SusanB
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I hear you and in my mind there is a big difference between the animals being dangerous to humans or other animals and humans eating herd animals for food. One thing that I consider is that animals were not created to live forever. So, what happens to their bodies when they die? They end up being recycled and “eaten” by worms and bacteria and other lower forms of life that are in the soil. That is the system Jehovah created of life, death for animals and plants and then the recycled bodies get renewed through new animals that are fed on plants that have been fed by decomposing animals. So, it isn’t a stretch in my mind that if worms have always, and will always, eat the dead animals then I am guessing that humans will still harvest herd animals. Not pets. But honestly I don’t know everything Jehovah knows and like I said, once humans take care of the earth, perhaps Jehovah already knows that we will have authority and inclination to decide to not eat animals. But the scriptures say the animals will eat straw but they don’t say people will return to being vegetarian. Could be and could not be. Here are some scriptures that I find valuable and that shape my understanding.Okay.....
I'm sorry. I didn't intend to cause offense. I was just agreeing with Kirmy's view.
I guess it's because of what it says in Isaiah that I envision Paradise with creatures at peace with one another and without the fear that God put on earth's creatures after God gave man permission to eat them. I've always envisioned Paradise Restored as being like the Garden of Eden and as pictured in Isaiah.
"The wolf will reside for a while with the lamb, And with the young goat the leopard will lie down, And the calf and the lion and the fattened animal will all be together; And a little boy will lead them. The cow and the bear will feed together, And their young will lie down together. The lion will eat straw like the bull. The nursing child will play over the lair of a cobra, And a weaned child will put his hand over the den of a poisonous snake. They will not cause any harm Or any ruin in all my holy mountain. Because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah As the waters cover the sea ." Isaiah 11:6-9
It's hard for me to imagine a happy peaceful paradise where creatures devour one another for food, like we see wild animals do now. And, when the Bible speaks of a restoration of all things, does it mean a restoration of the relationship between animals and humans? Lions eat meat now, but Isaiah says the lion will eat straw like the bull once the earth is filled with the knowledge of Jehovah.
"Heaven must hold this one within itself until the times of restoration of all things of which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets of old." Acts 3:21.
Isn't Isaiah the Prophet in chapter 11 referring to the restoration of all things? I guess there are some things that we won't know for certain until the time comes and all things are as they should be and the earth will be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah and with true peace.
Deuteronomy 32:4: “The Rock, perfect is his activity, For all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness who is never unjust; Righteous and upright is he.”
Jeremiah 27:5: “It is I who made the earth, mankind, and the beasts that are on the surface of the earth by my great power and by my outstretched arm; and I have given it to whomever I please.”
Jeremiah 32:17: “Alas, O Sovereign Lord Jehovah! Look! You made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm. Nothing is too wonderful for you,..”
James 1:17: “Every good gift and every perfect present is from above, coming down from the Father of the celestial lights, who does not vary or change like the shifting shadows.”