Do animals have eternal life?

[Katy-follower]

Ecclesiastes 3:18-22: "I said in my heart, “Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like animals.” For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity. All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust. Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth? So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?"


I believe that is referring to both people and animals either going up or down, not necessarily stating that an animal's spirit goes downwards.

I *personally* believe that animals will be in Heaven. If you think about how God uses them in this world, they really do teach us a lot, especially about love, but so many get abused as a result of living in this sinful fallen world, dealing with sinful people. I think He has a plan for them. Don't forget also that God made a covenant with Noah as well as the animals, so that shows how important animals are to Him... and not one bird falls without His knowledge.

Scripture says that God does not withhold good things from us and that He will give us the desires of our hearts. If it's our desire to see our animals again *I really think* that He would make that happen for us. It's just too easy for Him, and we can request that.

One of the many things I want to do in Heaven is hug a lion

 

[Trail-of-Truth]

This is going to make me very unpopular, but I don't like animals. I like them in pictures and on tv, but not in person. I don't like poop, pee, pet hair all over furniture and clothes, fleas, worms, drool, bites, pet breath, barking, vet bills, expensive pet food, damage to furniture, muddy paw prints or pet stains on my carpet, my things being chewed up or scratched up, or a house that smells like a fish tank. I especially can't stand when people treat them like real babies or treat them better than other human beings- to mention a few things.

 

[Katy-follower]

This video is adorable. Watch him climb onto her back

There is something about stretching/yoga that cats just gravitate towards you.

[video]https://youtu.be/g2rMAzWm3a8[/video]

 

[TonyJay]

While I really enjoy animals - I have had lots of cats and dogs over my lifetime that were great mates - I am not sure that I have ever come across any theological statement concerning the ultimate fate of animals.
I don't question those scriptures describing animals in heaven, however, that does not presuppose the wholesale resurrection of animals into heaven.

I have any number of large theological tomes but I would be most surprised if any of them covers this topic.
Does anyone know of a source that deals with this or a Church or Christian organisation with a doctrinal position regarding the fate of animals?

 

[JaumeJ]

My meditation on the life in animals has led me to be reminded that our Heavenly Father breathes life into all creatures, and when they expire, He takes His own breath back to Himself for He is never diminished.

If a person gets slowed down by worry about a beloved pet or teh like, he will miss out completely on the understanding that comes with the teaching that what God has in store for us is so wonderful it cannot be imagined.

Oh, with the knowledge of God's breath coming back to Him think how He is eternal........

 

[JGIG]

Ecclesiastes 3:21, "Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?"

When an animal dies, its' spirit returns to the earth. Man's spirit returns to the one who gave it life. If animals have eternal souls, why would we kill them? Why swat the mosquito or step on ants? Wouldn't that be murder? Why would the Bible say it's ok to eat animals if they have eternal souls? When did God ordain that we should have pets and get so emotionally attached?

The writer of Ecc 3:21 is asking the question, not stating a fact.

 

[JGIG]

But animals did fall at the Fall. At least a serpent was punished by being a belly crawler. And thorns began, so vegetation was also affected by the Fall. What was in Eden isn't what is now -- people-wise, plant-wise, or animal-wise.

Thoreau, my old cat, was homosexual, so animals did fall into sin too.

All creation was affected by the Fall, they did not fall, however, but were innocent victims of the sin that came into the world.

-JGIG

 

[trofimus]

While I really enjoy animals - I have had lots of cats and dogs over my lifetime that were great mates - I am not sure that I have ever come across any theological statement concerning the ultimate fate of animals.
I don't question those scriptures describing animals in heaven, however, that does not presuppose the wholesale resurrection of animals into heaven.

I have any number of large theological tomes but I would be most surprised if any of them covers this topic.
Does anyone know of a source that deals with this or a Church or Christian organisation with a doctrinal position regarding the fate of animals?

John Wesley was quite interested in the salvation of animals, theologically:
https://jamespedlar.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/john-wesley-on-animal-salvation/
He even thought animals will be transformed to something higher.

George McDonald:
"The Lord is mindful of his own, and will save both man and beast."

C.S. Lewis believed animals will be saved through their christian caretakers:
"Every beast and bird that came near her had its place in her love. In her they became themselves. And now the abundance of life she has in Christ from the Father flows over into them." The Great Divorce
He did not believed wild animals will be saved, only "ours".

And, well, catholic pope, probably not so much weighty for us protestants, but it is the most "official church statement" I have found:
"Eternal life will be a shared experience of awe, in which each creature, resplendently transfigured, will take its rightful place and have something to give those poor men and women who will have been liberated once and for all."

 

[valiant]

lol they should call this the nonsense thread

GOD just forgot to mention it LOL

 

[blue_ladybug]

lol they should call this the nonsense thread

GOD just forgot to mention it LOL

You must not know your bible very well. It speaks clearly of animals in heaven and/or on the new earth. I don't think this thread is nonsense at all. The ones who think it is, are full of nonsense themselves..

