Will There Be Animals In Heaven?
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles Tags: Bulletin Articles on Animals, Bulletin Articles on HeavenA querist asks, “Does the Bible say anything about animals being in Heaven? If so where should I look?”
There is no biblical evidence of animals being in heaven. In Ecclesiastes 3:19-21, the context tells us that in our earthly existence, both mankind and animals have the same destiny – physical death! However, when man’s eternal “spirit” (or “soul”) departs his body, his lifeless body returns to dust, but his eternal “spirit shall return unto God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Man’s spirit goes upward (Ecclesiastes 3:21).
Animals have “spirit” i.e., life (Ecclesiastes 3:19), but not an eternal “spirit” – 1 Corinthians 2:11; James 2:26 (or “soul” – Acts 2:27; Matthew 10:28). The “spirit” or “life” of the animal goes downward to the earth (Ecclesiastes 3:21); it dies with the body.
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