Fate of Creatures in Scripture and the Afterlife
The biblical understanding of the fate of creatures, particularly in the afterlife, presents a complex picture, with some texts suggesting a shared mortality between humans and animals, while others allude to their role in divine judgment and even a future restoration.
Ecclesiastes 3:19 states, "For the fate of ⌞humans⌟ and the fate of the beast is ⌞the same⌟. The death of the one is like the death of the other, for ⌞both are mortal⌟. Man has no advantage over the beast, for both are fleeting" [2]. The Jewish commentator Rashi interprets this verse to mean that both humans and beasts share a common fate in death, given to them by God [7]. This perspective emphasizes the shared mortality of all living beings. Psalm 49:14 similarly describes the fate of the wicked, stating that "Death will give them their food like sheep; the underworld is their fate and they will go down into it; their flesh is food for worms; their form is wasted away; the underworld is their resting-place for ever" [1]. While this passage specifically addresses humans, it uses animal imagery ("like sheep") to depict a common end in the grave.
Despite this shared mortality, the Bible also highlights distinctions and specific roles for animals. From creation, animals were made "after their kind" [3, 9] and placed under human dominion [4]. John Calvin notes that animals were subject to Adam's authority before the Fall, and their continued obedience would have been maintained had Adam not rebelled against God [8]. The creation narrative in Genesis describes God creating various creatures, including "fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping animal of the earth after its kind" [3].
Animals are frequently depicted as participants in God's judgments and redemptive acts. During the Flood, God commanded Noah to bring two of every kind of animal into the ark "to keep [them] alive" [3]. The destruction of "all flesh" during the Flood included "fowl... cattle, and... creeping thing," demonstrating a uniform principle in divine judgment that includes everything connected with the sinful objects of God's wrath [12]. This also served a practical purpose, as the reduction in animal numbers prevented them from overwhelming the few humans who would repopulate the world [12]. The prophet Zephaniah describes God sweeping away "people and animals... birds... fish" in judgment, which is seen as a reversal of creation [10]. Conversely, animals are also invited to partake in God's "sacrificial feast" in Ezekiel 39:17, where birds and beasts of prey consume the flesh of the slain, a scene echoed in Revelation 19:17 [13].
The concept of "creature" in the Bible can refer broadly to the entire creation, as seen in Romans 8:39, Colossians 1:15, and Revelation 5:13, or specifically to the human race in Mark 16:15 and Romans 8:19-22 [5]. The "living creatures" in Ezekiel 10:15, 17 are described as imaginary beings symbolizing divine attributes [5].
Regarding the resurrection, the Apostle Paul discusses the suitability of different bodies to their species, mentioning "the flesh of the several species of animals" as an illustration of variety [6]. He distinguishes between "flesh and blood" of an animal and corruptible nature, which "cannot inherit the kingdom of God," and the resurrection body of glory [11]. This suggests a qualitative difference in the ultimate destiny of human and animal bodies. While animals are part of God's creation and are subject to His will and judgment, the scriptural focus on an afterlife, particularly a resurrection body, is primarily directed toward humanity.
Sources
- Psalms “Psalms 49:14 (BBE) — Death will give them their food like sheep; the underworld is their fate and they will go down into it; their flesh is food for worms; their form is wasted away; the underworld is their resting-place for ever.”
- Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 3:19 (LEB) — For the fate of ⌞humans⌟ and the fate of the beast is ⌞the same⌟. The death of the one is like the death of the other, for ⌞both are mortal⌟. Man has no advantage over the beast, for both are fleeting.”
