Does The Bible Say Animals Have Souls
As humans, we are comprised of three parts: body, mind and spirit. Scripture mentions this several times, such as Jesus command in , Love the Lord you God with all your heart all your soul and with all your strength . When God created animals on day five and six of creation, he spoke them into existence and called them good. As Clarence L. Haynes Jr puts it, Animals were formed by the word of God and were able to exist and operate in their full capacity.
But when God formed Adam in the dirt, it wasnt until God breathed into him that he came into being this is the distinction between humans and animals.
While we cant dispute that animals have personality, memories, fears, and instincts, they do lack the spirit or a way to have an eternal relationship with God.
We Still Have Animals Living With Us Even After The Fall
As we all know, Adam and Eve ended up blowing the perfect paradise that God had set up for them to live in. After they had disobeyed God by eating off the one forbidden tree He told them to stay away from, they were then cast out of the Garden of Eden and our entire earth then fell under a curse.
However, even though Adam and Eve and everyone to follow after them lost this original perfect paradise that God had set up for them, God still keeps all of these living creatures on our earth. And today, we still have many of these same living creatures living among us, both in the waters, in the air, and on the land.
Again, if all these animals and living creatures were not important to God in the big-picture, eternal scheme of things, He could have easily taken all of them away from Adam and Eve after He had cast them out of the Garden of Eden. But He didnt.
And not only did God not take these animals away from us, but He also did not take them away from us when He decided that He was going to wipe out all of mankind with a flood with the exception of Noah and his family.
As we all know, God had Noah put all of these animals by way of two of a kind on his ark so they would all be perfectly preserved when He unleashed this big flood upon our earth.
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What The Bible Says About Animals
Lets take a look at the scriptures that relate to animals and what is said of them:
Ecclesiastes 3:18-21:As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. All go to the same place all come from dust, and to dust all return. Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?
Job 12:10 In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.
Genesis 9:9-10 I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with youthe birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with youevery living creature on earth.
Genesis 9:16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.
Genesis 1:30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the groundeverything that has the breath of life in itI give every green plant for food.
Luke 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.
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Will We See Our Pets In Heaven
To answer the question, consider this story of the elderly widow whose beloved little dog died after fifteen faithful years. Distraught, she went to her pastor.
Parson, she said, tears streaming down her cheeks, The vicar said animals have no souls. My darling dog has died. Does that mean I wont see her again in heaven?
Madam, said the old priest, God, in his great love and wisdom has created heaven to be a place of perfect happiness. I am sure that if you need your little dog to complete your happiness, you will find her there.
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Many Christian Leaders Have Also Addressed The Question Of What Happens To Animals After They Die
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, taught that humans are stewards ofand responsible for the care ofGods creation. When they failed to protect His perfect creation, humans sinned against God, and when pain and suffering then entered the world, animals had to endure it, too. The bond God had created was broken, and humans exploitation of and cruelty to animals began. Wesley spoke with anticipation of a new creation in which God would restore animals to their intended glory.
Pope John Paul II confirmed that o human being can be justified in claiming absolute ownership of animals for the simple reason that God alone owns creation. Animals do not simply exist for us nor belong to us. They exist primarily for God and belong to God. The whole work of creation belongs to the plan of salvation, the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.
In his book Heaven, Randy Alcorn writes, Horses, cats, dogs, deer, dolphins, and squirrelsas well as the inanimate creationwill be beneficiaries of Christs death and resurrection. If we believe God is their Creator, that He loves us and them, that He intends to restore His creatures from the bondage they experienced because of our sin, then we have biblical grounds for not only wanting but expecting that we may be with them again on the New Earth.
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Will I See My Dog In Heaven
Another way to ask this question is, “Will there be animals in heaven?” Yes. Gods original creation has been subjected to degradation and decay through sin, but it will be restored as it was in the beginning. The apostle Paul wrote, For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God . Although our sins have destroyed ourselves and nature, God will restore both. Just as animals were part of Gods untainted, original creation, so they will be part of the world and life when He restores everything newwithout the corruption of sin and death.
