"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory, honor, and power; for You did create all things, and because of Your Design they exist and will always exist." (Revelation 4:11)A description of the King of Tyre in Ezekiel 28, has a dual meaning describing Satan. Satan was in Eden, the Garden of God (Ezekiel 28:13). This Eden was not the Garden of Eden in Genesis, but prehistoric earth, which was God's Garden. Anything that God creates is perfect; so the original Garden of Earth was a place of beauty and perfection. The plant life was abundant to feed the animals, and the original animals were probably friendly and non-carnivorous. The animals were fed and prospered by the grace of God.
Satan was in charge of the Throne Room in Heaven, which controlled the earth and all the prehistoric animals. He became arrogant and in his ambition thought that he could manage the earth, the Garden of God (Isaiah 14:13-14). When Satan rebelled, he was cast out of Heaven to the earth (Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:14-18; Luk 10:18; Rev 12:3-4, 9). The animals on the earth in the Garden of God became wild and predatory due to the sin of Satan. Pristine prehistoric earth was probably a tropical paradise (Job 38:7; Isaiah 45:18). After Satan and his demons destroyed the environment of the earth, the animals and environment had to be completely destroyed to make the earth ready for the creation of modern man. The sin of Satan polluted prehistoric Earth's environment just as the sin of Adam polluted the environment of re-created Earth.
Prehistoric man appeared toward the end of the prehistoric period about 2 million years BC. There were several species of prehistoric man. The earlier ones were ape-like, and only Neanderthal and Cro Magnon man walked upright and could clearly be classified as man. Prehistoric man was created with only a body and soul. Without a spirit, he was separated from God. Although he lived in a sinful environment, he did not sin per se because he had no commandments from God to violate. Therefore, the guilt of sin was not imputed to him (Romans 5:13). He could murder without being guilty of sin. He easily succumbed to the power of Satan and demons and performed human good and evil. He had language and communication skills, but it is doubtful that they were highly developed, and he had no written language. Cro Magnon man did, however, leave some pretty good art in caves.3 None of the prehistoric men ever reached accountability or had a spiritual life. There have been traces of idolatry found among them, which was undoubtedly due to the influence of Satan. They made tools and weapons and some farmed. The total population appears to have been rather small, perhaps only a few million.
The prehistoric animals glorified God until sin made them wild and vicious. Thus, the animals were indicators to the angels of blessing or cursing. The animals and prehistoric man may also have been witnesses in the first trial of Satan. Since God foreknew that Satan would sin, He provided the animals and prehistoric man as witnesses of the effect of Satan's sin on creation. The evidence was obviously used in Satan's original trial. For example, mammoths represented giants, such as Baal, and bears represented Baal. Bison represented the redemption in the Lord Jesus Christ. An attack of a lion on a deer represented Satan's attack on an elect angel. And the attack of a Neanderthal upon a Cro Magnon represented Satan's attack on an elect Throne Angel like Michael or Gabriel. The conflict on prehistoric earth represented the Angelic Conflict.
Prehistoric man was more advanced
than the animals but fell short of modern man and never progressed very
much. He did not start governments or civilization. Prehistoric
man represented a higher class of creation just as the Seraphim represented
the upper class of angels. Therefore, the effects of Satan's sin
could be measured among the animals and the higher class of prehistoric
man similar to the way it was measured among the classes of angels and
the Seraphim. Prehistoric man's creation at the end of the prehistoric
period indicates that he was created to be a witness in Satan's first trial.
The prehistoric period ended when Satan was found guilty in his first trial,
and he appealed the decision.
Animals are the companions of man like the angels are the companions of God. Adam was created and placed in the Garden with only animal companions. For man, animals symbolize angels. For example, the serpent symbolized Satan (Genesis 3:1), who was an angel. The ox, lion, and eagle also symbolize the Lord Jesus Christ (Ezekiel 1:10; 10:14; Revelation 4:7). Bears symbolize Baal (2 Kings 2:24). Animals can symbolize death (Genesis 4:3-8). The Lord has a purpose in the death of an animal (Matthew 10:28-33). Animals are food for man (1 Timothy 4:3-5).
Animals
have soul life (hY*j& vp#n#,
nephesh
chajjah) (Genesis 1:30), which is in the blood (Genesis
9:4; Leviticus 17:11, 14; Deuteronomy 12:23). Note: In
these last four verses, the word that has been translated, "life," is really
the word, "soul." Souls don't die. There are only two places
to go after death: Heaven or Hell.
The death of a sparrow was used to illustrate going to Heaven (Matthew 10:28-33). Sparrows "are not forgotten before God," which means they go to Heaven (Luke 12:5-9). Scripture references to animals in Heaven mean they are not just earthly creatures, but they have a resurrected life (Revelation 6:2-8; 8:13; 19:11, 14, 19, 21). However, animals also come up from Tartarus, which is the dungeon of Hell. In the Tribulation, locusts will come from Tartarus (Revelation 9:3) as well as some horses (Revelation 9:14-19).
The Bible does not say how animals get to Heaven or Hell. Animals do not have volition and cannot choose Salvation. They are the property of their owners. Therefore, they must go to Heaven or Hell based upon their owners decisions for Salvation.
Some of the provisions of the Mosaic Law regarding animals were:
God
created animals to be appreciated and enjoyed. Animals also symbolize
good and evil. However, the animal itself is not good or evil.
Man rules over the animals just as the Lord rules over creation.
