The administrations of the grand universe have been assigned definite but varied responsibilities. From our perspective, the constellation authorities (they are the ones we will be talking about) are the second level of extraplanetary supervision. And while the governments of the first order — the local systems are chiefly concerned with the physical status of the planetary inhabitants, the constellation authorities are chiefly concerned with the unification and stabilization of their component parts. They thus function as legislators, paying special attention to the socio-political conditions prevailing in their subordinate systems and inhabited worlds. We are also not left without cosmic supervision. Earth is one of the hundred thousand populated planets of the constellation Norlatiadek.
Cosmic puzzle
1000 inhabited or habitable planets make up the local system. A grouping of one hundred such systems forms a constellation. The one hundred constellations are a local universe. Norlatiadek is constellation number seventy in the universe of Nebadon; and since motion is universal in the cosmos, it now traverses its periphery. You can learn about the full (or rather revealed to us) structure of the great universe from the linked quotes. To more detailed characteristics of individual sections of the great universe I devote a separate segment of this web page.
Capital
The administrative center of Norlatiadek consists of 771 designed spheres. It is also there that mortals ascending to God undergo their training. At the very center of this aggregation of planets is the largest of them, Edentia, the capital of our constellation and the headquarters of the Most Highs. You can read more about Edentia and its surrounding worlds in this dedicated material.
Most Highs…
Down through the ages there has been great confusion on Urantia regarding the various universe rulers. Many later teachers confused their vague and indefinite tribal deities with the Most High Fathers. Still later, the Hebrews merged all of these celestial rulers into a composite Deity. One teacher understood that the Most Highs were not the Supreme Rulers, for he said, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty”. In the Urantia records it is very difficult at times to know exactly who is referred to by the term “Most High.” But Daniel fully understood these matters. He said, “The Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever he will”.
43:3.4 (488.6)
The constellation rulers are of the local universe sonship order—all are Vorondadeks. After being appointed to serve as constellation administrators, they become known as the Most Highs. They are named “Most High” because they embody the highest administrative wisdom. Besides their transcendent knowledge, they are distinguished by supreme loyalty among all the Sons of God of the local universe. Their honesty and faithfulness, as a group, have never been questioned. The Most Highs have never failed.
The Most Highs serve as if in between. They preside over the constellations, but they function as liaisons between the systems and the central universe administration and the superuniverse administration. They are in constant contact with their immediate subordinates, the System Sovereigns, but also with their superiors on the universe capital.
Constellations are intended to serve a wider purpose. Collectively the chiefs of the individual constellations function as the supreme advisory cabinet of the Creator Son in charge of their universes. The deliberations of the one hundred Most Highs are primarily concerned with the general welfare of all the constellations and with the unification of the administration of a whole local universe. Therefore, they do not deal with the inhabitants of the planets, in the sense of the individual. Not with me and not with you. The legislative or law-making mandates of the Most Highs touch the constellation planets comprehensively. They treat the same way the people on Earth and the other inhabited worlds of Norlatiadek.
Each constellation is also under the observation of the ambassador of the Paradise Trinity, the Faithful of Days. These observers are the last link in the advisory and administrative chain which extends from the spheres of the Paradise Universe Father to the local universe sections. Trinity supervision terminates with the constellations—Paradise counselors are not permanently resident on systems or on inhabited worlds.
… from Norlatiadek
Gabriel, the chief executive of Nebadon, assigns to each universe constellation as Most Highs no less than three Vorondadek Sons. The leader of these three is known as the Constellation Father. His associates are called the (older) Supreme Father and the younger Supreme Father.
The senior Most High is most often in charge of spiritual affairs; the junior Most High is concerned with the physical affairs of the constellations. The ministry of the presiding Constellation Father has to do with the law-making and legislative functions. When the Constellation Father attends council, the senior Most High assumes the tasks of constellation sovereign. Notwithstanding the temporary reshuffles, however, no major laws are enacted until all three Most Highs agree on every detail of their implementation.
In Nebadon it is standard that the Constellation Father reigns for about 50,000 years (universe time 10,000 years), having served for equal seasons as the junior and then as the senior Most High. During such administrative exchanges, the senior Most High becomes head of government, and the younger takes over the responsibilities of the elder; the unassigned Vorondadeks residing on Salvington appoint one of them to assume the duties of the junior Most High. According to these principles, each of the Most Highs sits on the constellation headquarters for an average of 150,000 years.
In Norlatiadek, however, things are different. From the time of, and because of, the Lucifer rebellion the rotation of the Most Highs on Edentia has been suspended. So today we have the same constellation rulers who were in office when the rebellion was raised 200,000 years ago. For the duration of this crisis, the Most Highs of Norlatiadek also took over certain areas of power on the rebellious worlds (e.g., in our planet). Probably until the rebels are tried, there will be no changes in the Norlatiadek authorities.
Every quarantined or isolated world has a Vorondadek Son acting as an observer. He does not participate in planetary administration except when ordered by the Constellation Father to intervene in the affairs of the nations. Actually it is this Most High observer who “rules in the kingdoms of men”. Urantia is one of the isolated worlds of Norlatiadek, and a Vorondadek observer has been stationed on the planet ever since the Caligastia betrayal”.
43:5.17(491.13)
Board
Decision-making power is exercised by the three appointed Most Highs, but they are often assisted in the management of constellation affairs by an advisory corps. The number of advisors, including the Vorondadek class, depends on the intensity of work. The Constellation Chiefs can request additional support at any time.
