Changes

==55:2. DEATH AND TRANSLATION==     

==55:2. DEATH AND TRANSLATION==     

55:2.1 [[Natural]], physical death is not a mortal inevitability. The majority of advanced evolutionary beings, citizens on worlds existing in the final era of light and life, do not die; they are translated directly from the life in the flesh to the morontia existence.

55:2.1 [[Natural]], [[physical]] [[death]] is not a [[mortal]] [[inevitability]]. The [[majority]] of advanced [[evolutionary]] [[beings]], [[citizens]] on worlds existing in the final era of [[light and life]], do not die; they are [[translated]] directly from the life in the [[flesh]] to the [[morontia]] [[existence]].

55:2.2 This experience of translation from the material life to the morontia state— fusion of the immortal soul with the indwelling Adjuster—increases in frequency commensurate with the evolutionary progress of the planet. At first only a few mortals in each age attain translation levels of spiritual progress, but with the onset of the successive ages of the Teacher Sons, more and more Adjuster fusions occur before the termination of the lengthening lives of these progressing mortals; and by the time of the terminal mission of the Teacher Sons, approximately one quarter of these superb mortals are exempt from natural death.

55:2.2 This [[experience]] of [[translation]] from the [[material]] life to the [[morontia]] [[state]]— [[fusion]] of the [[immortal]] [[soul]] with the indwelling [[Adjuster]]—increases in [[frequency]] commensurate with the [[evolutionary]] [[progress]] of the [[planet]]. At first only a few [[mortals]] in each [[age]] [[attain]] [[translation]] [[levels]] of [[spiritual]] [[progress]], but with the onset of the [[successive]] ages of the [[Teacher Sons]], more and more [[Adjuster]] [[fusions]] occur before the termination of the lengthening lives of these [[progressing]] [[mortals]]; and by the [[time]] of the terminal mission of the [[Teacher Sons]], approximately one quarter of these superb [[mortals]] are exempt from [[natural]] [[death]].

55:2.3 Farther along in the era of light and life the midway creatures or their associates sense the approaching status of probable soul-Adjuster union and signify this to the destiny guardians, who in turn communicate these matters to the finaliter group under whose jurisdiction this mortal may be functioning; then there is issued the summons of the Planetary Sovereign for such a mortal to resign all planetary duties, bid farewell to the world of his origin, and repair to the inner temple of the Planetary Sovereign, there to await morontia transit, the translation flash, from the material domain of evolution to the morontia level of prespirit progression.

55:2.3 Farther along in the era of [[light and life]] the [[midway creatures]] or their [[associates]] sense the approaching [[status]] of probable [[soul]]-[[Adjuster]] [[union]] and signify this to the [[destiny guardians]], who in turn [[communicate]] these matters to the [[finaliter]] [[group]] under whose [[jurisdiction]] this [[mortal]] may be [[functioning]]; then there is issued the summons of the [[Planetary Sovereign]] for such a [[mortal]] to resign all [[planetary]] [[duties]], bid [[farewell]] to the world of his [[origin]], and repair to the inner [[temple]] of the Planetary Sovereign, there to await [[morontia]] [[transit]], the [[translation]] flash, from the [[material]] [[domain]] of [[evolution]] to the [[morontia]] level of prespirit [[progression]].

55:2.4 When the family, friends, and working group of such a fusion candidate have forgathered in the morontia temple, they are distributed around the central stage whereon the fusion candidates are resting, meantime freely conversing with their assembled friends. A circle of intervening celestial personalities is arranged to protect the material mortals from the action of the energies manifest at the instant of the " life flash " which delivers the ascension candidate from the bonds of material flesh, thereby doing for such an evolutionary mortal everything that natural death does for those who are thereby delivered from the flesh.

55:2.4 When the [[family]], [[friends]], and working [[group]] of such a [[fusion]] [[candidate]] have forgathered in the [[morontia temple]], they are [[distributed]] around the central stage whereon the [[fusion]] [[candidates]] are resting, meantime freely [[conversing]] with their assembled [[friends]]. A [[circle]] of [[intervening]] [[celestial]] [[personalities]] is arranged to protect the [[material]] [[mortals]] from the [[action]] of the [[energies]] [[manifest]] at the instant of the "life flash" which delivers the [[ascension]] [[candidate]] from the bonds of [[material]] [[flesh]], thereby doing for such an [[evolutionary]] [[mortal]] everything that [[natural]] [[death]] does for those who are thereby delivered from the [[flesh]].

