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Are animals in heaven

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Posted by: VCagno

I was wondering are there animals in heaven?

I certainly hope there will be animals in heaven. I know they have no
souls, but I know so many people love animals. And I've always believed God
is creating a heavenly home for us complete with some of the desires of our
hearts. I can't image a live without animals ... they're so loyal and
loving, often more so than humans - how sad. And I can't see the harm in
having them there. So we'll see what God has in store for us when the time
comes. Whatever it will be, I know it will be fair and just.


Posted by: JG

Are animals in heaven?


I certainly hope there will be animals in heaven

Our eternal home is a new earth (Isaiah 65:17ff, 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1). Isaiah 65:25 speaks of it as a place in which the wolf and the lamb live together peacefully. It even mentions snakes and scorpians

Elijah was taken up to heaven in a chariot pulled by horses (2 Kings 2:11). We’re told there are horses in heaven (Revelation 6:2-8; 19:11). In fact, there are lots of horses, enough for the vast armies of heaven to ride (Revelation 19:11; 2 Kings 6:17).

Some also argue for animals being in heaven based on Ecclesiastes 3:19-21, which says “Man’s fate is like that of the animals…all go to the same place.

After all, besides his wife, Adam was called upon to give names only to one other part of the creation—the animals (Genesis 2:19-20). Jesus said rejoice because you have a name.

Would God take away from us in heaven what he gave, for delight and companionship and help

We have often wondered why the English translation readings of Revelation 4:6-9 use the words "creatures" or "beasts" or "beings", when the Greek clearly describes these beings as "animals".
G2226zoon, dzo'-on; a live thing, i.e. an animal:
The Greek word for "beasts" is ZOON, meaning, "a living creature." This actually refers to a living thing. This word is used three different ways in Greek literature:

(1). This word is used for angelic creatures in Revelation 4:6-9.
(2). This word is used for a unique bird (in Attic Greek), and this bird is called the Phoenix in Greek literature.
(3). This word is used for a human being who has a great distortion in his soul and thinks like an animal. (Jude 10).

7 And the first beast (animal) was
like a lion, and the second beast
like a calf, and the third beast had a
face as a man, and the fourth beast was
like a flying eagle

In the new heaven and the new earth we have lambs and lions and snakes.
Isa 65:25 5 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain," says the LORD. NIV

Anybody else have any thoughts on this?
I would love to make a lesson out of it.


Posted by: Busy4Him

I too hope that animals, especially those that have given me so much joy over the years, comforted me when I felt all alone and even sometimes protected me from harm, will be there
in heaven.  There have been too many reports of animals who've even saved people's lives for it not to be more than a coincidence that they have such love for us.  I know that the Scriptures say that greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for a friend (paraphrased).  Animals surely have been mankinds friends over the ages and through they're not people, I do like your argument about names.  I'd love to hear a Bible study o­n this too!
Anita


Posted by: skywalker

Jesus is returning on a white horse.
skywalker


Posted by: JG

I just received this email from Kat Scott:
He said: "I was watching a
show on Trinity Broadcasting System and it was the first book of the
left behind series. If we were created equal and all have the free will
choice to make, why do they show animals left behind. That right there
scares me somuch that I am tempted to change my mind about how I
believe. Help me straighten this out Thak you Kat Scott [...] "

hear are some more verses scott

Rev. 19:11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.

Is. 11: 6-8 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, and the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. {We believe this refers to the millennium, but could also refer to the new heavens and new earth.}

Zech. 14:20 On that day "Holy to the Lord" will be inscribed on the bells of the horses... Note: The passage from the Revelation shows that presently there are horses in heaven. The passages in Isaiah and Zechariah show that there will be animals in the millennium kingdom on earth. The present violence in the animal world is a result of the curse in the garden of Eden pronounced by God due to man's sin.


Posted by: czynka

maybe im a bit late in reacting on this, but i would love to learn more about this subject...i know how the Lord has healed some of my pets through the years, sometimes even miraculously.... but some people think im strange when i tell them i also pray for my animals, why not...they are God's creatures too !!

A righteous man regards the life of his animal....Proverbs 12:10a


Posted by: alexx

I Can See Clearly That Animals Will Be In Heaven...what Im Not Clear On Is Knowing....do They Go To Heaven When They Die Or Just Cease To Exist


Posted by: mariposa

I like Jerry's case for animals being in Heaven and truly believe that those I have loved on Earth will meet me there. Some more verses:

Isaiah 66:3 "He that killeth an ox is as he that slayeth a man."
If God has this much regard for an animal, surely He would have it go to heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:19 "For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. "
If what befalls us befalls them, surely entrance into Heaven is part of that.

