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Do Animals Go To Heaven ?

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God created earth and all things in the universe from out of his heavenly realm.

He created all the animals on this earth all the plants all the bugs everything material.

The only thing that will not be in heaven is the wicked (perverted). That will be on the outside of heaven.

Earth is the place God allows both the good and the evil to preside because HE is a God who permits his creatures to have a will of their own. the nature of the beast... on earth is not tame because of the fallen angel. Remember the serpent was a creation of God, BUT it was the fallen angel that went into the serpent to deceive. Satan uses the material things that God created. The spirit is that which is embodied. Jesus used pigs to cast wicked spirits into. spirits need a material body to possess in order to get their intent accomplished, without the body they have no means of influence. spirits work through bodies. Animals, serpents were not wicked until the fallen angel took possession of them (influenced). Same with man and woman, they were not wicked until the fallen angel took possession of them (influenced) So then, IN HEAVEN. there are mansions (dwellings) streets (paths) Gold(purity) , etc... Why would God create earth with all the beauty and splendor and not have it in heaven also? That makes no sense to not have all of HIS CREATIONS in heaven also IN PURE FORM (not touched by the wickedness of sin) . GOD CREATED this EARTH and all that is in it. God wants heaven to be on earth also. Notice the words in the Lords Prayer as spoken by Jesus: ( emphasis mine)


Jesus said to pray

Our Father
who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven

Jesus comes down from heaven on a white horse for the final battle.

God created Earth from out of HIS HEAVENLY REALM. He made manifest HIS HEAVEN ON EARTH. It was PURE before the fallen angel thought to challenge the PURITY of his own CREATOR. GOD made manifest all the Material things in the UNIVERSE. And some of you think that heaven will be void of the material creations of GOD? LIFE IS SPIRIT MANIFEST IN THE MATERIAL. God Says to choose life. I believe there is life in heaven bursting to be made into the material form. Heaven is the seat of creation, the starting point of all creation. We are spirit beings but in order to have vision made manifest, in order to have any sense of being.... there must be a material manifestation of spirit. What is spirit without there being a desire to burst forth in the creation of the material? God is SPIRIT made manifest into the material. There is no cloud without some form of material manifestation to SHOW it is in existence. The UNIVERSE IS SPIRIT MADE MANIFEST. the SPARK OF LIFE IS SPIRIT MADE MANIFEST. Animals are a creation of God. I believe that there are animals in heaven because the Lord showed us that God wills for earth to be like heaven. God created it all. The devil perverted it He had to fall from heaven to do his evil challenge against his CREATOR GOD. But God first created earth to be as it is in heaven(hence the LORD'S PRAYER) Heaven is without that perversion. Heaven is the purity, earth was pure, until the fallen angel brought wickedness (twisted-pervertedness) to this earth to the animals too. BUT there is none of that in heaven. Earth is outside of the heavenly realm but God wants earth to be as it is in heaven.... the material realm is subject to both good and evil because God allows freedom of choice in the material realm, in our creating spirit. The fallen angel challenged that outside of heaven... Hence, Revelation 22:15 But in heaven it is PURE... there is no evil. If God created animals on this earth, then I believe they are in heaven also.... BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEY CAME FROM..... Heaven is a place where the SPIRIT OF GOD IS. HE created earth from out of his heavenly realm. Yes, Animals are in heaven, as are all things God created in the UNIVERSE. God is not a limiting God that he would deny us the visions of LIFE manifest in heaven. They Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus said it. And he rides a horse when he comes back. I'm sure that In heaven we will be able to see the material creations of OUR GOD. Why would God deny us that vision? HE is the ONE to make manifest the things from out of heaven. And while we are in heaven, I believe God will allow us to see HIS CREATION MADE MANIFEST THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSE. Heaven is no different a place than what HE has made manifest created anywhere in the Universe. Only in heaven it is all PURE without twisted wickedness. THAT twisted wickedness, that which is opposing HIS PURITY IS on the OUTSIDE of Heaven. As it says in Revelation 22:15.



