A local system typically consists of about 1000 inhabited or habitable planets; this is the basic unit of the “supergovernment“. Like almost everything in the universes of time and space, systems evolve with their constituents, so that the younger ones still under construction contain proportionately fewer peopled worlds. Each system has its administrator, the System Sovereign, and councils of various sorts of creatures composed of all orders; Such a board directs its affairs from the designed sphere – the capital.
Although Satania is one of the seven billion local systems of the grand universe, it is not by chance that The Urantia Book devotes most attention to it. Satania is our system, and the Earth has been a part of it since its beginnings.
In this study I endeavor to summarize and systematize the general data on the system of Satania as given in The Urantia Book;
Picturesque surroundings
Satania is a comparatively young system. I have found no information as to the age of our system, but we learn from the Book that it now contains 619 inhabited planets (Earth number 606); 36 others, as yet uninhabited, are approaching the stage when life will be able to appear on them; and more than 200 more are developing to become habitable in the future.
The Satania system is the twenty-fourth (and one of one hundred) system in the constellation of Norlatiadek (the second outermost in it) and is located on the periphery of the local universe of Nebadon, neighboring the Sandmatia, Assuntia, Porogia, Sortoria, Rantulia, and Glantonia systems.
Until recently, Lucifer was the chief executive of Satania and Satan was his vicegerent. They ruled in the capital for over half a million years. After the outbreak of the rebellion, of which the former was the initiator, the whole system was isolated; this situation will not change so long as the ringleader lives within the borders of Satania. Though Michael’s bestowal officially terminated this rebellion, the worlds of the apostate Planetary Princes (m.in. earth) are still subject to systemic quarantine. But presently the judgment upon Lucifer and his followers will restore all Satania to the constellation. Then will all the isolated planets be reincorporated into the system circuits and, as formerly, will enjoy the privileges of interplanetary communication and intersystem fellowship.
Satania consists of more than seven thousand physical systems from the cosmic standpoint. In its astronomical center, near the capital, there is a large, “dark space island”. There are more than 2000 suns in the system, scattering light and energy throughout its space. Our Sun is on average bright; Of the thirty suns closest to us, only 3 are brighter. The Solar System is the second most distant planetary system from the capital of the system.
At the very center of Satania there are 57 architectural planets (created as they are). The largest of these, the system capital, Jerusem, is surrounded by 7 major satellites, each with 7 subsatellites. These are the so-called worlds of transitional culture. Jerusem is about 100 times the size of the earth; the Jerusem satellites are about ten times larger than earth; The individual sub-statlites are about Earth-sized.
Calendar
The systems of time measurement in Satania are called “universe time” or “Nebadon time” (or “Salvington time,” its headquarters); also “system time” or simply “Satania time.” It is considered standard time throughout the system.
A day in Satania (also called Jerusem day in The Urantia Book) is one hour, 4 minutes, and 15 seconds shorter than three Earth days—the time it takes for the capital sphere to complete its revolution; There is a ten-day week in the capital. The system year consists of 100 days of Satania.
SI system
The standard measure of distance in Satania is the Jerusem mile, which is about 7 Earth miles, or 11.3 miles. The standard weight, gradant, is equivalent to almost exactly ten ounces (280 g).
The Government of Satania
The system governments constitute the first degree of extraplanetary sovereignty. Their focus is primarily on the physical condition, and thus on the biological problems of the inhabitants of the subordinate planets.
The primary Lanonandek Sons are most often designated as System Sovereigns. In Nebadon these superiors are intrusted with many executive responsibilities but with unparalleled personal liberty (System Sovereigns are not permitted to exercise such powers in all universes); and this increases the risk of default. In Satania, notwithstanding the rebellion of the former chief executive Lucifer, no changes were made in the technique of system administration. The actual Sovereign of Satania exercises the same authority as did his disloyal predecessor (except those matters which are subject to the supervision of the Constellation Fathers because of rebellion).
The present head of Satania is a gracious and brilliant ruler, and he is a rebellion-tested sovereign. When serving as an assistant System Sovereign, Lanaforge was faithful to Michael in an earlier upheaval in the universe of Nebadon. This mighty and brilliant Lord of Satania is a tried and tested administrator. At the time of the second system rebellion in Nebadon, when the System Sovereign stumbled and fell into darkness, Lanaforge, the first assistant to the erring chief, seized the reins of government and so conducted the affairs of the system that comparatively few personalities were lost either on the headquarters worlds or on the inhabited planets of that unfortunate system. Lanaforge bears the distinction of being the only primary Lanonandek Son in all Nebadon who thus functioned loyally in the service of Michael and in the very presence of the default of his brother of superior authority and antecedent rank. Lanaforge will probably not be removed from Jerusem until all the results of the former folly have been overcome and the products of rebellion removed from Satania.