55:2.5 Many fusion candidates may be assembled in the spacious temple at the same time. And what a beautiful occasion when mortals thus forgather to witness the ascension of their loved ones in spiritual flames, and what a contrast to those earlier ages when mortals must commit their dead to the embrace of the terrestrial elements! The scenes of weeping and wailing characteristic of earlier epochs of human evolution are now replaced by ecstatic joy and the sublimest enthusiasm as these God-knowing mortals bid their loved ones a transient farewell as they are removed from their material associations by the spiritual fires of consuming grandeur and ascending glory. On worlds settled in light and life, " funerals " are occasions of supreme joy, profound satisfaction, and inexpressible hope.

55:2.5 Many [[fusion]] [[candidates]] may be assembled in the spacious [[temple]] at the [[same time]]. And what a [[beautiful]] occasion when [[mortals]] thus forgather to [[witness]] the [[ascension]] of their loved ones in [[spiritual]] [[flames]], and what a [[contrast]] to those earlier ages when [[mortals]] must commit their dead to the [[embrace]] of the [[terrestrial]] elements! The scenes of weeping and wailing characteristic of earlier [[epochs]] of [[human]] [[evolution]] are now replaced by [[ecstatic]] [[joy]] and the [[sublimest]] [[enthusiasm]] as these [[God]]-[[knowing]] [[mortals]] bid their loved ones a transient [[farewell]] as they are removed from their [[material]] [[associations]] by the [[spiritual]] [[fires]] of consuming grandeur and [[ascending]] [[glory]]. On worlds settled in [[light and life]], "funerals" are occasions of supreme [[joy]], [[profound]] [[satisfaction]], and inexpressible [[hope]].

55:2.6 The souls of these progressing mortals are increasingly filled with faith, hope, and assurance. The spirit permeating those gathered around the translation shrine resembles that of the joyful friends and relatives who might assemble at a graduating exercise for one of their group, or who might come together to witness the conferring of some great honor upon one of their number. And it would be decidedly helpful if less advanced mortals could only learn to view natural death with something of this same cheerfulness and lightheartedness.

55:2.6 The [[souls]] of these [[progressing]] [[mortals]] are increasingly filled with [[faith]], [[hope]], and [[assurance]]. The [[spirit]] permeating those gathered around the [[translation]] [[shrine]] resembles that of the [[joyful]] [[friends]] and relatives who might assemble at a [[graduating]] exercise for one of their [[group]], or who might come [[together]] to [[witness]] the conferring of some great [[honor]] upon one of their number. And it would be decidedly helpful if less advanced [[mortals]] could only learn to view [[natural]] [[death]] with something of this same cheerfulness and lightheartedness.

55:2.7 Mortal observers can see nothing of their translated associates subsequent to the fusion flash. Such translated souls proceed by Adjuster transit direct to the resurrection hall of the appropriate morontia-training world. These transactions concerned with the translation of living human beings to the morontia world are supervised by an archangel who was assigned to such a world on the day when it was first settled in light and life.

55:2.7 [[Mortal]] [[observers]] can see nothing of their [[translated]] [[associates]] subsequent to the [[fusion]] flash. Such [[translated]] [[souls]] proceed by [[Adjuster]] [[transit]] direct to the [[resurrection]] hall of the appropriate [[morontia]]-[[training]] world. These [[transactions]] concerned with the [[translation]] of living [[human]] [[beings]] to the [[morontia]] world are supervised by an [[archangel]] who was assigned to such a world on the day when it was first settled in [[light and life]].

55:2.8 By the time a world attains the fourth stage of light and life, more than half the mortals leave the planet by translation from among the living. Such diminishment of death continues on and on, but I know of no system whose inhabited worlds, even though long settled in life, are entirely free from natural death as the technique of escape from the bonds of flesh. And until such a high state of planetary evolution is uniformly attained, the morontia-training worlds of the local universe must continue in service as educational and cultural spheres for the evolving morontia progressors. The elimination of death is theoretically possible, but it has not yet occurred according to my observation. Perhaps such a status may be attained during the faraway stretches of the succeeding epochs of the seventh stage of settled planetary life.

