read verse 21

Only Christian-type religions believe that only man goes to heaven. Many other religions consider all beings that hold life to have a soul. I really wouldn't put too much stock into what your Minister said, he probably eats meat and considers animals objects to be used and abused because "they have no soul". Peh.

My ending Q was cut off! This is "The" Add On!! The ending to "the question" is..."OR does MAN just cease to exist?" This IS The meat of The Question!

There is a website that clears up this matter quite nicely. Check out: http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/pets.shtml It is very interesting and if you read the last line, it sums it up nicely. "So, where does that leave us? It leaves us with the truth—the Bible is silent regarding an afterlife for animals." I definitely encourage you to read this article. It should set your mind at ease.

It's all pretend. Make up whatever sort of pleasing fiction you like about it...

Think about this: the Bible says that we a baby will be able to play with a tiger, snake, etc. What does that tell ya?

Ecclesiastes 3:18 And then I realized that God is letting the world go on its sinful way so that he can test mankind, and so that men themselves will see that they are no better than beasts. 19 For men and animals both breathe the same air, and both die. So mankind has no real advantage over the beasts: what an absurdity! 20 ALL go to one place --the dust from which they came and to which they must return. 21 FOR WHO CAN PROVE THAT THE "SPIRIT" OF MAN GOES UPWARD AND THE "SPIRIT" OF ANIMALS GOES DOWNWARD INTO DUST! NO ONE KNOWS how God deals with animals spirits anymore than we know how he deals with infants and little ones spirits or grown ups for that matter.... we know from dust we came and dust we return. I beleive only the 144,000 will go to heaven anyway to help Christ reign over HIS KINGDOM(Paradise on Earth) when he comes back.No, I am not a JW. I can only tell you to read :Isaiah 65:11,25 Isaiah 11:6-9 These passages tell of paradise on earth and it will be full of animals and children. I will not say your pet's spirit will "cease to exist" anymore than I can say of a humans "spirit " . and neither can a minister, for only God know's that....That is God's judgement, and to "cease to exist" will be for the humans who do not make it to PARADISE. God will take care of it. For now, that pets spirit is asleep, at rest, just as Jesus said about Lazarus, until he comes. It is sleeping. There are lots we don't and won't EVER know, only God does. God takes care of and knows EVERY little bird, so I am sure this is the same for every animal... He loves animals as we are supposed to.

Ecclesiastes 3:19, 20 is a reminder of human mortality. If you read this verse out of context it does seem to suggest that humans and animals go the same place when they die, and most people who read the bible believe that they are going to heaven. To fully grasp the context of this you would also have to study the first 2 chapters that point out that the actions of man in a lifetime are meaningless, they are dust in the wind and provide no lasting happiness to the individual. Chapter three explains to us the human rational that would result from the first two chapters, to do nothing. This of course is not in accordance with Gods will and does not show him glory. This brings us to verse 14 where he gives comparason to Gods activitys and mans Gods being eternal and mans fleeting. In verse 18 it says that "God tests men to see that they are like animals" This is for us to realize that without God we are like beasts (romans 3:14-18). Now in verse 19 and 20 solomon draws a physical comparason between man and animals, that we decay and return to dust and that is all that we will see. Verse 21 reads "Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?" this is not a doubting message this is a reminder that the physical death of the beliver will be no different than that of the unbeliever or the animal. You also must remember that you are reading poetry translated from another language that has a very different form of writing and poetry. Once you have reanaylized this section of the Bible you must then take into consideration that if your pet did have a soul that it would have to believe the gospel message, and have faith in Gods actions past and coming and have an understanding of his/her salvation.

The Bible is silent on the fate of animals. The Ecclesiastes verse is referring to death being the common fate of all living creatures, but is not referring to the afterlife. God does care about animals though. Man's original charge was to look after them and care for them, a relationship that was ruined after the entrance of sin. In Matthew 10:29-31, Jesus points out that not one sparrow dies without the Father noting it as an important event. Still, humans are more important to God, so it is our fate that is discussed in the Bible I trust in a loving God, and I know He cares for animals. Therefore, even though I do not know their fate, I trust that whatever happens to them is in the hands of my Father. Hope that helps.

