Transcription
A very common question people ask is, does the Bible say anything about animals going to heaven? A lot of people have pets of some kind, and many times our pets act like members of our family. I actually have a little calico cat named Meeko, so we'll see. Go to heaven.
The reality is that our beloved pets will someday die if they haven't already. And with their death causing so much grief, it makes sense that people want to be comforted by hopefully knowing that they'll see their loved animals again. So while the Bible does not explicitly say if fluffy will go to heaven, one thing is very clear. God loves animals. Animals are actually very important to God, and many times in the Bible, God mentions animals and uses them to display his character. And on top of that, animals have a lot of symbolism, carry out certain tasks in God's plans, and are a key part to his creation.
Now, when it comes to answering the question, Will our pets or animals go to heaven? The Bible doesn't give a very clear answer. However, there are important thoughts that can hopefully give you some ease when it comes to this question.
So thought number one animals were part of God's perfect creation. Genesis chapter one, verse 31. Then God saw everything that he had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. In this passage we see the days of creation, and on the fifth day God created winged animals and the sea creatures, and on the sixth day God created the land animals. And when God created everything before there was any sin in the world, he said that what he made was very good. So when it comes to the question of whether our pets will be in heaven, the first thought to consider is the fact that when God created a perfect world, animals were part of that world. And if that's the case, then I think we have reason to believe that animals could exist in a perfect heaven.
To add to that argument, look at thought number two. Animals were in Eden at the beginning and Eden will be restored at the end of time. Genesis chapter two, verse 19. Now out of the ground, the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. In this passage, God finished creating the animals, and he brings them to Adam and then has Adam name each animal. And what I think is really special about this passage is that in the same way Adam named all of these animals. When we get an animal for the first time, we get the joy of giving that animal a name. I remember looking at my cat, Mico, when she was a kitten, and I remember watching her sleep, and I thought deeply about what her name would be. You see, from the very beginning in the garden, one of the first things that humans did was give animals names. And I'd say that this was a very special experience, and it created a bond and relationship with the animals in the garden.
Now look at revelation chapter 22, verses 1 to 3. Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the lamb through the middle of the street of the city. Also on either side of the river, the tree of life, with its 12 kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. In this passage, it's describing the New Jerusalem which is on the new earth that God will create. And here it is described as having a river flowing through it, and the tree of life will be there. Also note that there will be healing here and nothing there will be cursed. Now I want you to notice that the tree of life is there. You see, the Tree of Life was originally in the Garden of Eden, but was taken out because of sin. But here in the new Earth, there's a restoration of life. And it will be like how it was back in the garden when everything began. There was a perfect relationship with God back then, and now God's people will once again have a perfect relationship without sin. And in the same way that the tree of life was there back then, it will return. There's actually a lot of interesting comparisons between Genesis and Revelation. In Genesis, God created the sun. In revelation, God will act as the sun. The Tree of Life was both in the books of Genesis and Revelation. God had a personal relationship with his people in both books, and both settings are surrounded by plants and rivers. So revelation really is just a renewal and restoration of what life used to be like and like it was in the beginning. Nothing will be cursed and we get to be there and worship God in a brand new Paradise. And the first Paradise that God created. There was a curse on earth because of Adam and Eve's sin. So understand that right now God wants to restore what was lost in Eden, and he wants it to be like it was before sin. Jesus himself even says to the thief while he was on the cross, today you will be with me in Paradise. And what's interesting about the statement is that the word Paradise in the original language means a Walden park or garden. So looking at the question of whether animals will be in heaven, it may very well be the case. Because before sin entered the world, Adam was very connected to the animals. And God right now wants to restore the world's back to what it used to be like. So animals may be in the New Earth.
That number three animals are creatures and there will be creatures in heaven. Revelation chapter four, verses 6 to 8. And before the throne there was, as it were, a sea of glass like crystal. And around the throne on each side of the throne are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind. The first living creature like a lion. The second living creature like an ox. The third living creature with the face of a man. And the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within. And day and night they never cease to say. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come. In this passage we see God's throne room and it describes four creatures that resemble animals. And these creatures not only speak, but are worshiping God. And no one can tell you the exact kind of creatures these are, but they are in fact, creatures. Some people think they're angels. Some people think they represent Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and some people think they're just figurative. And while we don't know too much about them, what we do know for sure is that they resemble and look like animals. Also, the one with a face like a man could be a gorilla or a monkey, but we're just speculating. And there are many interpretations about this passage and what they could all mean. But the main thing I want you to see here is like animals. So one thing's for certain. There are creatures in heaven. And because animals are creatures, it's possible that animals will also be in heaven. But remember, it's only a possibility. And when it comes to what heaven will be like. One of the things we can be sure of is that it will infinitely surpass all our expectations. Because God is an infinite God. And he has a heart to bless his people. So whether or not our pets will be there, it will be absolutely amazing and God's plans will be infinitely above ours.
