Do you believe animals will be in heaven ?

Answer 1

Will there be animals in heaven?
by Randy Alcorn



Elijah was taken up to heaven in a chariot pulled by horses (2 Kings 2:11). There are horses in heaven (Revelation 6:2-8). In fact, there are enough horses for the vast armies of heaven to ride (Revelation 19:11). There are also invisible horses in angelic armies currently dispatched to earth (2 Kings 6:17). It appears the spiritual realm has physical shapes and properties, though normally we can't see it.

Other animals aren't mentioned in the Revelation passages, presumably because they don't play a role in Christ's second coming (an army bringing deliverance rides horses, not Dalmatians or hedgehogs). But isn't it likely that since there are innumerable horses in heaven there are all kinds of other animals too? Why wouldn't there be? Why would we expect horses to be the only animals? If there were no other animals, there wouldn't be horses.

In Isaiah 65:17 God refers to creating a New Heaven and a New Earth. In subsequent verses the text seems to move back and forth from the millennial kingdom to the New Earth. God says he will have animals—wolf, lamb and lion among them—in the millennium, the New Earth or both (Isaiah 65:25). Since the passage begins and ends by taking about the new earth, I believe the proper understanding is that animals will be there as well as in the millennium. Since a central aspect of man's dominion in Genesis 1-2 involved naming and governing over animals, and his dominion over the earth will be restored in eternity, it seems clear that animals will be there for him to govern.

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." However, in the larger context of Ecclesiastes Solomon is talking about the outward appearance of death. Men and animals both die and their bodies go to the grave. We can't see anything different on the outside. But Scripture tells us elsewhere that man has an eternal soul. It tells us he goes one of two places at death (Hebrews 9:27-28). Animals are not said to have eternal souls or to relocate when they die. The presumption is that at death they cease to exist.

However, this doesn't mean people's beloved animals won't be in heaven. I once read Billy Graham's response to a little girl's question, "Will my dog who died this week be in heaven?" Graham replied, "If it would make you any happier, then yes, he will be." Animals aren't nearly as valuable as people, but God made them for people and has touched many people's lives through them. It would be simple for Him to recreate a pet, with its specific "personality" in heaven. If doing so would bring his children greater pleasure than the company of new animals he'll create, I don't doubt he would.

Romans 8:18-22 says that the whole creation was subject to suffering and futility because of human sin. The creation groans in longing for the liberation that will come to humans, and thereby to all creation itself. Creation is under man's dominion and will share the rewards of his redemption just as it shared the punishment for his sin. Animals are a central part of that creation, next to man himself the most significant part. 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). He worked the garden, but he wasn't invited to name the vegetation. Clearly, the animals had certain qualities that set them above other creation. They were to be special to man, and his naming them makes his connection with them personal.

If the New Earth is all the best of the old earth and more, then we should expect it to contain animals. If animals weren't part of the New Earth, this would seem an obvious oversight. Eden was ruined through sin and will be restored through Christ's reign of righteousness. All that was part of Eden, and then made wrong through the sin of the first Adam, we would expect to be part of the New Earth, made right through the virtue of the Second Adam.

Would God take away from us in heaven what he gave, for delight and companionship and help, to Adam and Eve in Eden? Would he revoke his earlier decision to put animals with man, and under man's care? If he remakes the New Earth with new men (who look very much like the old men, only perfect, without violence), wouldn't we expect him also to make new animals (who will presumably look like the old animals, only perfect, without violence)?

Answer 2

Yes. Dumbo the flying elephant, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote, Tweety Bird, Puddy Tat, The three Little pigs, the big bad wolf, the Beast, Black Beauty, Tom and Jerry, Donald Duck, Scrooge McDuck, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Elmo, Freddy the Frog, Barney and all the other Disney and cartoon animals.

Answer 3

As I do not believe in heaven, no.
But assuming that it exists as described in Christian dogma, I don't believe so either. Animals are not intelligent and aware creatures like humans. They are not able to make the choices that the Bible states are necessary to get into heaven. They were also not created by god in his image as it states humans were, so they would not seem to fit in there, I would think. More importantly, if heaven is supposed to be a place of pure joy without sadness or discomfort, then who's going to clean up the poop?

Answer 4

Yes.
Isaiah 11:6-9

Answer 5

heaven is for those who make the choice to follow G-d.
Animals don't think and therefore don't choose and therefore don't go to heaven. They just die and rot and that's that.

Additionally, I don't think that animals have real souls like people do. And its the soul which goes to heaven. so, they don't have anything to send!

Answer 6

I suspect not...but as a life-long dog owner, I have to wonder if there some special place for these creatures.
After all, the same God that created us also created them.

I know that there is the soul issue to contend with.
Do animals have souls?
Again - I don't know.
I suppose someday, all will be reveled, but by then, it won't really matter.

Answer 7

Yes, of course! They are God's creatures just like us.
People who say "No" are ones who have confused God with man's(as in human-kind, not the gender) pettiness and need to feel all important.

Answer 8

why do you mix spirit and phyisicall universe? heaven is not something material so material things can not be in a non material place with no space no time no matter no energy .

Answer 9

Yes I def. think they will be in heaven

Answer 10

Yes.