I pose the heavy theological question:
Will our pets be in heaven?
If you say “yes” then is that restricted to just pets, or all critters go to heaven?
Hmm, what are you going to say to the piece of chicken you ate yesterday or the steak you’ll have tonight?
What about the bug you squished, or the rare Hawaiian bird our land developments displaced and caused to go extinct?
If you say “no” how do you explain that to a little kid who’s dog just died?
Is it a soul/no soul issue?
Will they only inhabit the earth as in "A new heaven and a new earth."?
If heaven is so heavenly won’t we grieve the loss of a beloved pet?
Will we think “humanly” as we do now about these things when we get to heaven?
Got any scriptures to back this thoughts up with?
Come on, I need some help here………
10 comments:
Okay, I have never come accross any scriptures in the bible that confirms that animals do not have a spirit. Personal thought though in the book of Genisis, when God created man, it states that "God created man in His own image" God is a spirit being, as so are humans, occupying an earthly vessel. Man was the only being that God made mention of that.
I cannot say that our pets would or would not be in heaven, and just a question, if man is subject to judgement (whether they will spend eternity in Heaven or Hell) does that mean that animals are subject to the same judgement?
Again just a personal opinion, because man is the only being created in God's image, I think Man is the only being on earth, that will be in heaven (besides angels of course). Afterall, it states that when Christ returns, we wil no longer be in our "earthly bodies" but in our glorified bodies. So again, not confirmed, but if animals have no spirits, their earthly bodies will not be in heaven, so what will they be?
I do not doubt that there is animals in Heaven. In the book of Revelations, it makes mention of the rider on a white horse, and many creatures in heaven.
With that being said I apologize I was not able to answer your quesiton completely, but hope some of those thoughts were helpful.
Hi its me again, sorry but I have another comment. Are there any scriptures that state animals were to be companions for man? I know that Eve was created that man would not be lonely. But now I am wondering, were animals created to be "pets" in which we grow feelings for? Myself guilty as well, but why do we have pets? Companionship? Was that something that God intended for us? If we have brothers and sisters to provide companionship, why do we have pets?
Interesting thoughts on this...from what I recall in the bible I believe there will be animals and other creatures in Heaven because of Scriptures in Revelation and because in Genesis it seemed to please God to make them in the first place,(where God saw that it was good). Our Heavenly Father shows appreciation for VARIETY and DIVERSITY, and He creates for pleasure...enjoyment...or even a degree or type of companionship (yet not to replace human companionship.)
As for animals being held responsible for moral choices with consequence, I do not recall any scriptures pertaining to animals...HOWEVER...what about the time Jesus cursed the TREE for not bearing fruit...he spoke to the tree as if it had a decision to bear or not bear fruit. So if the Tree is accountable with consequence, then why not animals or every living creature? I look forward to more scriptures on this subject.
Yes, animals were created here on earth. Yes, I do believe that animals will be in Heaven, as I stated earlier, however I could not confirm whether they were our "pets" from here on earth.
Okay, and yes I have to say that I agree that God did create animals for pleasure...
I would like to hear other's opinions on this matter. I just feel that this is a "gray area" that I could not confirm...
some random thoughts:
are there good animals and bad animals.
do the bad ones go to hell? the pitbull that just bit your kids foot off. and what about sea creatures..will sharks be in heaven? are there good sharks and bad sharks?
the pigs that Jesus cast the demons into, will they be there? The donkey that spoke with a human voice?
what about pet insects. will roaches be there? are there good roaches? pet rats, beetles, ants?
do pets have personality or is it just perceived personality...eg. a pet lizard that has personality.
since pets (animals, insects, fish, mamamls etc.) have no record of sins maybe they will be in heaven. maybe the bad ones were demon possessed.
I think God taught me a lot about his faithfullness through my German Shepherd. rip. I hope to see him there. so far no scriptures to support it.
Able had sheep. If he developed feelings for, then the sacrifice would have been tremendous, otherwise its just slip another one on the barbi, folks...
maybe they are here to point to the creator in some way...
Okay let me take a shot at this...
First, here's what I could find in scripture:
Genesis Ch1. gives the impression that only MAN is created in God's image/likeness hence the only creatures with a soul. MAN is blessed by God and given dominion over everything on earth.
Genesis 3:14 says the serpent is cursed more than all the cattle, etc. Could all animals have the a curse (no afterlife?).
God is the first to kill animals as a means to clothe Adam and Eve.
Genesis Ch.6
Because God was sorry he created man he wiped out everything on earth by flood. Did the sealife survive? I don't think Noah had the means to make fish tanks nor the space...how did the fresh water fish survive the salt and the saltwater fish survive the fresh? (Brackish).
Does this indicate some truth to the "good sharks" comment by Coorslt?
Genesis Ch. 9 gives animals as food for man, yet there is a covenant with all living creatures-hence the Rainbow...the covenant does not mean redemption, just never another flood.
Revelation 21:1 describes that there will be no sea (balancing out the fact they survived the flood?) and that FORMER THINGS pasted away.
Revelation 22:15...Outside the city are the dogs. (Oh, so all dogs DON'T go to heaven). Okay the reference is not to the animal-dog...but does place an interesting revelation as to what people in John's time thought of dogs...as compared to how the modern western world views them. Or how other nations still see them or eat them.
My conclusion:
No, there is no afterlife for animals. While there may be animals/creatures in heaven they will be created to be there, perfect without spot or blemish...and by God's design.
Our pets have no souls (any animal for that matter). There are no "good" or "bad" creatures...they just are what they are.
We won't miss our pets in heaven because will come into full understanding and realization of God...there will be no greieving, just understanding.
Isaiah 65:17
17"Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth--so wonderful that no one will even think about the old ones anymore. (NLT)
We won't even miss our pets!
hard to explain to a kid though.
they are just having fun enjoying all that God created for them. but, if a kid kept pressing for an answer I would just bring the whole thing to the table and discuss it. the line of thinking might go like this - what if God created 'chubsy' temporary, for our total enjoyment until we get to heaven. what if all animals were temporary creatures that God created for our total enjoyment here on earth as a taste of what heaven will be like. hmm.
Hmmm, great insights....If/when I have kids and they ask that question I will boldly say, "Go ask your Mom." And head off to hid in the bathroom or out to mow the lawn....or I'll take him over to CoorsLt's and Bible Blogger's home.
Just like in marraige, there is no marraige in heaven. In heaven we would not need that type of fulfillment.
In that sense, yes it is hard to explain this to a child. But I would simply let my child know that their pet would be missed, but surely not give them a false hope...
In that same sense, it is hard to explain no marraige in heaven to a new believer. They would not understand why we have that type of fulfillment here on earth, but not experience it in heaven.
I think it comes down to their understanding. That in heaven they would have so much joy, worshiping, and praising God that there would be no need for those emotional fulfillments, just GOD!!!
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