Part 24 But what about Animals?
Will Animals be raised from the dead, will they be Saved, have Salvation?
Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, Thou preservest man and beast. Psalm 36:6 {KJV}
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments like the great deep. You save man and beast, O Yahweh. Psalm 36:6 {LEB}
The write of the above verse is in no doubt about both man and beast being saved.
“The original Hebrew word translated as “thou preservest” is “yasha`” meaning “to be liberated, be saved, be delivered, to save from moral troubles, to give victory to.” The original Hebrew word translated as “and beast” is “b@hemah,” which means “beast, animal, cattle, livestock (of domestic animals), wild beasts.” It is obvious that this verse, written by King David, has a future meaning pertaining to the second coming of Jesus Christ and our resurrection. How do we know? Because the followers of Christ and the animals are not currently enjoying liberation from moral troubles. We haven’t been delivered yet.
This scripture states that the Lord will save, liberate, and deliver man and animals! To me this verse is one of the most powerful and revealing affirmations regarding the fate of man and animals. It is most illuminating! I think King David was especially happy about the inclusion of the animals, since he was a shepherd boy when God first sought him out to become king. He must have become very fond of his sheep.
There’s no other possible interpretation of this scripture. God certainly has not preserved us in this life. Therefore, when He says that He preserveth man and beast, He means what He says. God can’t lie, if He said it, he’ll do it!”
From http://www.eternalanimals.com/
All Flesh shall see the Salvation of God
Luke 3:6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'" {CLV, REB, YLT, LITV, KJV, NKJ, and others}
The word “Flesh” is translated from the Greek word SARX, and in the following verse you can see the meaning of the word.
1Corinthians 15:39 Not all flesh is the same flesh, but there is one, indeed, of men, yet another flesh of beasts, yet another flesh of flyers, yet another of fishes {CLV}
Here we see that the word SARX, means any sort of flesh, not just human flesh, but any sort of animal flesh as well, including beasts, birds, and fish. Other animal flesh not listed is included as well like reptile and insect flesh. Thus all flesh means that all humans and all animals will see the salvation of God.
1Corinthians 15:35 But someone will be protesting, "How are the dead being roused? Now with what body are they coming?
15:36 Imprudent one! What you are sowing is not being vivified if it should not be dying.
15:37 And, what you are sowing, you are not sowing the body which shall come to be, but a naked kernel, perchance of wheat or some of the rest."
15:38 Yet God is giving it a body according as He wills, and to each of the seeds its own body."
15:39 Not all flesh is the same flesh, but there is one, indeed, of men, yet another flesh of beasts, yet another flesh of flyers, yet another of fishes."
15:40 There are bodies celestial as well as bodies terrestrial. But a different glory, indeed, is that of the celestial, yet a different that of the terrestrial, {CLV}
1Corinthians 15:41 another glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars, for star is excelling star in glory."
15:42 Thus also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is roused in incorruption.
15:43 It is sown in dishonor; it is roused in glory. It is sown in infirmity; it is roused in power.
15:44 It is sown a soulish body; it is roused a spiritual body.
15:45 If there is a soulish body, there is a spiritual also. Thus it is written also, The first man, Adam, "became a living soul: the last Adam a vivifying Spirit."
Everyone will have a spiritual body, and every animal will have a spiritual body, for if there is a soulish body there is also a spiritual body.
All that is in the Heavens and on the Earth to be Reconciled to Christ:
The following verses confirm the truth that God will reconcile all of creation to Christ. That all animals, humans and even spiritual beings will be reconciled to Christ.
Colossians 1:15-17 Who is the Image of the invisible God, Firstborn of every creature, for in Him is all created, that in the heavens and that on the earth, the visible and the invisible…..all is created through Him and for Him, and He is before all, and all has its cohesion in Him." {CLV}
All mankind, animals and spiritual forces are created through Christ and for Him. Not only that all will have their cohesion in Him.
Colossians 1:18-19 And He is the Head of the body, the ecclesia, Who is Sovereign, Firstborn from among the dead, that in all He may be becoming first, for in Him the entire complement delights to dwell, {CLV}
In Christ the entire complement will delight to dwell that is in the Heavens and on the earth be they visible or invisible. That is all the humans, all the animals and all the spiritual beings. That is they will be living truly glorious lives, sin and death will not effect them any longer.
Colossians 1:20 and through Him to reconcile all to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross), through Him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavens."{CLV}
All beings in Heaven and on the earth will be reconcile to Christ through the blood of the Christ. That is all animals, all mankind, and all spiritual beings.
Jesus Christ has gone to heaven until the Times of Restoration:
Acts 3:21 Whom heaven must indeed receive until the times of restoration of all..{CLV}
Heaven must receive Jesus Christ until the times of the restoration of all. That means when Jesus Christ returns, the times of the restoration of all will begin. This means the restoration of all mankind, and all animals over a period of times.
1Corinthians 15:22 For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified." {CLV}
We looked at 1 Corinthians 15:22, earlier to show that all people die, and that all people will be made alive. Of course when Adam sinned, it was not just people who where affected by it, creatures where also. The dying factor was passed to animals as well as to humans. The ALL in 1 Corinthians 15:22 includes all Animals, thus all animals will be made alive, have salvation.
Everyone Will Acclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord and Every Creature Will Give Blessing, Honour and Glory
Philippians 2:10-11
10 that in the name of Jesus every knee should be bowing, celestial and terrestrial and subterranean,
11 and every tongue should be acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father.
