Will Our Pets & Animals Be In Heaven?

Starman3000m · May 31, 2012

Many have heard the following saying:

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

While Will Rogers was sincere in the cited quote, there are some who believe that animals will have no part of Heaven because "they have no soul". Others believe that animals will partake of the new creation when God establishes a new Heaven and a new earth and cite Scripture about the wolf and the lamb "getting along". (Isaiah 11:6, 65:25)

Thoughts?

Zguy28 · May 31, 2012

Starman3000m said:
Many have heard the following saying:

While Will Rogers was sincere in the cited quote, there are some who believe that animals will have no part of Heaven because "they have no soul". Others believe that animals will partake of the new creation when God establishes a new Heaven and a new earth and cite Scripture about the wolf and the lamb "getting along". (Isaiah 11:6, 65:25)

Thoughts?

Well, we know for a fact they do not have God's spirit/image/soul. So I'd think NO.

However the bible is silent about it in the new earth. He made them once, why not again? Don't really know.

I think the "Wolf and lamb getting along" from Isaiah is referencing the Millennial kingdom.

libertytyranny · May 31, 2012

I remember asking this question of my pastor when I was younger. I was really concerned as I had always been an animal lover and the thought occured to me that I wanted my doggy with me in heaven. He thought about it for a bit, and gently reminded me that animals aren't humans and don't have a soul in the same sense that we do...but then he also told me that if I really needed my doggy in heaven to be happy, he can't imagine she wouldn't be there, as it is the most perfect place. It was, I am sure, a very simplistic explanation to comfort a child, but I always remember that conversation. And to me, even now as an adult, it makes sense and is still comforting.

You can argue semantics about souls and repentance and all that..but at the end of the day, I like to believe that God loves me very much, and wants me to be happy. That's the thought that makes me want to be good, and do the right thing. Plus, my doggy may have not had a soul in the human sense, but she certainly had something darn close. :killingme

StoneThrower · May 31, 2012

Starman3000m said:
Many have heard the following saying:

While Will Rogers was sincere in the cited quote, there are some who believe that animals will have no part of Heaven because "they have no soul". Others believe that animals will partake of the new creation when God establishes a new Heaven and a new earth and cite Scripture about the wolf and the lamb "getting along". (Isaiah 11:6, 65:25)

Thoughts?

First questions first, are we a dichotomy or trichotomy?
Is soul and spirit the same or differnt?

PsyOps · May 31, 2012

I shudder at the thought of barking dogs in heaven.

b23hqb · May 31, 2012

I believe no dogs (peace and quiet), cats (hard to shread their claws on pearls, gold, etc.), or any other kinds of soulless beings in heaven, as we think we know it.

Just those that, in our hearts, said:

"Thank you Lord, for saving my soul;
Thank you Lord, for making me whole;
Thank you, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation, so rich, so free."

Amen?

Starman3000m · May 31, 2012

StoneThrower said:
First questions first, are we a dichotomy or trichotomy?
Is soul and spirit the same or differnt?

I believe soul and spirit are different. A person can be a living soul with a dead spirit (spiritually dead). Thus, the need to be born-again - of the Spirit as Jesus said one must be. "...That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:5-7)

In the case of the the final days of Creation, the sea creatures, fowl and land animals were created prior to mankind (Adam) whom God created last.

Animals may not have "souls" as a person does, but they undoubtedly are sustained by some life-force that was given by God which would have been present when they were first created in the perfect environment before the fall of mankind that came about through Adam's disobedience. (Romans 5:12)

IMO: Animals would have been tame and obedient before the fall of mankind. So, no loud barking dogs, no cat scratches, no shark bites, etc.

hvp05 · May 31, 2012

Starman3000m said:
IMO: Animals would have been tame and obedient before the fall of mankind. So, no loud barking dogs, no cat scratches, no shark bites, etc.

Those actions are not only about obedience, as they can also be used for defense, play, and general interaction. If a shark doesn't bite how is it supposed to hunt and eat?

This version of paradise sounds very odd.

Starman3000m · May 31, 2012

hvp05 said:
Those actions are not only about obedience, as they can also be used for defense, play, and general interaction. If a shark doesn't bite how is it supposed to hunt and eat?

This version of paradise sounds very odd.

lol
That scenario described would have been the version of the first days of Creation and how animals would have interacted with mankind. It was a perfect environment at first. Thus, no disobedient (or harmful) actions on their part toward man. However, it didn't take but a day for mankind to fall into corruption, thus, the whole world became cursed from that day forward.

hvp05 · May 31, 2012

Starman3000m said:
However, it didn't take but a day for mankind to fall into corruption, thus, the whole world became cursed from that day forward.