Men and animals, which both are souls, do die. These cease to exist, think, breath, live. In that sense, the do go to the same place, the grave. Some of mankind are found worthy by God through his grace to be resurrected to a heavenly life to serve there as Kings and Priests with his glorified Son, Jesus Christ. Revelation 20:6 says: " Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and will rule as kings with him for the thousand years.” There is no mention of animals going to heaven in the Bible.

The spirit of a person will live on; John 11:25-26 says "...he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Also read John 14:1-3 And according to Revelation 19:11-16 animals are in heaven. Jesus comes out of heaven on a white horse.

It's so sad how many people have either forgotten or chosen not to acknowledge that humans ARE animals. I know that it's a scary thought to some but WE ARE ANIMALS. You people need to get over this thought that the world revolves around humans and humans are the masters of the universe. I don't think there is a more arrogant and ignorant point of view.

Don't believe everything a minister tells you. Their job is based on gullibility and story-telling.

If only humans go to heaven, please explain how horses can be there. [Rev 9:7, 19:14] Animals were given to man to be useful to him. Therefore, useful or loved animals will get in if we want/need them. But don't expect to see spiders, flies, snakes, scorpions, or other 'icky' creatures.

Regarding the end of your question, I don't believe animals going to Heaven or man ceasing to exist are the only options. I believe anything capable of love must be possessed of a soul or spirit or some spark of the divine. When organic life ceases, I believe that soul moves on. To where or how, I don't know, but we're all living creatures here on a journey and I think that journey continues for all of us after this life or many lives are over.

1) "Materialists believe that when a being dies physically, its life ends. Religions are divided as to whether non-human animals are believed to have souls, reincarnate or none. In the absence of a common belief, many pet owners have adopted feelings towards the Rainbow Bridge, a metaphorical or mythical place of reunion where pets that die live in a paradisical version of limbo, rejuvenated and free of pain and suffering, until their companion humans or other animals arrive in the course of time. At this point, they enter heaven as companions and loved ones, never to be divided again. In many pet-related communities, pets who have died are often referred to as being At the bridge or ATB. Some Christians take comfort in Bible verses or stories that seem to point to the existence of animals in heaven, such as references to "the lion lying down with the lamb." Another popular passage is the well-known Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." In LDS theology, all organisms (as well as Earth as a planet) are believed to have a spirit, but that beings without the gift of free agency (the ability to know and choose between right and wrong) are innocent and unblemished spirits who go straight to Heaven when they die, unlike humans who spend some time in spirit prison first. It is believed that pets can be reunited completely with their human companions after they both have passed on. Animal chaplains are becoming increasingly popular for helping the bereaved family members deal with the loss of their pet, to provide memorial services, give spiritual reassurance their pet is in heaven, and to provide grief counseling. The Interfaith Association of Animal Clergy boasts more than 35 members around the world, and is training new students to become Animal Chaplains." Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_loss 2) "The Rainbow Bridge is a place often referred to by people whose pets have died. It is the theme of a work of poetic prose written some time between 1980 and 1992, which has gained wide popularity amongst animal lovers who have lost a pet. The belief as told in the story is that the souls of deceased pets go to a green meadow paradise just outside of Heaven. Once the pets arrive, their bodies are cured of any illnesses or injuries. They run around and play with other pets, missing only one thing – the love of their owners back on Earth. One day, the pet spots its owner arriving, they reunite and cross the Rainbow Bridge and go into heaven together, never again to be parted. Although no major religion specifically refers to such a place for pets, the belief shows similarities with the Bifröst bridge of Norse Mythology. Its source is a story whose original creator is unknown." Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Bridge_%28pets%29 3) Further information: - "Pets and other animals of emotional significance are often ceremonially buried. Most families bury deceased pets on their own properties, mainly in a yard, with a shoe box or any other type of container served as a coffin. The Ancient Egyptians are known to have mummified and buried cats, which they considered deities." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet_cemetery - "Metempsychosis is a philosophical term in the Greek language referring to the belief of transmigration of the soul, especially its reincarnation after death. It is a doctrine popular among a number of Eastern religions such as Hinduism, Jainism and Druzism wherein an individual incarnates from one body to another, either human, animal, or plant. Generally the term is only used within the context of Greek Philosophy, but has also been used by modern philosophers such as Schopenhauer and Kurt Goedel; otherwise the phrase transmigration is more appropriate." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metempsychosis - "Transmigration of the soul (sometimes given simply as Transmigration) is a philosophy of reincarnation incorporating the specific belief that after death, the soul of a living being is then transferred (or transmigrates) into another living form and thus takes birth again." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmigration_of_the_soul

