Do animals have eternal life?
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I miss a dog named Briar. I still feel guilty about a rabbit named Golden. (I was a little kid and someone had taught me that animals are smart enough not to eat poisonous berries, so I thought I was wrong that those berries were poisonous. I only had Golden for four hours.) I miss two cats -- Bo and Thoreau.
I do not know if animals go to heaven, but it's going to be crowded if they do. I hope I see the animals I miss again.
I do know there will be no more tears or sorrow, so if they aren't, it won't make us sorrowful.
I do not know if animals go to heaven, but it's going to be crowded if they do. I hope I see the animals I miss again.
I do know there will be no more tears or sorrow, so if they aren't, it won't make us sorrowful.
'Soulish' animals are created to be our companions and to have relationships with us. If it is meant to be only for a time and then end forever, it would not seem to be good, to me.
On the other hand, most of people will end in hell, many people we have relationship with. So it would be nothing new, to lost somebody forever.
Who knows.
Sadly, Bible is quite silent on this topic.
On the other hand, most of people will end in hell, many people we have relationship with. So it would be nothing new, to lost somebody forever.
Who knows.
Sadly, Bible is quite silent on this topic.
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Actually, the bible is quite clear that animals will be in heaven. If lions and lambs are there, then surely cats and dogs and all species of animals will be there too. Animals DO have a spirit and/or a soul, so who are we, in our uninformed state, to assume that they WON'T be in heaven? God says that ALL creation will praise his name one day. 
I'm fairly sure God understands the woofs, meows, and chirps of animals singing His praises.. JMO
I'm fairly sure God understands the woofs, meows, and chirps of animals singing His praises.. JMO
Actually, the bible is quite clear that animals will be in heaven. If lions and lambs are there, then surely cats and dogs and all species of animals will be there too. Animals DO have a spirit and/or a soul, so who are we, in our uninformed state, to assume that they WON'T be in heaven? God says that ALL creation will praise his name one day. I'm fairly sure God understands the woofs, meows, and chirps of animals singing His praises.. JMO
I'm fairly sure God understands the woofs, meows, and chirps of animals singing His praises.. JMO
The prophecy in Isaiah about the peace in animal kingdom or animal creatures mentioned in heaven in Revelation is quite a different topic than "will our animals we live with now, in heaven"... I think.
Why wouldn't they? We know that lions and lambs will be there, the bible says so rather clearly. Animals were in the garden of Eden before the fall. Heaven surely is alot like paradise, IMO. Animals have no need of accepting Jesus as their savior, since they were put here as our companions in this life. It makes sense that they'll be our companions in the next life also. If not in heaven, then definitely on the new earth.
Animals have no need of accepting Jesus as their savior, since they were put here as our companions in this life. It makes sense that they'll be our companions in the next life also. If not in heaven, then definitely on the new earth.
T
Ok, I have a theory on this, but I don't know how accurate my thinking is on this, so please don't apply this idea as absolute truth...
I mean, I can see no other way that it can be, maybe I'm just afraid to admit to myself that these are what the scriptures are saying to me.
You have the ability to think and reason for yourself, as well as I do, so I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on these scriptures...
Ok, first of all, if we go outside of humans, along with animals of every shape and size, we also have to consider every living thing of every shape and size- this would include plants, bugs, even germs. Scientists did an experiment, they put one plant in one room, and the same kind of plant in another room. To one they played soft instrumental music, and spoke to it cheerfully and kindly, and it thrived. To the other plant they played loud heavy medal music and spoke to it rashly, it withered and died. This reminds me of the verse (I think it is in Proverbs) "Sweet words are like honeycomb- soothing to the soul and health to the bones."- which has also been proven scientifically that terminal patients who keep a good and cheerful attitude have a much better survival rate then those who don't.
We know that God told us to consider the way of the ant, and what do ants do? They lift many times their own weight, are always busy, and they leave a trail for other ants to follow. Like He said to us, each of us should carry our own load and help others carry theirs. And that we should follow Christ- like my avatar picture, when we follow Christ (not man made doctrine) we form a line like ants following the Leader.
We know that the devil was speaking through the snake to Adam and Eve, and got in trouble for that. We know that God sent plagues to Pharaoh of flies, locusts, frogs, etc. ok, there is a verse I can't find, but I know it's in the Old Testament. God was speaking about a bug, I think it was a spider, but I can't remember for sure. And I can't remember the exact wording, but what God was saying is that they work for Him.
In Revelation 8 it speaks of a great star that came to the earth named "Wormwood" and it came to destroy. Also, Genesis 9:5 says that both human and animal will have to give an account for spilling human blood/taking human life.
Now both angels and demons work for God- demons tempt us to sin against God, and God allows this because He wants us to be tried and tested. And we know the verse that all angels are ministering spirits to those who will inherit heaven. Now God told us to preach the gospel to every creature, but this does not mean animals- can you imagine baptizing an ant, or a germ? They are not able to communicate to us that they believe that Jesus is the Son of the Living God, or to make a lifetime commitment to serving Him. So we know He meant every creature made in His image (human).
