In my last post, I discussed the idea of animals having souls, why many pastors avoid the question and what the Interlinear Bible had to say about the creation account; the similarity in wording at animal creation to that of mankind’s creation. My conclusion to the question “Do animals have souls?” was a simple “yes,” but it left us with more questions to consider. I will attempt to answer three of these in this post:

• Are animals considered “fallen” as man is, and if so, do they need redemption?
• If there is a heaven for animals how do they get there? 
• Is there a hell for animals or do “all dogs go to heaven”?

Do Animals Share in the Fallen State of Man?

“¹⁹For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; ²⁰for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. ²²We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; ²³and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? ²⁵But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance.”  – Romans 8:19-25 (NAB)

The Apostle Paul was writing to the Roman Christians about the new life of the Spirit and how the Spirit, living in us after believing in Christ and acting on that faith, is in conflict with our sinful, “fallen,” nature. Jesus was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. Now that the Spirit dwells in us, we too have the power to no longer be slaves to our old sinful and harmful ways (Rom 8:2). In the verses quoted above he says that all of creation has been subjected to the effects of sin and is awaiting not only the resurrection of believers in Christ, but also its own redemption. This includes animals. 

Paul says that creation “was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it.” This is a reference to Adam and the consequence of his disobedience recorded in Genesis 3:17-19:

“Cursed is the ground because of you! In toil you shall eat its yield all the days of your life. ¹⁸Thorns and thistles it shall bear for you and you shall eat the grass of the field. ¹⁹By the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread, until you return to the ground from which you were taken; for you are dust and to dust you shall return.”

Paul explains earlier in Romans (Chapter 5) that because of Adam’s sin, all of mankind has been subjected to death. However, through Christ, all those who accept him are made right with God through him and are promised new life. Creation, too, then was subjected to death and disease because of Adam’s sin, but now has the ability to be renewed through Christ’s atoning sacrifice and resurrection as well. Because mankind originally was made to be the rulers and authorities of this world, the disobedience of our ancestors caused us to lose our place as rulers. Thus, for millennia, creation was subjected to a different set of rulers, Satan and his angels (see Ephesians 6:12), with whom we now struggle against in Christ. But, Christ has taken back this authority. “In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33). Jesus Christ has redeemed the whole world. Thus, there is no need for a messiah for the dogs, one for the cats, one for the chickens, etc. Since everything was made through him (John 1), all of creation, including animals, are being redeemed through him. 

Is There a Heaven and Hell for Animals?

From the pulpit, we get a very simplified vision of redemption and what Christians have to look forward to. Many times the new creation is not even mentioned as being part of our resurrection story, and it really should be. Heaven and Hell can be quite simply explained while the reality may be more complex and thus not quite understood. It can be difficult to go into depth on the subject when a preacher only has so much time to dedicate to it. More of an effort can be made though to understand why heaven is really a place men should want to be and hell a place we want to avoid.

I believe there are many myths about heaven and hell that are implied by this over-simplicity, a subject for another time. But for example, is heaven an actual place, a reference to outer space, or the presence of God? And, is Hell the same thing as Sheol, or Hades, or is it the prison of eternal punishment, the Tartarus mentioned in 2 Peter 2:4? My point is that if we cannot completely grasp the concepts of heaven and hell for ourselves, how then can we understand the spiritual fate of animals? If we are not to be in judgement of other men’s souls in this life, how then can we act as judges of the souls of animals? I believe it is best in both cases to leave the judgement of the spirit and soul to God and entrust him with such matters. However, we do get a few glimpses that God does have a moral standard for the animals and that they too will share in the new creation.

Animals Were Used to Get Right With God

The entire Old Testament is based on the idea of using sacrificial animals to get right with God. From the first clothing of mankind (Gen 3:21) and Abel’s burning of the fat portions of his flocks (Gen 4:4) to God through Moses giving instructions in Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy on which animals are to be sacrificed for which sins and impurities, we see that animals play an important spiritual role in covering mankind’s sins. Usually the animals must be without blemish or stain, signifying that innocent life must atone for spiritual shame. In several places in the Old Testament, God criticizes those who do not bring their best animals to sacrifice. Later, God expresses his frustration of the sacrificial system through the prophets that humanity had focused more on the actions of the sacrifice and forsaken the moral goals of the law (Micah 6:6-8), a concept that was echoed by Jesus (Matt 23:23) and the writer of Hebrews (Heb 10:5). Ultimately, the blood of animals could not fully cover the sin of humanity, because for every sin, there had to be more animal blood spilt. Christ came as a human sacrifice to bear the sins of the whole world. There is now no more need for animals to be sacrificed for human sins (Heb 10:1-18).