Ecclesiastes is a book of poetic literature. You don't read a book of poems the same way you read a science book. You don't read the sports page the same way as the front page. Think about it. The sports page reads "The Giants KILL the Patriots." If we took that literally then we would have to go down and arrest everyone on the team etc etc. The same principles apply to Scripture. This verse refers to the vanity or "meaninglessness" of our humanity that it has the same fate of the animals or the beasts of the field. We were given dominon over them in Genesis but the author here says, "All our toil is so useless because we end up dead, in the ground turning to dust like the animals." I have always been taught that animals don't have souls because animals are amoral. Meaning they cannot do right and wrong, they only do what they were created to do. Will there be animals in heaven? I cannot answer that. As an animal lover I sure hope so but I don't think that an amoral creature without a soul can enter heaven. But who's to say God won't create new ones with the New Heavens and New Earth?

This pops up from time to time from well meaning animal lovers filled with Emotions, but not facts. Here is the Doctrine (what Scripture Teaches)on the Soul minus the Emotions. Enjoy! John DOCTRINE OF THE SOUL A. The Essence of the Soul. 1. Self-consciousness. Man is aware of his own existence and is able to relate to both animate and inanimate life on earth, Acts 20:10. Animals have consciousness, but not self-consciousness. 2. Mentality. Self-consciousness is no good without mentality. This is the thinking part of man and is composed of two parts. a. The mind or left lobe of the soul. b. The heart or right lobe of the soul contains the frame of reference, memory center, vocabulary and categorical storage, norms and standards, and launching pad for application of knowledge to life. c. Rom 1:20-22 and Prov 19:2 teach that all thought originates in these two lobes. The soul is the source of all basic sin. It is the battleground between the old sin nature and the Holy Spirit, Mt 10:28; Eph 4:17-19; Ps 143. 3. Volition. Man has the ability to be negative or positive to anything in life. This is why man was created to resolve the angelic conflict. 4. Emotion, Lk 12:19. This is the appreciator of the soul. Emotion responds or reacts to whatever thoughts are in the soul. Normally the emotion is dominated by the right lobe of the soul. 5. Conscience. This is the evaluator of the soul. It contains the norms and standards, Acts 24:16. 6. The old sin nature is not part of the soul. It is genetically formed in every cell of the body. It battles for control of the soul through sin, human good and evil. Because we have an old sin nature, we are said to be totally depraved. Without Bible doctrine in the soul, you tend to run loose with your old sin nature's area of strength and link this activity with pride. Therefore you use your mentality to say you are something you are not. You set up your system of standards and compare yourself to others to further your pride. B. The soul must be distinguished from the human spirit. 1. Originally man was trichotomous, having a body, soul, and spirit, Gen 2:7. 2. After the fall, man is born dichotomous, having only a body and soul, 1 Cor 2:14; Jude 19. 3. The believer, however, is said to have a body, soul, and spirit, 1 Thes 5:23. The human spirit is regenerated by God the Holy Spirit at salvation. C. Only the soul, not the body, is saved at the point of regeneration, Ps 19:7, 34:22; Mk 8:36-37; 1 Pet 1:9; Heb 10:39. 1. Therefore, there is no "healing in the atonement." The body is not saved because the old sin nature resides there. In eternity the soul is given a perfect body minus an old sin nature or any human good. 2. To have a soul, a human spirit, and a resurrection body is strictly a matter of grace. 3. Those in eternity who glorify God will be those who had maximum Bible doctrine in the soul during time. D. Only the soul, not the body, was made in the image of God, Gen 1:26-27 cf Gen 2:7. God is not material but spiritual. E. The soul is the area of the worse sins which are mental attitude sins, Job 21:25; Zech 11:8. 1. The content of the soul is seen when a person speaks. What you truly are is only revealed when you speak. 2. Sins of the tongue reveal mental attitude sins. If you are guilty, arrogant, bitter, or full of revenge, you will talk a certain way that reveals the content of your soul. 3. Therefore, the soul sponsors all overt sins and sins of the tongue. F. The soul becomes the seat of misery because of scar tissue of the soul, Ps 6:3, 106:15; 119:25, 28, 81. G. The soul is the area for all capacities, good or bad. Inside the divine dynasphere, the mature believer has maximum capacity for life, love and happiness. Inside the cosmic system, the reversionist has maximum capacity for sin, human good, evil, and self-induced misery, 1 Sam 18:1; 1 Pet 1:22. H. In physical death, the soul departs from the body, Job 27:8; Ps 16:10; 2 Cor 5:8. 

