Do Animals Enter Condemnation or Paradise?

[John146]

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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? ​

(Ecclesiastes 3:18-21, nkjv)​

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Solomon says God intends to make us know that we are just like the animals,
that we all have the same breath, that we all are made of dust and return to dust.
he writes this as though yes, the creature has a spirit - no different than man, who is himself a creature
he also writes this as tho the spirit of the creature continues existing after the body returns to dust:
the body is from dust, and returns to dust. the spirit tho: what happens to it? it isn't made of dust; does it go to dust?


verse 21 is a question - footnotes from my nkjv say:

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Ecclesiastes 3:21 LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg. Who knows whether the spirit . . . goes upward, and whether . . . goes downward to the earth?​

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which jives with the following verse:

So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?​

(Ecclesiastes 3:22)​

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who knows what will happen after our bodies go back to dust?
does the spirit of the creature go up or go down? - men are 'living creatures' too


later towards the end of the writing, Solomon answers the question, where does the spirit go when it's separated from the body?

Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed,​

Or the golden bowl is broken,​

Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain,​

Or the wheel broken at the well.​

Then the dust will return to the earth as it was,​

And the spirit will return to God who gave it.​

(Ecclesiastes 12:6-7)​

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the question from 3:21 here has its conclusion:
the body is dust and goes to dust
the spirit is heavenly and returns to God who gave it

which is,
the spirit of life is a gift, and it doesn't die like the body of dust does.
remembering chapter 3 when we get to chapter 12, Solomon is saying this about man and other creatures alike
the spirit of life is from God; He gives it to us; it returns to Him.

is this evidence of the eternal existence of that life?

God forbids eating human flesh but gives us the authority to eat all animals.

If one believes animals go to heaven, I would ask which ones? Ants, roaches, snakes, mosquitos, etc...

 

[John146]

Especially when Scripture plainly says: The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat; the calf and young lion and fatling will be together, and a little child will lead them. The cow will graze with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play by the cobra’s den, and the toddler will reach into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the sea is full of water. ... For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you.

Millennial kingdom on earth....

 

[Poinsetta]

Isaiah 11:6, "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them." (This sounds as if we will have pets in heaven, does it not?)
Isaiah 11:7-9, "The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea"
Isaiah 65:25, "The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD."

ok. lie who with who?? I'm sorry but my dog never had/never wanted friends so this will be against her will.....she will be lying with me she only likes me and I might become a dog in heaven myself, LOL jk (well you never know) those are my plans, hehe. *My heavenly plans*

 

[Magenta]

Millennial kingdom on earth....

Perhaps, but even if true (and I am not denying it ) does that
necessarily mean it will be any different in the new Earth?

I think not

 

[TheIndianGirl]

God forbids eating human flesh but gives us the authority to eat all animals.

If one believes animals go to heaven, I would ask which ones? Ants, roaches, snakes, mosquitos, etc...

All of creation, including plants, sky, etc.

 

[Magenta]

ok. lie who with who?? I'm sorry but my dog never had/never wanted friends so this will be against her will.....she will be lying with me she only likes me and I might become a dog in heaven myself, LOL jk (well you never know) those are my plans, hehe. *My heavenly plans*

I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things
will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

 

[Magenta]

God forbids eating human flesh but gives us the authority to eat all animals.

If one believes animals go to heaven, I would ask which ones? Ants, roaches, snakes, mosquitos, etc...

Why not all? Given that all will be different...

These questions remind me of atheists mocking believers for being "in
heaven" with formerly wicked people who have had their sins forgiven.

PS ~ animals were not originally given as food.

 

[tourist]

I hope there’s some cute cuddly animals in heaven. God created so many beautiful birds, I hope there’s beautiful birds in heaven also. But it’s up to Him! He probably has a lot surprises lined up for those who make it.

I am sure that there are all kinds of cute cuddly animals in heaven. You are correct n the surprises because it is stated that it cannot even be imagined what God has in store for those that love Him. Beautiful birds too.

 

[Magenta]

To my knowledge animals do not have a soul thus they are not judged for sin.

Where in Scripture is it stated that having a soul a prerequisite for judgement?

Consider that God judged everything as "good" prior to the fall

 

[John146]

Perhaps, but even if true (and I am not denying it ) does that
necessarily mean it will be any different in the new Earth?

I think not

I think....

Which animals go to heaven? Every living creature from the beginning?

 

[John146]

Why not all? Given that all will be different...

These questions remind me of atheists mocking believers for being "in
heaven" with formerly wicked people who have had their sins forgiven.

PS ~ animals were not originally given as food.

They are food now, but not man, for man was made in the image of God.

 

[John146]

I am sure that there are all kinds of cute cuddly animals in heaven. You are correct n the surprises because it is stated that it cannot even be imagined what God has in store for those that love Him. Beautiful birds too.

And heaven will still be great if there are no animals present.

 

[Magenta]

I think....

Which animals go to heaven? Every living creature from the beginning?

Why not? Man's sin (not their own) corrupted them and all creation. Before the fall, they were seen as good, and lived in harmony with man and each other. There was no death. Do you think a restored Earth -the new heavens and earth- will have harmful elements?

 

[tourist]

And heaven will still be great if there are no animals present.

In my opinion, without animals it would be less great. Fortunately, animals are definitely mentioned in regards to the hereafter.

 

[John146]

Why not? Man's sin (not their own) corrupted them and all creation. Before the fall, they were seen as good, and lived in harmony with man and each other. There was no death. Do you think a restored Earth will have harmful elements?

I don’t speculate or go by feelings when it comes to God’s word. We can only go by what has been said. I love my dog, but heaven will still be heaven if it’s not there.

 

[Magenta]

I don’t speculate or go by feelings when it comes to God’s word. We can only go by what has been said. I love my dog, but heaven will still be heaven if it’s not there.

If you only go by God's Word you must not deny that there will be animals in the new life.

 

[tourist]

I don’t speculate or go by feelings when it comes to God’s word. We can only go by what has been said. I love my dog, but heaven will still be heaven if it’s not there.

If he was a good doggie he will be there 'cause that's where daddy will be.

 

[Magenta]

I don’t speculate or go by feelings when it comes to God’s word. We can only go by what has been said.

Please excuse me for asking, but aren't you a KJ onlyist?

Where in the Bible does it say anything about the KJB???

No, clearly you base some of your beliefs on speculation and feelings.

 

[John146]

If you only go by God's Word you must not deny that there will be animals in the new life.

I wonder why no mention?

 

[Magenta]

I wonder why no mention?

Exactly. So you cannot say... not even to deny.

There is no mention of chocolate or raspberries in the Bible, either...