So this is what I think... I think that angels can take on the form of both humans, animals, even as small as bacteria (there are good and bad bacteria, the good bacteria we cannot survive without). And that demons can go in pigs, we know they have been in humans in the form of demon possession (which I don't believe happens anymore), but I do believe demons go into humans in the forms of germs and bacteria, and that they fight against the angels in the same forms. God punishes sin with disease, even today. And as the Christian prays, praises God, and has faith, that the demons leave and the person heals. Because demons don't want to be around what is holy and clean.
Beelzebub was a big golden fly, and was worshipped for the power to bring disease and kill.
So to answer the question if animals have eternal life, it's both yes and no- depending on if they are an angel or a demon. But I do not believe animals have souls like a human, we are made in God's image, unlike the angel or the demon.
Ok, I know it's out there, but I can't see any other way that it could be with considering all scriptures.
I mean, I can see no other way that it can be, maybe I'm just afraid to admit to myself that these are what the scriptures are saying to me.
You have the ability to think and reason for yourself, as well as I do, so I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on these scriptures...
Ok, first of all, if we go outside of humans, along with animals of every shape and size, we also have to consider every living thing of every shape and size- this would include plants, bugs, even germs. Scientists did an experiment, they put one plant in one room, and the same kind of plant in another room. To one they played soft instrumental music, and spoke to it cheerfully and kindly, and it thrived. To the other plant they played loud heavy medal music and spoke to it rashly, it withered and died. This reminds me of the verse (I think it is in Proverbs) "Sweet words are like honeycomb- soothing to the soul and health to the bones."- which has also been proven scientifically that terminal patients who keep a good and cheerful attitude have a much better survival rate then those who don't.
We know that God told us to consider the way of the ant, and what do ants do? They lift many times their own weight, are always busy, and they leave a trail for other ants to follow. Like He said to us, each of us should carry our own load and help others carry theirs. And that we should follow Christ- like my avatar picture, when we follow Christ (not man made doctrine) we form a line like ants following the Leader.
We know that the devil was speaking through the snake to Adam and Eve, and got in trouble for that. We know that God sent plagues to Pharaoh of flies, locusts, frogs, etc. ok, there is a verse I can't find, but I know it's in the Old Testament. God was speaking about a bug, I think it was a spider, but I can't remember for sure. And I can't remember the exact wording, but what God was saying is that they work for Him.
In Revelation 8 it speaks of a great star that came to the earth named "Wormwood" and it came to destroy. Also, Genesis 9:5 says that both human and animal will have to give an account for spilling human blood/taking human life.
Now both angels and demons work for God- demons tempt us to sin against God, and God allows this because He wants us to be tried and tested. And we know the verse that all angels are ministering spirits to those who will inherit heaven. Now God told us to preach the gospel to every creature, but this does not mean animals- can you imagine baptizing an ant, or a germ? They are not able to communicate to us that they believe that Jesus is the Son of the Living God, or to make a lifetime commitment to serving Him. So we know He meant every creature made in His image (human).
So this is what I think... I think that angels can take on the form of both humans, animals, even as small as bacteria (there are good and bad bacteria, the good bacteria we cannot survive without). And that demons can go in pigs, we know they have been in humans in the form of demon possession (which I don't believe happens anymore), but I do believe demons go into humans in the forms of germs and bacteria, and that they fight against the angels in the same forms. God punishes sin with disease, even today. And as the Christian prays, praises God, and has faith, that the demons leave and the person heals. Because demons don't want to be around what is holy and clean.
Beelzebub was a big golden fly, and was worshipped for the power to bring disease and kill.
So to answer the question if animals have eternal life, it's both yes and no- depending on if they are an angel or a demon. But I do not believe animals have souls like a human, we are made in God's image, unlike the angel or the demon.
Ok, I know it's out there, but I can't see any other way that it could be with considering all scriptures.
Genesis 2:7 - "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" -- This is not said of the animals, and the creation of man was on a very different level than the animals and plants.
Your comment: "The prophecy in Isaiah about the peace in animal kingdom or animal creatures mentioned in heaven in Revelation is quite a different topic than "will our animals we live with now, in heaven"... I think." -- I agree with this statement - or at least I also "think" it seems correct.
And as I think someone else mentioned in a post here it is clear that animals do not need salvation: they are not held accountable for their sins.
Someone else said that "the Bible is silent on the topic" - which is essentially true - if you mean the Bible does not specifically say "yes" or "no" to if animals will live after they die.
So, my comments are based on the idea that (1) God never says the animals will have eternal life, whereas this is clearly said of man, and (2) Man was created very differently than the animals (with an eternal soul and in the image of God)
Can't prove it conclusively from Scripture though - or does someone have a clearer answer?
I personally would wish that my little housedog would be with me again in heaven, but I just don't think it will be so: Practically thinking: how would God decide what animals to "revive" -- it would be awfully full of mosquitoes, snakes, rats, and other vermin up there if all animals got to heaven!
Your comment: "The prophecy in Isaiah about the peace in animal kingdom or animal creatures mentioned in heaven in Revelation is quite a different topic than "will our animals we live with now, in heaven"... I think." -- I agree with this statement - or at least I also "think" it seems correct.
