Fix Your Eyes On Eternity: A 12-Day Devotional On Heaven And The New EarthSample

Animals were part of God’s perfect original design for Earth and mankind. Because they were a significant part of life on the original Earth and Scripture 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 judgment of water—prominently involved animals. Wouldn’t we expect His plan for a renewed earth after the future judgment 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. 

Many people also want to know whether their pets might live again. Why do so many of us find such companionship, solace, and joy in our pets? I believe it’s because of how God has made animals, and us. Animals aren’t nearly as valuable as people, but God is their Maker and has touched many people’s lives through them. 

Romans 8:21-23 sees animals as part of a suffering creation eagerly awaiting deliverance through humanity’s resurrection. This seems to require that some animals who lived, suffered, and died on the old Earth must be made whole on the New Earth. Wouldn’t some of those likely be our pets? Wouldn’t it be just like God to take animals entrusted to our care in the old world and allow us to enjoy with them the wonders of the new world?

Because the New Earth will be earthly, we shouldn’t 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.