Jesus said to pray

Our Father
who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven

Jesus comes down from heaven on a white horse for the final battle.

God created earth and all things in the universe from out of his heavenly realm. HE ceates the material from out of the SPIRIT. Heaven is the place OF SPIRIT. Spirit must create, else it is only a void of nothing. Yes, animals are in heaven, as is everything in it's PUREST FORM made manifest. Then satan gets his dirty little hands on what is brought into the material from the heavenly. Because God allows the place where there are these opposing forces.... and the great divide between them. There will always be light and dark, good and evil... but in heaven... THAT is the place where no evil can ever twist-pervert the purity of the SPIRIT (THE HOLY PLACE) . We will not be denied in heaven. Thy kingdom come ..... on earth as it is in heaven. Yes I believe, animals we will see and enjoy in heaven. And I beleive God will allow us to watch Him create spirit made manifest in the material plain. IN heaven we will be a witness to his majesty, his glory, His awsome HOLY SPIRIT OF CREATION BURSTING FORTH INTO THE UNIVERSE. Yes, we will witness it all from the heavenly place from those mansions the Lord Jesus prepared for us all. And I believe all animals will be included.

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Well I am real aware about the beast in heaven, I just don't think it is or will be the ones from earth.
 
Paidion said:
"Nephesh" means "being" ---- nothing more. God breathed into man (the body He formed from the earth) the breath of life and man became a living being. The body God formed did not receive a nephesh; it became a nephesh. The body became a living being.
Click to expand...

Nephesh means more than just "being". It is a word used extensively in the Old Testament and is translated as soul, life, heart, person, and mind.

Blue Letter Bible:

nephesh
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
b) living being
c) living being (with life in the blood)
d) the man himself, self, person or individual
e) seat of the appetites
f) seat of emotions and passions
g) activity of mind

1) dubious
h) activity of the will

1) dubious
i) activity of the character

1) dubious
Click to expand...

Since nephesh can mean "soul" and nephesh is applied to the animals, then we need to determine whether or not animals have souls or merely are living. Rose bushes are living, but they don't have souls, and the word nephesh is never applied to plants, only animals.

So, what is the soul? One translation of soul is "The immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life." Do animals exhibit that immaterial personhood? As someone who lives closely with animals, I certainly believe that they do. Each animal we have, each dog, each cat, each cow, the guinea pig, the rat, the boa, they all have their own personality that makes them different from any other.

Each of these animals are concerned with their own well being, they each have a sense of survival, and each exhibit emotions ranging from love, to anger, to fear, to happiness. (Although sometimes it's kind of hard to determine the emotions of the Boa. He's pretty phlegmatic.) I've seen my animals play jokes on each other, pretend, and sulk when things aren't going their way. And when you think about it, joking, pretending and sulking requires a consciousness that involves, not only recognition of another person, but the presumption of what that other person might be thinking. I've also seen, in the cats, dogs and cows, love for others, compassion and grief. One of our dogs was so overcome with grief when our beloved Cleo died, that he had to be brought into the house and can no longer be left alone. We have to arrange "doggy-sitting" for him if we go anywhere, or take him along.

Actually, I don't think that there is any kind of thought process or emotion that we have that animals don't have, except perhaps the ability to worship God, and I'm not even absolutely sure that animals don't worship God in some way, although I've never seen any kind of behavior that would suggest worship.

This isn't to say that animals are equal to humans. I can definitely see where man and man alone has that "image" of God stamped on him that the animals do not have. But, I do believe that God created the animals with a soul and unless someone can show me where the animal's soul ceases to exist upon death, I'll believe that God will raise them as well as us to live in eternity and thus truly reconciling all aspects of sin. Why should the animals suffer for all eternity the consequences of sin, when sin didn't enter the world through them in the first place?
 
