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A letter to Dan Massey.
June 20, 1997
This is another contribution to our continuing exchange on the
purpose of "revelations."
First, our world is under the conditions of planetary quarantine.
Therefore, all communications from the celestial realms are done through
"revelation." No open or overt contacts are permitted that would specify
to all mankind the objectives of our planetary supervisors. This places
the burden of attempts to come to grips with their objectives onto individual
human study, analysis, comprehension, and response. Persons may appear who
interpret revelation for others but the burden of understanding inevitably falls
back upon each of us as individuals.
Second, within this context we all accept that there are such
things as divine revelations, and that they are intended for our instruction.
Your concern was the value of the old revelations, and how they fit in the
context of our current situation. I believe your strong opposition to
"corrupt revelations" was because of our supposed inability to obtain anything
valuable from them. You also may have been socially conditioned by modern
godless scholarship which views them as the statements of men of olden times
giving vent to their personal religious emotions, passions, and convictions.
From this view they may serve as sources of religious "inspiration" but they
certainly did not come as revelation from God.
Our Great Revelation speaks otherwise. There have been many
events of revelation, page 1007. Were those events for transient purposes,
with no lasting value? Or were they part of an unfolding program whose
ramifications have not yet fully developed?
Third, I shall not discuss here the manifold purposes of
revelations. They contain many elements. They were intended for our
personal spiritual uplift, to open our visions of the heavens and of design
purpose behind the universe, to develop closer personal relationships with God,
and so on. I limit my discussions to the personal decisions affecting
unfolding planetary programs. Incidental to this, we may discover
other features which ennoble our views of creation.
I shall begin a fresh argument with a quote from page 1390.
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>"While turning all these problems over in his mind, he found in
the synagogue library at Nazareth, among the apocalyptic books which he had been
studying, this manuscript called "The Book of Enoch"; and though he was certain
that it had not been written by Enoch of old, it proved very intriguing to him,
and he read and reread it many times."< |
It is obvious Jesus did not have an aversion to "apocalyptic
books." He did not hesitate to examine them to determine their contents.
Oh, that we could emulate Jesus!
He recognized that it was not written by Enoch of old, hence, by
someone else. This "apocalyptic book" used that title to gain attention by
"students"/"readers"/"believers" of the day.
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>"As Jesus would read these passages (well understanding that
much of the Eastern mysticism which had become admixed with these teachings was
erroneous), he responded in his heart and recognized in his mind that of all the
Messianic predictions of the Hebrew scriptures and of all the theories about the
Jewish deliverer, none was so near the truth as this story tucked away in this
only partially accredited Book of Enoch; and he then and there decided to
adopt as his inaugural title "the Son of Man." And this he did when he
subsequently began his public work."< |
When I read this statement for the first time I experienced
considerable gratification, and reassurance. Jesus "responded in his heart
and recognized in his mind." That is the way I felt about my studies, not
merely from The Urantia Papers, but from the other "many events of
revelation." I was not afraid to study "apocalyptic books." I did not mind
emulating Jesus.
Then, it appears that there actually were Messianic predictions,
(prophecies), that Jesus understood them as predictions, (prophecies), and that
he felt this particular one was very near the truth concerning himself, even
though tucked away ever so cleverly in this partially accredited Book of Enoch.
>"Jesus had an unerring ability for the recognition of
truth, and truth he never hesitated to embrace, no matter from what source it
appeared to emanate."<
Oh, that we would emulate Jesus!
If I find truth in an apocalyptic book, I embrace that truth.
Jesus did. Why can't I? It does not matter that the apocalyptic book
may be corrupted. I recognize the corruption, as well as the truth.
And in spite of that difficulty I arrive at amazing insights into God's
unfolding destiny. Furthermore, if Jesus could recognize prophecy as
prophecy, why can't I? He must have felt that this particular prophecy
pertained to him; otherwise he would not have assumed the title "Son of Man"
from it. I am very sure he did not give credence to an imaginative work
from some frustrated religionist.
Any person who would hesitate or refuse to emulate Jesus in
arriving at a deeper understanding of destiny has a very serious spiritual
problem.
(For those who would childishly fault me for not giving a
complete quotation, and taking things "out of context" I have given the page
references. Look it up for yourself.)
