Universe+Ages

[|Introductory Comments]
The Urantia Papers inform us that time and space are associated as a mechanism of the master universe.(1303,2) The major space divisions of the master creation are the six space levels. (See Appendix III, Space Levels of the Master Universe)

The major time divisions of the master universe are the six universe ages - the age of Havona, the age of the superuniverses, and the four ages of the outer space levels. ([|1263, 6]) We are now living in the Second Universe Age, the age of the superuniverses.

Each of the six universe ages seems to be associated with the opening and the development of a new space level. This relationship between universe ages and space levels is tabulated below:
 * 1) The First Universe Age - the Havona space level
 * 2) The Second Universe Age - the superuniverse space level
 * 3) The Third Universe Age - the first outer space level
 * 4) The Fourth Universe Age - the second outer space level
 * 5) 5. The Fifth Universe Age - the third outer space level
 * 6) 6. The Sixth Universe Age - the fourth outer space level

We do conceive of an age after the Sixth Universe Age, but such an era would have to do with developments after the completion of the master universe. (See [|Appendix XX., The Post-Ultimate Age].)

 =[|A Study of the Master Universe]:[|Appendix IV] [|§1. SUCCESSION AND RELATIONSHIPS OF UNIVERSE AGES] =

In our study of the antecedents of the master universe (See Appendix I, Master Universe Antecedants), we went as far back in past eternity as we could - back to, and within, a hypothetical Zero Age. There never was such an age; it is not a factual reality, although it is a very valid concept. The Urantia Papers speak of this hypothetical era as "the dawn of eternity." ([|351, 5]) It provides a conceptual starting point for a consideration of the beginnings of cosmic history. As we understand the usage of the term, "the dawn of eternity" designates the hypothetical beginning of a universe age that had no beginning - the age of Havona.

(a) **The First Universe Age.** This is the age of Havona. The First Age, like the central universe, is a past eternal; it has no beginning in time. This age is unique in other respects: It is pre-supreme and pre-ultimate, hence pre-experiential. (13, 3) Being pre-experiential, the First Age is wholly existential. (**10, 7-10**) It is the only such age.
 * The First Universe Age would also appear to be pre-creative and pre-evolutional. For example: the Havona natives are spoken of as "the offspring of the Paradise Trinity." But, in the same paragraph, they are designated as "beings who never were created." ([|157, 2]) Since the affairs of First-Age Havona were entirely existential, they would have to be pre-evolutional. (See also, [|Appendix I., §1, The First Universe Age]; [|Appendix VI., §3, Paradoxes in the Status of Havona], and [|Appendix VI, §4, The Existential Mechanism].)
 * The First Universe Age had no beginning, but it does have an ending. It ended when the present universe age began. Perhaps this was at the time of the creation of the Ancients of Days (209, 6), or the time of the Trinity mandate directing the organization of the seven superuniverses. ([|222, 6])

(b) **The post-Havona ages**. This term is often used to designate the five ages that follow the age of Havona. It is used because these five ages have much in common. All five have beginnings and endings in time; only the First Age is a past eternal.
 * All post-Havona ages are experiential. Experiential deity is actualizing in the post-Havona epochs of the master universe. (10, 6) These ages appear to be characterized by a two-way procession of ascenders and descenders. In the present universe age, the Supreme Creators and their associates are descending from Paradise to the time-space creations and the evolutionary creatures are ascending from these same creations in the Paradise ascent. ([|1265, 7-8])
 * In the next age, the finaliters will be associated with others who will serve in outer space ([|353, 7-9]) and it is anticipated that outer-spacers will be ascending to Paradise through the perfected superuniverses. ([|643, 4])

(c) **The Second Universe Age.** This is the present age, the age of the evolutionary superuniverses. This age is also unique--it is the age of the evolutionary growth of the Supreme Being. When he has completed his growth, this age will come to its end and the opportunity to participate in this wonderful experience will be forever gone. ([|353, 8]) In the Second Age it is possible to have finite experience and grow by the evolutionary process; subsequent ages will not be able to participate in these adventures. ([|353, 7])

(d) **The expansion of destiny**. The successive ages expand destiny; they provide the techniques for overriding previous growth limits. For example: First-Age Havona is a perfect universe and is a "perfection-limited" universe. In the Second Age, the present age, Havona perfection expands outward into the imperfect superuniverses to achieve new experiential destiny.