55:2.8 By the time a world attains the fourth [[stage]] of [[light and life]], more than half the [[mortals]] leave the [[planet]] by [[translation]] from among the living. Such diminishment of [[death]] continues on and on, but I know of no [[the System|system]] whose [[inhabited worlds]], even though long settled in life, are entirely [[free]] from [[natural]] [[death]] as the [[technique]] of [[escape]] from the bonds of [[flesh]]. And until such a high [[state]] of [[planetary]] [[evolution]] is [[uniformly]] [[attained]], the [[morontia]]-[[training]] worlds of the [[local universe]] must [[continue]] in [[service]] as [[educational]] and [[cultural]] [[spheres]] for the evolving [[morontia]] progressors. The elimination of [[death]] is theoretically possible, but it has not yet occurred according to my [[observation]]. Perhaps such a [[status]] may be [[attained]] during the faraway stretches of the succeeding [[epochs]] of the seventh [[stage]] of settled [[planetary]] life.

55:2.9 The translated souls of the flowering ages of the settled spheres do not pass through the mansion worlds. Neither do they sojourn, as students, on the morontia worlds of the system or constellation. They do not pass through any of the earlier phases of morontia life. They are the only ascending mortals who so nearly escape the morontia transition from material existence to semispirit status. The initial experience of such Son-seized mortals in the ascension career is in the services of the progression worlds of the universe headquarters. And from these study worlds of Salvington they go back as teachers to the very worlds they passed by, subsequently going on inward to Paradise by the established route of mortal ascension.

55:2.9 The [[translated]] [[souls]] of the flowering ages of the settled [[spheres]] do not pass through the [[mansion worlds]]. Neither do they [[sojourn]], as [[students]], on the [[morontia]] worlds of [[the system]] or [[constellation]]. They do not pass through any of the earlier [[phases]] of [[morontia]] life. They are the only [[ascending]] [[mortals]] who so nearly [[escape]] the [[morontia]] [[transition]] from [[material]] [[existence]] to semispirit status. The initial [[experience]] of such Son-seized [[mortals]] in the [[ascension career]] is in the [[services]] of the [[progression]] worlds of the [[universe]] [[headquarters]]. And from these [[study]] worlds of [[Salvington]] they go back as [[teachers]] to the very worlds they passed by, subsequently going on inward to [[Paradise]] by the [[established]] route of [[mortal]] [[ascension]].

55:2.10 Could you but visit a planet in an advanced stage of development, you would quickly grasp the reasons for providing for the differential reception of ascending mortals on the mansion and higher morontia worlds. You would readily understand that beings passing on from such highly evolved spheres are prepared to resume their Paradise ascent far in advance of the average mortal arriving from a disordered and backward world like Urantia.

55:2.10 Could you but [[visit]] a [[planet]] in an advanced stage of [[development]], you would quickly grasp the reasons for providing for the [[differential]] [[reception]] of [[ascending mortals]] on the [[Mansion Worlds|mansion]] and higher [[morontia]] worlds. You would readily [[understand]] that [[beings]] passing on from such highly evolved [[spheres]] are [[prepared]] to resume their [[Paradise]] [[ascent]] far in advance of the [[average]] [[mortal]] arriving from a disordered and backward world like [[Urantia]].

55:2.11 No matter from what level of planetary attainment human beings may ascend to the morontia worlds, the seven mansion spheres afford them ample opportunity to gain in experience as teacher-students all of everything which they failed to pass through because of the advanced status of their native planets.

55:2.11 No matter from what [[level]] of [[planetary]] [[attainment]] [[human beings]] may [[ascend]] to the [[morontia]] worlds, the [[seven]] [[mansion spheres]] afford them ample [[opportunity]] to gain in [[experience]] as teacher-students all of [[everything]] which they failed to pass through because of the advanced [[status]] of their [[native]] [[planets]].

55:2.12 The universe is unfailing in the application of these equalizing techniques designed to insure that no ascender shall be deprived of aught which is essential to his ascension experience.

55:2.12 The [[universe]] is unfailing in the [[application]] of these [[equalizing]] [[techniques]] [[designed]] to insure that no [[ascender]] shall be deprived of aught which is [[essential]] to his [[ascension]] [[experience]].

==55:3. THE GOLDEN AGES==   

==55:3. THE GOLDEN AGES==