Number four God gave animals souls. Genesis chapter one, verse 30. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the heavens, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life. I have given every green plant for food. And it was so. And this passage, it says, every animal has the breath of life. And this word for breath is nefesh. And nefesh means a living being or soul. And in Genesis chapter two, verse seven, God breathed the spirit into Adam's body in the beginning, and Adam became nefesh, a living being or soul. And the same Hebrew word nefesh is used for both animals and for people. So animals here have the breath of life in them. Now remember that animals are not equal to humans because they were not created in God's image like people are. But this passage shows that animals also have souls or a consciousness. They're just different from human souls. And on a final note, while animals and humans are very different when it comes to creation, both creatures seem to share something unique, which is the breath of life.
Number five heaven is illustrated with animals in it. Isaiah chapter 11, verse six. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf, and the lion and the fatted calf together, and a little child will lead them. And this passage, Isaiah is trying to illustrate what heaven will be like. And it describes the animals that were once at war with each other, living together in harmony. And in this picture we get a glimpse of what heaven will be like. And I find it so encouraging because it shows complete harmony and peace. And in the passage, it also shows humans taking care of animals again, like how it was back in the Garden of Eden. So for you, I want you to imagine God drawing a picture of heaven for you. And if you were to look at that picture, you'd find that it would look like this passage. And the picture would be illustrated with predatory animals living in complete harmony with animals that would have been their prey. So there there would be a peace and harmony that doesn't exist here currently on Earth. So note that the illustrations in the Bible are there to give us a feeling about how it might be in heaven. In the feeling from this imagery gives us great comfort because there will be a surreal piece that
Number six animals are eagerly waiting for God to make things right. Romans chapter eight, verse 18 to 22. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God, for the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, and hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption, and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. In this passage, it shows that as Christians, our trials and suffering are nothing compared to what we have coming to us. And then it says that creation is waiting for that day when we are united with God to the fullest. So going back to the fall of man and how sin entered into God's perfect world, creation did not have a choice in how things went. And here's the hope that creation itself will be set free from the bondage that sin put it in. And then this passage closes by saying that in the same way that a pregnant mother groans in pain because she's waiting for her child to be born. Creation is also groaning and waiting for the day that Christians are united with God and have redeemed bodies. And what I want you to notice here is that it says creation itself will be set free from its bondage. And I think part of that creation has to do with animals, because animals are also stuck in a world with sin, and they didn't have a choice to be brought into this world before sin. Animals didn't need to fight to survive, and they definitely didn't eat each other because death wasn't a thing. So animals, along with all of creation, are in expectation of Jesus coming back so that they can be set free from their bondage. Because despite animals having not sinned, they were affected by it. So the reason why I'm bringing all this up is because I want you to pay attention to how God is just and fair, and will make things right for animals who are subjected to a life filled with the consequences of sin. Because when it comes to animals, God sees them as victims of a world tainted by sin, and he sees animals as part of his creation. That needs to be helped and restored. So when it comes to the question of whether they'll be in heaven or not, from this passage, I can know that God wants to make sure all of his creation is restored and brought back to order. And we also know that from this passage, it isn't just God who wants this, but his creation as well.
