The Return of Frank Calloway, Chapter 5 of 11
Land Assignments and Food
NOTE: This is a fictional account, but is based somewhat unloosely on future prophesied events and promised conditions, as clearly as I can imagine them unfolding and being realized. It will be interesting to compare these prognostications of mine one day to how far off I was in some of my ruminations, and possibly how close I was on certain others. It is written in first person, with Frank Calloway as the protagonist. See Chapter 1 (there’s a link to it at the bottom) for more information.The arrangement for allotting land to everyone is this: Half the earth’s surface has been set aside for ownership by individuals and families. Former ownership of land has little bearing on who is assigned which portion of land. Some hope to return to a location where they had lived and be assigned that spot as their permanent possession, but that doesn’t always happen. Why not? Because in almost every situation, several other families had also lived on that land over the course of human history. As an example of what might happen in the area formerly known as the United States of America: Let’s suppose that the Shannon family had lived on a certain piece of land from 1900-2000, but prior to that it had long been the home of a Native American family, and before that to yet another Native clan, and so on. Which family would be assigned that spot as their forever home? Should it go to those who lived there most recently? Should it go to those who lived there first? Or should it be allotted to those who lived there for the longest stretch of time? Or to those who were loudest in their pleas to be assigned that land? If the answer is none of the above, then to whom? Often it is best to assign land to someone new (who had never lived there before), to avoid any feelings of resentment that might arise if one of the former residents of the parcel were chosen over the others.
That’s the theory, but in actual practice this (multiple former residents “having their hearts set” on the same piece of land) is hardly ever a problem. One reason for this is that most people lived in various places throughout their lives, and were only especially attached to at most one of them. Also, much of the land allotted never even had any previous inhabitants. Part of the reason for that is that much of the land was formerly taken up by hospitals, government buildings, corporation offices, munitions factories and depots, military bases, cemeteries, and suchlike things which have been reclaimed, cleansed, and repurposed, with people now building homes in those areas.
Another reason why wrangling over ownership of specific parcels is rarely an issue is that as paradise spreads throughout the earth, a large portion of the land that had been uninhabitable or undesirable has now been made — or is being made — productive and beautiful. And so, much of the land being allotted is ‘virgin territory,’ having had no previous inhabitants. For that reason, conflicts between former residents of a specific spot is more a theoretical problem than an actual one. It does happen on occasion, but not very often.
Finally, in those rare instances where there are multiple “claimants” desiring the same exact piece of ground, this is not a serious or permanent problem, as all of the earth is now beautiful, or will be after it has been cleaned up. Thus, people quickly adjust their attitude about tenaciously holding onto a particular piece of land out of nostalgia or a notion that they can only be truly happy and satisfied in one circumscribed portion of the earth. Some even prefer getting assigned a plot of land that is ‘beauty-challenged’ now so as to enjoy the dramatic transformation as they work to convert it from eyesore to eye salve. Even if someone had lived in a place for a hundred years, they will eventually have lived on their assigned land for two hundred, then a thousand years, later a million, and so on. It won’t be long before their land assignment becomes their heart’s home, even if they still hold fond memories of a former place — which they can visit at any time, if they are of a mind to.
As you can see, then, as far as material possessions go, everything has ‘started from scratch.’ What people had amassed in the past — material possessions, that is, even in the way of real estate — no longer belongs to them. And that’s only fair, because some had acquired their great holdings in unethical or unwise ways. Would it be fair for someone who devoted their life to acquiring material things (perhaps to the detriment of others) to retain those things while those who had been less self-centered, focused on serving God and their fellow humans, and who may have lived in small apartments or trailers while others lived in mansions and such, ended up with less, in either quantity or quality?
Any potential discrepancy or inequality has pretty much taken care of itself, by means of the fact that those who survived the Great Tribulation and Armageddon at first had (materially speaking) only the clothes on their back and little else. Very small, utilitarian houses were quickly built for everyone on their assigned property. These served as temporary shelters for them while they were building their ‘dream home’ on the property they were allotted. Once they moved into their permanent home, the original cottage, or “tiny home,” as some called them, was converted to a guest house, workshop, or storage area. For those resurrected, the same thing is done: a compact, utilitarian house is built and furnished and made ready for their arrival; that way, they can build the exact style and size of house they want themselves, in their own way and at their own pace. This is in fulfillment of Isaiah 65:21.
You get the picture, then, that the New World — The Real Life — is a time for leveling and resetting. Do not think, though, that this equalizing of resources means that everyone lives a just-barely-good-enough spartan type of life, reminiscent of the experience for most of those who lived under communist regimes in the old system. No, it’s not like that at all. Everyone has it better now than ever before, and in every way. Even those who had been very wealthy in the old system of things are better off now, because they no longer have to worry about thieves breaking in and stealing their things, jealous people vandalizing their property, others trying to take it away by legal trickeration, their children being kidnapped for ransom, or any such threats or dangers. All, not just a select few elites, own beautiful property and houses now — and with complete security and peace of mind, which is worth far more than any amount of money could provide in the old system. To quote the prophecy found at Psalm 37:11, we experience “exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.” Nobody can or would want to take what is ours, any more than we would take what belongs to someone else.
The fact that people cannot add to their real estate holdings, whether by begging, borrowing, stealing, investing, maneuvering, manipulating, cajoling, or any which way, prevents not just the re-creation of economic class divisions, but even causes feuds and warfare to cease for eternity. Envy, jealousy, injustice, and inequality are all things of the past.
Are the land assignments made randomly, then? Not at all. Jehovah God knows best where people should live. Not just where, but with whom as neighbors, too. Families are usually assigned to live close together, most often on adjacent property, but a mixture of people are sprinkled into each community, too (meaning some who were formerly strangers along with family members and close friends).
Each community or large neighborhood has representatives of all races and cultures of the world. In this way, all are exposed to every culture. One benefit of this is that typically each household takes turns with others in hosting neighborhood parties, or evening meals. For every time you host those in your neighborhood, you are hosted by them several times. These get-togethers are like going to a five-star Mediterranean, French, Indian, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, German, etc. restaurant each time a family of those ethnicities does the hosting. During these leisurely dinners, we all get to know each other so much better — by sharing our personal histories, family histories, cultural histories, and what is happening in our lives now.
Our daily life is so satisfying and enjoyable that each day is, really, like a vacation. In fact, the worst day now is better than the best days used to be in the old system of things. Because of this, we go to bed at night eagerly anticipating what the next day will bring, rather than fearing what will or might happen the next day, as we often used to do in the old system of things. Instead of dreading work, we revel in it. All of it is meaningful and beneficial to mankind in general. We take pride in it and enjoy it, whether it’s building houses, growing food, teaching others, or what have you.
Speaking of food, most of us grow at least a few edible things on our land. Since it’s easy to have more than enough when you do this — it doesn’t take much land to grow a superabundance for even a large family — we take our excess to a common location. In this way, we can go to that spot and get whatever we need from other people’s surplus as we are dropping off our surplus. For example, I take most of the produce from my fruit and nut trees, and pick up whatever fruits and nuts I don’t grow myself, as well as vegetables and herbs. Some people even bring fresh baked goods each morning. The Commons, where this occurs, is located in the center of the community, and is thus within an easy walk or even easier bicycle, donkey, horse, or elephant ride for everyone. Most of us do our “shopping” there daily, thus getting what we need for the day fresh.
To be continued tomorrow.
Chapter 1 is here.
Chapter 6 is here.