Yes they can, and do...And both my dogs are in heaven.

I remember when my dog had to be put down, I was miserable, and looked and looked all over the internet for something to tell me was ok. What I found was an article that stated that love does not die. That if I loved something, and it loved me, then I would see it agin. That made sense to me. What kind of place would heaven be if it didn't allow dogs?!

In response to Ur not liking what the Bible had to say in my first offering of help through the Doctrine of the Soul. It is quite obvious that U are "Thinking" with "Emotion" not "Scripture" & therefore U have a "Blackout" of Ur Soul". Science, I'm not here to cause U any "Grief", just present Answers that Scripture Teaches (Doctrine)because someone asks. U Will Not Nor has anyone Ever seen me "Proselytizing Anyone here, that's not my Job!!! I realize that MOST READERS HERE have NEVER heard the Scriptural Teachings that I Post here. But that doesn't make these Posts wrong! Yes, People physically wrote the Scriptures as Directed by GOD! So U then say it's Wrong or False or it is only what the "Writer" says, not GOD. Look, to what "End"??? If he is "Hearing Voices" telling him to write this, wouldn't that just scare the Shlitz out of U to the point U wouldn't DARE make any "Mistakes". "It must be GOD I'm hearing"!!! As I wasn't there to question "Holliday's Pastor" to know exactly what he was saying, I can only Presume that as God created man from Dirt, it was this of which he referred. At Funerals it is "Ashes to Ashes, Dust unto Dust" (Ecc 3:20)as it has been in "Nature" hence Dino Bones"!!! So, "Aside from Revelation" U seem to think Scripture doesn't address the Soul being separate from the "Being" which is not the case! So tell me how many "Scriptures" will it take for U to "Believe" "Thomas"??? When U tell someone under Ur Authority to do something, how many times do U have to tell them??? I have discovered & processed into this Doctrine at least a Dozen Scriptures from all over the Bible on the Soul for U, but Ur "Emotions" are in "Revolt". The Soul is created AT BIRTH BY GOD (forget catholic dogma), God would NEVER entrust Mankind to the business of "Creating Soul Life", besides every Cell of Man is Polluted with Sin!(Original Sin)Since Sin(body) can't enter Heaven, there MUST BE A SEPARATION OF BODY & SOUL!!! Man in the "Garden" was Trichotomous (body,spirit & soul)until after the "Fall". then we lost the "Spirit" as He cannot abide in Sinful Man. So what U must ask, is the "Purpose" of the Soul in "Animals"??? Animals were created for Mankind & Mankind was created to "Resolve the Angelic Conflict". We were made to (of our own Free Will) choose to follow God or Satan. And just as Satan & his followers, if we chose Against God, our Souls will last forever in Hell. If we choose For God, our Souls will spend Eternity in Heaven. So, as much as I love animals (currently have 2 dogs,cats,guinea pigs & 70 gal. of fish)they will not be "Re-incarnated" nor will we!!! We will be given new bodies without flaws & there will be no "Marriage". I'm enclosing a short Doctrine on "Dogs" as further proof of animals roles not including any "Souls" & to show how their roles have changed with the help of the "Greenie,Vegan & PETA Bleeding Hearts Clubs" Manipulating the News Media today. I really wished that some of my animals could be there with us instead of many of the People who may be there!!! Enjoy! John DOCTRINE OF DOGS A. Biblical references to the dog are derogatory. Therefore, the dog is always represented in the Scripture as cowardly, evil, or insignificant. Dogs were not used as pets in the ancient world. Goliath compared being insulted with being called a dog, 1 Sam 17:43, 24:14; 2 Sam 9:8; 2 Kg 8:13. B. One of the most dishonorable ways to die in the ancient world was to be devoured by dogs, 1 Kg 14:11, 16:4, 21:19,23; 2 Kg 9:10. C. Dogs are used in analogies to reversionism, as in Mt 7:6. This verse teaches that you are not to give doctrine to a reversionist. You are not to straighten others out whom you consider wrong. Phil 3:2. D. Dogs are used to describe the unbeliever. 2 Pet 2:22 illustrates unbeliever-type reversionism. The dog returning to his vomit is the reversionistic believer gradually reversing all of his correct opinions related to establishment to line up with Satanic doctrine. Rev 22:15. E. Those who live by violence are described as dogs, Ps 59:6,14. F. A seducer of women was called a dog's head, 2 Sam 3:8. G. Dogs were used in the administration of the fifth cycle of discipline, Jer 15:3. H. In making a grace appeal to the Lord, dogs were used in the analogy and the Lord responded, Mt 15:25-27; Mk 7:25-28.

