Do Animals Enter Condemnation or Paradise?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,330
29,575
113
#41
That's a fair point

Purple Lady and I may disagree about cessation of existence iirc, but at least when I say I don't think human souls ever cease to exist, I consistently take the same view about animals souls.

Souls are souls, IMO.
Which is still just an opinion ;)
The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God.

It all comes down to the question of life, and we KNOW that all life is in Jesus Christ, Who is Himself Life. Animals exist in Him already, and since they were not given any law (that we know of) and fell only due to Adam's sin (were created good and have no sin of their own) and await the restoration of all things with the rest of creation? I see no reason why they should simply pass out of existence as some insist. On the other hand, we have been given clear instructions on what leads to life for us.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,844
13,558
113
#42
Will any here say women do nothave souls?

When we come to believe God and receive the gift of faith, He begins a work in each of us that will not be completed until His Great Day.

Listen to our Savior on the seven brothers having had one and the same woman to wife successively after each's demise.

This should reveal to all that when our Maker said let us make man in our image , He is talking about how we well all appear in the Kigdom.

Another clue to this truth is the truth taht we will be just like Jesus Yeshua come the Kingdom, not that will be He, but just as He.

In the sight of our Maker we are all the same, just the same, and we, because we have called upon the Only name that saves, will be made exactly in His image.
Dear elder brother, my wife and I discussed for a long time tonight what you meant by bringing up the woman with 7 husbands, the question the saducees brought to Jesus, thinking there was no resurrection

We decided you have great insight :)

And the first comment, would some of these people dare say women have no soul?
Ha!
We love you
 

TheLearner

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2019
8,197
1,577
113
68
Brighton, MI
#44
Thank you all for the replies so far..

A couple things that need to be pointed out, because some of us apparently don't know:

  • Animals have souls
  • Animals have the breath of life

In these respects they are no different than mankind. Man was placed in authority over the other living souls with the breath of life, but not because they have no soul, not because they have not the spirit of life.

Exactly the same phrase "nephesh chayyah" which literally means "souls having life" is used to describe every creature apart from plants in Genesis 1-2. Unfortunately our English translations decided to call nephesh 'creature' when it refers to anything other than man, and 'soul' when it refers to man. But that is a mistake; nephesh is soul.
There is more than one place, but as for all animals having the same breath of life, consider Genesis 7:22





A couple of you should study that out and see if what I say isn't true, and maybe reconsider your answers.
Last I checked breath of life is not a soul.

What makes the soul of people different is image of God in humans. The Animals are not created in the image of God.

The only proof text I think you can use is



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.


and that does not say breath of life is equal to a soul. In this context soul simply means a person, nothing more.



There is no text where the word soul is applied to an non-human animal.

In proper translation of the word soul is used 53 times and in every case it is referring to a human, not an animal that is not human
https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=soul&version=ERV

The king james is known for mistranslation. For example the word Hell often refers to the grave.

The King James translates as soul almost 500 times https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=soul&version=KJV

Good Luck finding any that refers to animals that are not humans.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,844
13,558
113
#45
I read in scripture God showed me where my cat Spotty went after being dead. He said his spirit rose up to the heavens and left his mortal body. If you can find that scripture I'll give you an award. So animals have spirits and they descend to heaven.
Ecclesiastes 12:6-7
Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

The spirit of the creature returns to He who gave it ;)
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,844
13,558
113
#47
Last I checked breath of life is not a soul.

What makes the soul of people different is image of God in humans. The Animals are not created in the image of God.

The only proof text I think you can use is



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.


and that does not say breath of life is equal to a soul. In this context soul simply means a person, nothing more.



There is no text where the word soul is applied to an non-human animal.

In proper translation of the word soul is used 53 times and in every case it is referring to a human, not an animal that is not human
https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=soul&version=ERV

The king james is known for mistranslation. For example the word Hell often refers to the grave.

The King James translates as soul almost 500 times https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=soul&version=KJV

Good Luck finding any that refers to animals that are not humans.
Genesis 1:20
Then God said, "Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens."


In our pagan English language men put 'living creatures' for the Hebrew words "nephesh chayya"
You will find it means living soul, and that it is exactly the same phrase used to describe man.

It is the same all through Genesis 1-2
Compare Genesis 2:7 with 2:19 in Hebrew, particularly.
Nephesh chayya, living "soul"
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,330
29,575
113
#48
Souls are souls, IMO.
Which is still just an opinion ;)
Just to add to this:

The soul that sins shall die.
Hmmm... And do animals sin?

To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin
is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law.


Something to think about :)
 

GaryA

Truth, Honesty, Love, Courage
Aug 10, 2019
9,835
4,321
113
mywebsite.us
#49
Is having a soul the same thing as having a spirit?
The Bible seems to make a distinction between soul and spirit, tho it calls animals souls throughout Genesis and says in other places like Ecclesiastes 3 they have spirits.
It is a difficult question to ask, what is the difference between a soul and a spirit? But the scripture in some places seems to compare the soul, the mind, and the heart together, and talks of the spirit differently.
The Body is the 'physical'.

