Biblical Prophecy and the Call for Vegan Living
By a PETA Staffer
The Bible contains numerous prophecies, including one in Isaiah 11:6–7 that paints a vivid picture of a harmonious coexistence among animals, emphasizing their nonviolent, peaceful, and vegan lives:
The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
This profound vision of unity among all sentient beings underscores the conviction that harmony will prevail over violence and a spirit of gentleness will guide interactions among all sentient beings. But how do we get there? How can we, as stewards of this planet and its inhabitants, make this peaceful vision a reality?
One practical step we can take is to adopt a vegan lifestyle. By choosing to go vegan, we abstain from participating in industries that exploit and harm animals for experimentation, food, clothing, entertainment, or other purposes. And by adopting a philosophy that avoids harming any animals, we can fully embody the principle of nonviolence that is at the heart not only of this prophecy but also of the instructions given by God Himself shortly after creating humans.
In Genesis 1:29, God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” Many theologians agree that this “ideal” created in the Garden of Eden was a commandment for a vegan diet for all.
Not only were humans vegan in the Garden of Eden, so were the other animals. Genesis 1:30 continues, “And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.”
Fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 11:6–7, which corresponds to God’s instructions to the first humans, is not only possible but, according to Genesis, was once a reality. So let us heed the call to strive for a world in which this peaceful existence is again a reality. Let us bring this to fruition through our compassionate choices and actions. Let us be like the “little child” and gently lead the way.
In this light, may we pray, “Heavenly Father, I come before you seeking peace, both in my own life and in the world around me.”