And as I think someone else mentioned in a post here it is clear that animals do not need salvation: they are not held accountable for their sins.
Someone else said that "the Bible is silent on the topic" - which is essentially true - if you mean the Bible does not specifically say "yes" or "no" to if animals will live after they die.
So, my comments are based on the idea that (1) God never says the animals will have eternal life, whereas this is clearly said of man, and (2) Man was created very differently than the animals (with an eternal soul and in the image of God)
Can't prove it conclusively from Scripture though - or does someone have a clearer answer?
I personally would wish that my little housedog would be with me again in heaven, but I just don't think it will be so: Practically thinking: how would God decide what animals to "revive" -- it would be awfully full of mosquitoes, snakes, rats, and other vermin up there if all animals got to heaven!
T
I have found myth busters to be incorrect! They did an experiment on if you shave whether hair will grow back darker and thicker. Problem is, on some people it does, and for some people it doesn't. For me it did! My friend once convinced me to shave my eyebrows instead of plucking them. Ever since then, they have grown where they never used to be- more towards my eyelid and more towards my forehead. Aside from that, all the hairs grew back thicker and darker.
And I know a lady who waxed above her lip and now has a mustache! She has to keep waxing it and shaving it, and when shaven it looks like stumbles just like a man has.
So I know for a fact myth busters are not accurate.
And I know a lady who waxed above her lip and now has a mustache! She has to keep waxing it and shaving it, and when shaven it looks like stumbles just like a man has.
So I know for a fact myth busters are not accurate.
But it is said that animals have the breath of life too, on other places. So even though Genesis does not describe that in detail for animals, they have it too.
Do you think heaven will have a problem with space?
I have heard that Bible distinguishes animals to be of two categories - with soul and without. So I dont think mosquitoes are "soulish", you cant have relationship with it. But you can have a relationship with a cat, because cat have soul, personality. It has feelings, fears etc similar to ours.
Practically thinking: how would God decide what animals to "revive" -- it would be awfully full of mosquitoes, snakes, rats, and other vermin up there if all animals got to heaven!
I have heard that Bible distinguishes animals to be of two categories - with soul and without. So I dont think mosquitoes are "soulish", you cant have relationship with it. But you can have a relationship with a cat, because cat have soul, personality. It has feelings, fears etc similar to ours.
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T
But it is said that animals have the breath of life also, on other places. So even though Genesis does not describe that in detail for animals, they have it too.
Do you think heaven will have a problem with space?
I have heard that Bible distinguishes animals to be of two categories - with soul and without. So I dont think mosquitoes are "soulish", you cant have relationship with it. But you can have it with a cat, because a cat have soul, personality, feelings, fears etc similar to us.
Do you think heaven will have a problem with space?
I have heard that Bible distinguishes animals to be of two categories - with soul and without. So I dont think mosquitoes are "soulish", you cant have relationship with it. But you can have it with a cat, because a cat have soul, personality, feelings, fears etc similar to us.
I have eave known bugs to be soul-ish. I squirted one with bleach once and I heard it cry as it shriveled up and died. I zapped a fly with a bug zapper, and it started attacking my hand that held the bug zapper instead of the bug zapper itself- how did it know that? I was screaming as it kept crashing into my hand, even as I tried to move away. A mosquito once knew where to bite me where I couldn't see or reach- like it knew.
If the personality of the cat was in the mosquito, of course it couldn't cuddle, etc.
Its quite hard to imagine bug crying. But these "with soul, without soul" categories of animals are in Bible, its not my invention.
Its proved that some ants are cheating etc, so I would even admit that insects have some kind of primitive personality, but probably not feelings and other higher things, they dont have brains for that.
I think that Heaven is big enough to hold all critters that have existed on this planet. I hope some especies will be in Heaven, while I hope others will not (scorpions, snakes, spiders, tigers, etc).
I am missing my guinea pigs, Meggy and Susie! I hope my cats, Boris and Pipim, will go to Heaven too when they die.
I think dogs in the Eternal Kingdom will not bark - there will be no reason to bark in Heaven.
I am missing my guinea pigs, Meggy and Susie! I hope my cats, Boris and Pipim, will go to Heaven too when they die.
I think dogs in the Eternal Kingdom will not bark - there will be no reason to bark in Heaven.
God did not create animals just to subject them to the futility and pain of death. In other words, God didn't create ANYTHING to die. He always says, Live! Live! They were subjected to this futility because of what happened.
I guess no one can decisively say that our dead pets will be resurrected but we can decisively say that in the future, animals will not die. And I know He didn't create them to die originally. No verse says that but doesn't everyone know it?
I've had dogs that were so faithful, they would throw themselves in harms way to protect me. I cannot comprehend that God would reward that faithfulness with death.
I guess no one can decisively say that our dead pets will be resurrected but we can decisively say that in the future, animals will not die. And I know He didn't create them to die originally. No verse says that but doesn't everyone know it?
I've had dogs that were so faithful, they would throw themselves in harms way to protect me. I cannot comprehend that God would reward that faithfulness with death.