Eras
Major periods of planetary history as described in The Urantia Book.
Pre-Planetary Prince Era
The long period of purely evolutionary human development before the arrival of the Planetary Prince's corporeal staff approximately 500,000 years ago. During this era, Andon and Fonta emerged as the first true human beings approximately one million years ago. The six Sangik races appeared, and early human civilization developed slowly through trial and error without superhuman guidance.
Key Events
- •Emergence of Andon and Fonta as first human beings
- •Appearance of the six Sangik races
- •Slow development of primitive human culture
- •Andonite migration across Eurasia
Dalamatia Era
The approximately 300,000-year period of administered civilization under the Planetary Prince's corporeal staff at Dalamatia. The Ten Councils guided the development of food production, animal domestication, writing, science, art, religion, health, and governance. This was the longest period of sustained superhuman guidance in planetary history, ending with the Lucifer Rebellion.
Key Events
- •Arrival of the Planetary Prince's corporeal staff
- •Founding of Dalamatia on the Persian Gulf coast
- •Establishment of the Ten Councils
- •300,000 years of administered civilization
- •The Lucifer Rebellion and destruction of Dalamatia
Post-Rebellion Era
The period between the Lucifer Rebellion and the arrival of Adam and Eve, spanning approximately 163,000 years. During this era, Van and Amadon maintained the loyalist civilization and guarded the Tree of Life. The planet was in spiritual quarantine. Van directed the preparation of the Garden of Eden in anticipation of the Adamic mission.
Key Events
- •Van and Amadon lead the loyal remnant
- •Spiritual quarantine of Urantia established
- •Over 150,000 years of loyalist guardianship
- •Preparation of the Garden of Eden
- •Departure of Van and Amadon upon Adam's arrival
Adamic Era
The era beginning with the arrival of Adam and Eve approximately 37,000 years ago and encompassing the Adamic biological mission, the Default, the Second Garden civilization, and the Andite dispersals. Despite the premature termination of the Adamic mission, the partial distribution of violet life plasm significantly uplifted the intellectual and spiritual capacity of the races it reached. The Andite migrations carried this biological and institutional inheritance across six continents.
Key Events
- •Arrival of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
- •The Adamic Default
- •Establishment of the Second Garden
- •Rise of the Andite civilization
- •Andite dispersals across six continents
- •Absorption of the pure Andite line by 1,500 BCE
Salem Era
The period of Machiventa Melchizedek's emergency incarnation and the global spread of Salem teachings. Machiventa materialized in 1973 BCE at Salem in Palestine and taught for 94 years, establishing the simple gospel that God accepts faith as the price of admission. His Salem missionaries carried the one-God doctrine to every corner of the inhabited world, planting the seeds that would eventually become Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, and the Hebrew monotheism that prepared the way for Michael's bestowal.
Key Events
- •Machiventa Melchizedek materializes at Salem (1973 BCE)
- •Establishment of the Salem school of monotheistic theology
- •Training and dispatch of Salem missionaries worldwide
- •Abraham's covenant with Melchizedek
- •Salem teachings absorbed into Hindu, Buddhist, Zoroastrian, and Hebrew traditions
- •Gradual dilution and corruption of the original Salem gospel
Jesus Era
The period of Michael of Nebadon's seventh and final bestowal as Jesus of Nazareth, from his birth in 7 BCE to his death, resurrection, and ascension in 30 CE. This was the most transformative event in local universe history — the Creator Son living as a mortal man to earn unconditional sovereignty over Nebadon. Jesus revealed the true character of the Universal Father through a life of extraordinary love, and his Spirit of Truth was poured out on all flesh at Pentecost, opening a new era of spiritual accessibility for every mortal on the planet.
Key Events
- •Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem (August 21, 7 BCE)
- •Jesus' public ministry begins after the Jordan baptism
- •Ordination of the twelve apostles
- •The Transfiguration on Mount Hermon
- •Crucifixion, resurrection, and morontia appearances
- •Pentecost and outpouring of the Spirit of Truth
Post-Bestowal Era
The current era spanning from Pentecost to the present, defined by the universal availability of the Spirit of Truth and the indwelling Thought Adjusters. This era includes the rise and institutionalization of Christianity (which became more a religion about Jesus than the religion of Jesus), the dark ages of spiritual stagnation, and the eventual presentation of the Fifth Epochal Revelation — The Urantia Book — in the twentieth century. The planet remains in spiritual quarantine, but the post-bestowal dispensation has opened unprecedented spiritual resources to every willing mortal.
Key Events
- •Pentecost — Spirit of Truth poured out on all flesh
- •Paul transforms Jesus' gospel into a religion about Jesus
- •Christianity becomes the state religion of Rome
- •The long dark ages of institutional religion
- •Presentation of The Urantia Book (Fifth Epochal Revelation)
- •Machiventa proclaimed vicegerent Planetary Prince