There are 12 Vorondadek Sons on the board of directors of Norlatiadek:
1. The Constellation Father. The present Most High ruler of Norlatiadek is number 617,318 of the Vorondadek series of Nebadon. He saw service in many constellations throughout our local universe before taking up his Edentia responsibilities.
43:5.3 (490.8)
2. The senior Most High associate.
43:5.4 (490.9)
3. The junior Most High associate.
43:5.5 (491.1)
4. The Most High adviser, the personal representative of Michael since his attainment of the status of a Master Son.
43:5.6 (491.2)
5. The Most High executive, the personal representative of Gabriel stationed on Edentia ever since the Lucifer rebellion.
43:5.7 (491.3)
6. The Most High chief of planetary observers, the director of the Vorondadek observers stationed on the isolated worlds of Satania.
43:5.8 (491.4)
7. The Most High referee, the Vorondadek Son intrusted with the duty of adjusting all difficulties consequential to rebellion within the constellation.
43:5.9 (491.5)
8. The Most High emergency administrator, the Vorondadek Son charged with the task of adapting the emergency enactments of the Norlatiadek legislature to the rebellion-isolated worlds of Satania.
43:5.10 (491.6)
9. The Most High mediator, the Vorondadek Son assigned to harmonize the special bestoval adjustments on Urantia with the routine administration of the constellation. The presence of certain archangel activities and numerous other irregular ministrations on Urantia, together with the special activities of the Brilliant Evening Stars on Jerusem, necessitates the functioning of this Son.
43:5.11 (491.7)
10. The Most High judge-advocate, the head of the emergency tribunal devoted to the adjustment of the special problems of Norlatiadek growing out of the confusion consequent upon the Satania rebellion.
43:5.12 (491.8)
11. The Most High liaison, the Vorondadek Son attached to the Edentia rulers but commissioned as a special counselor with the Faithful of Days regarding the best course to pursue in the management of problems pertaining to rebellion and creature disloyalty.
43:5.13 (491.9)
12. The Most High director, the president of the emergency council of Edentia. All personalities assigned to Norlatiadek because of the Satania upheaval constitute the emergency council, and their presiding officer is a Vorondadek Son of extraordinary experience.
43:5.14 (491.10)
The Law
The Constellation Fathers do not rule arbitrarily (and I assume they could). The legislative and law-making tasks of Norlatiadek are accomplished by three assemblies of universe beings; the fourth group approves the legal acts developed in this way and then authorizes their dissemination.
The legislative program is built by the lower house. All members are mortals—ascending representatives of the constellation systems; they work under the leadership of a finaliter. Individual local systems send 10 of their representatives to work in the lower house, so there is usually 1000 people assembly. In the capital of Norlatiadek, this congregation is not currently fully staffed (The Urantia Book does not explain this. It would seem that the vacancies are due to Lucifer’s rebellion. But it is reported in Paper 45:3.22 (513.3) that since the times of the Urantia bestowal of Christ Michael, Satania has resumed the recruitment of members to this legislative body. Perhaps there are other, too young systems in Norlatiadek that cannot yet nominate their members there and hence the vacancies.)
The middle legislative chamber is constituted by the seraphim, their associates, and the other offspring of the local universe Mother Spirit. This congregation has 100 beings. Members of the middle chamber are nominated by their superiors—the personalities who direct the activities of such beings during their service in the constellation. I have not found in The Urantia Book information concerning the duties of this chamber.
The supreme legislative body, also known as the advisory body, is the “chamber of the divine Sons”. They are composed of ten experienced Sons commissioned for organ service by the Most Highs. The members of the Advisory Chamber collect the necessary information and, in accordance with their name, provide support to the lower chambers.
The final form of legislation is approved by the joint council of legislators. The Council also authorizes the further dissemination of acts. In fact, it establishes the law that applies to the entire constellation, and its decisions are final. The Joint Council of Legislators is composed of three members from each House; they are presided over by the younger Most High.
Courts
The constellations are the distinct self-governing divisions of the local universes. Therefore, different legal regulations may apply in each of them. Nebadon does not have its rights as such, but judicial functions are within the competence of its administration. The Salvington courts dictate the decisions and harmonize the work of their subordinate members, but always based on the laws of the constellations. But there function on the headquarters of each constellation two subsidiary tribunals—the Melchizedek council and the court of the Most Highs.
The Melchizedek council consists of twelve experienced Sons of this order. Any problems that need to be judged go to them in the first place. The temporary decisions of the Melchizedeks are then forwarded to the court of the Most Highs. The Urantia Book does not discuss the tasks or specify the composition of this tribunal. However, we learn that it has at least one section (but there are probably more) — a squad of mortals consisting of seven judges; they are all ascending mortals and probably concerned with the affairs of other mortals.
County
We are citizens of Norlatiadek. In discussing the local system, I have attempted to compare the administrative levels of the grand universe to our mundane territorial divisions. I assumed that if Earth was our home and Satania was our place of origin, Norlatiadek would be something like the county of which it was a part. Yes, a constellation is just a county; 100,000 inhabited planets (Nebadon would be a province, Ensa would be a state, Splandon would be a union of states, and Orvonton would be a planet; Havona and Paradise are the cosmos). And it doesn’t matter that we don’t realize it – all these components are managed according to God’s plan. They function like a perfectly oiled mechanism; despite occasional glitches.
The universe is vast. And The Urantia Book brutally expands our horizon. It is fascinating to be able to discover it with her. However, we should remember that it is not the knowledge of the great universe that we need the most, but the courage to live the true religion, regardless of what stage of the journey we find ourselves at.