Meredith Sprunger's Synopsis of The Urantia Book
Synopsis of Paper 38
MINISTERING SPIRITS OF THE LOCAL UNIVERSE
1. As the supernaphim in the central universe and the seconaphim in the superuniverse, so the seraphim, with the associated cherubim and sanobim, constitute the angelic corps of a local universe. The seraphim are all fairly uniform in design. From universe to universe, throughout all seven of the superuniverses, they show a minimum of variation; they are the most nearly standard of all spirit types of personal beings.
2. Seraphim are created by the Universe Mother Spirit... These angelic orders are projected at the time of planning for the evolution of mortal will creatures….Seraphim are still being periodically created; the universe of Nebadon is still in the making.
3. Angels do not have material bodies, but they are definite and discrete beings; they are of spirit nature and origin. Though invisible to mortals, they perceive you as you are in the flesh without the aid of transformers or translators; they intellectually understand the mode of mortal life, and they share all of man’s nonsensuous emotions and sentiments. They appreciate and greatly enjoy your efforts in music, art, and real humor. They are fully cognizant of your moral struggles and spiritual difficulties. They love human beings, and only good can result from your efforts to understand and love them.
4. In nature and personality endowment the seraphim are just a trifle ahead of mortal races in the scale of creature existence. Indeed, When you are delivered from the flesh, you become very much like them. On the mansion worlds you will begin to appreciate the seraphim, on the constellation spheres to enjoy them, while on Salvington they will share their places of rest and worship with you. Throughout the whole morontia and subsequent spirit ascent, your fraternity with the seraphim will be ideal; your companionship will be superb.
5. The seraphic estates are characterized by both beauty and vastness. Here each seraphim has a real home, and "home" means the domicile of two seraphim; they live in pairs. Though not male and female as are the Material Sons and the mortal races, seraphim are negative and positive. In the majority of assignments it requires two angels to accomplish the task. When they are not encircuited, they can work alone... Besides designated homes, seraphim also have group, company, battalion, and unit headquarters.
6. Seraphim spend their first millennium as noncommissioned observers on Salvington and its associated world schools. The second millennium is spent on the seraphic worlds of the Salvington circuit…At the termination of this period of training on the seraphic worlds of Salvington, seraphim are mobilized in the conventional groups and units of the angelic organization and are assigned to some one of the constellations,.. Seraphim are initiated as ministering spirits by serving as observers on the lowest of the evolutionary worlds. After this experience they return to the associate worlds of the headquarters of the assigned constellation to begin their advanced studies and more definitely to prepare for service in some particular local system. Following this general education they are advanced to the service of some one of the local systems. .. When once seraphim are commissioned,. they may range all Nebadon, even Orvonton, on assignment. Their work in the universe is without bounds and limitations.
7. A seraphic host is commanded by an archangel or by some other personality of co‑ordinate status, while the angelic armies are directed by the Brilliant Evening Stars or by other immediate lieutenants of Gabriel. And Gabriel is the "supreme commander of the armies of heaven," the chief executive of the Sovereign of Nebadon, "the Lord God of hosts."
8. Though serving under the direct supervision of the Infinite Spirit as personalized on Salvington, since the bestowal of Michael on Urantia, seraphim and all other local universe orders have become subject to the sovereignty of the Master Son. Even when Michael was born of the flesh on Urantia, there issued the superuniverse broadcast to all Nebadon which proclaimed, "And let all the angels worship him."
9. In all essential endowments cherubim and sanobim are similar to seraphim. They have the same origin but not always the same destiny. They are wonderfully intelligent, marvelously efficient, touchingly affectionate, and almost human. They are the lowest orders of angels, hence all the nearer of kin to the more progressive types of human beings on the evolutionary worlds,
10. Cherubim and sanobim are inherently associated, functionally united. One is an energy positive personality; the other, energy negative…..Each type of angel is very limited in solitary function; hence they usually serve in pairs... The cherubim and sanobim are the routine spirit workers on the individual worlds of the systems ...Every fourth cherubim and every fourth sanobim are quasi‑material. .. These angelic fourth creatures are of great assistance to the seraphim in the more literal phases of their universe and planetary activities. .They are to the morontia spheres about what the midway creatures are to the evolutionary planets.
11. Primary Midwayers, the more spiritual group, are a somewhat standardized order of beings who are uniformly derived from the modified ascendant‑mortal staffs of the Planetary Prince ..Secondary Midwayers, the more material group of these creatures, vary greatly in numbers on the different worlds…They are variously derived from the planetary biologic uplifters, the Adam and Eves, or from their immediate progeny, There are no less than twenty‑four diverse techniques involved in the production of these secondary midway creatures on the evolutionary worlds of space. The mode of origin for this group on Urantia was unusual and extraordinary.
12. Neither of these groups is an evolutionary accident; both are essential features in the predetermined plans of the universe architects, and their appearance on the evolving worlds at the opportune juncture is in accordance with the original designs and developmental plans of the supervising Life Carriers.
13. The gap between the material and spiritual worlds is perfectly bridged by the serial association of mortal man, secondary midwayer, primary midwayer, morontia cherubim, mid‑phase cherubim, and seraphim.
14. Sooner or later all accredited midway creatures will be mustered into the ranks of the ascending Sons of God and will be duly initiated into the long adventure of the Paradise ascent in company with those very mortals of animal origin, their earth brethren, whom they so jealously guarded and so effectively served during the long planetary sojourn.
Discussion Questions
1. What might constitute the extensive training of the seraphic angels?
2. What do you think is the nature of the positive and negative aspects of angel make up?
3. What might the seraphic angels be doing to stimulate our spiritual growth?
4. How does the knowledge of the existence of Midwayers, Cherubim, and Sanobim help human beings live progressively?
5. Does it appear that the lower order of universe beings have more opportunities for advancement than the higher spiritual personalities?
6. Why do Midwayers always appear on decimal planets?
7. How might the career of Midwayers differ from that of mortals in their ascension to Paradise?
A Service of
The Urantia Book Fellowship