective of Michaels Plan is to establish such a school, then it would be fair to say that we are not all working together to achieve this primary objective.
From the beginning we have heard, and many of us have accepted, the counsel that we are not to become a church. Dr. Sadler writes in his History , All interested persons could see that the Urantia teachings were opposed to the sectarianism of Christian believers. It was clear that it was not the purpose of the Urantia Revelation to start a new church. Michaels Plan leads to the conclusion that what students of The Urantia Book are to start is a planetary school of revelation. His Plan advises that the Foundation make no attempts to exercise spiritual authority. It also advises that the Brotherhood not try to exert religious authority. Religious authority may have a legitimate role in evolutionary religion, but there is no place for it in the religion of Jesus. By intentionally forgoing any claims to either spiritual or religious authority, the human organizations associated with The Urantia Book protect themselves from the possibility of becoming a new institutional religion or church.
This distinction between a school of revelation and an institutional church of religious doctrine is vital and fundamental. No institutionalized church can ever achieve worldwide acceptance. Human individuality and moral freewill makes it impossible to impose a single set of beliefs or doctrines upon mankind. Only a planetary school of revelation has the potential to achieve worldwide acceptance. Only a planetary school of revelation which willingly accepts the spiritual authority of God, and God alone, and which refuses to exert religious authority over the beliefs and interpretations of others can become a worldwide spiritual influence. Only such a school can truly participate in the birth of a new age of religion on this world.
3. The Spiritual Culture of the School of the Planetary Prince
The absence of visible superhuman teachers is a great challenge to establishing a planetary school of revelation. The visible presence of a superhuman teacher exerts a profound spiritual influence upon students. This influence permeates the whole social atmosphere of such a school, gradually bringing about a higher realization of spiritual culture. Culture is never a personal creation; it is always and everywhere an evolving social achievement. The School of the Planetary Prince does much more than reveal knowledge and truth; it directly promotes the spiritual evolution of human culture and civilization. Considering what Michaels Plan asks of us, we should consider the question: Can there be a School of the Planetary Prince in the absence of a visible superhuman teacher?
What occurs in many study groups shows that the absence of a visible superhuman teacher can be overcome by invisible superhuman assistance. A spiritual culture has arisen in many study groups. Study groups gracefully tolerate great divergences in personal interpretations and beliefs. They can spiritually transcend the pitfalls of sectarianism. Participants in study groups can regularly experience expansions of cosmic consciousness and enhancements of spiritual perception. Students can study quite willingly and share their interpretations without giving expression to any religious authority. They very often unselfishly help the understanding of one another without the distaste of moral superiority. These are the characteristics of an advancing spiritual culture.
The Publication Mandate tells us that thousands of study groups must be brought into existence. Although each study group is autonomous, there is a true unity of purpose in their study of The Urantia Book. Each is essentially a class in the larger School of the Planetary Prince. Study groups bring the spiritual knowledge and culture of the planetary school of revelation to life. And they do this in spite of the absence of a visible superhuman teacher.
This is not a self-congratulatory assessment of study groups. It arises necessarily from the sincere study of epochal revelation. This high status of the humble study group may also arise from a special form of superhuman ministry. Every mortal receives the very same divine ministry from the indwelling spiritual influences of God. But epochal revelation is always presented by visible superhuman teachers to some group first. We are that group, but we do see any teachers. However, the Chief of Seraphim on Urantia informs us that this need for visible teachers can be partly satisfied. He writes, The absence of the corporeal staff of a Planetary Prince and the material regime of an Adamic Son and Daughter is partially compensated by the special ministry of seraphim and by the unusual services of the midway creatures. (Pg1254.3, P114:5.3)
There is no further elaboration on the nature of this special ministry by the seraphim. Neither is there incontrovertible proof that study groups receive such special ministry. However, the ability of many study groups to exhibit an advancing spiritual culture is circumstantial evidence for this. The appearance of such spiritually cultured groups in the very midst of a world civilization which is so very deeply under the spell of an intolerant secular materialism argues strongly for special ministry. The need for a visible teacher is clearly present. We are told there is a way to partially compensate for this need. And as our Planetary Prince, it is within Michaels authority to instruct the Chief of Seraphim to provide such special ministry to study groups.
Michael makes and carries out a plan to put everything in place for the new School of the Planetary Prince. It remains for us to discover ways to foster study groups in their mission to serve the spiritual needs of the individual, to become the seeds of an advancing spiritual culture which gives rise to the planetary civilization of light and life.
* All quotations cited in this format (pg909.8, P81:6.27) are from The Urantia Book, Urantia Foundation, publisher. Each citation gives two references.
- The first reference (Pg909.8) gives the Page Number and Paragraph Number, counting from the top of the page of the Urantia Foundation printings. [page 909, 8 paragraphs from the top.]
- The second reference (P81:6.27) gives the Paper number, the Section number, and the Paragraph number counting from the start of the Section. [Paper 81, Section 6, 27 paragraphs from the start of the section.]