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==Author's Introductory Comments==

==Author's Introductory Comments==

It is our purpose in this Appendix to examine the antecedents of the master universe. We propose to begin this examination in past time when there was nothing but empty space outside of Havona. This is Havona in the First Universe Age. If we can think back to the dawn of time, then we might try to think our way still farther back, before time itself, into past eternity. We might try to visualize conditions as they could have been "before" Havona. Such ideas "before the appearance of Havona" would not be factual realities, but they could still be valid concepts. The Urantia Papers find it useful to entertain the concept of a "time" before the existence of Havona, a "time" that would be prior to the existence of the Infinite Spirit. (91,1-4), (91,8)  The Urantia Papers speak of this concept of such a hypothetical past moment as "the dawn of eternity." (351,5)

It is our purpose in this Appendix to examine the antecedents of the master universe. We propose to begin this examination in past time when there was nothing but empty space outside of Havona. This is Havona in the First Universe Age. If we can think back to the dawn of time, then we might try to think our way still farther back, before time itself, into past eternity. We might try to visualize conditions as they could have been "before" Havona. Such ideas "before the appearance of Havona" would not be factual realities, but they could still be valid concepts. The Urantia Papers find it useful to entertain the concept of a "time" before the existence of Havona, a "time" that would be prior to the existence of the Infinite Spirit. (91,1-4), (91,8)  The Urantia Papers speak of this concept of such a hypothetical past moment as "the dawn of eternity." (351,5)

==§1.THE FIRST UNIVERSE AGE==

==§1.THE FIRST UNIVERSE AGE==

All of these realities are eternal The Paradise Deities and Trinity, the three Absolutes, the Paradise Isle with its citizens, and Havona with its natives - all of these beings, entities, and creations are existential, and constitute the inventory of the original - the eternal core of the master universe and of Total Reality. If we were to attempt to think our way back of this, we would be departing from factual reality. Nevertheless, it would still be possible to entertain valid concepts about those things and beings that are conceptually (if not factually) antecedent to the eternal existences of the First Universe Age.

All of these realities are eternal The Paradise Deities and Trinity, the three Absolutes, the Paradise Isle with its citizens, and Havona with its natives - all of these beings, entities, and creations are existential, and constitute the inventory of the original - the eternal core of the master universe and of Total Reality. If we were to attempt to think our way back of this, we would be departing from factual reality. Nevertheless, it would still be possible to entertain valid concepts about those things and beings that are conceptually (if not factually) antecedent to the eternal existences of the First Universe Age.

==§2. SOURCE RELATIONSHIPS IN ETERNITY==

==§2. SOURCE RELATIONSHIPS IN ETERNITY==

This line of reasoning starts with the concept of "eternal," which would be the equivalent of the First Age. It then introduces the concept of "eternaler," which would be comparable to the Zero Age. Then we have the concept of "eternalist," which would equivalate to the idea of a "pre-zero concept." And, if we can imagine a "pre-zero concept" perhaps we can think at least one step behind that idea, perhaps we can reach the concept of "before prezero." Let us now examine the concept of the hypothetical Zero Age, and then go back into past eternity just as far as imagination will take us.

This line of reasoning starts with the concept of "eternal," which would be the equivalent of the First Age. It then introduces the concept of "eternaler," which would be comparable to the Zero Age. Then we have the concept of "eternalist," which would equivalate to the idea of a "pre-zero concept." And, if we can imagine a "pre-zero concept" perhaps we can think at least one step behind that idea, perhaps we can reach the concept of "before prezero." Let us now examine the concept of the hypothetical Zero Age, and then go back into past eternity just as far as imagination will take us.

==§3. THE ZERO AGE==

==§3. THE ZERO AGE==

Were the Paradise Citizens present? If the Havona natives are eternal," then it would appear reasonable to assume the Paradise Citizens are "eternaler." Even if this were the case, we know this designation could not apply to all of the "more than three thousand orders" of these citizens, because the last of these groups was personalized at the time of the Trinity mandate which organized the superuniverses (222,6), and this must have been in the "dawn" of the Second Universe Age.

Were the Paradise Citizens present? If the Havona natives are eternal," then it would appear reasonable to assume the Paradise Citizens are "eternaler." Even if this were the case, we know this designation could not apply to all of the "more than three thousand orders" of these citizens, because the last of these groups was personalized at the time of the Trinity mandate which organized the superuniverses (222,6), and this must have been in the "dawn" of the Second Universe Age.

==§4. THE PRE-ZERO CONCEPT==

==§4. THE PRE-ZERO CONCEPT==

We should remember that this Pre-Zero concept is not a factual reality. (111,4) Even the preceding concept of the Zero Age is not a factual reality; but both are useful thinking tools and, as such, both are valid concepts. Even a further projection of our thinking to "before Pre-Zero" could still be valid as a concept.

We should remember that this Pre-Zero concept is not a factual reality. (111,4) Even the preceding concept of the Zero Age is not a factual reality; but both are useful thinking tools and, as such, both are valid concepts. Even a further projection of our thinking to "before Pre-Zero" could still be valid as a concept.

==§5. BEFORE PRE-ZERO==

==§5. BEFORE PRE-ZERO==

But this static condition is more than a valid concept. This static condition is also a factual reality: Total Deity still continues to function on the static level. The continuing existence of the static level of Total Reality is pointed out in the Urantia Papers in the discussion of The Infinity (1154,2), and in the discussion of the Universal One of Infinity. (1155,4) Therefore, at the conclusion of our analysis of past eternity we encounter more than valid concept, we encounter factual reality: The past-eternal is also the present-eternal, and the present-eternal is also the future-eternal.

But this static condition is more than a valid concept. This static condition is also a factual reality: Total Deity still continues to function on the static level. The continuing existence of the static level of Total Reality is pointed out in the Urantia Papers in the discussion of The Infinity (1154,2), and in the discussion of the Universal One of Infinity. (1155,4) Therefore, at the conclusion of our analysis of past eternity we encounter more than valid concept, we encounter factual reality: The past-eternal is also the present-eternal, and the present-eternal is also the future-eternal.

==§6. FOOTNOTE: REVERSIBLE SEQUENCE IN ETERNITY==

==§6. FOOTNOTE: REVERSIBLE SEQUENCE IN ETERNITY==

Now we have told the story of the beginning of all things in reverse, and it still makes good sense. We have established the fact that the story of the Origin of Reality can be told by starting with Potentials and ending with Actuals, or it can be told just as well by starting with Actuals and ending with Potentials. But there could hardly be any factual "time sequence" in either of these narratives, and this must be why the story can be told in either sequence and still make sense. There may be "concept sequence" but there could hardly be "factual sequence" in the story of the unfolding of events in past eternity.  

Now we have told the story of the beginning of all things in reverse, and it still makes good sense. We have established the fact that the story of the Origin of Reality can be told by starting with Potentials and ending with Actuals, or it can be told just as well by starting with Actuals and ending with Potentials. But there could hardly be any factual "time sequence" in either of these narratives, and this must be why the story can be told in either sequence and still make sense. There may be "concept sequence" but there could hardly be "factual sequence" in the story of the unfolding of events in past eternity.  

[[Category: SMU]]

[[Category: Study of the Master Universe]]