Are Animals in Paradise?
by Charles Reed
Will He by whom all things were made, and without him nothing was made, have animals in his kingdom? Since he himself has created them, how could they be lacking there?
Are there governors, kings and rulers in Paradise? those of whom it is written they are strong as lions? Will there be lions there, of whom it is written they are like lions in their deeds, like a lion's cub roaring for prey. I Mac. 3:4
On the throne sits the king of heaven, the Lion of Juda, strong in battle. Before him, all the beasts of the field play (Job ).
Will there be sparrows in Paradise, of whom it is written that not one falls to the ground without the permission of the king? There will be thousands of doves, of whom it is written, Arise, my beautiful one, my dove and come, for the winter is past and springtime has arrived. Will there be hawks and eagles in Paradise, of whom it is written, that they place their nest in the rock and their little ones lick up blood? of whom it is written, that they discern the bread come down from heaven, for wherever the body is, there will the eagles be gathered together? Will ravens and crows be there, those who seek their food from God?
But ostriches and vultures will be excluded from Paradise, for it is written, that their abode is in the infernal Babylon, the habitation of every hateful and unclean bird. (Apoc., Isaiah)
Will there be dogs in heaven, of which it is written, that even the little dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from the master's table? Truly they will be there, along with the dog that accompanied Tobias and went behind him and Raphael when they arrived at Rages in Media ( Tob. 5:16). Even the dogs that licked up blood and ate the evil king and queen will be there, of whom it is written, that they encircle the City of God at evening, hungering and thirsting for justice. In paradise all their desires and instincts will be fulfilled and completed forever.
But many dogs will be excluded from Paradise, those of whom it is written, They returned to their mortal sins like vomit. Outside are the dogs (Rev. 21), Beware of the dogs (Paul). Give not what is holy to the dogs. Many dogs surrounded me.
Will sheep be in Paradise, of whom it written that they hear the shepherd's voice, and that the chaste lambs follow the shepherd wherever he goes (Rev. 14)? Will they be there, when the lion says, Come, ye blessed, receive the kingdom prepared for you?
But goats will be missing, those who did not recognize the lion in disguise, when he visited them and petitioned them. Of whom it was written, woe to them, for they did not know the time of their visitation. The lion wept over the city of the unfaithful, hard-hearted and stubborn goats, but they did not change.
Will there be wolves in heaven? Yes, the wolf who was tamed by a saint. But the wolves of whom it is written, there will enter voracious wolves who will not spare the flock (Acts 20, 20) will not be permitted to be in the abode of the docile and gentle sheep. The wolves who pretended to be shepherds will not be there.
Will he who created Arcturus (Keeper of the bear) and Pleiades, (Job ) not make creatures in his image and likeness? Will there be bears in Paradise, of whom it is written, We have groaned and sighed like bears (Isaiah 59)? Will there be lowly bears, for it is written: Be not high minded, but condescend to the lowly (Romans 12)? Will there be white bears, black bears or brown bears there? Will there be bears, who bring forth little bears, who like to play in the snow and frolic in the fields?
Will there be horses and donkeys in Paradise, of whom it is written, quotes of war horse of book of Job, horse in apocalypse, donkey in gospel, talking donkey in Numbers. etc. donkey of Solomon
Will there be fish in paradise? of whom it is written, quote from Job 12. Write of miracles in lives of Anthony, etc. quote from Jeremiah, I will send many hunters and many fishers, etc.
Will there be worms or serpents in paradise, of whom it is written: I am a worm and not a man? Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so God will lift up one who is wiser than Solomon and more subtle than all the beasts, etc.
But some serpents will be expelled, those who deceived and poisoned souls with their heresies, betrayed them with lies and vices, etc. quotes from Psalms, other passages.
On the throne sits the king of heaven, the Lion of Juda, strong in battle, whose delights are to be with the children of men. (Prov 8). Before him, all the beasts of the field play (Job ). and they will play, crawl, swim, trot, run, gallop, fly, frolic, dance and rejoice in his presence for all eternity.
(draft.)
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• Are human faces similar to animal faces? -- Answer. -
ssays in Reflections
Essays not in Reflections
Novel. Mount Zion Revisited.
Anthologies
Translations
Note about Mount Zion Revisited
The character named Little Bear in ch. 13, is based on three persons, in order to condense much informtion into a small space. The face of one of them bore no resemblance to the face of a bear. (He is now deceased, probably in Paradise with his mother). The other two, still living, have the face of a teddy bear. This is not an exaggeration.
Mt. Zion is a narration of a shipwreck that was not total. Just as Robinson Crusoe and Man Friday came of their shipwreck alive and kicking, so these precious little souls came out of the crucible of sorrow, shining like gold (Job 19), and at least two of them are now praising God forever, in the heavenly Zion.
And the redeemed of the Lord will come into Zion with praise.
Sorrow and mourning will flee away,
And everlasting joy shall be upon their heads.
Isaiah 35
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Similarity with other novels.
Brideshead Revisited, by E. Waugh. The effects of grace, on a group of characters.
Robinson Crusoe, by Defoe. What to do when a shipwreck happens, and everything disintegrates, falls apart, and you are faced with a chaotic situation.
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