On the basis of such information, it is calculated that the number of persons who have ever lived on earth is not very great. For example, in May of 1966 a speaker at the 76th annual Florida State Pharmaceutical Association convention observed: “It is now estimated that 25 per cent of all the people who have ever lived are alive today.”b

With the present world population being about 3.5 thousand million, this estimate would mean that there has been a total population throughout all human history of only some 14 thousand million people. But even if a more liberal estimate is made, and the 14 thousand million is doubled, still it is not an overwhelming number. The earth has over 57 million square miles of land area, and even with the huge population of 24 thousand million people, there would be more than an acre and a half of land for each person.

A principal reason why there is the problem today of producing sufficient food is that vast land areas are unsuitable for cultivation. In fact, only 7.7 percent of earth’s land area is said to be under cultivation presently, and the yield of much of this land is very poor. But consider how abundantly the earth could produce under ideal conditions and with God’s blessing. (Deut. 28:12; Ps. 67:6) How easily it could support a much larger population, including the resurrected dead, even though these should number as many as ten or twenty thousand million or more!

Discussing the earth’s potential to support a much larger population, Newsweek magazine of July 23, 1962, said: “Dr. James Bonner of Caltech estimates that the world can support 50 billion people—seventeen times its present population—while another Caltech scientist, Harrison Brown, says he ‘can even visualize the means for supporting 100 billion.’”

Without a doubt, the earth is capable of comfortably supporting all those whom Jehovah God mercifully resurrects into a restored earthly paradise. But when will this resurrection of the dead take place? How will the earth be brought to a state of paradisaic beauty?

PARADISE EARTH SOON TO BE ENJOYED

Bible prophecies unmistakably identify these as “the last days” of this system of things. (2 Tim. 3:1-5; Matt. 24:3-14) Soon now, at the “war of the great day of God the Almighty,” commonly called Armageddon, “the wicked . . . will be cut off from the very earth.” (Rev. 16:14, 16; Prov. 2:22) With the entire world of such persons removed, the meek, upright ones will remain on earth and indeed delight themselves in the abundance of peace. The Bible explains: “Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but he that does the will of God remains forever.”—1 John 2:17.

These Armageddon survivors who do the will of God have a glorious future before them. To them the words of the inspired Bible psalm apply: “The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.” (Ps. 37:29) Theirs will be the glorious privilege of beautifying the earth, preparing it so that it will resemble earth wide a gorgeous garden or park. Into this earthly paradise they will also have the privilege of eventually welcoming thousands of millions of resurrected dead, including the evildoer who died alongside Jesus, and to whom he promised: “You will be with me in Paradise.”—Luke 23:43.

What a marvelous future is soon to be enjoyed by mankind! The sure promise concerning all who inhabit the paradise earth is: “God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be any more. The former things have passed away.” (Rev. 21:3, 4) To survive Armageddon and to enjoy these blessings, it is vital that you now learn what God’s will is and do it.

Gilead School Graduates 101 Assistant Markers

THE graduation day for the 101 students of the forty-fifth class of the missionary school of Gilead was March 10, 1968, a day they will never forget. Addressing them, as well as an audience of about 2,000 friends and relatives of the students, the vice-president of the Watch Tower Society identified the students as assistant markers.

Drawing upon the prophecy in the ninth chapter of Ezekiel, which foretold a marking of the foreheads of persons who are “sighing and groaning over all the detestable things that are being done,” F. W. Franz said that the students are marked ones who would be going out to help in marking others. The mark placed on the forehead is not merely an intellectual appreciation of God’s Word of truth, he observed. It is a mark of identification as a Christian. It is evidence of a Christian personality. The vice-president of the Society was only one of several who addressed the forty-fifth class of Gilead that day.

The president of the Watch Tower Society, N. H. Knorr, concluded the several talks of admonition to the students by urging them not to forget the vow they made to do God’s will. “There have been persons who have left God’s organization completely,” he said, “who eventually forgot what they used to believe. They forgot God.”

“Now that school is over,” he said, “it is not the end but the beginning.” He concluded by saying: “You have a marvelous privilege. You must not forget what you have learned and your vow to do God’s will.”

With the conclusion of President Knorr’s admonition to the class, they filed up onto the stage and individually received an envelope from him that contained, in most cases, a diploma. In order to receive a diploma certain scholastic standards had to be met. The envelope also contained a picture of the forty-fifth class and a little money to help with personal expenses. As the last of the graduates headed for their seats, a thunderous applause of congratulation went up from the audience.

A representative of the graduate body then presented to the Society’s president a letter of appreciation, which he read for all to hear. In it the graduates thanked the Society for the fine training that had been given them during the past five months. They stated that they now had an appreciation and concept of Jehovah’s organization that was far beyond their expectations. They also felt that the Bible had now taken on new dimensions for them. With the reading of this statement of appreciation the program for the day did not end. More was to come in the afternoon.

For the enjoyment of all present a number of graduates put on some splendid musical presentations. Among them were lively songs in Spanish by a group of graduates who had studied that language in the school.

Sandwiched among these musical presentations was a thought-provoking skit depicting how several students had handled a demonstration in the classroom showing how the entire book of First Corinthians is beneficial. After a discussion they decided to dramatize a hypothetical scene in the Corinthian congregation of the first century. This showed how Paul’s letter, among other things, handled the matter of divisions in the congregation, how it counseled action against an immoral member of the congregation, and how it gave counsel to those who had unbelieving mates. Skillfully they put across the main point, that principles in the Bible are beneficial to us all.

The highlight of the afternoon’s program was an impressive enactment in costume of scenes from the life of the daughter of a judge in ancient Israel, Judge Jephthah. It was an emotionally moving and faith-inspiring drama, a thoroughly delightful presentation.

With the conclusion of the drama the entire class came up on the stage and sang a touching farewell song. Then the Society’s president, in his closing remarks, admonished them to “continue in this fine work.” His final prayer brought this splendid graduation program of the forty-fifth class of Gilead to an end.