45:2.3 (511.3)
Council
The chief executive of a local system, the System Sovereign, is always supported by two or three Lanonandek Sons, who function as first and second assistants. But at the present time the system of Satania is administered by a staff of seven Lanonandeks:
45:3.1 (512.1)
1. The System Sovereign — Lanaforge, number 2,709 of the primary order, successor of the apostate Lucifer.
45:3.2 (512.2)
2. The first assistant Sovereign — Mansurotia, number 17,841 of the tertiary Lanonandeks. He was dispatched to Satania along with Lanaforge.
45:3.3 (512.3)
3. The second assistant Sovereign — Sadib, number 271,402 of the tertiary order. Sadib also came to Satania with Lanaforge.
45:3.4 (512.4)
4. The custodian of the system — Holdant, number 19 of the tertiary corps, the holder and controller of all interned spirits above the order of mortal existence. Holdant likewise came to Satania with Lanaforge.
45:3.5 (512.5)
5. The system recorder — Vilton, secretary of the Lanonandek ministry of Satania, number 374 of the third order. Vilton was a member of the original Lanaforge group.
45:3.6 (512.6)
6. The bestowal director — Fortant, number 319,847 of the reserves of the secondary Lanonandeks and temporary director of all universe activities transplanted to Jerusem since Michael’s bestowal on Urantia. Fortant has been attached to the staff of Lanaforge for nineteen hundred years of Urantia time.
45:3.7 (512.7)
7. The high counselor — Hanavard, number 67 of the primary Lanonandek Sons and a member of the high corps of universe counselors and coordinators. He functions as acting chairman of the executive council of Satania. Hanavard is the twelfth of this order so to serve on Jerusem since the Lucifer rebellion.
45:3.8 (512.8)
This executive group of seven Lanonandeks constitutes the expanded emergency administration made necessary by the exigencies of the Lucifer rebellion. There are only minor courts on Jerusem since the system is the unit of administration, not adjudication, but the Lanonandek administration is supported by the Jerusem executive council, the supreme advisory body of Satania. This council consists of twelve members:
45:3.9 (512.9)
1. Hanavard, the Lanonandek chairman.
45:3.10 (512.10)
2. Lanaforge, the System Sovereign.
45:3.11 (512.11)
3. Mansurotia, the first assistant Sovereign.
45:3.12 (512.12)
4. The Chief of Satania Melchizedeks.
45:3.13 (512.13)
5. The acting director of the Satania Life Carriers.
45:3.14 (512.14)
6. The Chief of the Satania finaliters.
45:3.15 (512.15)
7. The original Adam of Satania, the supervising head of the Material Sons.
45:3.16 (512.16)
8. The director of the Satania seraphic hosts.
45:3.17 (512.17)
9. The Chief of the Satania Physical Controllers.
45:3.18 (512.18)
10. The Director of the System Morontia Power Supervisors.
45:3.19 (512.19)
11. The acting director of of the system midway creatures.
45:3.20 (513.1)
12. The acting head of the corps of ascending mortals.
45:3.21 (513.2)
This council periodically chooses three members to represent the local system on the supreme council at universe headquarters, but this representation is suspended by rebellion. Satania now has an observer at the headquarters of the local universe, but since the bestowal of Michael the system has resumed the election of ten members to the Edentia legislature.
45:3.22 (513.3)
Another of the counsels of Satania which is referred to in The Urantia Book is that of consultative board. It consists of twenty-four counselors, the personal aides of Michael, the creator and sovereign of the universe of Nebadon. These counselors may represent him in all matters pertaining to the Satania resurrection roll-calls, as well as in many other matters pertaining to the ascension of mortals from isolated planets. They are agents in execution of his superordinate commissions and the special orders of Gabriel of Salvington. They all come from Earth. I have written a little more about the twenty-four counselors in my text on Urantia.
These twenty-four counselors have been recruited from the eight Urantia races, and the last of this group were assembled at the time of the resurrection roll call of Michael, nineteen hundred years ago. This Urantia advisory council is made up of the following members:
45:4.2 (513.5)
1. Onagar, the master mind of the pre-Planetary Prince age, who directed his fellows in the worship of the “Breath Giver.”
45:4.3 (513.6)
2. Mansant, the great teacher of the post-Planetary Prince age on Urantia, who pointed his fellows to the veneration of “The Great Light.”
45:4.4 (513.7)
3. Onamonalonton, a far-distant leader of the red man and the one who directed this race from the worship of many gods to the veneration of “The Great Spirit.”