Yes Nepesh , does mean soul and God did give animals one. They have distinct personalities, I have this thing for dolphins and elephants, and I like the study of them. And they certainly are highly intelligent with personalities are very vast, and can and do differ from one another. This is their soul. Now it would great if our earth born animals do go to heaven, but the Bible does not say so.
 
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Handy said:
... and unless someone can show me ...
Click to expand...

Ah, the unsettled issues that bring about debate between opposing views and the variety of perspectives between in so many people, aye? :chin

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Lewis W said:
Yes Nepesh , does mean soul and God did give animals one. They have distinct personalities, I have this thing for dolphins and elephants, and I like the study of them. And they certainly are highly intelligent with personalities are very vast, and can and do differ from one another. This is their soul. Now it would great if our earth born animals do go to heaven, but the Bible does not say so.
Click to expand...

Truly this is one of those "glass half full" or "its-all-in-how-you-look-at-it" things. Some believe that as long as the Bible doesn't specifically say something, then it probably isn't so. Others believe that if the Bible doesn't specifically say something, then there is no reason to believe that it isn't so. ;)

My biggest reason to believe that the animals are just as likely to be resurrected and enjoy eternity as people are is because animals were on the ark, and the ark was a type, a representation of baptism and salvation.

Relic said:
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Handy said:
... and unless someone can show me ...
Click to expand...

Ah, the unsettled issues that bring about debate between opposing views and the variety of perspectives between in so many people, aye? :chin

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Click to expand...

:lol Yes indeedy! Makes life interesting, does it not? :)
 
Yes Dora, there are things that the Bible does not say specifically, but don't make it not so. Been knowing that for a very long time.
 
handy said:
I think the site shows that there are some compelling texts that indicate that animals do indeed go to heaven.


If the animals, who are innocent of sins, lose their live because of sin, wouldn't that be a victory for death and for Satan?
Click to expand...
This is definitely wrong. Animals have a body and a soul. We have a body and soul and spirit. The soul is the seat of the emotions. Yes, an animal has emotions. They can communicate,with each other. They have their own language. The same as insects.
It is the spirit of man that is clothed upon at redemption...not the body. We are given new bodies, and are as the angels. I didn't say we would be angels. It says we will be like them.
In the end...the lion does lie down with the lamb. I also happen to love animals. If God intended them to be saved... he wouldn't allow us to eat them...any more than He would allow us to eat each other. Having love for your pet is great. Just don't pervert the gospel with false doctrine because of it. The redeemed of the Lord were Saved by the blood of the man Christ. Who Saved all that believe. Do you see faith with animals? It's just not in the plan of God. However, there will be animals in the millenium and probably in the new heavens and the new earth. I am sure we will not eat them then. We will have fruit from the tree of life, etc.Acts 11:5  I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
6  Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
7  And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.
8  But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.
9  But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

Mark 6:41  And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.
42  And they did all eat, and were filled.
Animals are not saved. That does not mean that God does not love them as part of HIs creation.
In favor of treating animals well. Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth the corn. They get to eat too... and yes God will also judge us on our abuse of pets.
 
justvisiting said:
handy said:
I think the site shows that there are some compelling texts that indicate that animals do indeed go to heaven.


If the animals, who are innocent of sins, lose their live because of sin, wouldn't that be a victory for death and for Satan?
Click to expand...
This is definitely wrong. Animals have a body and a soul. We have a body and soul and spirit. The soul is the seat of the emotions. Yes, an animal has emotions. They can communicate,with each other. They have their own language. The same as insects.
It is the spirit of man that is clothed upon at redemption...not the body. We are given new bodies, and are as the angels. I didn't say we would be angels. It says we will be like them.
In the end...the lion does lie down with the lamb. I also happen to love animals. If God intended them to be saved... he wouldn't allow us to eat them...any more than He would allow us to eat each other. Having love for your pet is great. Just don't pervert the gospel with false doctrine because of it. The redeemed of the Lord were Saved by the blood of the man Christ. Who Saved all that believe. Do you see faith with animals? It's just not in the plan of God. However, there will be animals in the millenium and probably in the new heavens and the new earth. I am sure we will not eat them then. We will have fruit from the tree of life, etc.Acts 11:5  I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
6  Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
7  And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.
8  But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.
9  But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