Hades, hell and all other forms of the descriptions as made in the Bible are simply the common grave of all mankind. Even Jesus went to the common grave. The difference being that indeed there will be a resurrection of mankind to a paradise earth from the common grave just as God did for Jesus. Jesus was resurrected to sit at the right hand of God. Mankind will be resurrected to earth to rebuild it to paradise as it was supposed to be all along. According to Revelation there are 144000 individuals that will be resurrected to a position higher than the angels to sit with Jesus during a 1000 year reign at the end of which Satan and his demons will be set loose one more time to test all of mankind. At which time he will be eliminated along with all of his followers. The Bible does not give specific mention as to the resurrection of animals of any kind. Nor is there anywhere in the Bible that an animal is resurrected. God in his wisdom has always shown to mankind the reality of his word by demonstration of the fact. In the case of resurrection of animals it is not beyond his power it is simply not mentioned and based upon scripture unlikely that he will.

The scripture that you mentioned says everyone goes to the same place. That scripture tells you that, that 'same place' is the grave and we return to dust. No mention of Heaven at all. The verse is speaking about vanity (what we gain here on earth). It is worthless and pointless when death comes because we cant take it with us. So, everybody turns to dust when we die. There is no mention that I have read that animals GO to Heaven, but there is mention that there is/are animal(s) in Heaven ALREADY, horses are one example. They will even have different colors as well. Enjoy your pet. It was made by GOD especially for you. Scripture also tells us that only the saved (redeemed from sin) get to live with our creator. Only those with a soul can be forgiven.

Evolution makes your minister's claim into quite a problem, doesn't it? Because there is a continuous chain of ancestors from us human animals, back to creatures that we would call non-human animals. So why would one animal cease to exist, while its progeny, only slightly different, goes to Heaven (or wherever)? Our genes are 99% similar to chimpanzee genes. So which is the soul gene? Which chromosome is it located on?

If you were to read a little further in Ecclesiastes you would have answered your own question. The bible states "the dead are conscious of nothing at all" Ecclesiastes 9:5-6. Revelation 7:4 says only 144,000 are to go to Heaven.

This is Ecclesiastes 3:19-20 (New International Version) 19 Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath ; man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. What it is saying that man and animals both have the same Earthly fate. We both die. One does not continue living on Earth forever while the other dies off. As in heaven, animals don't enter it. They don't have souls. We, are saved through faith. Animals don't have faith. They don't pray. They don't sin. God created us for His purpose. People go to heaven, not animals. Sorry if you find that shocking.

I believe the Scriptures before any human...minister or not....can't wait to see all my sweet critters when I go "home"