However, Satan rules the world and also rules the animals. After
the Fall of man, Satan took over the rulership of the world and the animals
became wild. Some animals could be domesticated, but others would
not come near (Job
41:1-10; Psalm 32:9). Animals are sensual and enjoy being touched;
hence, the name pets. In the Millennium animals will be tame again
like they were in the Garden (Isaiah
11:6-9).
Relationships
with animals should be objective, not subjective. This includes freedom
from emotional illusions as well as fear. Subjective love relationships
with animals may represent social unfaithfulness. The woman in the
Garden was socially unfaithful due to her love relationship with her favorite
animal, the serpent (Genesis
3:1-5). Subjective love of animals may be a sign of social unfaithfulness
with the Prostitute of Babylon. The love of the woman in the Garden
for the serpent was a counterattack from the Prostitute
of Babylon.
Cruelty to animals is the sign of a reversionist, who may also be socially unfaithful. Balaam was cruel to his talking donkey, who saved his life (Numbers 22:21-30). Simeon and Levi cut the tendons of the hind feet of oxen, which left the animals lame and unable to ever walk again (Genesis 49:5).
Bestiality is an abnormal sexual sin (Leviticus 18:22-23; 20:16).
Animals are under the power of angels and demons. Animals may be influenced or possessed by angels and demons (Genesis 3:1; Matt 8:28-32; Mk 5:1-13; Luk 8:27-33). Animals that are possessed by demons may be good (Gen 3:1-5) or evil (Matt 8:31-32). All animals are at the mercy of angels and demons. God rules over the animal kingdom, but He allows angels, Satan, and demons to influence and control their behavior (Job 39:1-30; Ps 29:9).
It must be assumed that all animals have angels or demons with them at all times. These angels or demons may or may not present a problem for mankind. A pet owner lives with the angels and demons of the pet. A dog owner may have characteristics like a dog, such as being a Gentile reversionist or being full of human good. A cat owner may have characteristics of the cat demon. Animals may also be under the influence of angels or demons of their owners.
The influence of angels or demons in animals may sometimes be recognized by sudden unusual or abnormal changes in the animal behavior. Or it may not be possible to train the animal (psychological programming). A herd of swine were violently driven to kill themselves by demons (Matt 8:31-32). An angel kept the lions from eating Daniel (Dan 6:22). Ravens brought food to Elijah (1 Ki 17:4).
People born under the Four Generation Curse have characteristics like animals. These people will be susceptible to influence by angels and demons corresponding to their animal type (Jer 2:23; Ezek 23:20). People may even become subject to animal spirits (angels and demons) (Dan 4:33). Satan and his demons regularly attack people as animal spirits (Rev 16:13). The solution to the problems caused by animal demons is to resist Satan and execute the Spiritual life.4
God demonstrates his boundless, gracious Love in all Creation. The stars are beacons of light that glorify Him. The angels express His Love and knowledge. He demonstrates his gracious Love through plants and animals on Earth. He feeds the animals, and they are happy every day. No animal, not even a sparrow, dies without a purpose. The Lord watches over and manages all Creation.
The prehistoric ages were revelations of God to the angels. When Satan sinned and was cast down to the earth, the animals, plants, and later, prehistoric man became evidence, witnesses, and metrics in Satan's trial. The animals and prehistoric man were created dichotomous, with a body and soul, separated from God. They were created to symbolize and bear witness of the guilt of Satan, not to have fellowship with God. Prehistoric man had a volition, but he could not sin because there were no divine commandments. The relation of prehistoric man to the animals represented the relationship of God to the angels.
The animals symbolized elect and fallen angels. Mammoths represented Baal, and oxen represented redemption and elect angels. The conflict between the animals symbolized the Angelic Conflict that began when Satan rebelled against God. The conflict between man and the animals represented the conflict between Satan and other angels. For example, after Satan rebelled, his demons attacked the elect angels. Satan's original sin polluted prehistoric Earth's environment just as Adam's original sin polluted the environment of re-created Earth.
After Satan was found guilty and sentenced to the Lake of Fire in his first trial, He appealed the sentence. He appealed because he thought a God of Love could not send him to the Lake of Fire; but he forgot about God's absolute Righteousness and perfect Justice. Satan was operating in pseudo love without authority, and he erroneously thought that God would not judge him. Prehistoric life ended during the last Ice Age, and the Earth was re-created in seven days to support the Appeal Trial. Modern man was created trichotomous, with a body, soul, and human spirit, to represent God. The purpose of the Appeal was to demonstrate the Righteousness, Justice, and Love of the Judge.
When Adam sinned, Satan took over rulership of the world; the animals became wild; and weeds began to grow (Genesis 3:18). Animals attacked animals, and plants attacked plants. Man was also in the middle of a conflict with wild animals (Leviticus 26:22). With Spiritual Life, however, man could learn about God and the Angelic Conflict by observing the animals (Genesis 49:27; Deuteronomy 28:49; Matthew 15:25-28). Man could recognize the symbolism of the animals and understand God's gracious Love toward them. Man's relationship with the animals was like God's relationship with the angels. Some relationships were friendly and others were antagonistic.
With the knowledge of Creation that man has gained, he is able to look back over the millions of years of the history of Creation and learn about the magnificent, miraculous Sovereign Design of the Ages. And he is able to comprehend the unfathomable riches of the Grace of God; His absolute, resolute, unwavering Justice; and His infinite, perfect Love for all Creation.
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