When the lion lays down with the lamb, could we say this is saying there are animals in Heaven?

Question

I'm thinking about ways to comfort a person who has just lost a nice pet.

Answer 1

Midge,I have been meaning to research this subject for some time...I believe that there will indeed be animals in the new heaven and earth that will be created...Wheather or not our "Pets" will be there, I do not know for certain. Animals do have souls--mind,will,emotions, however they do not have a spirit to be ressurected....Jack Van Impe offers a teaching DVD or VHS on this very subject...I believe that he firmly teaches that our loved furry friends will be with us in the afterlife...I can not endorse this,as I have not heard the presentation....Your friend may wish to investigate this,however...It is available through Jack Van Impe ministries.

Answer 2

Not in heaven Midge, but right here on the Earth. An Earth restored to a paradisaic condition. That is what God purposed from the beginning. Adam and Eve were to expand the boundaries of Eden and fill the Earth with their perfect offspring and all would live in peace and harmony with the beast and with their loving God. His purposes have not changed.
You tell your friend that the fact that he/she grieves for their lost pet means that their pet was loved and cherished while it was with them. It had a good life and it asked for no more than that and to be fondly remembered.

Answer 3

Animals did not partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge therefor they are not subject to overcoming sin as people are. Their sin will for the most part be paid in full upon the physical death. Jesus has given the resurrection for all, so they will also receive a body upon the resurrection. The only possible sin that they can be accountable for will be for killing a human as I believe the light of Christ gives then the knowledge that is wrong. In this I believe that the animals of every kind will be in Heaven. But with full knowledge and righteousness they will not be bothersome or unclean.

Answer 4

I certainly hope so. God created all the creatures on this earth, so I truly believe he made a place for all of them. Not just people. I have read about near death experiences where people say their family and pets were there to meet them. But it was not their time and they were sent back to earth to fullfill whatever God had put them here to do. I hope I will see all my pets when it's my time to go.

Answer 5

I think the best way to comfort them would be to say, "Don't you think your dog had some ability to choose right or wrong?" (or whatever kind of pet it was) That might help them out.

Answer 6

Animals have to have souls in order to go to heaven. I haven't heard of any scripture stating animals have souls. Jesus cast demons out of a man into some pigs who then ran off a cliff. If animals had souls why would Jesus do this to them?

Answer 7

That scripture is talking about the peace on earth that will come when people recieve Messiah.

Anyway... I've lost a very special pet myself. Her name was Pooh and she was an orange tabby... I have an interesting story about the time right around when she died (she was only one yr old) well, She was like my child I loved her so very much and she loved me the same. When I walked down the hall, I'd hear her "galloping" behind me and then she'd grab me around my leg (no claws... she would never use them on me... but the TREES... oh yes, she loved the outdoors) when I looked behind me she would make this really cute sound and jump and run the other way. She let me catch up to her so I could do the same. Sometimes, I'd turn her over and pretend I'm blowing air on her stomach. She had a furry stomach, so it didn't make any sound, unless I made the sound myself.. kind of like the "raspberry" sound (you know?).. anyway, she would wrap her paws around my head (not with her claws of course, she kept them back) and open her mouth, pretending that she was fighting/playing with me. She would always come running when I called and jump into my lap. She would always give me kitty kisses... Anyway, one day we had to move off the island to the mainland and into a rental that didn't allow animals. My mother took her to a lady across town to care for her there. I visited my kitty as much as I could, but I could tell she hated it there. It was breaking my heart. One month after we moved to this house, it was Christmas and my little brother gave me a present. He had given me an orange "simba" from the "Lion King" movie. When I opened it, it was opened from the wrong end. I saw that the stuffed animal's head was facing down in the box. Usually, no big deal right? But... I had a "vision" of MY orange kitty in a box face down. I had a very urgent feeling to get her from that lady's house and I told my mother. I told her what I saw/felt was going to happen if i didn't get her. I don't know how I knew, but I did... I think G-d was trying to warn me with giving me the gift. My mother refused to let me go get her however, because it was Christmas... she said the lady had friends and family over and that she would not allow me to use the car. She calmed me down and convinced me that we would go first thing tomorrow. The next morning when I was getting ready to get my kitty, the lady called. She said, "Im so sorry, your daughter's cat got out this morning and tried crossing the street.... a vehicle hit her." We went to the lady's house and the first thing we saw was a box in her driveway. Inside, was my orange kitty... face down. I was inconsolable for the longest of times... many years...I'm still not totally over it. I still cry sometimes.... I cried and cried seemingly non-stop right after the fact, for many days and many nights afterward, while I held my "lion king" kitty. That was 12 years ago... and just this past birthday, someone gave me a birthday card with a red box on it with a ribbon by it. It had a happy, orange tabby in the box.. looking up. I cried, remembering my kitty. It was like she was saying she is o.k. and that I shouldn't feel sad or guilty anymore for what happened to her. I really sensed her near.... I know for a fact that she is waiting for me in heaven. Some christian friends of mine told me animals don't go to heaven, but I know that is not true. Besides, in the book of Revelation (verse 19), Jesus is prophesied about and it talks about Him, sitting on a white horse. If there are horses in heaven, I am sure other animals will be there too.
May G-d fill your friends heart (and yours too) with His love and His peace... shalom.

Answer 8

I believe that there are. How could God take so much enjoyment in creating and giving us animals to enjoy? To make them so appealing and varied? And then not have them in heaven...

I think God likes puppy breath kisses too!

Answer 9

since it's symbolic, I'd find another source for comfort

hopefully the pet would miss it's owner just as much, and if roles reversed would we lament the passing of a dog or pet who ruled us and told us how to live?

Answer 10

No. The verse you mention is a reference to when Jesus comes to rule during His 1,000 year reign and He will restore the earth to it's previous sinless/deathless state. It is a reference to the peace that will be here during His reign, not that there are animals in heaven. Sorry, but they do not have souls like people do, no matter how attached to them we get.