The Earth was highly populated at the time of Noah's flood—likely billions of people.
From Adam to the flood spans about 1,600–1,650 years, and Les Feldick teaches that the human race multiplied until the planet was filled with people. He estimates the population probably reached about 4 billion, comparable to the early 1970s, and says it is possible there were as many as today or even more.
Genesis 6:1 — Shows that men began to multiply on the face of the earth in the days leading up to the flood.
Genesis 9:19 — Confirms that from Noah's three sons the whole earth was overspread after the flood.
The Bible records God's original command to humanity: 'Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth' (Genesis 1:28). In the generation before the flood, Genesis 6:1 records that 'men began to multiply on the face of the earth.' The flood narrative states that 'all flesh died that moved upon the earth' (Genesis 7:21), showing how populated the earth was. After the flood, Genesis 9:19 declares that from Noah's three sons 'was the whole earth overspread.'
Les Feldick says that from Adam to the flood was about 1,600–1,650 years, and during that time the human race grew from one perfect couple to 'a planet filled with people.' He believes there were probably as many at the time of the flood as there are on the planet today, possibly even more. He also says it is 'very easy to believe' that the population reached about 4 billion, comparable to the early 1970s. Les explains that the pre-flood earth had far more land area, a constant climate from pole to pole, and abundant vegetation, allowing the human race to explode in population and technology.
Les says the natural civilization began to 'explode in technology as well as in population.' With roughly 1,600 years from Adam to the flood, he believes it is 'very easy to believe' that about 4 billion people were on the earth, comparable to the world population in the early 1970s.
Les says the pre-flood world had a constant climate from pole to pole, much more land area than today, and abundant vegetation. He notes that roughly 75–80 percent of today's planet is water, but before the flood it was practically the opposite—there was room for an abundant explosion of both the human race and the animal kingdom.
Les says there are more people living today than probably lived all the way back to the time of Noah. He notes that the current population is over 5 billion and still climbing, while at Christ's first advent there were probably less than 500 million in the whole then-known world.
Les draws on Genesis 9:19 to say that from Noah's three sons 'the whole earth was overspread.' He maintains that the present earth—its mountains, rivers, plains, and population—all began on this side of the flood, with the flood reshaping the planet's surface.
Noah’s Flood Was Not Just Rain: The Fountains of the Great Deep Explained
Now you see the problem with people, and even we as believers are sometimes prone to not understand that with God nothing is impossible. That with God this whole planet is like you and I handling a marble or a ball bearing. It's that simple in His power. He can do with it whatever He wants. And He controls all the forces of nature, the forces of outer space.
Population Estimate of ~4 Billion
Les estimates that after about 1,600 years from Adam, the population could easily have reached 4 billion, comparable to the early 1970s.
Today's Population vs. Pre-Flood Past
Les says more people are alive today than probably lived all the way back to the time of Noah, and notes the contrast with the population at Christ's first advent.
Pre-Flood Population and Technology
Les says the earth was filled with people in 1,650 years, possibly as many as today or more, and had tremendous technology with no civil government or organized worship.
Pre-Flood Habitable Land and Vegetation
Les explains that before the flood a far greater percentage of the planet was habitable, allowing for abundant human and animal life.
Post-Flood Repopulation
Les notes from Genesis 9:19 that the whole earth was overspread from Noah's three sons, showing the earth's population restarted after the flood.
Timeline from Adam to Flood
Les gives the timeline from Adam to Noah's flood as about 1,600 years, with the flood around 2400 BC.
Pre-Flood Land Area and Climate
Les says the pre-flood world had a constant climate and far more land than today, since today's planet is about 80 percent water.
Genesis 1:28: And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
God's original command to humanity to multiply and fill the earth sets the stage for the pre-flood population.
Genesis 6:1: And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
This verse directly indicates that the human race was growing in number before the flood.
Genesis 7:21: And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:
The flood destroyed all flesh, showing the populated state of the earth was wiped out.
Genesis 9:19: These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.
After the flood, the earth was repopulated from Noah's three sons.
Les estimates there were about 4 billion people on the Earth at the Flood, comparable to the early 1970s. He also says the earth was 'filled with people' and possibly as many as today or more.
About 1,600–1,650 years from Adam to the flood. Les notes that during that time the natural civilization exploded in both technology and population.
Yes, according to Les. The pre-flood world had much more land area, a constant climate, and abundant vegetation, making most of the planet habitable.
Watch the Teaching: Noah’s Flood Was Not Just Rain: The Fountains of the Great Deep Explained