Was there death before the fall? Were all animals vegetarian?

We know that spiritual death entered the world because of Adam's sin.
But, was there physical death prior to the fall, in the animal kingdom?

If we say that there was no physical death before the fall, then, this must mean that every single animal was vegeterian prior to the fall, and was design to do so.
But then, how come so many animals are perfectly design to kill, and not to eat grass or leaves? What was the purpose of venom, if the intention of God was that every animal was supposed to eat grass?
How were sea animals able to survive, if they could not eat fish or tiny sea creatures (ex: plankton)?
What about the carnivorous plants? Were they "catching leaves"?

The list could go on and on.

It seems to me that there was death before the fall, and that sin brought spiritual death.
Too, this would reconcile with the idea of an Old Earth.

Romans 5:12

LS1910 - ¹² C'est pourquoi, comme par un seul homme le péché est entré dans le monde, et par le péché la mort, et qu'ainsi la mort s'est étendue sur tous les hommes, parce que tous ont péché,...

Clarify • Share • Report • Asked December 04 2013 • Samuel Bourassa