by Dan Edmund
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Late that night in bed, I thought back to what Harry had said. I knew he still was not convinced about his death and resurrection, and most likely would still take several more days, perhaps even weeks, before he finally would adjust. And adjust he would. I was sure the miraculous healing of this world, of God and the Divine Light would not fail. However, I realized Harry had raised a valid demographic point. Thirty-two billion were a lot of people to live harmoniously on the one planet. I thought about the logistics and infrastructure required, an absolute impossibility in the ordinary old world I had known. However, this new world was not ordinary, indeed, it was most extraordinary. I had already witnessed the ease in which an endless supply of seemingly endless varieties of food was made available. I had also seen the ease and speed in which houses were constructed, and the staggering speed in which trees grew to maturity, providing a never ending supply of lumber.
However, would not the Earth be overcrowded, like living in one vast global city? Also, what about the social impact itself? Also, as Harry had stated, what would happen to the cohesiveness, peace and harmony of our paradise society when so many billions of people were brought back to life? From what I had been told, only people who had shared our religious beliefs and ethics had so far been resurrected. Harry was the lone exception, and I already saw the difficulties one person could create. Then how much more so if there were millions, even billions of others, many of whom would be far worse than he. What infrastructure could possibly cope with such a cataclysmic deluge of people from all past ages of history, with totally different languages, customs, religious beliefs, values and morals? How could they all be organized into one united, harmonious spiritual brotherhood?
Although I firmly believed that with God all things were possible, I nonetheless still pondered over these things, thinking that perhaps the answer could be found in the Paradise Text.
I got out of bed, vigorously rubbed my crystal light, then studied our sacred text. I soon discovered that people were to be resurrected according to the order of moral merit, religious beliefs, family ties, and time periods they had lived. Thus, first to be resurrected were close family members who were currently living in Paradise, and that God had chosen due to their righteousness, and the ease in which they could settle into this theocratic world of ours. Following this principle, there then would follow successive waves of resurrections in reverse chronological order; those having lived meritorious lives closest to our time period being resurrected first, and in turn their family members and friends down through the ages. After a period of adjustment, these would then be followed by successive generations of people slightly less virtuous, yet still easily taught and assimilated into Paradise. Then, the next successive generation, slightly less virtuous, but still being given enough time and attention to adjust, and so forth, so that always the Earth would have virtuous and good people in the majority, who would serve as the mentors for those that were newly resurrected.
I then read another scripture in the text that stated: 'I will no longer let evil dominate the world; for all will learn the ways of goodness and justice, and all will learn the one pure language, the language of truth and love, even through the power of My Spirit, which can never fail.'
I mused over this and saw how this principle was already working on Harry. He was not changing instantly, but I felt certain he was starting to adjust to his new life. My thoughts then drifted towards some of the famous and interesting people I myself would like to meet: Bach, Beethoven, Fernando Sor, Francisco Tarrega, Agustin Barrios and Andres Segovia, to name just a few. What pleasure I would have in listening and seeing them play, perhaps even being taught by them. I then wondered what music they would then compose in a beautiful world such as ours.
Whilst musing over these musical fantasies, I turned over to another page and noticed a very strange text, a text containing a concept that I had never thought about: 'God can perform any miracle, even dry the oceans, and even expand the dimensions of the Earth!'
The words had hit me like a hammer. It seemed too incredible! Yet, why not? If God had made the 'heavens and the earth,' could he not also modify them if required? In my former life, I may have scoffed at the idea, yet seeing what I had already seen, I felt confident that this absolutely amazing concept could become true. I returned the volume back onto the shelf, all reservations that I may have had now buried under a solid rock of faith. I deadened the light, went back to bed and instantly fell into a sound and blissful sleep.