That explained nothing, but as always, I can't fault you for being inconsistent.

Katelin · May 31, 2012

Starman3000m said:
Many have heard the following saying:

While Will Rogers was sincere in the cited quote, there are some who believe that animals will have no part of Heaven because "they have no soul". Others believe that animals will partake of the new creation when God establishes a new Heaven and a new earth and cite Scripture about the wolf and the lamb "getting along". (Isaiah 11:6, 65:25)

Thoughts?

Yes.
They were created by God and God wants them back.
God loves all of His creations, otherwise, why would he create them?

Egyptians mummified cats as they were blessed and held in a position of honor!

Starman3000m · May 31, 2012

hvp05 said:
That explained nothing, but as always, I can't fault you for being inconsistent.

In a perfect world, you could pet a lion or swim with the sharks without the fear of you being their dinner. This is an imperfect world brought about by the fall of mankind.
:buddies:

hvp05 · May 31, 2012

Starman3000m said:
In a perfect world, you could pet a lion or swim with the sharks without the fear of you being their dinner. This is an imperfect world brought about by the fall of mankind.

I also think it's funny when my cats 'talk' to me, but that won't be allowed in heaven. Another reason I'm supposed to end up in hell. :coffee:

Starman3000m · May 31, 2012

hvp05 said:
I also think it's funny when my cats 'talk' to me, but that won't be allowed in heaven. Another reason I'm supposed to end up in hell.

Cats are are also pretty cool. God made them that way.

TimTheToolMan · May 31, 2012

I've alwaysbeen of the belief that Heaven is each person's view of paradise, and I couldn't imagine paradise without my pets.

ItalianScallion · May 31, 2012

Does this passage shed any light? I know Solomon is speaking about man & animals dying and returning to "dust" but what about that last verse?

18 "I also thought, As for men, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals.
Man’s fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; man has no advantage over the animal...All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.
Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?” (Ecclesiastes 3)

Starman3000m · Jun 1, 2012

ItalianScallion said:
Does this passage shed any light? I know Solomon is speaking about man & animals dying and returning to "dust" but what about that last verse?

18 "I also thought, As for men, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals.
Man’s fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; man has no advantage over the animal...All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.
Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?” (Ecclesiastes 3)

That's a good question - who knows? (Okay - God does)

This subject came up today from comments that two co-workers had made similar to that of Will Rogers; That, if their pets would not be in Heaven they wouldn't want to go there. Both had their favorite pet cats die recently.

Scripture indicates that God takes animals into account as in: Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. (Luke 12:6) But that speaks to the here and now.

BTW: Regarding the verses from Isaiah 11:6-7
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. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. (Isaiah 11:6-7)

I agree on this with Zguy and others that it refers to the time during the Millennial Reign of Christ upon the earth when animals will dwell peacefully together without conflict.

Animals in Heaven? Revelation Chapters 21 & 22 mention what the new Heaven and new earth will be like with God's people being there with Him - no mention of animals.

As you pointed out:
"Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”

:buddies:

kwillia · Jun 1, 2012

But what if you are a Christian and your dog or cat is a Buddaist... Hmmmmmm? :tap:

PsyOps · Jun 1, 2012

Katelin said:
Yes.
They were created by God and God wants them back.
God loves all of His creations, otherwise, why would he create them?

I don't think anywhere in the bible will you read that God loves the animals He created. If you read Genesis you'll read that God created everything for man's consumption and use, and some for sacrifice to God. If you read about how the Hebrews scarificed animals it was a very bloody and brutal event. And it went on constantly. The bible speaks about how God loved the aroma of the burnt offerings.

Does this mean God doesn't love the animals He created? I think He loved them for the purpose He created them: to serve and feed man.

Zguy28 · Jun 1, 2012

PsyOps said:
I don't think anywhere in the bible will you read that God loves the animals He created. If you read Genesis you'll read that God created everything for man's consumption and use, and some for sacrifice to God. If you read about how the Hebrews scarificed animals it was a very bloody and brutal event. And it went on constantly. The bible speaks about how God loved the aroma of the burnt offerings.

Does this mean God doesn't love the animals He created? I think He loved them for the purpose He created them: to serve and feed man.

A lot of people gloss over the sacrifices of the OT culminating in Jesus on the cross. How horrible it must have been to slaughter all those animals!

Yet, that should be a word picture to us about how terrible sin is and what's required because of it. What a terrible price.

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