Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
The Eternal Isle of Paradise
(118.1) 11:0.1 PARADISE is the eternal center of the universe of universes and the abiding
place of the Universal Father, the Eternal Son, the Infinite Spirit, and their divine
co-ordinates and associates. This central Isle is the most gigantic organized body of
cosmic reality in all the master universe. Paradise is a material sphere as well as a
spiritual abode. All of the intelligent creation of the Universal Father is domiciled on material
abodes; hence must the absolute controlling center also be material, literal. And again
it should be reiterated that spirit things and spiritual beings are real.
(118.2) 11:0.2 The material beauty of Paradise consists in the magnificence of its physical
perfection; the grandeur of the Isle of God is exhibited in the superb intellectual accomplishments
and mind development of its inhabitants; the glory of the central Isle is shown forth in
the infinite endowment of divine spirit personality — the light of life. But the depths of the
spiritual beauty and the wonders of this magnificent ensemble are utterly beyond the comprehension
of the finite mind of material creatures. The glory and spiritual splendor of the divine
abode are impossible of mortal comprehension. And Paradise is from eternity; there are neither
records nor traditions respecting the origin of this nuclear Isle of Light and Life.
1. The Divine Residence
(118.3) 11:1.1 Paradise serves many purposes in the administration of the universal realms,
but to creature beings it exists primarily as the dwelling place of Deity. The personal
presence of the Universal Father is resident at the very center of the upper surface of
this well-nigh circular, but not spherical, abode of the Deities. This Paradise presence
of the Universal Father is immediately surrounded by the personal presence of the Eternal Son,
while they are both invested by the unspeakable glory of the Infinite Spirit.
(118.4) 11:1.2 God dwells, has dwelt, and everlastingly will dwell in this same central
and eternal abode. We have always found him there and always will. The Universal Father
is cosmically focalized, spiritually personalized, and geographically resident at this center
of the universe of universes.
(118.5) 11:1.3 We all know the direct course to pursue to find the Universal Father. You
are not able to comprehend much about the divine residence because of its remoteness
from you and the immensity of the intervening space, but those who are able to comprehend
the meaning of these enormous distances know God’s location and residence just as certainly
and literally as you know the location of New York, London, Rome, or Singapore, cities
definitely and geographically located on Urantia. If you were an intelligent navigator, equipped
with ship, maps, and compass, you could readily find these cities. Likewise, if you had the
time and means of passage, were spiritually qualified, and had the necessary guidance,
you could be piloted through universe upon universe and from circuit to circuit, ever
journeying inward through the starry realms, until at last you would stand before the central
shining of the spiritual glory of the Universal Father. Provided with all the necessities
for the journey, it is just as possible to find the personal presence of God at the center
of all things as to find distant cities on your own planet. That you have not visited
these places in no way disproves their reality or actual existence. That so few of the universe
creatures have found God on Paradise in no way disproves either the reality of his existence
or the actuality of his spiritual person at the center of all things.
(119.1) 11:1.4 The Father is always to be found at this central location. Did he move,
universal pandemonium would be precipitated, for there converge in him at this residential
center the universal lines of gravity from the ends of creation. Whether we trace the
personality circuit back through the universes or follow the ascending personalities as they
journey inward to the Father; whether we trace the lines of material gravity to nether Paradise
or follow the insurging cycles of cosmic force; whether we trace the lines of spiritual gravity
to the Eternal Son or follow the inward processional of the Paradise Sons of God; whether we trace
out the mind circuits or follow the trillions upon trillions of celestial beings who spring
from the Infinite Spirit — by any of these observations or by all of them we are led
directly back to the Father’s presence, to his central abode. Here is God personally,
literally, and actually present. And from his infinite being there flow the flood-streams
of life, energy, and personality to all universes.
2. Nature of the Eternal Isle
(119.2) 11:2.1 Since you are beginning to glimpse the enormousness of the material universe
discernible even from your astronomical location, your space position in the starry systems,
it should become evident to you that such a tremendous material universe must have an
adequate and worthy capital, a headquarters commensurate with the dignity and infinitude
of the universal Ruler of all this vast and far-flung creation of material realms and
(119.3) 11:2.2 In form Paradise differs from the inhabited space bodies: it is not spherical.