The Soul is the "real you" - the 'identity'.

The Spirit is the "life force" - the 'maintainer'.

Upon death, the body dies.

For humans, the Soul and Spirit continue. (because of the Spirit)

If animals lack a Spirit, they cease to exist.
 

GaryA

Truth, Honesty, Love, Courage
Aug 10, 2019
9,835
4,321
113
mywebsite.us
#50
I can agree with this.

God made man to have body, soul, and spirit. And the 'spirit' part is what the animals lack.
I need to modify this...

Animals have "some kind" of "breath of life" - not necessarily the "same kind" as humans.
 

GaryA

Truth, Honesty, Love, Courage
Aug 10, 2019
9,835
4,321
113
mywebsite.us
#51
Last I checked breath of life is not a soul.
I agree.

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.


and that does not say breath of life is equal to a soul. In this context soul simply means a person, nothing more.
I agree.

There is no text where the word soul is applied to an non-human animal.
Unfortunately, it does apply to the human animals... :sneaky: :censored:
 

GaryA

Truth, Honesty, Love, Courage
Aug 10, 2019
9,835
4,321
113
mywebsite.us
#52
Genesis 1:20
Then God said, "Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens."


In our pagan English language men put 'living creatures' for the Hebrew words "nephesh chayya"
You will find it means living soul, and that it is exactly the same phrase used to describe man.

It is the same all through Genesis 1-2
Compare Genesis 2:7 with 2:19 in Hebrew, particularly.
Nephesh chayya, living "soul"
This may be so - but, it does not answer the question of whether or not animals have an eternal spirit.
 
T

TheIndianGirl

Guest
#54
The King James translates as soul almost 500 times https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=soul&version=KJV

Good Luck finding any that refers to animals that are not humans.
The Bible does not explicity say "Animals/Pets go to Heaven." However, there is alot of support that animals have souls and spirits. There is a lot of support presented on this site: https://www.rainbowsbridge.com/grief_support_center/grief_support/scripture.htm

(Job 12:9-10 KJV)
"Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind."

Job 12:10
In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.

Revelation 5:8-13
All creatures recognize Jesus as the Savior of the world and praise God right along with redeemed men.

Psalm 145:-9-10,13,15-21 AMP
Though all creatures are subject to man's cruelty, God loves all His creation and has made plans for all His children and the lesser creatures to enjoy His eternal Kingdom.

This last verse gives some hope that God has plans for the "lesser creatures".
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,429
6,707
113
#55
Dear elder brother, my wife and I discussed for a long time tonight what you meant by bringing up the woman with 7 husbands, the question the saducees brought to Jesus, thinking there was no resurrection

We decided you have great insight :)

And the first comment, would some of these people dare say women have no soul?
Ha!
We love you
Bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is withing bless His holy name. May you be blessed sevenfold for your kindness and care. A holy kiss for you and your wife, amen.
 
T

TheIndianGirl

Guest
#56
Romans 8:19 says that ALL creation is waiting for Christ. There is a lot of interesting commentary on this.
 

de-emerald

Well-known member
May 8, 2021
1,652
574
113
#57
Well? Do animals get thrown into the lake of fire, or..?
Why do they die at all? Do they die the second death, and why/why not?
Do animals sin?

Please indicate how answers are justified through scripture, and thanks =]
1 cor 15
35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39 Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. 41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.
42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,429
6,707
113
#58
Well? Do animals get thrown into the lake of fire, or..?
Why do they die at all? Do they die the second death, and why/why not?
Do animals sin?



Please indicate how answers are justified through scripture, and thanks =]
God gives His breath and there is life, He takes it back and life leaves. God is not dead.
I have a little female adopted six years ago.
I talk to her about Jesus Yeshua,and she seems to listen intently.
I tell her Jesus Yeshua loves her.
Other times when we are not in deep discussion, I tell her I love her, and she seems to get all moony.
All I know is that body of hers is not her life, and the breath of God is eternal.
 

de-emerald

Well-known member
May 8, 2021
1,652
574
113
#59
Quite clear from the above scripture spoken directly by Jesus in post 57 that no matter what type of Body there is a spiritual body.
Now to question will animals get thrown in the lake of fire. Wow i cant believe where being asked to make that decision and the op of this thread needs to give his head a wobble. No living person can make that final decision.

@posthuman why ask this question do animals have a spirit when it looks like you allready knew that they did in the first place. What on earth where you thinking ? If your trying to teach people a lesson your going about the wrong way.

And what makes you think people can decide who goes to hell or not,

I find your manner verry rude and personal, on one hand you know the answer befor you ask, then your proving people wrong, then on the other hand your asking people to be like God and make the decission who gets chucked in the lake of fire. How insulting
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
#60
Well? Do animals get thrown into the lake of fire, or..?
Why do they die at all? Do they die the second death, and why/why not?
Do animals sin?



Please indicate how answers are justified through scripture, and thanks =]
Most of my cats have gone to Heaven, but all dogs go to Hell.

Philippians 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

Revelation 22:15 For without [are] dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.