If Jesus read and reread this apocalyptic book many times, what
else did he see in it that was so important? Has no one an interest in
Jesus' interest? The book is available to us today, mostly as Jesus had
it. Fragments were found in the Dead Sea Caves, which confirm the text as
we have it. Why are we afraid to study it? Will it alter our
attitudes about revelation? Should we not read and reread it many times
also? Or perhaps it is not worth our time. Jesus had his priorities,
we have ours. How truly unfortunate those priorities differ so widely.
(For those of you who are unaware of translations, the recent
edition by James Charlesworth has the modern influence to corrupt text to
godless notions. Beware. The translation by R. H. Charles [a
coincidence in names] early in this century was done with devout respect for the
intent of the original Hebrew text.)
I shall now go to one passage from this "apocalyptic book" which
held me spellbound, 39:1.
>"And it shall come to pass in those days that elect and
holy children will descend from the high heaven, and their seed will become one
with the children of men."< Wow! For more than two thousand years men have not known
what this meant. And now, suddenly, we have this Great Revelation to
provide a context, and background, for us to understand what it means.
The inferences from this brief statement vibrated through my
being.
1. "Elect and holy children" could only be those of violet blood.
According to our Great Revelation they would be the only ones qualified to mix
with the children of men.
2. These violet children come from heaven. They have not
been slowly created by multiplying here upon earth. Therefore, God must
have a plan of planetary rehabilitation which involves future biologic uplift to
serve as a substitute for the one which was befouled through default. But
where are these children being bred, and by whom? They could not be from
the original Adam and Eve, since Adam and Eve have joined the ranks of the four
and twenty. They could not be their children, since those children were
deprived of procreative powers, page 632. Perhaps they come from another
Adam and Eve selected from the original ranks? If so, is there a
compatibility in genes? We do not know.
3. A means of transport must be available to bring these biologic
"children" from the "high heaven" to this world. That such transport is
possible has been clearly stated several places in our Great Revelation.
For example, Adam and Eve were brought here on seraphic transports, page 828,
and their children taken away, 844.
4. In this communique I do not wish to open the great morass of
debate centered around seraphic vehicles, and what may be appearing in our skies
today. That belongs elsewhere. However, I would like to remark that
the man who wrote the ancient Book of Enoch described his personal
transport into heaven.
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>"In those days a whirlwind carried me off from the earth, and
set me down at the end of the heavens."<
>"Behold, in the vision clouds invited me and a mist
summoned me, and the course of the stars and the lightnings sped and hastened
me, and the winds in the vision caused me to fly and lifted me upward, and bore
me into heaven."<
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He described many things he saw in his tour of the heavens,
including the prison worlds. Elijah also was taken up live into heaven by "a
chariot of fire with horses of fire."
Given this one brief statement, tucked away ever so cleverly
among the corrupt passages of he Book of Enoch, and the inferences which can be
drawn from it, what else is around in the "apocalyptic books?" A lot.
Consider, as another related "apocalyptic" example, a passage
tucked away ever so cleverly in the Book of Deuteronomy. Yahweh had
been talking heavily with the people of Israel, gathered for this important
occasion by Moses. Among other things in this discourse Yahweh stated:
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>"Deut 30:4 If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of
heaven, from there Yahweh your God will gather you, and from there he will fetch
you."< |
Now what in the world could such a curious statement mean?
These are the people of Israel. And they have outcasts in the uttermost
parts of heaven? And God will bring them back from there?
Now I guess we are supposed to come to some understanding about
these matters. Just four verses previously Moses had been told, Deut
29:29, that
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>"The secret things belong to Yahweh our God; but the things
that are revealed belong to us and to our children for ever, that we may do all
the words of this teaching."< |
Please note here that I have played around with the text.
The word "torah" means teaching. It was applied to the divine instructions
given to Moses and the children of Israel. This application led to the
instructions being regarded as teaching that could not be violated, and hence
came to be further regarded as divine "law." I revert to the original
meaning of the word, "teaching," rather than the imputed meaning, "law."
If things that are revealed, let's say The Urantia Papers,
and divine teachings, let's say "apocalyptic remarks," belong to us I guess we
ought to pay some attention to them, otherwise we may be negligent in our duties
and obligations to God.
But to return to the question. What is this business of
human mortals being scattered in the uttermost parts of heaven?
Well, I would be lost. You would be lost. We all
would be lost, if we did not become more serious about revelations which belong
to us. I was searching around, to phrase it simply, for some understanding
about this very peculiar remark, and lo! and behold! I ran across another one
tucked away ever so cleverly in that despised "apocalyptic book" of John's --
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>"Rev 14:3 ...and they sing a new song before the throne and
before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that
song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the
earth."< |
Hundred and forty-four thousand? Such superstitious
numbers? Redeemed from the earth? Taken away? By seraphic
transports? Singing a new song?
