Animals in Heaven

This is an interesting read on the question at hand:

http://www.all-creatures.org/cspv/rev4.6-9.html

Cheers,,,,All creatures great and small, the Lord God made them all......

Jim

 

Well, my ex wife will probably be there, does she count?

Alas, the Bible is ambiguous on the subject, so I guess we won't know until we're there.

 

Isa.11
[6] The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
[7] And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
[8] And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.

 

Jim,

I have to respectfully disagree with that article. Now it may well be that heaven will contain likenesses of our favorite pets, but as to them being the souls of our pets with glorified pet bodies, I don't think so!

In Genesis, after God had created all the other "living things," we read that "God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. - Gen 2:7

Why are all other living things called "creatures," and man(kind) is called "a living being?" In Genesis 1:26-27 we find man referred to being made in God's own image. I believe that the breath God breathed into man was our unique soul! I don't believe animals have them and it is the "soul" that possesses immortality, not the body! In Rev 20:4 John "saw the souls of those who had been beheaded . . . They came to life." John first saw their souls, and THEN saw these souls come to life (receive new bodies).

My other "proof" here is the difference in how the Bible regards human life vs. animal life. The taking of a human life is punishable by death, whereas animals are to be freely slain for food, sacrifices, etc.

So, I hate "raining on the parade" of desirous belief that we'll be reunited with Fido and FiFi in heaven, but I recommend concentrating on God's promise, one way or the other:

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. - Rev 21:4

 

"Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in." - Mark Twain

"If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is
that certain dogs I have known will go to
heaven, and very, very few persons." - James Thurber

"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when
I die I want to go where they went." - Will Rogers

 

I'm not sure on this either but I sure would like to keep on thinking that there will be. I have a horse ride set up with my dad when we get to Heaven.

 

you know that is a stupid and cruel remark and I do not appreciate it at all. I know it doesn't hurt to be light hearted and have a sense of humor on something's but I think your remark about your ex wife is degrading and unChristian in character. It really doesn't surprise me though after reading some of your doctrinal stances on liberal issues.

 

This and similar references (Isa 65) are referring to the "1000 years." In Isa 65, which says the same thing, it speaks of "sinners" (who will be in the millennium, but not in paradise!), and people living "as long as trees." I certainly hope "eternal life" is longer than trees live!

 

Let us please remain with the animal question and leave the sermons at home in this thread. Thank you.

Cheers,

Jim,

Moderator

 

I believe that pets do go to heaven. In fact, I believe they get an automatic ticket. If heaven is what we will want it to be, then most certainly, our pets will be there as well. Billy Graham even said in one of his columns that whatever it would take to make you happy in heaven, then you could be sure it would be there or something to that affect. I tend to go along with that.

And I also do not discount the near death experiences I've read of where people did indeed see their long lost pets as well as their relatives on the other side. I do believe that these people received a glimpse of heaven, and I'm quite sure that my Dad was also met by our former dogs Barney and Tiger when he passed. I cannot site a Bible passage to prove this, however, you won't find me quoting scriptures on this board. This is a personal feeling for me, and I will always believe it. Our pets, I believe, automatically belong to Jesus.

 

Rev19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Journeyheaven, I think you and your Dad are going to get that ride!

As for other animals, I agree with Dr. Bob on the cats.

Johnv, I thought the x-wife joke was funny too.

 

For as long as I can remember, the Anglican Church in England celebrated a Bless the Animals Sunday. This is not theology, but they had some reason for doing it...historically.

I am not dogmatic either way, but I would like to believe it is so and I treat all animals as if they belong to God and I am just their caregiver whilst on this earth. I am also mostly vegetarian.......wait, I luv lamb chops and trotters.......

Cheers,

Jim

 

There was an episode of The Vicar of Dibley that used this event to great comic effect.

To the question - I have no idea. I'd always been taught that, no, animals don't go to heaven, also based on the "living being" and "creatures" issue (which seems to have to do with souls). That sounds about right to me (that, and entrance to heaven is based on salvation, right? or do we alter that to let Mimsy and Fluffy in? or is it along the lines of "accountability," and if you don't have it, you get in anyway?).

That's my current thinking, but I guess I'll see when I get there.

 

whatever it would take to make you happy in heaven, then you could be sure it would be there???

What kind of theology is this? Is there any scriptural stance for this?

-- Jeremiah

 

As my post states, I do not know of a verse to reference this from. I believe somewhat the way Billy Graham does in that heaven is what would make us happy. I interpret that to mean that it isn't perhaps the same for everyone. This is my own belief and don't care to argue why I believe it. Everyone has their interpretation of what they believe heaven to be. Mine includes pets.

 

Yea, for some, what would make them happy is sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll! But I wouldn't hold my breath on any of those being there. IF Dr. Graham actually made that statement, it would be another example of "slippage" in a once sharp mind that has been saying and doing some questionable things in his late years. I respect Dr. Graham tremendously, but I wish he would retire gracefully before he undoes his great reputation!

Refer again to Rev 21 which says "the old order of things are done away with." We have no clue, really, what will make us happy in paradise, save our love for and being in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ!

When Rev 21 says there will be no more tears, pain, or sorrow and I think about the people I love who will most likely not be in heaven, I must accept on faith that God will deal with my mind in a way that I will either have no knowledge of them, or I will have complete acceptance (without remorse) of their fate!!! If God can deal with people we love in that manner, then pets will be no problem either. Whether your beloved favorite pet is there waiting for you or not, you will be equipped (mentally) to deal with it perfectly. So why worry about it?

 

Somehow, I don't think sex or rock and roll are what Dr. Graham was talking about but Mercy..what an insult to compare that to someone's pet! We all have to decide what our view is about heaven. Until I have a near-death experience or get there, ultimately, I won't know for sure. But I stand by my believe that it is not the same for everyone who is there. I'm sure my beloved pets are there somewhere.

 

I don't really think heaven is going to be tailor made for each of us. God gives us some glimpses of what it's like in the bible. He has already created it to suit Him, it's His eaven, not ours, He doesn't change to suit us. He are going to be rejoicing just to be there with Jesus, no need for stuff from the world being there. SO for that reason I do not believe pets are going to be in heaven. Heaven is for born again christians who have the soul God created them to have, animals do not have that, if they did they'd need salvation too, as they are not morally perfect either. No one wants their pet with them more then I do, I really, love the little guy, and have him so spoiled he thinks he's one of us.

Johnv, I thought it was light and funny too.