 

[valiant]

You must not know your bible very well. It speaks clearly of animals in heaven and/or on the new earth. I don't think this thread is nonsense at all. The ones who think it is, are full of nonsense themselves..

it does not speak of OUR animals lol. if the thread was not nonsense God would have made it clear. He obviously didn't think it important,

Have you ever known an animal worship God.? That is what distinguished man from animals. but believe what you like, one day you'll know,

so all our pets go to the new earth although their masters and mistresses mainly go to hell?

lol it will be crowded out with animals

 

[blue_ladybug]

it does not speak of OUR animals lol. if the thread was not nonsense God would have made it clear. He obviously didn't think it important,

Have you ever known an animal worship God.? That is what distinguished man from animals. but believe what you like, one day you'll know,

so all our pets go to the new earth although their masters and mistresses mainly go to hell?

lol it will be crowded out with animals

I'm fairly sure that animals have their own way of praising God. And the people who DO make it to heaven/new earth, will simply take care of the animals of those who end up in hell. Heavenly pet adoptions, as it were.. After all, isn't that we do with children here? Take them in or adopt them if they've been orphaned or given up?

 

[blue_ladybug]

it does not speak of OUR animals lol. if the thread was not nonsense God would have made it clear. He obviously didn't think it important,

Have you ever known an animal worship God.? That is what distinguished man from animals. but believe what you like, one day you'll know,

so all our pets go to the new earth although their masters and mistresses mainly go to hell?

lol it will be crowded out with animals

Animals are animals, whether it's a cat, a dog, or a leopard.. God created them all, and he says ALL creation will one day sing his praises. ANY animal can be OUR animal, if it's tame or domesticated enough..

 

[valiant]

I'm fairly sure that animals have their own way of praising God. And the people who DO make it to heaven/new earth, will simply take care of the animals of those who end up in hell. Heavenly pet adoptions, as it were.. After all, isn't that we do with children here? Take them in or adopt them if they've been orphaned or given up?

believe what you like, just don't be disappointed when your pets aren't there

 

[blue_ladybug]

believe what you like, just don't be disappointed when your pets aren't there

I think you're in denial.. The bible speaks rather clearly on the fact that there WILL be animals in heaven. Lions and lambs will be there, so is it really so hard to believe that domesticated animals will be there also? Jesus is gonna return here ON A HORSE, so that right there blows your view outta the water.. lol

 

[trofimus]

lol they should call this the nonsense thread

GOD just forgot to mention it LOL

I must admit I dont like your mocking style of discussion. If you just want to say you dont believe it, you did. If you want to post argument, do it. But why to post such useless "lol posts".

People who dont have love for animals do not have love for people, too.

 

[Ben_Liven_Right]

IMO
When God created the world he spoke everything into existence... until he got to man. Upon the creation of man God said let us make man in our image. God is eternal and so being in the image of God so is man. Man is the only creature who was made in his image.
He also gave man dominion over everything. Adam named every creature. Man was created to serve God, but when God created man he did it with a plan in place. The animal kingdom was created for man, to aid in this world. When man sinned death came into the world and all that man had dominion over suffered because of man's failure.

I do not believe animals were created in the image of God. I believe in the original creation nothing was to die but because of sin now they do. Man, being in the image of the eternal God will exist forever... either in eternal life or eternal death.

this does not limit God from creating more animals in the new heaven and the new earth

 

[valiant]

I think you're in denial.. The bible speaks rather clearly on the fact that there WILL be animals in heaven. Lions and lambs will be there, so is it really so hard to believe that domesticated animals will be there also? Jesus is gonna return here ON A HORSE, so that right there blows your view outta the water.. lol

The Bible NOWHERE says there will be animals in heaven. If anywhere the lions and the lambs will be on the new earth that God creates. They will be new creations.

If you really think Jesus Christ is going to return on a horse you must be crazy. It was portrayed in those terms because it was the way conquerors came on the scene, Today it would be portrayed as an armoured vehicle. In reality it will be as a flash of lightning.

 

[valiant]

I must admit I dont like your mocking style of discussion. If you just want to say you dont believe it, you did. If you want to post argument, do it. But why to post such useless "lol posts".

People who dont have love for animals do not have love for people, too.

This isn't a serious Biblical thread, it is misusing Scripture to suit our own purposes. I am bringing out that it is all due to sentimentality, not real Bible study. Not a single basis in FACT. But people will sentimentalise their animals, so I will not stop them. Merely laugh in a kindly way at them.

I will not alter their views, But I might make others THINK,

 

[blue_ladybug]

The Bible NOWHERE says there will be animals in heaven. If anywhere the lions and the lambs will be on the new earth that God creates. They will be new creations.

If you really think Jesus Christ is going to return on a horse you must be crazy. It was portrayed in those terms because it was the way conquerors came on the scene, Today it would be portrayed as an armoured vehicle. In reality it will be as a flash of lightning.

Regardless whether it's in heaven, or on the new earth or BOTH, the FACT is there WILL be animals. They will be REnewed, but not new as in brand new. They will be immortal, as will we all be. And yes, I must be crazy for doubting that God wouldn't include his animal creations in heaven. LMBO... That reminds me, I gotta take my meds.