Did you ever hear of teaching someone a new song, like
"I'll teach him a new song!" Like, by the time I'm done with him he'll
sing a different tune?
Of course, the hundred and forty-four may be more than mere
magical numbers. Maybe they represent a genetic pool.
Let's see. If I read my Great Revelation correctly, John's
"elders" are the four and twenty. And these hundred and forty-four
thousand will sing this new tune before them. And before the throne?
What throne?
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>"Page 513 At the center of the seven angelic residential
circles on Jerusem is located the headquarters of the Urantia advisory council,
the four and twenty counselors. John the Revelator called them the four and
twenty elders: "And round about the throne were four and twenty seats, and upon
the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment." The
throne in the center of this group is the judgment seat of the presiding
archangel, the throne of the resurrection roll call of mercy and justice for all
Satania. This judgment seat has always been on Jerusem, but the twenty-four
surrounding seats were placed in position no more than nineteen hundred years
ago, soon after Christ Michael was elevated to the full sovereignty of Nebadon.
These four and twenty counselors are his personal agents on Jerusem, and they
have authority to represent the Master Son in all matters concerning the roll
calls of Satania and in many other phases of the scheme of mortal ascension on
the isolated worlds of the system. They are the designated agents for executing
the special requests of Gabriel and the unusual mandates of Michael."< |
Oh, my goodness! There's even a quote in The Urantia
Papers from John's Book of Revelation! How dare our Revelators
resort to such corrupt and worthless apocalyptic nonsense?
And there's the judgment seat of God! Oh, my goodness!
Look at all this apocalyptic stuff sittin' here in our Great Revelation!
Is this where the judgment takes place to determine our qualifications for
resurrection?
I know one thing. This planet sure carries a special role.
This Sentimental Shrine of all Nebadon has been elevated to marvelous status.
All of the four and twenty for the system of Satania hail from this world.
Even more, they have authority to represent Christ Michael in all matters
concerning the roll calls of this stellar system, and in many other phases of
the scheme of mortal ascension on the isolated worlds. They are the
executing agents. Executing agents? Wow!
But back to the mortals of earth who are redeemed, or carried
away, from the earth. What for?
Is it possible that the children of Israel who are brought back
from the scattering in heaven are the same ones who were taken away in the
Book of Revelation? Or, perhaps their children? Or perhaps there
is a breeding program going on between the "holy and elect" children in heaven,
and the children of Israel who are taken up from this world.
Stated otherwise, is it possible that there is a program underway
to accelerate our recovery from the biologic default of Adam and Eve, and that
such program is being prosecuted on another world, in preparation for taking
this world, this Sentimental Shrine of all Nebadon, into light and life?
We would now be in a position to talk about abductions, but I do
not want to carry this letter beyond this point.
Obviously, there is something going on with this planet which has
been cleverly concealed from our eyes for millennia of time. Now our Great
Revelation come along, and suddenly we are in a position to understand, at least
partially.
The relation of The Urantia Papers to the many other
revelations has not been seriously explored, except for one or two individuals,
like myself. Simply stated, The Urantia Papers provide context; the
many other revelations provide details. Without The Urantia Papers
we could not understand the other revelations. And this has been the
imposed limitation upon Christian understanding for two thousand years. It
was impossible to understand the many other revelations. Thus we have,
today, a multitude of speculations, corrupted by myths and superstitions, and an
impossible morass of misunderstanding. It was from this morass that modern
scholarship reached its godless assessments regarding holy works. All of
us came under the social influence of those godless assessments, to keep us from
clear recognition of how God is unfolding his revelations, or how we contribute
to his program.
Why were The Urantia Papers given now? Because of
the impending deep world decisions. Because God is merciful to us, his
children, by informing us of some of his great secrets. By learning more
of his great secrets we can come to better understanding of the decisions which
face us. And we can act accordingly. But if you examine this
business you should be able to recognize that it requires work on our part to
come to understanding, even if partial.
And it most definitely requires faith. That is the heart of
the process unfolding today. Faith derived from a deep and abiding
spiritual experience that forever brings commitment to God's purpose, regardless
where it may take us.
To despise "corrupt apocalyptic works" is to despise revelations
which God provided for our benefit.
I personally would not want to answer at the great roll call for
my negligence in the despise of God's holy works.
Ernest
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