Question, What will happen to the earth and the Animals?

unbaptized

Question, If everyone who professes to be christian are going to Heaven to rule as priest with Jesus, who will be our subjects on earth? Can someone pleasee shed some light on this subject.

james_woods

I would hazard a guess that as each successive generation passes away, that a new one will come to take its place - whether human, plant or animal.

Of course, being of material substance, and knowing that cosmological time is very long but not infinite, probably some eventual climate change or collision with an asteroid or sun's evolution will bring the cycle to a halt. But I will live with the assumption that neither you nor I have to worry about such things much in the time we have left here.

As to what happens after death, I guess that is up to each person to work out individually according to the propensity for belief or non-belief.

I for one am content to live here for now, live as well as I can, and enjoy the ride.

Mikeus

You're looking at the concept of "ruling" in a very linear sense. Christians are described as the Body of Christ, with Christ being the Head. Since Christ rules Heaven and Earth, it is the new heaven and earth we will rule with Him. For example: a king rules over a kingdom and all who live there are subjected to him. But if all the people suddenly were elevated to kingship alongside the king, they would all rule the land together, i.e. they would all own it and share it as one.

unbaptized

Hello Mikeus,

I understand what you are saying about a new Heaven and a new Earth. I also understand that christians are going to Heaven and share the rulership with the Christ. But what I do not understand is who will they be ruling on earth since there won't be any humans on earth to rule only animals. Wicked mankind is supposed to be cut off from life and the righteous is supposed to all go to Heaven, then who will reside on the earth?

tetrapod.sapien

i am not a xian really, but i would hope that jesus would allow us to bring our pets with us.

tetra

mrsjones5

Oh I'm so sure there are pets/animals in heaven. Haven't you seen that movie "All dogs go to heaven"?

skyking

To ad any to this discussion I need you to answer me this. Do you believe the bible is true in all it aspects, Noah's flood, six thousand years man has been here etc...?

Fleshybirdfodder

Those of us who are blessed enough to have an earthly hope will sit and have picnics with the Koala bears and Kimodo Dragons and Beluga whales, and when our children are born (not too many, we will magically become impotent eventually so as not to overpopulate the earth) we will toss poisoness vipers into their cribs so they can play with them. Won't that be wonderful?

FBF

Mikeus

unbaptized: Ah ok now I understand your question. I had this same exact question about two years ago. I think the following says it best:

At the end of time, the Kingdom of God will come in its fullness. After the universal judgment, the righteous will reign forever with Christ, glorified in body and soul. The universe itself will be renewed (the heavens, from a Greek perspective, are the skies and universe): The Church will receive her perfection and the time of the renewal of all things will come. At that time, together with the human race, the universe itself, which is so closely related to man and which attains its destiny through him, will be perfectly re-established in Christ. (Acts 3:21, 2 Pet 3:10-13)

Scripture calls this mysterious renewal, which will transform humanity and the world, "new heavens and a new earth."(Rev 21) It will be the definitive realization of God's plan to bring under a single head "all things in [Christ], things in heaven and things on earth."(Eph 1:10)

In this new universe, the heavenly Jerusalem, God will have his dwelling among men.(Rev 21:5) Rev 21:4 - "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

For man, this consummation will be the final realization of the unity of the human race, which God willed from creation and of which the pilgrim Church has been called to. Those who are united with Christ will form the community of the redeemed, "the holy city" of God, "the Bride, the wife of the Lamb." (Rev 21:2,9) She will not be wounded any longer by sin, stains, self-love, that destroy or wound the earthly community.(Rev 21:27) The beautiful vision, in which God opens himself in an inexhaustible way to the elect, will be the ever-flowing well-spring of happiness, peace, and mutual communion.

For the cosmos, Revelation affirms the profound common destiny of the material world and man:

Rom 8:19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
Rom 8:21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

The visible universe, then, is itself destined to be transformed, "so that the world itself, restored to its original state, facing no further obstacles, should be at the service of the just," sharing their glorification in the risen Jesus Christ.

"We know neither the moment of the consummation of the earth and of man, nor the way in which the universe will be transformed. The form of this world, distorted by sin, is passing away, and we are taught that God is preparing a new dwelling and a new earth in which righteousness dwells, in which happiness will fill and surpass all the desires of peace arising in the hearts of men." -Irenaeus. God will be "all in all" in eternal life.

Eternal life consists in this: the Father, through the Son and in the Holy Spirit, pouring out his heavenly gifts on all things without exception. Thanks to his mercy, we too, men that we are, have received the inalienable promise of eternal life.

I hope that helps!

skyking

My question has not been answered if you believe the Bible as wholly true. If you do there are many scriptures that contradict each other if you deal with heaven. Only id you look at all these scriptures do you see the big picture.

Question, What will happen to the earth and the Animals?

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