Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Society • Jesus & Animals Part 11: THE Big Question: Do Animals Have Souls?
God FIRST created the animals…THEN man…as an afterthought.
Rev. Austin Miles.
An age-old question regarding animals going to heaven was raised at the 3rd Nicene Council. When this question was posed to a present day preacher he responded with great intellect: “Naw, animals don’t go-ta heaven cause animals don’t have no souls.” We suppose that should have settled the matter.
There is nothing in the Bible stating that animals have no souls, indeed, many Scriptures suggest otherwise. Still, the pot-bellied monks of that Council were going to settle the matter arbitrarily on their own.
The Council unanimously voted that animals do NOT have souls. So their vote makes it so. Meaning, they do NOT go to heaven. At the same council, the matter of women having souls also was put to debate and that only passed by…one…vote. A little known fact of ecclesiastical history.
This of course provides a wonderful weapon for husbands. When our wives get out of hand we can stop them with a reminder that they only have a soul by ONE VOTE! So there.That should keep them in line.
On a side note, St. Thomas of Aquinas, in his major work, Summa Theologica, posited that at birth, the souls of little boys are immediately activated. Souls of little girls, however, only kick in after 28 days. So there…again.
In Part 1 and 2 of this series, it is shown how God created the animals before man, had regard for them and explained in Holy Scriptures what man’s relationship to animals should be. And He was possessive and protective of ALL of his creatures.
In Psalm 50: 10-11 it is written: “For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.”
What is more, as has been shown in this series, animals are very perceptive about the Spirit world and in their own way can Praise God. Remember the little poodle, Deputy, that came to me and WANTED prayer.
Psalm 150:6 says: “Let EVERYTHING that hath breath praise the Lord.” Notice it did not say let man praise the Lord, but let EVERYTHING THAT HATH BREATH praise the Lord. That would include ‘all creatures here below’, as the Doxology proclaims in verse.
So animals do not go to heaven? Then why are animals mentioned in the new heaven and the new earth at which time, Jesus will appear riding a white horse? Rev, 19:11. That would be an animal in heaven.
And listen to these words of the Prophet Isaiah in chapter 11 vs.6 describing the New Heaven and New Earth: “The WOLF also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed: their young ones shall lie down together, and the lion shall eat straw lke the ox.” It states further that the children will be safe, nothing will be hurt nor destroyed, “for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord.”
Wolf was capitalized earlier to show that the wolf is a beloved creature of God. It is the wolf especially that is mentioned in this Scripture. Yet this beautiful animal has been falsely maligned and given a death sentence. Even if they are miles away from any inhabited area, hunters like Sarah Palin will simply rent an airplane to fly to them and shoot and kill them from the air, without cause.
Carter Niemeyer was a Federal Agent with Wildlife Services, within the U.S. Interior Department. His job was to kill wolves, based on information that has proved to be false. He stated in a recent interview, “Livestock losses attributed today to wolves and other predators are being exaggerated.”
What is worse, any livestock loss that can be attributed to wolves gains government compensation that would be worth a lot more than what the dead animal would be worth. The killing of wolves is based upon lies and corruption in obtaining government compensation. And God’s creatures SUFFER as a result. Even more terror and suffering will result for those who will stand before God to answer for this cruelty against his animals..
To read more about Mr. Niemeyer’s interview go to:
We have seen in this series how animals are the best friends of humans. They love unconditionally, forgive quickly, have proved to be of great value as service dogs, helping handicapped children, the blind, and those who simply need their love. And they ask virtually nothing in return.
It has been shown the deep feelings animals have, the grief they can show, the joy and the protection they offer and will give their own lives to do so.
Now, the BIG Question: Do animals have souls? What do YOU think. This writer’s conclusion was formed many, many years ago.
And now, a final question. Considering what you have learned in this series, Does Jesus Approve of Hunting and Killing Wolves? You can decide.
This concludes this series. Please THINK about what you have learned here. Let’s not grieve God further by mistreating his valued creatures. It would be the height of foolishness to willingly offend God. And if we are genuine human beings, we should never want to be an instrument of cruelty or suffering. To do otherwise make us all savages.