Mark 6:41  And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.
42  And they did all eat, and were filled.
Animals are not saved. That does not mean that God does not love them as part of HIs creation.
In favor of treating animals well. Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth the corn. They get to eat too... and yes God will also judge us on our abuse of pets.
Click to expand...

Some us don't believe in an earthly millenium. A person can open up a bunch of topics concerning false doctrine and/or perverting the gospel.

Horses have already been mentioned. I always think of Elisha when God gave him spiritual eyes to see horses and chariots of fire. Some say that represents symbols of power and nothing more, but wouldn't that be like saying God showed Elisha a lie? Lying carnal eyes I can understand but not spiritual eyes.

Children go to heaven before the age of accountability, I wonder if animals are accountable at all.

I know it's all good and well in his hands.

Justice
 
The conclusion is that animals do not go to heaven, even though it is clear that there are beast up there, the Bible does not say anything about the earths animals going up there. When a dog can recite Roman 10 :9 and give his life to Christ, shall I go on.
 
I don't think that earth born animals are going to be going to heaven. Just as I don't think we go to heaven.

I do think (and not to the point of "making doctrine" here false or otherwise), but just think that animals will be resurrected and live with us on the new earth. As you say, Justice, children are saved before the age of accountability and how can animals even be held accountable?

Lewis, in order for the dog to have to be able to recite Romans 9, we must believe that the dog is capable of sin. I don't think that animals are capable of sin. I believe that they live in a fallen world and have been wrenched away from their original purpose due to man's sin. It was man who brought sin into this world and it is man who is in need of salvation.

But, if animals are resurrected to new life in the new earth, it will be because they are innocents, just as babies are. This is why I don't think we apply God's plan of redemption to the animals. But, it's also why I do think that they will be resurrected because they do have souls, and those souls will be lost forever if they are not resurrected giving Satan a victory.

But, I could be wrong. :yes

Again, this is all pretty much speculation for the Bible doesn't give us conclusive evidence one way or another on this subject and it's certainly NOT a subject to get into sharp controversy over.
 
Lewis W said:
The conclusion is that animals do not go to heaven, even though it is clear that there are beast up there, the Bible does not say anything about the earths animals going up there. When a dog can recite Roman 10 :9 and give his life to Christ, shall I go on.
Click to expand...

Lewis, An animal recite Romans 10:9 ??? That's got nothing to do with the presence of life (or things inanimate) in heaven. There are streets of gold cystal clear, there are seats, gates.... people wearing "clothes" in heaven..... don't you think there are trees in heaven? How about Jesus comming back to fight in that final battle.... He comes riding on a white horse. Where did that horse come from? It did say that he came to earth got on a horse and faught the battle, it says he comes riding...

I believe that what God brought to life, when the material parts of it are used up, the soul along with the spirit of it all return to where they came from... God made the "soul" The soul returns to where it came from when the body (material) is not it's house anymore.

In the Lords prayer.... Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:

Jesus Christ himself.... said

They kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven...


Why wouldn't you think that earth was not made in the image, straight from out of heaven, from out of the voice of the Lord God.... What is in heaven is what God makes manifest in the material. God created this earth, this material plain as a manifestation of what he spilled out from the heavenlies. God makes things come to manifest from out of heaven.... where else would all of the things of life come from? All of the universe IS a material expression of our Creator God. Creation, all of creation... IS from out of the Holy Spirit of our Creator God. God IS Spirit. Jesus IS Spirit of God made manifest in the flesh. The flesh is made from out of Spirit.... Spirit is from our of HEAVEN. Heaven is the origin, the root of all creation come to being, made manifest. The thing is, that what is corrupted by the spirit that chose corruption (unholiness) is not in heaven. Corruption has a place outside of heaven.