We must not insist that God orders things according to our desires or understanding. Perhaps God may allow our beloved pets to be with us in heaven. Or He may choose to create a new pet for you. We must be willing to allow God to order things as He sees bestand trust that we will be happy with the situation in heaven. God says, For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind .
We may not know all the details of what God is preparing for us in heaven, but we do know that it will be far beyond anything we can imagine. It’s in the Bible, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him .
Will Our Pets Be In Heaven
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One of lifes greatest joys is having a pet. They bring so much happiness, companionship, and enjoyment that we cant imagine life without them. When we do lose a beloved pet, it is not unusual to grieve the loss just as deeply as we would for a human companion. Thus, many Christians wonder, Do animals have souls? Will our pets be in heaven?
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Bible Verses For Pet Loss Can Bring Comfort
Friends who are religious will welcome these verses, and may even be somewhat comforted by them. Be careful not to offend friends who have different religious beliefs, and offer comfort to these friends in ways that soothe them. Don’t try to push specific beliefs on someone who is hurting from a new loss, but do help spiritual friends with grieving for a pet from a Christian perspective.
Bible Verses About Animals In Heaven
You hide Your face, they are dismayed You take away their spirit, they expireAnd return to their dust.You send forth Your Spirit, they are created And You renew the face of the ground.
And the wolf will dwell with the lamb,And the leopard will lie down with the young goat,And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together And a little boy will lead them.Also the cow and the bear will graze,Their young will lie down together,And the lion will eat straw like the ox.The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra,And the weaned child will put his hand on the vipers den.They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain,For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LordAs the waters cover the sea.
and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind.The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within and day and night they do not cease to say,Holy, holy, holy is theLord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and whois to come.
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Famous Christians Who Believe Pets Go To Heaven
Randy Alcorn in his book called Heaven believes that animals will be present in the Kingdom of Heaven. Famous Christian authors who believe that pets go to heaven include: C. S. Lewis, Peter Kreeft, Niki Behrikis Shanahan, James Herriot, and dozens and dozens of others the list of Christian pastors, theologians, and clergy is too long to list here. Suffice it to say that a lot of Christians believe that pets do go to heaven and that there will be animals in heaven.
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Do Animals Go To Heaven
When I was younger, this was a question I often wondered about. I used to say my dog was a Christian dog and as I stated earlier all dogs go to heaven. However, to answer this question properly, I think you have to make the distinction between human life and animal life. This distinction is seen in creation.
When you read Genesis, there are two great differences between the way God created animals and the way God created humans. Let me give you an example.
And God said, Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind. And it was so .
When God created the animals on the earth, the sky, and the sea, he spoke them into existence. He said let there be and there was. However, notice the difference when he made man.
Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being .
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What Does The Bible Clearly Say About Humans And Animals
Though the Bible has no concrete answer to the question, do animals go to heaven, we can rest in these three things
1. God created animals with purpose
Animals were never a plan B but were created with purpose, not unlike humans. All of creation was given to us to care for and reveal Gods character. Romans 1:20 even states that since the creation of the world Gods invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
2. God cares for the animals he created
Not only does Scripture make clear that God created animals, it also testifies to Gods loving care of animals. An animals life is under the eye of God. Jesus declares that no animals fall apart from the Fathers will . God provides for and sustains every living creature upon the earth.
3. God cares for you
God knows every hair on your head and collects every tear you cry . He knows if you are hurting or grieving the loss of a precious animal. He wants so desperately to be with you that while we were yet sinners, he died for us .
We can rest in who God is and what he has done to redeem us. As we do that, we remember what he has planned for us, and can have peace when our pets are no longer with us. Though the Bible is not clear on if animals go to heaven, we can know we dont grieve alone, and the animal you have lost was a beloved creation of God given to you for a season.
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What Does The Bible Say About Animals
Two things we learn from reading Gods Word is God loves animals and there will be animals in Heaven. There are many metaphors regarding animals in the Bible. Among some of the animals mentioned are sheep, dogs, lions, deers, doves, eagles, fish, rams, bulls, snakes, rats, pigs, and many more.
While the Bible doesnt really speak on our pets in Heaven we learn it could be a possibility that we will one day be with our cats and dogs. What really matters is, are you saved? Will you be able to find out? When youre done please