It is definitely ellipsoid, being one-sixth longer in the north-south diameter than in
the east-west diameter. The central Isle is essentially flat, and the distance from the
upper surface to the nether surface is one tenth that of the east-west diameter.
(119.4) 11:2.3 These differences in dimensions, taken in connection with its stationary status
and the greater out-pressure of force-energy at the north end of the Isle, make it possible
to establish absolute direction in the master universe.
(119.5) 11:2.4 The central Isle is geographically divided into three domains of activity:
(119.6) 11:2.5 1. Upper Paradise. (119.7) 11:2.6 2. Peripheral Paradise.
(119.8) 11:2.7 3. Nether Paradise.
(119.9) 11:2.8 We speak of that surface of Paradise which is occupied with personality
activities as the upper side, and the opposite surface as the nether side. The periphery of Paradise provides for activities
that are not strictly personal or nonpersonal. The Trinity seems to dominate the personal
or upper plane, the Unqualified Absolute the nether or impersonal plane. We hardly conceive
of the Unqualified Absolute as a person, but we do think of the functional space presence
of this Absolute as focalized on nether Paradise.
(120.1) 11:2.9 The eternal Isle is composed of a single form of materialization — stationary
systems of reality. This literal substance of Paradise is a homogeneous organization
of space potency not to be found elsewhere in all the wide universe of universes. It
has received many names in different universes, and the Melchizedeks of Nebadon long since
named it absolutum. This Paradise source material is neither dead nor alive; it is the original
nonspiritual expression of the First Source and Center; it is Paradise, and Paradise is
without duplicate.
(120.2) 11:2.10 It appears to us that the First Source and Center has concentrated all
absolute potential for cosmic reality in Paradise as a part of his technique of self-liberation
from infinity limitations, as a means of making possible subinfinite, even time-space, creation.
But it does not follow that Paradise is time-space limited just because the universe of universes
discloses these qualities. Paradise exists without time and has no location in space.
upper Paradise. Time, as you understand it, is not a feature of Paradise existence, though
the citizens of the central Isle are fully conscious of nontime sequence of events. Motion
is not inherent on Paradise; it is volitional. But the concept of distance, even absolute
distance, has very much meaning as it may be applied to relative locations on Paradise.
Paradise is nonspatial; hence its areas are absolute and therefore serviceable in many
ways beyond the concept of mortal mind.
3. Upper Paradise
(120.4) 11:3.1 On upper Paradise there are three grand spheres of activity, the Deity
presence, the Most Holy Sphere, and the Holy Area. The vast region immediately surrounding
the presence of the Deities is set aside as the Most Holy Sphere and is reserved for the
functions of worship, trinitization, and high spiritual attainment. There are no material
structures nor purely intellectual creations in this zone; they could not exist there.
It is useless for me to undertake to portray to the human mind the divine nature and the
beauteous grandeur of the Most Holy Sphere of Paradise. This realm is wholly spiritual,
and you are almost wholly material. A purely spiritual reality is, to a purely material
being, apparently nonexistent.
(120.5) 11:3.2 While there are no physical materializations in the area of the Most Holy,
there are abundant souvenirs of your material days in the Holy Land sectors and still more
in the reminiscent historic areas of peripheral Paradise.
(120.6) 11:3.3 The Holy Area, the outlying or residential region, is divided into seven
concentric zones. Paradise is sometimes called “the Father’s House” since it is his
eternal residence, and these seven zones are often designated “the Father’s Paradise
mansions.” The inner or first zone is occupied by Paradise Citizens and the natives of Havona
who may chance to be dwelling on Paradise. The next or second zone is the residential
area of the natives of the seven superuniverses of time and space. This second zone is in
part subdivided into seven immense divisions, the Paradise home of the spirit beings and
ascendant creatures who hail from the universes of evolutionary progression. Each of these
sectors is exclusively dedicated to the welfare and advancement of the personalities of a
single superuniverse, but these facilities are almost infinitely beyond the requirements
of the present seven superuniverses.