Revelation 22:15 . It clearly states that "without" (meaning outside of heaven) are the corrupt/things turned to sin (perverted - not of the "holy" spirit) . Heaven is the place in which ALL things are seated.... but thosethings in heaven are not perverted, they are pure in spirit form.... God makes that which is in heaven come to manifestation. If it ain't in heaven in the first place.... it will never be presented in the material form. So if animals were never in the spiritual plain... they would never have been brought to the material plain.

God(spirit) makes ALL things..... First the SPRIT..... Second.... the SPIRIT MADE MANIFEST IN THE MATERIAL. LIFE is made manifest from out of the SPRIT.

Even spiritual eyes must have something of substance to be made present in order to SEE.

Yes, even musical intruments are in heaven! what makes you think there are no animals, if there are streets, gates, musical instruments, chairs, a throne, robed beings. wings of angels..... WE need the image in order to see the things GOD HOLY SPIRIT makes manifest into the material plain. Why would God not allow us to see the things in heaven that he brings to life in the material from? The whole of the universe is made from out of heaven.

on earth, as it is in heaven.

Don't limit your view of heaven.... God gives us ALL THINGS. Why would he deny us the spiritual image of animals, yes, even fish in water, in heaven, but yet allow us to see inanimate objects such as gates, streets of gold, walls, chairs, being clothed in robes, jewels.... etc. ? Those are just a few of the inanimate things IN HEAVEN... not all of them. And to GOD LIFE is more precious than gold! all things alive are IN heaven. It's just that the corrupted, those that have been corrupted by the perverted spirit ARE NOT in heaven, they are on the outside... Not allowed to be in such a pure, perfect place called HEAVEN.

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O man! Where is thy unbelief when ya need it?

I used to think "logically" and could not even conceive of animals going to heaven.
"Harumph! The very idea."

Yep, I was grumpy and stuffy and a little stuck up. I guess I still am but hope not as much.
I used to be a dog person and had no use for cats too. Didn't like 'em at all.
Not only would I argue that animals CAN'T go to heaven (pardon me that was my thought about it) but also would argue that animals could never express any emotion. Okay, remember that I was an angry young man and the term "emotionally repressed" could rightly be applied to me too.

Today (and it's really strange to me to find myself saying this) but today I've asked that the Lord will resurrect my cat and have prayed that animals will go to heaven because I know it will please my heart and also the hearts of my friends who are my brothers and sisters in Christ. So what if the Lord answers my prayer and a couple people who said, "I think no," have bruised ego's?

Does that matter? Nobody has declared, "Thus saith the Lord..."
Nobody has said, "I am the Prophet of the Lord and God has said..."

It's just opinion here. Can God do me the favor of answering my prayer about animals and heaven?
I think He can. He was careful about what He said. It wouldn't make Him a liar, now would it?

~Sparrow
 
relic, I love you, you are my sister in Christ, but I still say no. Now I could be wrong, but I don't think so, and that's a big, I don't think so. But anyway here is another good article on this topic. It is from the Book (Do Animals Go To Heaven)

Do Pets Go to Heaven?
by Moira Anderson Allen, M.Ed.

Sooner or later, any discussion of pet loss comes around to this question. You may have asked it yourself -- or, perhaps, you may have wondered how to answer when your child asks it of you. Lengthy articles have been written on both sides of the argument. A recent ABC News poll showed that 47% of pet owners believed the answer was yes (35% said "no").

Christians tend to find this question particularly difficult, because we prefer to base "answers" to any spiritual question on the authority of the Bible. (I say "we" because, yes, I am a Christian, and yes, I have wrestled with this question.) Consequently, most discussions of this question turn into scripture-slinging contests, addressing the issue of whether animals have "souls," can be "redeemed," etc. The problem is, scripture does not offer a definitive answer to this issue.