Czynka, I pray not only for my animals, but for those at the shelter where I volunteer.

As an animal lover and a "modern-day Noah", I couldn't imagine a Heaven without them!


Posted by: alexx

I Hope You Are Right...i Would Really Like To See Some Of My Animals Again...and What Would Really Be Great Is To Be Able To Have A Conversation With Them...of Coarse I Might Hear How They Hated The Dogfood I Bought..but I Dont Care I'd Just Love To See Them Again


Posted by: czynka

Me too !! And in preparing my house in Heaven, i am sure that God has allowed for doggy cushions and cat baskets. I would just LOVE to see them....all healthy and running around ...wow!


Posted by: faith rising

I hope there are animals in Heaven too! I love animals especially cats. I could be wrong, but I was under the impression that in order to get into Heaven one must confess with their mouths and believe without a shadow of a doubt that our Lord and Saviour died the agonizing death that he did, and was resurrected on the third day and is seated in Heaven at the right hand of God, so that we won't ever taste death. An aminal cannot do that because, they don't have the capacity to do that. When an infant dies at birth, or a small child dies before the age of accountability, God welcomes them with open arms into his glorious kingdom. I am sure he does the same thing for animals. They are innocent, and I don't think an animal has the ability to sin even if they wanted to. I do know for a fact though that animals are, (because of their limitied brains, and inability to reason) are succeptable to demonic possession. I believe with my whole heart that God welcomes animals in Heaven with open arms! I hope when I go to Heaven, that He lets me play with all of them, except snakes, and bugs! LOL! I think they are yucky!


Posted by: thornygrace

I have been asked this question time and time again and I am embarrased to admit that I have never done a bible search for the answer. Thank you for this thread.

I am also an animal lover. In fact I am sitting here with one of my 2 cats laying curled up between my arms as I type this. I believe that animals are sometimes possessed too. I have seen this occur as well.

However, I have also grown to believe (without biblical reference albeit) that animals know God with no doubt to His existance. I think it may be instinctive. They did not eat of the apple of the knowledge of good and evil. Mankind did.

My grandfather always told me when I was growing up that animals were in heaven if they were loved by people. He said that love put a spark into animals and that is what carries their personality to heaven to be with us forever. (He grew up a farmer and didn't believe that animals slaughtered for food had such a spark.)

I have kind of adopted this point of view myself. I am too lazy right now to look it up, but I think Jesus when referring to the flowers of the field not worrying about what to wear and the birds in the air not worrying what to eat and how God provides for them even though they are cast into the fire. That is how I differentiate in my mind that pets (animals especially loved by humans) somehow are changed.

I know that now we see in the mirror darkly and someday all of this will become clear. I hope my dear cat Chauncy is up there climbing a tree and keeping an eye on my grandparents.


Posted by: linda hohn

Quote:
Originally Posted by thornygrace
I have been asked this question time and time again and I am embarrased to admit that I have never done a bible search for the answer. Thank you for this thread.

I am also an animal lover. In fact I am sitting here with one of my 2 cats laying curled up between my arms as I type this. I believe that animals are sometimes possessed too. I have seen this occur as well.

However, I have also grown to believe (without biblical reference albeit) that animals know God with no doubt to His existance. I think it may be instinctive. They did not eat of the apple of the knowledge of good and evil. Mankind did.

My grandfather always told me when I was growing up that animals were in heaven if they were loved by people. He said that love put a spark into animals and that is what carries their personality to heaven to be with us forever. (He grew up a farmer and didn't believe that animals slaughtered for food had such a spark.)

I have kind of adopted this point of view myself. I am too lazy right now to look it up, but I think Jesus when referring to the flowers of the field not worrying about what to wear and the birds in the air not worrying what to eat and how God provides for them even though they are cast into the fire. That is how I differentiate in my mind that pets (animals especially loved by humans) somehow are changed.

I know that now we see in the mirror darkly and someday all of this will become clear. I hope my dear cat Chauncy is up there climbing a tree and keeping an eye on my grandparents.

are animals in heaven? Reply posted by Linda Hohn I certainly hope so.I too have often wondered. Animals have been blessed. Saint Francis of Assisi used to bless them. Perhaps, they would be there because of their relationship to us.I like the idea that they are changed because someone loved them. Our Father God grants the right desires of our hearts. It seems those who devote their lives to us should be rewarded. We shall have to wait for heaven to see the light.


