Expert: Dean Gade - 12/19/2005

Question
*[Please Excuse My Long Question]Creationists like William Whiston and Henry Morris have said that the Earth contained a population of 500 billion people during the Antediluvian period (consdering the fertility rates and large life spans of about 700 to 950 yrs in comparism to our 70 to 85 yrs), however where would 500 billion people live considering the surface area of the earth. If one has to know the density of population we would divide 500 billion by the Curved Surface Area of the Earth (of radius 6378km or 6378000 m). If you can understand the mathematical notations:

That is D(density of population)= 500*10^12/4*3.141593*r^2 = 500*10^12/4*3.141593*[6378000]^2
which comes to approximately = 0.978118 people/meter sq.Thats like if you consider a square of 2m each side about 3 to 4 people stay there; How would people survive so close to each other there wouldn't even be convinient place to move. Whats ur view on this? Is there any book that speaks of the population during this period.
**Once again please excuse my long question**

Answer
There is no book that I know of that speaks to the population during that period.

A very interesting book about the state of the earth before the flood is aptly named  "The Flood: In the Light of the Bible, Geology, and Archaeology"
by Alfred Rehwinkel

His theory is that the whole earth was covered by a great cloud of moisture at creation.  This made it a real greenhouse where vegetation abounded.  The Bible does say that God gave only green things and their seed to man and beast at the creation. After the flood it was necessary for creatures to eat meat for the first time according to the Bible.

This abundance would account for how even dinasaurs could be supported.  It would also allow for a large population of people to be fed. Although I don't recall Rehwinkle writing of this.

He proposes that this vast moisture is the "windows of heaven" which could fall for forty days.  God's method of drying the earth meant a change in the position of the earth itself.  It was tipped on its axis and so much of the moisture was gathered at the poles.  He also believes in the scientificly accepted theory of the  historicaly recent creation of the mountains on the earth. And this would explain the gathering of more water into the seas.

It's an interesting book to read and would agree with the massive population that you read about.  Since I had studied physiography and geology, it was interesting to read his theories on rock layers, production of coal, and the demise of the giant creatures which walked the earth before the flood.

It can be purchased online in softcover.