There is a reason for this; it's not simply God's perverse decision to leave thousands of pet owners in the dark. The reason is that the Bible is about human redemption; it's an instruction manual about the choices humans must make. If pets go to heaven, however, it isn't due to anything you or I do to "get" them there -- so perhaps it is no surprise that the Bible contains no "instructions" on the matter.

Silence does not mean a negative answer, however. The Bible is silent on a great many things, leaving us with a number of questions that we must explore and resolve using the hearts and minds that God gave us -- seeking an answer that is rooted, not in theology and doctrine, but in logic and love.

What I hope to offer here, therefore, is not a "hard answer" to the question, but a framework within which one can choose one's own answer (or from which one can better answer the question when asked by another).

Can Animals Be Saved?

The Christian concept of heaven is inextricably linked with the concepts of salvation, redemption, and resurrection. Christians don't believe that "going to heaven" happens automatically; it's the result of conscious decisions made during one's life. While the Bible is very specific about the requirements for human salvation, it says nothing about salvation for animals. This has led many to assume that, since animals cannot be "saved," they cannot possibly go to heaven.

Another way to look at this question, however, is to recall why the Bible states that redemption is "necessary" for humans. It is because, in scriptural terms, humans are "fallen" beings. Humans have free will, and thus the ability to choose between good and evil. Humans can choose salvation (and heaven), or choose to reject both.

Animals, however, have never "fallen" -- and if one has not fallen, it is not at all clear that the intermediary step of "redemption" is necessary. Animals cannot "choose" between good and evil; when animals behave badly in our homes, it is generally because of a conflict between their God-given natures and our human requirements. Animals have no need to be saved because they are not considered "sinners."

This doesn't mean that we can necessarily assume that because animals have no "sin," they are automatically received into heaven. What it does mean is that the whole issue of "redemption" simply doesn't apply. Whether animals go to heaven or not, the question of "redemption" is not the basis for letting them in -- or keeping them out.

What Does Heaven Look Like?

Another common argument against the notion that pets go to heaven is that "animals don't have souls." Often, a proponent of this view will not hesitate to say that there are no animals in heaven, for this reason. Again, the Bible isn't exactly clear on that, so the question is not answerable on a strictly scriptural basis.

Rather than attempt to address this directly, therefore, I'd like to raise another question: What do you believe heaven is like? If you ask this question of most people, you're likely to get a description of a glorious garden, filled with beautiful trees and radiant flowers, with sparkling waters and soft breezes. Very few people imagine heaven as some sort of giant, sterile concrete parking lot, devoid of life. We base our image of heaven on the beauties of the creation that is Earth.

Does your garden have birds singing in those heavenly trees? Do butterflies flit among the divine flowers? Just as I can't imagine a heaven without plants, neither can I imagine one without animals. (At this point, the "pro-heaven" folks will usually point out that we know, based on scripture, that there are, at the very least, several horses of various colors in heaven!) Whether animals have souls, I am convinced that there are animals in heaven. And if it is remotely possible to encounter heavenly dogs and heavenly cats amongst those heavenly flowers and trees, then perhaps it's not such a huge stretch to suppose that one of those might be your heavenly dog, or my heavenly cat.

Lessons in Love

My own personal view on this question is that, just as humans are redeemed through the love of God, pets may possibly be "redeemed" through our love. 1 Cor. 7:12-14 speaks of the sanctification of a household through an individual; while it may be stretching a point to suppose that this household might include pets, it's not a completely illogical stretch.

More to the point, I believe that God uses pets to help humans learn about love. From pets, we learn mercy, compassion, patience, and understanding -- and we also learn what it means to receive unconditional love. If pets are a means by which we are taught about love, must we assume that once we have learned the lesson, we must then be forced to lose that love forever? Shall we assume that God, the author of love, has so little compassion for us that He first gives us pets to love, and then tells us, "Yes, well, I know that you really loved that little dog or precious cat I sent your way, but rules are rules"?

