Beth-El Baptist Church

05/04/2008

Greg Tomlinson


Will there be animals and food in heaven?


Many people want to know what heaven will be like. They raise questions about the presence of animals, pets, food, marriage, and many other things.


  1. What do we know about what heaven will be like?

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 Isaiah 66:1-2

Matthew 5:14-16, 44-48; 16:15-17; 22:30 Acts 7:49-50

Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 Philippians 3:20-21

John 14:1-2 Revelation 3:11-12; 21:1-3

2 Peter 3:9-13 Isaiah 1:26-28

Luke 20:34-36 Hebrews 8:4-6; 10:1


Heaven will be more glorious than we could even imagine. It is the literal dwelling place with God, therefore it will be a place where the people actually commune and dwell in the presence of God himself. Our physical body will be much different than it is now and we will be much more like the glorified body of Jesus Christ.


  1. What about animals?

Revelation 4:1-9; 5:6-14; 14:3; 19:17 1 Corinthians 15:39-40

Isaiah 51:3 Psalm 50:10-13

2 Peter 3:3-7 1 Peter 3:18-22 cmp Genesis 6:7-8, 18-22

Genesis 2:18-20 Isaiah 11:5-9; 65:25

1 Kings 7:28-29 cmp Hebrews 8:4-6


Some of the descriptions of heaven or eternal things utilize the presence of animals or beasts of some kind. In the book of Revelation, the beasts (zoon) that serve God are described in terms of animals that we know today. The beast, as in the servant of the anti-Christ uses a different Greek word, therion, which is more of a wild beast. The scriptures also draw parallels between Noah's ark and Jesus. We all know that animals were on the ark so the possibility is definitely there. Likewise in Isaiah, where the “wolf sojourns with the lamb” (literal translation). This could be a literal understanding of the various animals living peacefully with one another or it could be symbolic description of the extent of peacefulness that exists. There is nothing in the scriptures that prohibits animals living in heaven with men. Part of what needs to be understood about animals is why they were originally created. Part of the reason they were originally created was so that Adam could comprehend the reality of his loneliness and his need for a companion, a companion specifically prepared for him by God.


  1. What about our current pets?

Ecclesiastes 3:18-21; 12:5-7 Psalm 49:12-15


Apparently, the death of a man and the death of animals are significantly different. The soul and spirit return to God for judgment and sentencing to heaven or hell, while the soul and spirit of the animals just perish. They become non-existent entities.

  1. What about food?

Psalm 50:10-13 John 6:31-35, 50-51

Revelation 2:7, 17; 19:9, 17 Matthew 22:2-10

Luke 22:2-10


The scriptures tell us even less about food. The passages about food do not remove the possibility but the most positive estimation of food in heaven is the picture of the “marriage supper of the Lamb” and the “supper of the great God”. In all likelihood, these are more of a symbolic picture indicating the selection of the guests is by God himself and the union is to be like a marriage. The heavenly presence is strictly for those who have been invited. In the gospels, Jesus the same language to indicate that though Israel was invited to partake of the heavenly, they have reject it and thus God, through Jesus Christ, sought him new partakers out of those who would normally be considered outside of the possibility of having a relationship with God, us Gentiles.


Summary:


The existence of animals and food, as well as other things, is beyond what is mentioned in scripture. It is not crystal clear for heaven is significantly different that what is on earth. Our wildest imaginations cannot even conceive of what heaven will actually be like, it will be far more glorious than our most glorious and God honoring thoughts. There is nothing in scripture that proclaims the existence of animals and food, nor is there anything that prohibits them. What we do know is that heaven is real, and it exists to be inhabited by the people of God just as the earth was created to be inhabited (Isaiah 45:18). There is nothing wrong with seeing heaven having lots of animals running around since it is not completely wrong to see heaven as a 'recreation' of the garden of Eden. It is important that this not be a dividing issue nor a dogma seeing how the scriptures are largely silent.


The most important thing about heave is in Revelation 21:22-23 – Jesus will be there!!!!