Posted by: akabezalel

Last night my long term companion cat, Sushi, became critical with the leukemia he has been fighting.

Today my husband and I took him to the vet and had him euthanized.

Do I believe that animals go to heaven? No.

I read in Psalms 104 that animals return to their dust when they die and I believe their spirits return to the Father.

Will I see all my pets when I get there? I do not believe in re-incarnation.

I believe there will be animals in the new earth. I do not believe that the ones I had here will be resurrected there. I believe I may recognize some aspect of their spirit when I see it in another animal as the Spirit of God renews the earth.

Do I have less compassion for people who lose their pets? No.

I know how hard it is to lose pets, the grief is real and sometimes stronger than when we lose people.

I lost 4 long term pets in one year (1999) I literally went into shock at the loss of my four footed children! I still miss my golden retriever. I have trouble watching other people with their goldies or when I know Bammers would have loved to do something with me.

She was 14 when she had a stroke, I had to have her put down and I thought I would die as well from the grief of pulling the plug on one of my own children!

She was my daughter's 4H guide dog project (she was rejected because she was blind) and when you raise a guide dog you get closer to them because you share a leash for all but 4 hours a day. And, because she was blind, she was at my side for most of her life, my constant companion. I still have a quiet cry for her once in awhile.

Psalms 104 is a picture of the earth after the return of Jesus when the earth is remade. The whole chapter deals with animals and natural elements.

Psa 104:1 Bless Jehovah, O my soul! O Jehovah my God, You are very great; You have put on honor and majesty,
Psa 104:2 covering Yourself with light like a cloak, and stretching out the heavens like a curtain;
Psa 104:3 who lays beams in the waters of His upper rooms; setting thick clouds as His chariots; walking on the wings of the wind.
Psa 104:4 He makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flaming fire.
Psa 104:5 He founded the earth on its foundations; it shall not be shaken forever and ever.
Psa 104:6 You have covered the deep as with a robe; the waters stood above the mountains.
Psa 104:7 From Your rebuke, they flee; from the sound of Your thunder, they hurry away.
Psa 104:8 They go up the mountains; they go down the valleys to the place which You founded for them.
Psa 104:9 You have set a boundary that they may not pass over; they shall not return to cover the earth.
Psa 104:10 He sends springs into the valleys; they flow between the hills;
Psa 104:11 they give drink to every animal of the field; wild asses break their thirst;
Psa 104:12 over them the birds of the heavens dwell; they give voice from between the branches.
Psa 104:13 He waters the hills from His upper rooms; the earth is satisfied from the fruit of Your works.
Psa 104:14 He causes the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for the service of man, to bring food out of the earth.
Psa 104:15 And wine cheers the heart of man; oil makes his face shine, and bread sustains the heart of man.
Psa 104:16 The trees of Jehovah are satisfied, the cedars of Lebanon that He planted;
Psa 104:17 there where the birds nest; the fir trees are the house of the stork;
Psa 104:18 high hills are for the wild goats; rocks are a refuge for the badgers.
Psa 104:19 He made the moon for seasons; the sun knows its going down.
Psa 104:20 You put darkness, and it is night; in it all the forest animals creep.
Psa 104:21 The young lions roar for prey, and to seek their food from God.
Psa 104:22 The sun rises; they are gathered, and go to their dens to lie down.
Psa 104:23 Man goes out to his work, and to his labor until the evening.
Psa 104:24 O Jehovah, how many are Your works! You have made all of them in wisdom; the earth is full of Your riches.
Psa 104:25 This is the sea, great and wide on both hands; there are creeping things even without number; living things, small and great.
Psa 104:26 There the ships go; You formed this great sea-animal to play in it.
Psa 104:27 All of them wait for You to give them their food in due season.
Psa 104:28 You give to them; they gather; You open Your hand, and they are filled with good.
Psa 104:29 You hide Your face, and they are troubled; You gather their breath, and they expire and return to their dust.
Psa 104:30 You send out Your Spirit, and they are created; and You renew the face of the earth.
Psa 104:31 The glory of Jehovah shall be forever; Jehovah shall rejoice in His works.
Psa 104:32 He looks to the earth, and it trembles; He touches the hills, and they smoke.
Psa 104:33 I will sing to Jehovah during my life; I will sing praise to my God while I exist.
Psa 104:34 My thoughts on Him shall be sweet; I will be glad in Jehovah.
Psa 104:35 Let sinners be consumed out of the earth and let the wicked be no more; bless Jehovah, O my soul; praise Jehovah!