45:4.5 (513.8)
4. Orlandof, a prince of the blue men and their leader in the recognition of the divinity of “The Supreme Chief.”
45:4.6 (513.9)
5. Porshunta, the oracle of the extinct orange race and the leader of this people in the worship of “The Great Teacher.”
45:4.7 (513.10)
6. Singlangton, the first of the yellow men to teach and lead his people in the worship of “One Truth” instead of many. Thousands of years ago the yellow man knew of the one God.
45:4.8 (513.11)
7. Fantad, the deliverer of the green men from darkness and their leader in the worship of “The One Source of Life.”
45:4.9 (513.12)
8. Orvonon, the enlightener of the indigo races and their leader in the onetime service of “The God of Gods.”
45:4.10 (513.13)
9. Adam, the discredited but rehabilitated planetary father of Urantia, a Material Son of God who was relegated to the likeness of mortal flesh, but who survived and was subsequently elevated to this position by the decree of Michael.
45:4.11 (514.1)
10. Eve, the mother of the violet race of Urantia, who suffered the penalty of default with her mate and was also rehabilitated with him and assigned to serve with this group of mortal survivors.
45:4.12 (514.2)
11. Enoch, the first of the mortals of Urantia to fuse with the Thought Adjuster during the mortal life in the flesh.
45:4.13 (514.3)
12. Moses, the emancipator of a remnant of the submerged violet race and the instigator of the revival of the worship of the Universal Father under the name of “The God of Israel.”
45:4.14 (514.4)
13. Elijah, a translated soul of brilliant spiritual achievement during the post-Material Son age.
45:4.15 (514.5)
14. Machiventa Melchizedek, the only Son of this order to bestow himself upon the Urantia races. While still numbered as a Melchizedek, he has become “the priest of the most high God”, eternally assuming the assignment of service as a mortal ascender, having sojourned on Urantia in the likeness of mortal flesh at Salem in the days of Abraham. This Melchizedek has latterly been proclaimed vicegerent Planetary Prince of Urantia with headquarters on Jerusem and authority to act in behalf of Michael, who is actually the Planetary Prince of the world whereon he experienced his terminal bestowal in human form. Notwithstanding this, Urantia is still supervised by successive resident governors general, members of the four and twenty counselors.
45:4.16 (514.6)
15. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Michael’s mission on Urantia and, in the flesh, distant cousin of the Son of Man.
45:4.17 (514.7)
16. 1-2-3 the First, the leader of the loyal midway creatures in the service of Gabriel at the time of the Caligastia betrayal, elevated to this position by Michael soon after his entrance upon unconditioned sovereignty.
45:4.18 (514.8)
These selected personalities are exempt from the ascension regime for the time being, on Gabriel’s request, and we have no idea how long they may serve in this capacity.
45:4.19 (514.9)
Seats numbers 17, 18, 19, and 20 are not permanently occupied. They are temporarily filled by the unanimous consent of the sixteen permanent members, being kept open for later assignment to ascending mortals from the present postbestowal Son age on Urantia.
45:4.20 (514.10)
Numbers 21, 22, 23 and 24 are likewise temporarily filled while being held in reserve for the great teachers of other and subsequent ages which are undoubtedly will follow the present age. Eras of the Magisterial Sons and the Teacher Sons and the ages of light and life are to be anticipated on Urantia, regardless of unexpected visitations of the divine Sons which may or may not occur.
45:4.21 (514.11)
Furthermore, the System Sovereign presides over the system council of world rulers, Planetary Princes, and Governors-General stationed on isolated planets. This planetary council meets every now and then in the capital.
On the capital of Satania there also functions an electoral body called the Jerusem council. It consists of a thousand members who represent the beings living in the system in matters concerning all kinds of appointments. The Jerusem council designates ten representatives to join the constellation legislature (each system has its delegates). Also on Jerusem itself there are many elective bodies. On advanced worlds (not merely on headquarters such as Jerusem) every provision is made to ensure that valid administrative positions are held only by qualified and competent beings. Therefore, both the members of the Jerusem council and their chosen candidates must be properly educated.
Town
We are the inhabitants of Satania. When we accept that the Earth is our Home, Satania would be town, where we come from. While reflecting on those presented in The Urantia Book county (constellation), voivodeship (local universe), State (smaller sector), Union (a larger sector) and finally Planet (superuniverse), I found out that the further into the forest (or rather into space), the more difficult it is to grasp it all. Havona and the Island of Paradise is a complete one for me cosmos. Gradual, ubiquitous evolution makes the system and its Capital are closest to us; Not only because of the distance. Thanks to this, we should be able to understand a little of their characteristics. Which, by the way, the authors of the Messages seem to confirm.
The Urantia Book brutally expands our horizon. 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, wherever it would take us on the map.