- Genesis “Genesis 6:20 (Webster) — Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping animal of the earth after its kind, two of every [sort] shall come to thee, to keep [them] alive.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Reptiles — Created by God -- Ge 1:24,25. Made for praise and glory of God -- Ps 148:10. Placed under the dominion of man -- Ge 1:26. Unclean and not eaten -- Le 11:31,40-43; Ac 10:11-14. Mentioned in scripture Chameleon. -- Le 11:30. Lizard. -- Le 11:30. Tortoise. -- Le 11:29. Snail. -- Le 11:30; Ps 58:8. Frog. -- Ex 8:2; Re 16:13. Horseleech. -- Pr 30:15. Scorpion. -- De 8:15. Serpent. -- Job 26:13; Mt 7:10. Flying fiery serpent. -- De 8:15; Isa 30:6. Dragon. -- De 32:33; Job 30:29; Jer 9:11. Viper. -- Ac 28:3. Adder or Asp. -- Ps 58:4; 91:13; Pr 23:32. Cockatrice o”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Creature — Denotes the whole creation in Rom. 8:39; Col. 1:15; Rev. 5:13; the whole human race in Mark 16:15; Rom. 8:19-22. The living creatures in Ezek. 10:15, 17, are imaginary beings, symbols of the Divine attributes and operations.”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 15:39: Illustrations of the suitability of bodies, however various, to their species: the flesh of the several species of animals; bodies celestial and terrestrial; the various kinds of light in the sun, moon, and stars, respectively. flesh--animal organism [DE WETTE]. He implies by the word that our resurrection bodies shall be in some sense really flesh, not mere phantoms of air [ESTIUS]. So some of the oldest creeds expressed it, "I believe in the resurrection of the flesh." Compare as to Jesus' own resurrection body, Luk 24:39; Joh 20:27; to whi”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Ecclesiastes 3:19: For the fate of men, etc. This is the reason for the matter, that the Holy One, Blessed Is He, gave a fate and a mishap to mankind, and there is a fate and a mishap to the beasts, and He gave one fate to them both, for just as this one dies, so does that one die.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 3, section 2.17: we ought not to wonder that the slightest expression of the will of God causes all the animals to assemble, as happened at the flood, ( Genesis 7:15 ,) and likewise at the very creation of the world, when, as Moses relates, all the animals were gathered together, by the command of God, to the first man, that they might be subject to his authority. ( Genesis 2:19 .) And undoubtedly they would have continued to be subject and obedient to him, had not his own rebellion deprived him of that power and authority; but when he revolted from God, the ”
- Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 6:18: Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind,.... What before is generally expressed by "every living thing", is here particularly explained of every sort of them; and from the order of them some have thought that in the same manner they were disposed of in the ark, the fowls in the first story, the cattle in the next, and the creeping things in the lowermost: but others place them in a different manner; see Gill on Gen 6:16 the roots and grain in the lower story, the living creatures of all sorts in t”
- Zephaniah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Zephaniah 1:2: 1:2-3 The list of the things that God will sweep away in his judgment is in reverse order to their creation (Gen 1:20-26): people and animals . . . birds . . . fish, because judgment is a reversal of creation.”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 15:50: (See on Co1 15:37; Co1 15:39). "Flesh and blood" of the same animal and corruptible nature as our present (Co1 15:44) animal-souled bodies, cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Therefore the believer acquiesces gladly in the unrepealed sentence of the holy law, which appoints the death of the present body as the necessary preliminary to the resurrection body of glory. Hence he "dies daily" to the flesh and to the world, as the necessary condition to his regeneration here and hereafter (Joh 3:6; Gal 2:20). As the being born of the flesh constitute”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 7:21: all flesh died . . . fowl . . . cattle, and . . . creeping thing--It has been a uniform principle in the divine procedure, when judgments were abroad on the earth, to include every thing connected with the sinful objects of His wrath (Gen 19:25; Exo 9:6). Besides, now that the human race was reduced to one single family, it was necessary that the beasts should be proportionally diminished, otherwise by their numbers they would have acquired the ascendancy and overmastered the few that were to repeople the world. Thus goodness was mingled with severity”
- Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 39:17: (Rev 19:17). sacrifice--Anciently worshippers feasted on the sacrifices. The birds and beasts of prey are invited to the sacrificial feast provided by God (compare Isa 18:6; Isa 34:6; Zep 1:7; Mar 9:49). Here this sacrifice holds only a subordinate place in the picture, and so is put last. Not only shall their bones lie long unburied, but they shall be stripped of the flesh by beasts and birds of prey.”