and

Rev 5:11 And I saw, and I heard a sound of many angels around the throne, and the living creatures, and the elders, and their number was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands,
Rev 5:12 saying with a great voice, Worthy is the Lamb having been slain to receive the power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.
Rev 5:13 And every creature which is in Heaven, and in the earth, and underneath the earth, and the things that are on the sea, and the things in all of them, I heard saying: To Him sitting on the throne, and to the Lamb be the blessing and the honor and the glory and the might forever and ever.

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and the sea no longer is.


Posted by: pickone

I might be looking at this wrong, so tell me what you think. Bees and birds come from the water. (See the fifth day, Genesis 1:20-23). I think "moving creature" I read somewhere meant "swarm."

Maybe the living things that fly that come from the water go back to water, their physical bodies, I mean.

Genesis 7:15 - And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.

Genesis 2:7 - And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

What is a living soul? Things that have the breath of life on the earth are living, but does everything living have a soul? I saw a glimpse one time of a cat which had a little person inside, holding up a book in his hand.

Animals used to talk, I guess. Numbers 22:27 talks about an ****** that God let speak to Balaam.

Jesus is the Lamb of God, and the Lion of Judah.


Posted by: Christian Commando

For my two cents worth about animals. I basically taught the same as Pastor Jerry for Scriptures to show animals are in Heaven.

But, I also suggest they may have a spirit soul just as you and I, for the fact, because God told Adam since the Fall, our bodies were made from the dust, therefore they shall return to it and as Akabezalel pointed out, so too for animals, they have a spirit-soul and it shall also go to Heaven at physical death.

As pointed out earlier about when God called man a "living being", I also believe this is how He created other "living beings", because of the examples given in Rev. Pastor Jerry showed, of the variety of the four creatures around the throne, covering the whole animal kingdom as it were.

And since God shows first, He "created" the spirit souls of man, then "made" thier physical bodies later and seperately, I suggest it's the same for animals, even if less inteligent than us. After all, they still have to have enough inteligence to develope what is known as- "animal instinct" for the survival of thier particular species.

Last and certainly not least- If God can know us before we are born, even before concieved, (Has to be for the spirit He has waiting for us to be bonded to the physical body), how is it He wouldn't know animals as well, in the same way, knowing it's the only other living creatures God had Adam name?

this is anyway, why I believe animals at the least, other than man, do also have a spirit-soul. I could be wrong, but suggest not, for the ability animals have for being capable of learning more things than just thier survival instinct. We teach children as they grow to learn more, just as we teach animals to learn things- (circus, zoo, etc).

As for that donkey talking, that was a Miracle of God, used for that particular lesson teaching with Balaam. Otherwise, there are no references I recall of God's Word where any animal species except man could speak in our language, as a general rule.

God bless!!


Posted by: peapod

I am on the fence about the nature of an animal's soul (do they have one or not?). I don't see harm in believing something good happens to them when they die.

So, I have resigned to think animals do go to heaven when they die. However, when I get to heaven and find I was wrong, I will not be sad. No sadness in heaven!!!!!


Posted by: Christian Commando

Well, I just believe they do, according to the 4 beasts seen around God's Throne in Revelation, two of them represent the animal and bird kingdoms. I can't say for sure they have a soul, but it seems appropriate they might, since represented by God in Heaven.

Something to think about anyways.

God Bless!!


Posted by: rainbow788

I have often wondered about this subject over the years. I tend to believe that animals do have a soul and that there will be animals in heaven. The thought of never seeing my beloved pets again saddens me greatly and as an animal lover my entire life, i just can't imagine heaven without animals!


Posted by: Christian Commando

Here is a thought as well-

Remember in God's Word how it describes the 1,000 year reign of Christ where animals will lay down next to each other peceably instead of attacking each other? That could very well be another example of God having animals in Heaven since this comes across as well.

And animals were in the Garden of Eden as well, but at the time of perfection, all were vegetarian, since nothing was tainted by sin at the start, therefore, everything was to live forever at first.

God Bless!!


Posted by: eagle4him

Soul is mind, will and emotions combined. Spirit is reborn in man, and is the part that is made in the image and likeness of God. Not the soul!

Animals do not have the same spirit. That is what differentiates us from them.


