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Will we see our beloved pets in heaven?

One thing the Bible talks about that is very interesting, is that though animals do not have souls like people do, they are still living creatures and were still made from the dust of the Earth, just as we were. I think it would be safe to say that if they didn't have some type of a "soul", they wouldn't be alive, but we do know God made them and breathed life into them, and I was surely shocked to see the following, in scripture. I don't know how I missed it! Look at this:

According to the Bible, Genesis 2:19 states, "And out of the ground, the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every bird of the heaven; and brought them unto the man to see what he would call them."

Psalms includes prayers where other creatures are called to praise God:

Psalm 150:6 - "Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord."

It’s a question most of us have pondered, for sure, especially after losing a beloved animal companion. You might be shocked to learn that the Bible actually has a lot to say on this topic. For those of us who hope to spend eternity with our animal family members, it seems to point to good news. From the very beginning of creation, there has always been a special relationship between mankind and animals.

Isaiah 43:20-28 KJV
"The beast of the field shall honor me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people...."

We can ponder this: While the Bible says nothing about animals having salvation, several verses suggest that God will restore all of his creation to Himself again. I don't know about you, but this gives me hope that I will see my beloved pets in heaven. And I don't think that's wishful thinking, given the scriptures we've seen regarding animals in the Bible.

God knows how much we love animals too, and created them from the very beginning, alongside Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and scripture seems to indicate that one day they will be part of His restored perfect kingdom, as follows:

"For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itselfwill be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”—Romans 8:19–21

Romans 8:19–21 discusses the privileges of God's children and God's purpose to restore ALL things through Jesus Christ.The verses convey that though man sined against God, creation will be liberated from the decay of sin, and brought into the glory! Praise God!!!

The verse also reminds us of the sin-ravaged world in which creation suffers under sin's curse. However, Paul also conveys that creation is waiting to be revealed in glory, when all will be made right.

All creatures share the ability to recognize and praise our Creator. Psalm 148:7–14 offers a beautiful picture of this:

"Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea monsters and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and frost,
stormy wind fulfilling his command!
Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
Wild animals and all cattle,
creeping things and flying birds!
Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and women alike,
old and young together!
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
His glory is above earth and heaven."

The Bible tells us that God’s covenant is with ALL of His creation, and He extends His love to all creatures/creation:

“Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O Lord.”—Psalm 36:6

The Book of Revelation 7:9-17, tells me that we have biblical grounds for not only wanting, but expecting that we may be with our beloved pets again, on the restored New Earth. That is so exciting! It presents a vision of all creatures standing before the throne of God. He is their Creator. He loves us, and them, and He intends to restore His creatures from the bondage they experienced when sin entered this world.

Proverbs 12:10: says, “The righteous care for the needs of their animals."

Humans are stewards of—and responsible for the care of—God’s creation. The bond God had created, was broken, and humans’ exploitation of, and cruelty to animals, began. I don't know about you, but I look forward with anticipation and prayer, of a new creation in which God will restore animals to their intended glory, and there will be nothing more that can hurt them ever again, nor us. There will be no tears in heaven. Everything shall be made perfect again. In fact, the whole work of creation begs for restoration, since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden.

Revelation even describes many creatures standing before the throne of God, including a multitude of people, the four living creatures, and every creature in heaven and on earth: Revelation 7:9–17

In conclusion, many people believe that we will indeed be able to enjoy the company of our beloved animals in heaven, with the reasoning that God loves all creation and that a perfect heavenly realm would include the animals that brought us joy on Earth. In the end, all creation will live in harmony.

For many people who have formed deep bonds with their pets, the idea of seeing them again in heaven provides comfort and hope in times of grief.Many theologians believe that since God created all living things, including animals, it stands to reason that God would want them to be part of a perfect heavenly realm. I personally believe these scriptures give us hope, yet our greatest hope is in Jesus Christ, as our Savior.

Revelation 21:4 in the Bible, states, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away".

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus' name

On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

When darkness veils His lovely face
I'll rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy day
My anchor holds within the veil

On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay

On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

Let's just revisit and visualise it.
Just think about what that is going to look like
When we hear that trumpet sound...

When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh, may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne

On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand.

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AthrillatheHunt · 51-55, M

Heaven is reserved for the one creation with a soul. Humans .

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LadyGrace ·

@AthrillatheHunt You sure? Please read my whole post and see if you still feel the same. Thank you for your thoughts on this.

AthrillatheHunt · 51-55, M

@LadyGrace getting into heaven is about making good choices while rejecting evil. Only humans can do this IMO. But I may be wrong . Maybe my dogs will be there to greet me.

LadyGrace ·

@AthrillatheHunt The Bible says animals can't reason like we do of course.
But I wouldn't dismiss the idea that our animals might be there too since God knows we love them so much. But we'll see. Haha whichever way he chooses will be the best, I am sure. One thing we know for sure that there will be no tears or sorrow in heaven and no more death, praise God.

DanielsASJ · 36-40, M

@AthrillatheHunt

Earlier, we used to sacrifice Lamb because lambs are considered sinless. Animals don't sin or it is not in the low Spirit of animals that they identify sin. So, definitely, As God is the epitome of Judgement, I am pretty sure that all the animals would receive the kingdom of God.

