Dear Omega,
I didn't say that you said that animals will not enter the kingdom of God.
Here is what I said:
"They refer to the millenial kingdom on earth, not to the Kingdom of God (which is in heaven). Otherwise you would have to have all animals be born again with the Holy Spirit."
And here is what I meant:
Those verses which you quoted referred to the millenial kingdom on earth, not to the Kingdom of God (which is in heaven). Otherwise (if anyone believed that those verses referred to the Kingdom of God), then that person (me, you, or anyone) would have to believe that those animals would be born again with the Holy Spirit *because flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.*
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I'm sorry that I said "you" instead of saying "one" in my original sentence which began with "Otherwise". I can speak English fairly well, but sometimes I lapse back into speaking Texan. I mean no offense and I apologize if I offended you.
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To think that they would not have to be born again with the Holy Spirit would be to think that they were *already* spiritual beings. And I doubt that!
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
1 Cor 15:45-50 (KJV)
I still don't see how an animal would be any different than a man before he is saved. Earthly man is flesh and blood. He is subject to dying and corruption. When we are born again of the Holy Spirit, then we become spiritual beings. Earthly animals are flesh and blood. They are subject to dying and corruption. I know of nothing in Scriptures which tells of how they can receive the Holy Spirit and become spiritual beings. Think about it. Would anyone presume to baptise a pig and lay hands on it so that it could receive the Holy Spirit?
6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Matt 7:6 (KJV)
I know of no Scriptures which speak of animals in heaven or in the New Jerusalem. I know of no Scriptures which speak of salvation for animals or how they can become spiritual beings.
12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
2 Peter 2:12 (KJV)
If men who are "as natural brute beasts" shall *utterly perish* in their own corruption, then why wouldn't the natural brute beasts also utterly perish in their own corruption?
And I don't know of any Scriptures which plainly speak of animals having souls, either. (If you know of any, please tell me.)
I did a search on "soul" in the Bible. Out of 432 locations where the word "soul" is used in the Bible, I only found one instance where it was associated with what at first seems to be an animal.
19 O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
Psalms 74:19 (KJV)
But by reading it in context it is apparent that it really is talking about someone who is regarded *as if* a turtledove. (A term of endearment.)
And yes, the words which have been translated as "soul" in the KJV of the Bible could have a meaning of simply being "alive". But *in that sense* when that animal ceases to be "alive", then that soul "died".
Consider these verses:
4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
Ezek 33:4-5 (KJV)
Did the person that took warning in v. 5 deliver his own soul (as we normally understand soul to mean), or did he just save his own life? If he could deliver his own soul, then he wouldn't need Jesus, would he?
Also consider this:
27 And if *any* soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering.
Num 15:27 (KJV)
Ever hear of a dog bringing a she goat of the first year for a sin offering? (If they have a soul and sin through ignorance, then they would have had to do that.)
Since dogs didn't do that, then:
1. Dogs didn't sin through ignorance.
or
2. Dogs didn't have souls (other than in the sense of being "alive").
Considering that all humans and all angels were capable of sin, I would think that animals wouldn't be an exception. Anyone or anything that has free will is capable of sin (otherwise they wouldn't have free will).
(Jesus *didn't sin*, but He was "capable" of it. Otherwise He wouldn't have been a good example for us.)
Now, do you know of any Scriptures which indicate that animals have "souls" (other than simply being alive)? Or that animals are spiritual beings or can become spiritual beings? Or that animals will be in heaven or in the New Jerusalem?
Yours in Christ,
John Reno