(121.1) 11:3.4 Each of the seven sectors of Paradise is subdivided into residential units
suitable for the lodgment headquarters of one billion glorified individual working groups.
seven of the master units constitute a superior unit; and thus by sevens the ascending series
expands through the superior, supersuperior, celestial, supercelestial, to the supreme
units. But even this does not utilize all the space available. This staggering number
of residential designations on Paradise, a number beyond your concept, occupies considerably
less than one per cent of the assigned area of the Holy Land. There is still plenty of
room for those who are on their way inward, even for those who shall not start the Paradise
climb until the times of the eternal future.
4. Peripheral Paradise
(121.2) 11:4.1 The central Isle ends abruptly at the periphery, but its size is so enormous
that this terminal angle is relatively indiscernible within any circumscribed area. The peripheral
surface of Paradise is occupied, in part, by the landing and dispatching fields for
various groups of spirit personalities. Since the nonpervaded-space zones nearly impinge
upon the periphery, all personality transports destined to Paradise land in these regions.
(121.3) 11:4.2 The Seven Master Spirits have their personal seats of power and authority
on the seven spheres of the Spirit, which circle about Paradise in the space between
the shining orbs of the Son and the inner circuit of the Havona worlds, but they maintain
force-focal headquarters on the Paradise periphery. Here the slowly circulating presences of the
Seven Supreme Power Directors indicate the location of the seven flash stations for certain
Paradise energies going forth to the seven superuniverses.
(121.4) 11:4.3 Here on peripheral Paradise are the enormous historic and prophetic exhibit
areas assigned to the Creator Sons, dedicated to the local universes of time and space.
There are just seven trillion of these historic reservations now set up or in reserve, but
these arrangements all together occupy only about four per cent of that portion of the
peripheral area thus assigned. We infer that these vast reserves belong to creations sometime
to be situated beyond the borders of the present known and inhabited seven superuniverses.
(121.5) 11:4.4 That portion of Paradise which has been designated for the use of the existing
universes is occupied only from one to four per cent, while the area assigned to these
activities is at least one million times that actually required for such purposes. Paradise
is large enough to accommodate the activities of an almost infinite creation.
(121.6) 11:4.5 But a further attempt to visualize to you the glories of Paradise would be futile.
You must wait, and ascend while you wait, for truly, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
neither has it entered into the mind of mortal man, the things which the Universal Father
has prepared for those who survive the life in the flesh on the worlds of time and space.”
5. Nether Paradise
(122.1) 11:5.1 Concerning nether Paradise, we know only that which is revealed; personalities
do not sojourn there. It has nothing whatever to do with the affairs of spirit intelligences,
nor does the Deity Absolute there function. We are informed that all physical-energy and
cosmic-force circuits have their origin on nether Paradise, and that it is constituted
as follows:
(122.2) 11:5.2 1. Directly underneath the location of the Trinity, in the central portion
of nether Paradise, is the unknown and unrevealed Zone of Infinity.
(122.3) 11:5.3 2. This Zone is immediately surrounded by an unnamed area.
(122.4) 11:5.4 3. Occupying the outer margins of the under surface is a region having mainly
to do with space potency and force-energy. The activities of this vast elliptical force
center are not identifiable with the known functions of any triunity, but the primordial
force-charge of space appears to be focalized in this area. This center consists of three
concentric elliptical zones: The innermost is the focal point of the force-energy activities
of Paradise itself; the outermost may possibly be identified with the functions of the Unqualified
Absolute, but we are not certain concerning the space functions of the mid-zone.
(122.5) 11:5.5 The inner zone of this force center seems to act as a gigantic heart whose
pulsations direct currents to the outermost borders of physical space. It directs and
modifies force-energies but hardly drives them. The reality pressure-presence of this
primal force is definitely greater at the north end of the Paradise center than in the
southern regions; this is a uniformly registered difference. The mother force of space seems
to flow in at the south and out at the north through the operation of some unknown circulatory
system which is concerned with the diffusion of this basic form of force-energy. From time
to time there are also noted differences in the east-west pressures. The forces emanating
from this zone are not responsive to observable physical gravity but are always obedient to
Paradise gravity.
(122.6) 11:5.6 The mid-zone of the force center immediately surrounds this area. This mid-zone
appears to be static except that it expands and contracts through three cycles of activity.
The least of these pulsations is in an east-west direction, the next in a north-south direction,
while the greatest fluctuation is in every direction, a generalized expansion and contraction.