Animals Were Expected to Respect Man

Originally, all creatures in the world were given the freedom to eat plants (Gen 1:29), not each other. So the reason Abel slaughtered his sheep and offered the fat portions to God was probably not for food, but for the clothing of man’s nakedness, a result of the fall (Gen 3:10, 21). This may have been part of why Abel’s sacrifice was more appealing to God than Cain’s, although the reason for God’s favor is not directly given. This is only a partial supposition on my part. However, corruption of man continued and perhaps because of man’s ferociousness and disregard for sanctity of life, the animals learned to behave this way too. Perhaps they were even bred to be more ferocious by men as there seemed to be bloodshed and great wickedness occurring all over the world in the time before the flood (Gen 6). God foretold that the earth would produce thorns and thistles as man learned how to farm and breed plants that would produce edible fruit (Gen 3:18). This may have also applied to animals as man desired how to breed certain traits to benefit themselves. Not knowing how to accomplish this, it may have led to the corruption of all flesh mentioned in Genesis 6:12. In the same chapter and in Chapter 7, God distinguishes between clean and unclean animals that are to be on the ark, perhaps a distinction between those with less genetic corruption and those with more.

After the flood, however, God said he would change the animals’ attitude toward humanity as he allowed mankind to use them for food (Gen 9). Furthermore, he would demand an accounting of human blood shed by animals and fellow men alike (v. 5-6). Thus, we see that God holds even the animals to a certain moral code. Even if this be the only law to which he holds the animals accountable, it shows that they too have a moral conscience, however limited, offering further proof that they have a soul of some sort.

Animals Are a “Different Seed”

As to the fate of animals souls and how they are acquitted or condemned, I leave for God, their creator and ours, to decide. Not much is given or described for the spiritual life of the animal and perhaps this is because we are to focus on our own spiritual path to God. However, a good description of all creation’s resurrection can be found in 1 Corinthians 15: 35-57:

“³⁵But someone may say, ‘How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come back?’ ³⁶You fool! What you sow is not brought to life unless it dies. ³⁷And what you sow is not the body that is to be but a bare kernel of wheat, perhaps, or of some other kind; ³⁸but God gives it a body as he chooses, and to each of the seeds its own body. ³⁹Not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for human beings, another kind of flesh for animals, another kind of flesh for birds, and another for fish. ⁴⁰There are both heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the brightness of the heavenly is one kind and that of the earthly another. ⁴¹The brightness of the sun is one kind, the brightness of the moon another, and the brightness of the stars another. For star differs from star in brightness.

⁴²So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown corruptible; it is raised incorruptible. ⁴³It is sown dishonorable; it is raised glorious. It is sown weak; it is raised powerful. ⁴⁴It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual one.

⁴⁵So, too, it is written, ‘The first man, Adam, became a living being,’ [Gen 2:7] the last Adam a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶But the spiritual was not first; rather the natural and then the spiritual. ⁴⁷The first man was from the earth, earthly; the second man, from heaven. ⁴⁸As was the earthly one, so also are the earthly, and as is the heavenly one, so also are the heavenly. ⁴⁹Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one.

⁵⁰This I declare, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, ⁵²in an instant, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³For that which is corruptible must clothe itself with incorruptibility, and that which is mortal must clothe itself with immortality. ⁵⁴And when this which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility and this which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ [Hos 13:14]

⁵⁶The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 15: 35-57

Fire to Prepare for New Growth

“¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be found out. ¹¹Since everything is to be dissolved in this way, what sort of person ought [you] to be, conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion, ¹²waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames and the elements melted by fire. ¹³But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” – 1 Peter 3:10-13

This spiritual and physical fire will consume all, but like a volcanic eruption or a forest fire, the blaze that consumes the old life provides fertile ground for new. If the physical world works in this way, how much more the spiritual world! Paul’s resurrection analogy of the seeds can apply here too. For this fallen physical world will finally die, but that will provide a way for a new heaven and a new earth to be established where the old once stood. This is all by the work of God through the redemptive power of Christ. 

Thus, the more we study about animal souls, the more we realize the need for the redemption of our own. For Christ died to bring mankind and all creation back to God. So the question then becomes: are you going to be part of the new creation? Are you trusting in Christ for the redemption of your own soul with the hope that you will become right with God and share in the new heaven and new earth? Or, will you continue to be part of the old world, the old life that is consumed without hope of new life? Perhaps even our beloved animals sit and ponder and hope that their masters will trust in Christ and be a part of the new creation as they hope to be. In my first post, I offered that the best option for our animal friends’ souls is to entrust them to God. It turns out that it is the same with our own.