Revelation 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and underneath the earth and on the sea, and all in them, I hear also saying, "To Him Who is sitting on the throne-To the Lambkin-Be blessing and honor and glory and might For the eons of the eons!"
“ALL creation shall bow before, and acclaim, Jesus Christ as Lord of all, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11; Revelation 5:13). Then Christ shall hand over the perfected kingdom to His Father.” From http://www.purposeoflife.org.uk/hell%20doc.htm
Notice every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and underneath the earth and on the sea, this includes animals.
Psalm 145:9 The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
10 All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.
Here we see that His tender mercies are over all his works, not just mankind.
Psalm 136:25 Giving food to all flesh, For to the age is His kindness.
The Lord’s kindness is to all flesh……
Psalm 150:6 All that doth breathe doth praise Jah! Praise ye Jah!
All that do breath, this includes all animals. Animals and people heave breath.
Romans 8: 19 For the premonition of the creation is awaiting the unveiling of the sons of God.
20 For to vanity was the creation subjected, not voluntarily, but because of Him Who subjects it, in expectation
21 that the creation itself, also, shall be freed from the slavery of corruption into the glorious freedom of the children of God. (Concordant version)
Notice here that creation it’s self is waiting for the unveiling of the sons of God and that it shall be freed from the slavery of corruption. Creation includes all of God’s creation, all that God created, we know there will be a new Earth, but it is all of creation, the very stars and planets themselves, being renewed, animals will also be restored, more on Romans 8:19-21 later.
Entire creation/ every creature
Mark 16: 15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world; herald the evangel to the entire creation. (CLV)
Mark 16: 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (KJV)
Notice the gospel is to be preached to all of creation, not just mankind…..
Death abolished
1Corinthians 15: 25 For He must be reigning until He should be placing all His enemies under His feet.
26 The last enemy is being abolished: death.
“The last enemy to be not only subjected but abolished completely is Death, which means ALL must be given immortality, that is, Life.” From http://www.purposeoflife.org.uk/hell%20doc.htm
Death is to be completely be abolished, everyone is to be given immortality, that is, Life and that would include Animals…..
Pets
“Since reading the Bible through in my teens, I have hoped that God might at least raise my pets. Most everyone believes there will be animals in the new earth, so why not the animals I loved in the old earth? Now in my forties, I have a great deal of confidence that I will see my beloved pets raised. God is able and I can't imagine any reason He would not do so. It's just the kind of thing He would do and it would seem like an obvious and simple part of wiping every tear from my eyes. What About Animals? (By Ed Smith)
I don't know about all the animals that have ever lived, but I certainly think that the animals loved by His children will live again. Since we will have cats and dogs, why would he avoid the cats and dogs which we have loved and make entirely new and different ones? When I have a child and his pet dies, what would I do if I had a choice? Giving a bereaved child a new, healthy pet may comfort him, but not fully. Raising the old one would do the trick 100%. What About Animals? (By Ed Smith)” From http://www.biblicaluniversalist.com/Animals.html
Zoo & Aquarium Animals:
And what of zoo animals, surely the keepers at the zoos love the animals that they care for. The visitors to the zoos enjoy see the animals. Surely these will be all raise from the dead also. Then there are the animals at aquariums surely these are also loved by many, and therefore will also be saved.
Thou gatherest their spirit
Verses Psalm 104:10-31 covers a number of different animals including “every beast of the field,” cattle, birds, wild goats, young lions, and the innumerable living creatures of the sea. It shows how God has provided places for the animals to live and food for them. This shows how God cares for the animals.
Psalm 104:29 Thou hidest Thy face--they are troubled, Thou gatherest their spirit--they expire, And unto their dust they turn back.
104:30 Thou sendest out Thy Spirit, they are created, And Thou renewest the face of the ground.
104:31 The honour of Jehovah is to the age, Jehovah rejoiceth in His works,
Here we see God gatherest the spirit of people and animals when they die. The Soul goes to Hades for rest, but God gathers the Spirit. Later God will reunite the spirit and the soul, for both people and animals.
God is Love
1John 4:8 he who is not loving did not know God, because God is Love
Love comes from God. Surely the love we feel for animals comes from God. If it comes from God then surely he would want to raise the animals from the dead, because he Loves them also.
How will the animals get along?
Isaiah 11:6.And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, And, the leopard, with the kid, shall lie down,—And the calf and the young lion and the fatling—together, With, a little child, leading them; 7 And the cow, with the bear shall find pasture, Together, shall their young ones, lie down,—And, the lion, like the ox, shall eat straw; 8 And the sucking child shall caress over the hole of the asp, Yea over the vipers den, hath the weaned child stretched out his hand: 9 They shall not hurt—nor destroy, in all my holy mountain,—For filled is the land with the knowledge of Yahweh, As the waters, to the sea, form a covering. REB
Here we see that in the future all animals will eat only plants, like they did when they where created in the beginning. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb. No animal will hurt or destroy.
No More sea:
Revelation 21:1 And I perceived a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth pass away, and the sea is no more." {CLV}
Does this mean that there are no seas on the new earth and therefore no sea creatures, no water creatures? Not at all the sea here is the symbolic sea mentioned in Revelation 13:1. This sea that gives rise to the beast will be no more. There will be lakes, seas and rivers on the new earth and other planets.
Where will All the Animals Live?
On the New Earth and numerous planets out in the new Universe. For this old earth and the old universe will pass away Revelation 21:1. There will also no doubt be a lot of new animals as well.
The online book “All Creatures Do Go To Heaven,” was helpful. Link below to table of contents.
https://www.all-creatures.org/ach/book-toc.html
Copyright © M J Farquharson 2006 & 2021