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Animals in heaven?

Melanie

Melanie

Active Member
Site Supporter
It is hoped that it will be the case but animals do not have souls.

They are a part of the good God's creation as are the trees and flowers etc, so I believe that when they die they return to the Maker. This may be sentimental on my part, and certainly there is no theological basis....but it is to be hoped:flower:

Widening the discussion would be what will Heaven be like? For every person there will be a differing expression of Heaven. I do know there will be no grief nor discord....
 
C

convicted1

Guest
Personally, I do not think that they will go to heaven when they die. We have the sweetest Chinese Pug, Lexie, at the house, that doesn't seem to have the first "ill" thought towards anyone. If any animal made it to heaven, it would be her. That being said, when she leaves us-she's almost 4 now, so hopefully that will be 8-10 healthy years down the road-, I do not think she will go anywhere but the ground.


I think we'll be too busy singing, shouting, praising, and thanking our King for saving us, and taking us home to heaven to worry about the precious pets we were blessed to have while we lived here on earth. But I would be elated to see Lexie there with me....Tracy is lost and I pray that she is saved before she leaves this world.
 
Scarlett O.

Scarlett O.

Moderator
Moderator
Well, all I can offer is to consider the book of Job.

When Job’s story began he had the following:
  • 7,000 sheep
  • 3,000 camels
  • 500 oxen
  • 500 donkeys
  • 7 sons and 3 daughters
At the end of the book of Job the Bible says that God blessed Job more at the latter part of his life than the first and restored unto him twice what he had.

Then it says Job had
  • 14,000 sheep
  • 6,000 camels
  • 1,000 oxen
  • 1,000 donkeys and ......
  • …… 7 sons and 3 daughters
I have heard some say that this is evidence that animals do not go to heaven. For Job to get 14,000 camels and say that this was twice what he had meant that the original 7,000 were no more - not on earth nor heaven. For him to have 7 sons and 3 daughters at the end and for this to be twice what he had before meant that the original 7 sons and 3 daughters were with God and would be with Job again. He still had 20 sons and daughters. It's just that 10 of them were with God.
 
plain_n_simple

plain_n_simple

Active Member
Ecclesiastes 3

21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
 
S

saturneptune

New Member
plain_n_simple said:
Ecclesiastes 3

21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
Click to expand...
Thanks for posting that verse. I never noticed that before, and we are studying Ecclesiastes on Wednesdays. I agree with you. I love pets, as we have a dog, a cat, and eight birds. They each have a personality and are a joy to be around. However, to me, they are the Lord's blessing on this earth.
 
plain_n_simple

plain_n_simple

Active Member
saturneptune said:
Thanks for posting that verse. I never noticed that before, and we are studying Ecclesiastes on Wednesdays. I agree with you. I love pets, as we have a dog, a cat, and eight birds. They each have a personality and are a joy to be around. However, to me, they are the Lord's blessing on this earth.
Click to expand...

They truly are a blessing. I found the verse after my daughter asked me, and I had no idea either.
 
M

Michael Wrenn

New Member
I believe there will be animals in heaven. Places in Revelation suggest it. Also, one of my favorite and personally significant passages does, too -- Romans 8:18-23.
 
1

12strings

Active Member
what about the child playing next to the Snake's hole without being in danger?

and the lion sleeping next to it's former predator?
 
M

Michael Wrenn

New Member
plain_n_simple said:
Interesting take on the Romans teaching, where in Revelation are you talking about?
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Revelation Chapter 6, the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" imagery, and 19:11

Could be considered symbolic imagery only, or taken literally. Either way, it suggests animals in a spiritual dimension.

But I do believe that in Romans 8:18-23, God promises that the whole creation -- and that would include the animal world -- will share in the redemption from death and decay that Jesus provides for us. There were animals with Adam and Eve before the Fall --before death -- also.

These things cause me to believe that there will be animals in the next life -- either/or in the new heaven and new earth.
 
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M

Michael Wrenn

New Member
The concept of animals in the afterlife is given more prominence in other religions; I never could understand why it seemed neglected in Christianity.

John Wesley believed it, so I guess I'm in good company. :)
 
K

ktn4eg

New Member
12strings said:
what about the child playing next to the Snake's hole without being in danger?

and the lion sleeping next to it's former predator?
Click to expand...

I believe that the situation 12strings is referring to (see Isaiah 11:6-9 for the full citation) is more likely referring to what conditions will be like here on earth during Christ's 1,000-year reign.

This is not to say that there will not be animal creatures in heaven. Maybe there will be. Passages in Revelation seem to bear this out. OTOH, I'm not sure that if there will be animal creatures in heaven that they will be just like those we now see here on earth.
 
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12strings

Active Member
ktn4eg said:
I believe that the situation 12strings is referring to (see Isaiah 11:6-9 for the full citation) is more likely referring to what conditions will be like here on earth during Christ's 1,000-year reign.
Click to expand...

What if you're an a-millenialist!!! :laugh:
 
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