Will there be animals on the New Earth?
Animals were part of God's perfect original design for Earth and mankind. "God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good" (Genesis 1:25).
Because animals were a significant part of life on the original Earth and the Bible makes it clear that God will remake the earth just as he will remake mankind, it stands to reason that animals will be part of the New Earth. (Why wouldn't they be?)
We're told that animals, along with all creation, long for the deliverance that will be theirs at the time of the redemption of our bodies, at the resurrection (Romans 8:19,23). They await and long for it, because they will be part of it.
As the entire creation, including animals, plants, and nature itself, fell on humanity's coattails, so shall the entire creation rise on our coattails, as beneficiaries of Christ's redemptive work.
Isaiah 11, 60 and 65 depict animals on the New Earth.
God's plan for a renewed Earth after the Flood-the judgement of water-prominently involved animals. Wouldn't we expect his plan for a renewed Earth after the future judgement of fire to likewise include animals? The rescue of mankind and animals in the ark is a picture of the resurrection, through which people and animals are rescued to live on the New Earth. Since according to Romans8 it is those presently suffering and groaning who will be delivered, it's likely that some of the same animals on the present Earth will be remade to live on the New Earth.
Because the New Earth will be earthly, we should not be surprised to realize it will have animals. Like all of God's other creations, they will declare his attributes and we will find joy in God by finding joy in them.
Because animals were a significant part of life on the original Earth and the Bible makes it clear that God will remake the earth just as he will remake mankind, it stands to reason that animals will be part of the New Earth. (Why wouldn't they be?)
We're told that animals, along with all creation, long for the deliverance that will be theirs at the time of the redemption of our bodies, at the resurrection (Romans 8:19,23). They await and long for it, because they will be part of it.
As the entire creation, including animals, plants, and nature itself, fell on humanity's coattails, so shall the entire creation rise on our coattails, as beneficiaries of Christ's redemptive work.
Isaiah 11, 60 and 65 depict animals on the New Earth.
God's plan for a renewed Earth after the Flood-the judgement of water-prominently involved animals. Wouldn't we expect his plan for a renewed Earth after the future judgement of fire to likewise include animals? The rescue of mankind and animals in the ark is a picture of the resurrection, through which people and animals are rescued to live on the New Earth. Since according to Romans8 it is those presently suffering and groaning who will be delivered, it's likely that some of the same animals on the present Earth will be remade to live on the New Earth.
Because the New Earth will be earthly, we should not be surprised to realize it will have animals. Like all of God's other creations, they will declare his attributes and we will find joy in God by finding joy in them.
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