Animals in new heaven and new earth

The biblical vision of the new heaven and new earth does include animals, though Scripture provides limited detail about their specific nature or origin.

Since heaven will contain many of the same elements found in the original creation—rivers, trees, and fruit—animals would logically be part of this renewed world as well.[1] Isaiah 65 directly connects animals to the new heavens and new earth, depicting a scene where “the wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox” and creatures “shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain.”[2] These descriptions of animals peacefully inhabiting the earth appear to reference God’s eternal kingdom, where humanity and animals will together enjoy a redeemed earth.[3]

The animals depicted in these passages differ fundamentally from their earthly counterparts. Rather than being newly created, they represent transformed versions of existing creatures—predators and prey coexisting in harmony. The millennial kingdom will contain abundant animal life, and since animals populate that intermediate phase, they may also inhabit the eternal state or new earth that God will create.[1]

Regarding the four living creatures with faces of lion, ox, and eagle—these appear around God’s throne in Revelation as heavenly beings covered with eyes, serving a distinct liturgical function. (Rev 4:6–8) In fact, all creatures in heaven and on earth participate in praising God. (Rev 5:13) These celestial beings function differently from earthly animals and appear to be permanent inhabitants of heaven’s worship rather than examples of recreated earthly fauna.

Romans 8:19–21, emphasizes that creation itself awaits liberation from decay and will be brought into freedom and glory alongside God’s children—suggesting animals share in cosmic redemption rather than being excluded from it.

[1] Mark Hitchcock, Visits to Heaven and Back: Are They Real? (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015), 186–188.
[2] Raymond R. Hausoul and Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, God’s Future for Animals: From Creation to New Creation (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2021). [See here, here.]
[3] Randy Alcorn and Jason Beers, Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Heaven (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale Momentum, 2014). [See here.]