The function of this mid-area has never been really identified, but it must have something
to do with reciprocal adjustment between the inner and the outer zones of the force center.
It is believed by many that the mid-zone is the control mechanism of the midspace or quiet
zones which separate the successive space levels of the master universe, but no evidence
or revelation confirms this. This inference is derived from the knowledge that this mid-area
is in some manner related to the functioning of the nonpervaded-space mechanism of the
master universe.
(122.7) 11:5.7 The outer zone is the largest and most active of the three concentric and
elliptical belts of unidentified space potential. This area is the site of unimagined activities,
the central circuit point of emanations which proceed spaceward in every direction to the
outermost borders of the seven superuniverses and on beyond to overspread the enormous and
incomprehensible domains of all outer space. This space presence is entirely impersonal
notwithstanding that in some undisclosed manner it seems to be indirectly responsive to the
will and mandates of the infinite Deities when acting as the Trinity. This is believed
to be the central focalization, the Paradise center, of the space presence of the Unqualified
(123.1) 11:5.8 All forms of force and all phases of energy seem to be encircuited; they
circulate throughout the universes and return by definite routes. But with the emanations
of the activated zone of the Unqualified Absolute there appears to be either an outgoing or
an incoming — never both simultaneously. This outer zone pulsates in agelong cycles
of gigantic proportions. For a little more than one billion Urantia years the space-force
of this center is outgoing; then for a similar length of time it will be incoming. And the
space-force manifestations of this center are universal; they extend throughout all
pervadable space.
(123.2) 11:5.9 All physical force, energy, and matter are one. All force-energy originally
proceeded from nether Paradise and will eventually return thereto following the completion of
its space circuit. But the energies and material organizations of the universe of universes
did not all come from nether Paradise in their present phenomenal states; space is the womb
of several forms of matter and prematter. Though the outer zone of the Paradise force
center is the source of space-energies, space does not originate there. Space is not force,
energy, or power. Nor do the pulsations of this zone account for the respiration of space,
but the incoming and outgoing phases of this zone are synchronized with the two-billion-year
expansion-contraction cycles of space.
6. Space Respiration
(123.3) 11:6.1 We do not know the actual mechanism of space respiration; we merely observe that
of the vertical extension of unpervaded space contract and vice versa. There is a confluence
space is destined always to function as the equipoise of horizontal (universe) space;
contract. Pervaded space is now approaching the mid-point of the expanding phase, while
(124.1) 11:6.5 For a billion years of Urantia time the space reservoirs contract while the
space going out or coming in, just now coming in. Space does not touch Paradise; only the
and unpervaded space. Similar zones once existed between the levels of pervaded space, but
encompass the borders of all space and completely incapsulate both the space reservoirs and
to peripheral Paradise, this pervaded space extends horizontally outward through the fourth
(124.7) 11:7.6 There is an upper and a lower limit to horizontal space with reference to
(125.1) 11:7.7 The relatively quiet zones between the space levels, such as the one
and bounded on the inner and outer margins by relatively quiet space zones. *
clockwise and counterclockwise flow of the galaxies, is a factor in the stabilization
Gravity is the omnipotent strand on which are strung the gleaming stars, blazing suns,
and unerringly respond to the central gravity pull operating upon the endless circuits of
actually neutralize such gravity action even though it cannot delay it. Absolute gravity
(126.1) 11:8.5 1. Pregravity Stages (Force). This is the first step in the individuation
originally neutral but consequent upon further metamorphosis will exhibit the so-called negative
dual in constitution and are known as gravita. The dark gravity bodies encircling Havona
does not mean that which is ancestral to space; its meaning should convey the idea of the
of that which has Paradise as its source and origin. The universal presence of the Unqualified
surrounding creations.
creation, not even a real part of the eternal Havona universe. We commonly refer to the
Paradise appears to have been the inevitable repercussion to the Father’s will and act
Son and Paradise), it is hardly proper to call that which is nonpersonal “Deity”
are never reflections; they are duplications — reproductions. Paradise is the absolute
of all force-space and energy manifestations. Everything which has been, now is, or is yet
of the immortal souls of the mortal and material sons of God, the ascending creatures of the
spheres of space, such an achievement represents the reality of a spiritual transformation
bordering on the limits of supremacy.