Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Ecclesiastes 3:21 Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth? |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ecclesiastes 3:21 Who knows if the spirit of man ascends upward and the spirit of the animal descends downward to the earth? |
Subject: where do animals go when they expire? |
Bible Note: Hi RC You say, " Well here is another thought on this topic. In the Garden animals existed before man being created on the 5th Day. Sin has given us all a termination of life ( Death), then we must re think for just a moment.Now just as Paradise was lost that Day so long ago in the Garden, we also know that paradise will be regained (restored)as well. Now since there is no regeneration in Heaven because there is no male or Female wouldnt it be possible that the animals would indeed be there as well(like the Garden). Joni Erickson Tada said once that , wouldn't it be just like our Heavenly Father to give back those animals that we loved so much in this place. " I have looked for the Book of Tada in my Bible but am unable to find it :-))) I have waited patiently for further replies but as none have come I feel that I must respond, because I do feel it is important because of the impression that it gives.. The only logic in your argument that I can see is that a lady preacher suggested that it would be 'just like God'. But I search the Scriptures to find any such suggestion that it would be and discover that animals are nowhere given such a place. Indeed apart from as sacrifices and offerings or as wild beasts they are largely ignored apart from a very occasional reference. Jesus never even hinted that they entered into the eternal plan. It is true of course that the Scriptures tell us that they must be properly treated. But that is as far as it goes. As has been pointed out we do have the hint in Ecclesiastes 3.21 that the spirit of a man goes to a different place than the spirit of a beast which returns to the dust. It is confirmed more certainly in Ecclesiastes 12.7. We also have the reference concerning the exclusion of dogs from the eternal city (Revelation 22.15). Now I know that it is sentimentally nice in the West to see our animals as having souls and being 'friends', but they actually respond to us by instinct, seeing us as the leader of the pack. That is why the harmless family dog can suddenly kill a baby because it has usurped his place. The view that animals go to Heaven might seem at first to be a harmless belief. But it is in fact a dangerous one. It makes entry into Heaven appear sentimental. It gives people an idea of hope who have no hope. We who believe will live again because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is no such promise for our pets, nor for unbelievers. The danger of sentimentality is that it gives quite the wrong impression. Once we have all animals going to Heaven why not all humans? And where do we draw the line. Pet frogs? Pet snakes? Pet beetles? Pet flies? Non-pet flies? (there would be trillions and trillions of them)? They are of the earth, earthy. And of course it leads on to funerals for pets. Now it is one thing for little children to do such a thing because they are copying what they have seen with regard to humans. But for us to suggest it to them and teach it to them is to sow seeds which are misleading. Not everyone who dies goes to Heaven. I know dealing with children and death is ticklish but we must beware of sowing seed which may reap a bitter harvest If the righteous scarcely be saved where and why will all the animals appear? And why are they never described in pictures of Heaven? I do not know what God intends us to enjoy on the new earth. But I see no grounds in Scripture for thinking that it will be our pets from this earth. Are you really going to have the ones alive at His coming raptured? Or are we to leave them to judgment? That is the kind of absurdity that we find ourselves involved in. |