Do Animals Go to Heaven According to Scripture
Scripture does not explicitly state whether animals go to heaven, but it offers some indirect insights into the nature of animal life and the future new creation. One passage that touches on the distinction between human and animal spirits is Ecclesiastes 3:21, which asks, "Who is certain that the spirit of the sons of men goes up to heaven, or that the spirit of the beasts goes down to the earth?" [1]. This verse highlights a perceived difference in destiny between humans and animals. Some interpretations suggest that while the human spirit returns to God, the spirit of a beast returns to the earth [7, 8]. John Gill notes that humans possess a "rational and immortal soul," which ascends to God upon death, whereas the spirit of a beast "goes down to the earth, from whence it came, and is resolved into it, and is no more" [7]. Similarly, Jamieson, Fausset & Brown interpret the verse as emphasizing the "wide difference between man and the beast," with human spirit belonging "on high" and the beast's spirit belonging "below, even to the earth" [8].
While the immediate destiny of animals after death is not clearly defined, the Bible does speak to God's creation and care for animals. Animals, including birds, were created by God and for His glory [2]. God provides for them, as seen in Psalm 104 [2]. Humans were given power over animals, and Adam named them, indicating a relationship between humanity and the animal kingdom [2].
The concept of a "new heavens and new earth" is presented in passages like 2 Peter 3:13, Isaiah 65:17, and Revelation 21 [3]. This new creation is described as a renewed dwelling place for God's people, a "new community and home for God’s people that is fashioned and given by God" [6]. The book of Revelation describes the new Jerusalem with precious materials, suggesting a transformed reality [4]. Adam Clarke notes that Revelation 21 describes "the new heaven and the new earth" and "the new Jerusalem" as a place where God dwells with humanity [5]. This vision of a renewed creation, often depicted as an ultimate Garden of Eden, implies a restoration of creation to its unfallen state [6]. However, these passages do not explicitly detail the presence or nature of animals in this new creation.
Sources
- Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 3:21 (BBE) — Who is certain that the spirit of the sons of men goes up to heaven, or that the spirit of the beasts goes down to the earth?”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Birds — Created by God -- Ge 1:20,21; 2:19. Created for the glory of God -- Ps 148:10. Herb of the field given as food to -- Ge 1:30. Differ in flesh from beasts and fishes -- 1Co 15:39. Power over given to man -- Ge 1:26; Ps 8:8. Names given to, by Adam -- Ge 2:19,20. Instinctively fear man -- Ge 9:2. Instinct of, inferior to man's reason -- Job 35:11. Lessons of wisdom to be learned from -- Job 12:7. Can all be tamed -- Jas 3:7. Given as food to man -- Ge 9:2,3. The blood of, not to be eaten -- Le 7:26. The property of God -- Ps 50:11. God provides for -- Ps 104:1-”
- 2 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Peter 3:13: 3:13 the new heavens and new earth: See Isa 65:17; 66:22; Rev 21.”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 21:21: 21:21 Things that are precious and luxurious on earth are common building materials in heaven.”
- Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 21 (introduction): The new heaven and the new earth, Rev 21:1. The new Jerusalem, Rev 21:2. God dwells with men; the happy state of his followers, Rev 21:3-7. The wretched state of the ungodly, Rev 21:8. An angel shows John the holy city, the New Jerusalem, Rev 21:9, Rev 21:10. Her light, wall, gates, and foundations, described, Rev 21:11-21. God and the Lamb are the temple and light of it, Rev 21:22, Rev 21:23. The nations and kings of the earth bring their glory and honor to it; the gates shall never be shut, nor shall any defilement enter into it, Rev 21:24-27.”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 21:1: 21:1–22:9 The final scenes of the new heaven and earth are striking pictures of a new community and home for God’s people that is fashioned and given by God. These scenes help to lift the spirits of persecuted Christians. John lays out his basic vision (21:1-8) and follows it with two expansions: (1) In 21:9-27, he presents the new Jerusalem as the site of holy perfection; (2) in 22:1-5, he describes the new Jerusalem as the ultimate Garden of Eden that Adam and Eve could have experienced had they not sinned. 21:1 The vision involves God’s creation of the new ”
- Ecclesiastes (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ecclesiastes 3:21: Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward?.... There is indeed a difference between a man and a beast; though they have one breath, they have not one spirit or soul; man has a rational and immortal soul, which, when he dies, goes upwards to God that gave it; to be judged by him, and disposed of by him, in its proper apartment, until the day of the resurrection of the body; and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? when the beast dies, its spirit goes down to the earth, from whence it came, and is resolved into it, and is no more. But ”
- Ecclesiastes (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ecclesiastes 3:21: Who knoweth--Not doubt of the destination of man's spirit (Ecc 12:7); but "how few, by reason of the outward mortality to which man is as liable as the beast and which is the ground of the skeptic's argument, comprehend the wide difference between man and the beast" (Isa 53:1). The Hebrew expresses the difference strongly, "The spirit of man that ascends, it belongeth to on high; but the spirit of the beast that descends, it belongeth to below, even to the earth." Their destinations and proper element differ utterly [WEISS].”