Some Thoughts On Depopulation

Introduction: A number of people, mostly elites, and increasingly calling out for more people to die! The justification, if I understand it correctly, is that there are too many people on this planet to be kept (the “sustainability” argument) and/or there isn’t enough of the right _kind_ of people.

One female British scientist, if I recall correctly, observed that the world would be a much better place, in so many words, if world population leveled off at about 500,000 people. Leaving aside the rationale for these arguments, the fact is, they will come very close to achieving their wish!

Full disclosure: I hold to the pre-tribulation Rapture, pre-millennial kingdom view of the last days. Even if you don’t, let’s agree to disagree and simply consider a few things as revealed in the Scriptures concerning the last days. There are a few events yet to come so let’s take a look at each of these:

1 The Rapture of the Church

Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, KJV: 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

A brief comment on verse 15: the word translated “prevent” means “to precede” or go before. This is just one of several words which have changed meanings since the early 1600’s when the King James Version was being translated.

Notice that there is no sign, detail, or indication when this event will take place, only that it will take place at a future date. Paul writes in this passage that the Lord Jesus Christ will return to this atmosphere (“in the air”) and there will be various sounds. The dead in Christ will rise first then the living saints will join them, and the Lord, to be with the Lord forever!

Now to return to depopulation. Let’s say, for round numbers, there are 8 billion, with a b as some say, people living on this planet. Now let’s say that when the Rapture takes place (even if only for the sake of argument) there are one billion genuine believers in Jesus. Let’s add to this that there are another billion or so infants and children who have not yet reached the age of accountability—much like the 120,000 in Nineveh who didn’t know their right hand from left per Jonah 4.

Allowing for this 2-billion-or so removal of people, that’s going to knock down the world’s population from 8 to 6 billion in moments.

That’s a 25-per-cent reduction of the world’s population!

So now, allowing that once the Rapture takes place, there are no believers on the earth at the time, the world is going to experience some unusual things. Now, taking the Book of Revelation as a guide, let’s see what some of those things are going to be.

2 The opening of the first five seals

Text, Revelation 6:1-11, KJV: 1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. 3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. 5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. 7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.