JOSEPH W. TKACH
PASTOR GENERAL

January 1989

Dear Friend:

You asked whether the earth could contain all of the people who will be resurrected in the period described in Revelation 20:5, 11-12.

This world in its present state could hold few more people. Many areas are terribly overcrowded. Tillable land is becoming more scarce in many countries, and much of the world is covered with gigantic mountain ranges which are too high to be of use. Deserts or polar regions monopolize each continent at this time, and pollution, wars, and many other problems have lessened the earth's capacity to support additional people.

It is unlikely, then, that the world could now contain all those who will ever have lived. What we need to keep in mind, however, is that they will not live in this world, this age, this society. They will be resurrected after a thousand years of renovation by God's Government (Rev. 20:4-5). Here are some of the physical changes that will be made.

Mountains will be miraculously lowered to a tillable height, and valleys below sea level will be elevated (Isa. 40:4). The deserts will blossom abundantly (Isa. 35:1-2). God will restore a right climate to the earth and will provide rain when needed (Isa. 30:23; 35:7; Zech. 10:1).

These changes will take time, but Christ and the saints will have a thousand years to prepare the entire earth for the multitudes that will be resurrected.

Suppose that at the time the events of Revelation 20:11-12 occur, forty billion people will have lived. Could the earth possibly support this number?

Simple mathematics -- fifty million square miles of land surface shared by forty billion people -- tell us that there would be about five acres of land available for each four-to six-member household. This would be large enough to feed the household and leave plenty of space for other purposes. This fits perfectly with Micah 4:4: "They shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid."

The Bible clearly shows the logic of God's plan for mankind. For further information on this and other exciting prophecies, please request our free booklet THE WONDERFUL WORLD TOMORROW -- WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE.

Thank you for your question. Please feel welcome to contact us whenever you have further questions.

PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE DEPARTMENT