This is also a handy way to address the question of whether all animals -- including that mole who's currently digging up your garden -- go to heaven. If there is any sort of "selection process," I believe that process is based on love. My love sanctifies my household; your love sanctifies yours. It doesn't necessarily sanctify the house next door.

This, of course, also raises the sticky counter-question: Does that mean that only those pets who have been fortunate enough to have been loved go to heaven? What about pets who suffered abuse and neglect during their lifetime? Are they "doomed" to some other, far less pleasant afterlife? There may be no good answer to this question either, except one certainty: Whether or not pets go to heaven, we can be quite certain that they do not go to Hell. Hell is reserved specifically for those who have made the wrong choice -- it is not a catch-all for those with no other destination.

Do Pets Care?

While I may wonder about whether I'll be reunited with my pets in heaven, I am certain of one thing: My pets aren't wondering the same thing. (Theology is only of interest to those who wonder about choices.) Animals live in the now, not in the next week; they deal with what is, not what might be or could be or should be. Pets do not ask "what comes next?" This is a human question, based on human grief.

I firmly believe that God takes care of all His creation. I don't know what plan He has for the animals of this world. So when I ask whether I'm going to meet my cats again, I'm asking for my sake, out of my grief -- not because I feel I have to worry that God will forget to look after my cat if I don't to remind Him. I ask, because I want to know if my loss is eternal or temporary, not because I need fear that my pet faces some terrible doom if the answer isn't what I want to hear.

Would It Be Heaven Without Fido?

Would heaven be a wonderful place -- would it truly be "paradise" -- if our pets weren't there? For many, the answer is "no" -- and obviously, God knows this! Placing restrictions on what can or can't be in heaven is a fruitless exercise, much like debating how many angels can dance on the head of a pin; no one has brought back a report, and sooner or later we're all going to find out anyway. In the interim, we are free to imagine whatever we choose.

However, there are many who feel that it is important to be "right" about everything, especially everything spiritual -- that there is no room for spiritual "error." These are the folks, I suspect, who argue most loudly and angrily against the concept of pets in heaven. And there are certainly many issues on which, for a Christian, there is no "wiggle room" for debate. Where the answer matters, the answer is given. If the answer is not given, then it is quite possible that the answer doesn't really matter -- i.e., there is no penalty for being "wrong."

If you believe that pets go to heaven, and this turns out to be incorrect, there's no penalty. Such a belief will not doom anyone to Hell. It is not a salvation issue. Nor are you at risk of leading someone else "astray" if you allow them to hold such a belief. If, for example, you are concerned about allowing a child to believe something you think is an "error," ask yourself whether harboring such a belief is more damaging to that child's faith than, say, believing that God does not share or respect that child's love for her pet, or care about her grief.

"But what if she's disappointed?" you might ask. What if, indeed, we choose to believe that our pets are in heaven -- and then, when we get there, we find out that we're wrong? While this may be painful to imagine, it's equally hard to imagine being disappointed in any way, shape or form when we do get to heaven -- whether we find our pets there or not. As Paul writes in 1 Cor. 13:12: "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then I shall know [fully] even as also I am known." What we do not know now, we will know then; what we do not understand now, we will understand then. And we will not be disappointed.

Making a Choice

So what's the bottom line here? Do they or don't they? Every argument that I've offered in favor of pets going to heaven could be used to argue the opposite view. The key is not to seek a "definitive answer," because there is none. The key is this: On this particular issue, where the Bible is silent, you have the right to choose the answer that feels true to you -- that comforts and consoles you. You do not need to accept someone else's view. When God is silent about an issue, that issue is left to each of us to decide, in our own hearts and with our own minds. Don't let someone else add to your grief by trying to make up your mind for you!