Posted by: Christian Commando

I beg to differ with you my friend on that point.

God created man in a 3 part creation, spirit, soul and body, to represent God as a Trinity. I agree. But-

The "Soul"- is the spirit intellect- Gen. 1:28. The physical body of either one had not been "made" as yet. And to say animals do not have emotions or feelings is incorrect.

For example, animals feel pain, you should not approach a woundd animal or it could strike out at you.

Another is never approach any young animals if its parents are around,, as they might attack you to protect thier young.

When hungry they eat, when thirsty, they drink. They teach thier young how to seek food and aquire it.

Like us, wild animals can learn to stay away from hazardous areas after having a negative experience or learn ways around such areas to get where they want to go.

The only thing that seperates animals from us, is the fact they cannot progress past the primitive level of undertanding, God created at a higher level of, in man.

But even at those primitive levels, animals still feel and express emotions. This is easily seen in pets where they can be very loving and affectionate normally, but if sick, can be distant and less wanting to be around people.

And since most of the animal, bird and fish species are quite attentive to raising thier young, this takes a level of love or compasion to be able to do this. Without feelings or emotions, animals would give birth to young and leave them on thier own from that moment on.

Oh, and the soul can't be the "mind". The "mind" is actually the combination of the spirit's soul- intellect and the physical body's brain.

God declares the body is lifeless without the Spirit. Physical definition- The physical body would not function properly without a spirit-soul to operate the physical brain to give it orderly function.

Spiritual meaning- Our body's are dead in Christ without the Holy Spirit giving it new spiritual life.

As for the physical and animals, remember, satan was in the Garden of Eden in a "Serpent", (physical creature). (Demons had possessesd people as well) (Jesus called Judas- "Diabolis", which translated from Greek means- "the devil in human flesh".)

Humans shows an attitude, but this is the way they percieve things, and it can change as the person grows and learns more. Thier personality can never change. The personality is thier - Inner self- spirit's soul-(intellect).

There is only one way it can change and that is by demonic possession. When satn or another spirit takes over that person and thier personality totally changes.

This could not happen to animals if they didn't have a spirit soul to seperate from thier body for another to take over it's body. Yet, when Christ casts out that "legion" of demon, He casts them into a herd of swine, which then acted identical to the man they'd possessed before.

Thus, there is clear proof animals do have a spirit-soul too.

God Bless!!


Posted by: BETTIE D. RYALS

I'M NEW TO THIS; SO I DO HOPE YOU GET THIS REPLY.

BLESS YOU FOR THIS POST. I DO NOT HAVE MY BIBLE WITH ME RIGHT NOW HOWEVER I DO KNOW THAT A MAN WAS MEASURING TO MAKE A WALL AROUND HEAVEN WHEN AN ANGEL CAME TO HIM TO SAY THAT THERE WOULD BE TOO MANY PEOPLE AND ANIMALS FOR A WALL AROUND HEAVEN AND ALSO TELLS THE MAN THAT GOD WILL BE THE WALLS.


Posted by: eagle4him

My Holy Bilbe says that God made man in His very own image.

It says nothing about making animals in His image. Thank You God that I am not being lowered to the same level as an animal by the majority of this nonesense!


Posted by: Christian Commando

Ahuh, well, Bless your opinion eagle4him, but am glad I do not think the same as you, as Christ is called- the "Lamb of God". In Rev. He is seen as a "lamb slain". Thus, as long as you do not want to be lowered to an animal's level, so be it. I will any day compared to what I just shared.

Also, you might reconsider your stance on the basis God also has Angels in Heaven who are different than us, plus look back at all the references of horses being in Heaven.

And Jesus declares man will be "as" the Angels are, but won't be them. Yet God never declares Angels are made in His Image. So, how do you feel about dropping to an Angelic level in the future?

Thank you Bettie D. Ryals, your responce is much appreciated.

God Bless!!


Posted by: savesomesorrow

Look in a dog's eyes and tell me there is no soul there. In order to know if an animal has a soul or not you have to have the soul for animals. God put me on this Earth to be the keeper of animals and I truly believe that they have a greater purpose on this Earth than to eat, sleep, reproduce and die.
To be one with an animal is to know what they truly are and to be one with an animal is to be truly blessed!!
Thankyou for hearing my opinion.
I PRAY that there are animals in Heaven!

If there aren't at least one of my former pets or 1 single animal in Heaven when I get there then I want to come back!!!!