LadyGrace ·

@DanielsASJ In the Jewish tradition, a lamb was considered a good sacrifice because it symbolized innocence and purity, and its sacrifice was seen as a way to symbolically atone for human sins, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who is often referred to as the "Lamb of God" - meaning his death on the cross was the perfect, once-and-for-all sacrifice that would permanently redeem humanity from sin, rendering further animal sacrifices unnecessary.

DanielsASJ · 36-40, M

@LadyGrace Right Grace, my point is these animals, not having a developed spirit should be considered less sinful than us human beings. And they deserve heaven.

LadyGrace ·

@DanielsASJ you make a good point and I appreciate that. I'm thinking that since they are of a different spiritual existence then we are and they cannot make decisions between good and evil, they cannot be thought of as evil. They don't even know why they do mean things. It's just their nature because of the fall of Man. It even came to the animals to have a rebellious nature but all that will be fixed in the New Kingdom I believe. I could be wrong but time will tell.

AthrillatheHunt · 51-55, M

@LadyGrace lots of symbolism regarding Jesus .

LadyGrace ·

@AthrillatheHunt Yes. 👍

BritishFailedAesthetic · M

@AthrillatheHunt

getting into heaven is about making good choices while rejecting evil.

Well, if that's the case heaven will be empty!

Getting into heaven is by placing your trust in Christ and his shed blood on the cross for your sin.

LadyGrace ·

@AthrillatheHunt

getting into heaven is about making good choices while rejecting evil.

I think you misunderstood my answer. Yes we have to make a choice to get into heaven, but we cannot get to heaven by being good. We cannot earn our way to heaven. Scripture is very adamant and clear about that.

LadyGrace ·

@BritishFailedAesthetic Amen to that!

AthrillatheHunt · 51-55, M

@LadyGrace we do in fact earn our way there. Otherwise , everyone would be there . We (Christian’s )earn it by following the teachings of Jesus .

LadyGrace ·

@AthrillatheHunt If we could earn our way to heaven, that would be counted as "works", which would contradict Ephesians 2:8-9:

"For by grace are you saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Boast of what? A person with sin can never save themselves from the consequences and condemnation that sin placed on them. It takes a pure and holy sacrifice to erase sin, and that was Jesus.

Without the shedding of blood there is no Redemption of sins. Hebrews 9:22.... Jesus did for us what we could not do, pay for our sins on the cross.

To get to Heaven and to have eternal life, is something that we can never earn or even deserve through our own efforts or goodness. Jesus said our "goodness" is as filthy rags. He said that none of us are good, meaning that we could never reach God's holy standard of goodness. But through Jesus and his forgiveness, and his work to save us on the cross, we can be saved by grace, praise God. The very meaning of Grace meaning, unearned favor from God. We cannot work for it. It is a gift. If someone hands you a gift, you have not earned it and you certainly cannot receive it until you accept it as a gift and take it.

Salvation is based on Jesus's goodness, not our own. Jesus paid the price for sins, and those who believe in him, can inherit eternal life.

BritishFailedAesthetic · M

@AthrillatheHunt Earn it? What a statement loaded with pride.

We can never earn it but Christ, in his mercy, died for us sinners, so that all who trust in his blood shed for us on the cross can get to heaven.

AthrillatheHunt · 51-55, M

@BritishFailedAesthetic yes. A place in heaven next to our creator is earned , not given.

BritishFailedAesthetic · M

@AthrillatheHunt Seriously? You think sinners like ourselves deserve and are entitled to heaven?

AthrillatheHunt · 51-55, M

@BritishFailedAesthetic sins can be forgiven prior to death .

BritishFailedAesthetic · M

@AthrillatheHunt Sins can be forgiven through Christ's shed blood on the cross only.

Saying we can earn heaven is self-righteousness at it's most dangerous and most extreme!

AthrillatheHunt · 51-55, M

@BritishFailedAesthetic in Catholicism , a Priest can forgive a sinner through last rights. Catholicism is indeed extreme .

DanielsASJ · 36-40, M

@AthrillatheHunt Follow what Jesus Christ said. Leave rest of the things of this world in this world. Read what Paul said.

This message was deleted by its author.

LadyGrace ·

@AthrillatheHunt nowhere in the Bible does it say that our place in heaven is earned. The very definition of Grace is unearned favor from God.

LadyGrace ·

@AthrillatheHunt

sins can be forgiven prior to death

That's a general statement. Who do you think forgives our sins before death, specifically? It is not the Pope or a Catholic minister. God did not give priests the authority to forgive our sins. This is not like a game of Monopoly where all of a sudden before you die, you decide "oh I'm going to repent now" and go to the winner's spot. This is not a game. If one truly repents of their sins and asks Jesus to save them, he promises to do so. He said no one can come to the father but by him, meaning Jesus.. where are you getting your information from in regards to salvation?

LadyGrace ·

@BritishFailedAesthetic yes the Bible is very adamant about that, as you have stated. There's no way we can earn our way to heaven.

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