For a good theological discussion of this question and a review of some of the scriptures often used on both sides, see "Do Pets Go to Heaven?" on the Clarifying Christianity website, at http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/pets.shtml.

Another interesting discussion of the question can be found in a downloadable PDF file, "Will Mr. Pooper Go to Heaven?. Good scripture references.

A book titled Do Animals Go to Heaven? is available at http://www.eternalanimals.com; the website offers excerpts, articles and scripture references.

You can read another online book, All Creatures Do Go to Heaven... Especially Pets, online in its entirety at http://www.all-creatures.org/ach. The presentation on this site can be a bit off-putting -- lots of bold, different size fonts, etc. -- but I found the verses and translation details very interesting and worth exploring.
http://www.pet-loss.net/heaven.shtml
 
I don't think that animals get resurrected. Why? Adam is the only creature that gets a soul (and later Eve). I've had a lot of people get enraged because I think that animals don't have souls. And yes, I own a pet, a beautiful Sheltie. However, I haven't really studied this topic.
 
Unlimited said:
I don't think that animals get resurrected. Why? Adam is the only creature that gets a soul (and later Eve). I've had a lot of people get enraged because I think that animals don't have souls. And yes, I own a pet, a beautiful Sheltie. However, I haven't really studied this topic.
Click to expand...

I'm not enraged or even mildly upset. You are certainly entitled to an opinion and it seems good that each person should have their own and not the opinion of somebody else. Doesn't it? Robots can't worship God in spirit and truth. You can. That's what matters!

Asking the Blessing of our Father who is King of all heaven and earth to you,
~Sparrowhawke
 
That was a great article about Pets and Heaven, Lewis. Thanks for sharing it.

Sparrow, I used to feel the same way, only not as grumpy, just more sad that animals would not be resurrected. Now I that I've studied the whole issue though, I truly do feel there is a lot more within the Scriptures to indicate that animals will enjoy eternity with us rather than not.

One such verse is that the lion will lay down with the ...no, not a lamb, it's the wolf that lays with the lamb, the lion actually lays down with a calf. Isaiah 11:6 gets misquoted a lot. But, what I do see Isaiah 11:6 telling us is that the animals will be released from the curse of sin as well as people. I also see in Noah's Ark a message of animals being part of God's plan of redemption of this sin cursed world as well.

Two questions simply are not answered in the Scriptures: Whether the peace and restoration of creation that takes place during the earthly reign of Christ (which is the context of Isaiah 11) will continue on into the new earth. Also, if so, will the animals which now live and suffer death be resurrected to life everlasting as well.

As I've said, after studying the issue a bit, I lean much more to the answer to both questions being yes.
 
Why is it assumed something has to have a soul (or spirit, I know those 2 terms get confused sometimes) to exist in heaven? Does it say that the creatures mentioned in heaven have souls? I have no preexisting opinion on this matter so I am not trying to lead anyone in one direction or the other. This is just a question.
 
Kelsay said:
Why is it assumed something has to have a soul (or spirit, I know those 2 terms get confused sometimes) to exist in heaven? Does it say that the creatures mentioned in heaven have souls? I have no preexisting opinion on this matter so I am not trying to lead anyone in one direction or the other. This is just a question.
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Because the flesh is not meant for Heaven. The flesh is just a clump of clay/dirt without the life that God gives.

Maybe the question should be are we a spirit with a body or a body with a spirit?

I personally do not own a pet but my spouse does. I guess it could be said that I don't have a dog in this debate :) .

I do know that I don't have the authority to say who or what goes to Heaven with all certainty.

Numbers 16:22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

Job 12: 9-10
9: Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
10: In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

At first I thought the below site was a bit of a stretch (God's covenant with Noah/mankind/every living creature/every beast) but Romans 8 seems to tie our fate.

http://www.angelfire.com/oh/turkishango ... enant.html

Romans 8:19-23
19: For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20: For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21: Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22: For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23: And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Justice
 
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