Number seven animals may be different from what we expect. Numbers. Chapter 22, verse 28. Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey. And she said to Balaam, what have I done to you that you've struck me these three times? In this passage there was a prophet named Balam who was disobeying God because God gave him specific instructions to not follow the Princess of Moab. So in his disobedience, Balam was riding on his donkey with the princes, and God sent an angel holding a sword to meet Balam and Balam. Donkey saw the angel and tried avoiding the angel who sought to harm Balam. But in the process of avoiding the angel on multiple occasions, the donkey hurts Balam, and every single time Balam hits his donkey for a total of three times. And after that, in this passage, it says that God opens the donkey's mouth so that it could speak, and the donkey presented her case on why she did what she did. And then God opened Balam eyes so that he could see the angel that his donkey was trying to avoid. So see here how God used this donkey to fulfill his purpose. God here in the book of numbers, used Balaam donkey to stop him on the road and to get him to pay attention to the angel of the Lord. And for an observation, the donkey was given eyes to see the angel before Balam does. And with that knowledge the donkey tried three times to alert Balam to stop in the presence of the angel of the Lord. And if you read this passage, you'd notice that the donkey saves Balam life, and you'd probably agree that she had more reverence and acknowledgment for God then Balam did. Also in the story of Jonah, God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh and warn the Ninevites to repent or they would face judgment. So Jonah, being in a similar situation as Balaam, disobeyed God and tried to do his own thing and went his own way. And as he traveled away from what God said, the people he's on board with throw him overboard in fear of what God will do. And after that, he's eaten by a giant fish, and Jonah stays inside the fish three days until the fish spits him out on dry land to redirect him. Now what? I want you to notice that in both of these situations, the animals end up redirecting the men to go the way they were supposed to go, which seems to indicate that the animals had an understanding about God, that both men in these stories didn't have. So in the same way that these animals had a very unique role with God's prophets, I want you to consider the possibility that an animal's role in creation may be different than what we think. We often think of an animal's purpose as being tied to the balancing of our ecosystem and nature, or having to do with our comfort or entertainment, or even to be used for food. But the truth is that their purpose seems to be much deeper than that. From what we just read about Balam and Jonah and the fact that animals are God's idea and a part of God's design. Shows that they are very important to God, and they may be more aware of God than we think. So considering Balaam, donkey, Jonah's fish, and other passengers about animals, the Bible seems to suggest that animals have feelings and thoughts and also may have a deeper understanding of the spiritual world. And a final fun thought. Once Nineveh repented after Jonah warned them, the people and the animals were instructed to fast. So these are some things to think about as we consider if animals or pets will be in heaven.
Number eight animals praise God. Revelation chapter five, verse 13. And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying to him who sits on the throne, and to the lamb, be blessing, and honor, and glory, and might forever and ever. In this passage, John is having a vision, and he is hearing every creature praise God, and that's powerful. Imagine yourself amongst every animal to exist, praising God. Think of how people get a little emotional in the movie The Lion King, when all the animals in the area bow down to Simba, the new cub. But in this moment of John's vision, every animal in existence praises God. It says every creature in the sky, on land, in the sea, and even under ground. And it's possible that animals that have died in the past could also be there, because it does say every creature. And I feel that this is an eye opening passage here, because the animals are worshiping God and they even speak. And based on what they say to God, they seem to have a deep understanding of who God is. And this passage also shows the mass of creation showing reverence to him. Also, I want you to notice that as the animals are blessing God, they are saying forever and ever. So this passage might imply that this is happening in heaven for eternity. So for you I want you to take comfort that your animals may be a part of this great vision, and that animals everywhere are included with every creature praising God, saying to him who sits on the throne, and to the lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever.
Number nine God saved animals from judgment of the flood. Genesis chapter six, verse 19. And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. In this passage the world became so sinful that God decided to judge it by a flood. And the God here warns and commands Noah to bring two of every kind of animal into the ark to keep them alive. And after the flood was over, the water receded. And then God speaks to Noah and his sons. Look at Genesis chapter nine, verses 8 to 11. Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. It is for every beast of the earth. I establish my covenant with you that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood. And never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth. In this passage, God is promising Noah that he will never judge the world with water ever again. And I want you to notice how this covenant or promise was given to Noah and his family. For every beast of the earth you see in the story of Noah. God wanted to restart mankind with Noah's family and the animals, and on top of that, they're also included in the protection of God's promise to never flood the earth again. And the reason why I bring this up is because animals were important enough to God to preserve them, and to include them in his promise. So as we think of whether or not animals will be with us in heaven, we can know for sure that God desired to save animals and to ensure that they would be in the world after judgment.
So if you're ever wondering if animals are your pets, go to heaven. Try to remember these nine thoughts that number one. Animals were part of God's perfect creation. Number two, animals were in Eden at the beginning and Eden will be restored at the end of time. Number three animals are creatures, and there will be creatures in heaven. That number four, God gave animals souls. Number five heaven is illustrated with animals in it. Number six animals are eagerly waiting for God to make things right. Number seven animals may be different from what we expect. Number eight animals praise God. And number nine, God saved animals from judgment of the flood. Close.
When it comes to the question of whether there will be animals in heaven, I think there's a pretty good argument that animals will be in heaven. I would say the major question is if a specific pet soul will be in heaven when they die. So if my cat Mico dies, will her soul be in heaven? Like, will she be the same Mico? And the answer to that question is I don't know. Which is why in this video, I gave you nine thoughts to consider so that you can come to your own conclusion. But I will say that regardless of my cat, Mico will be in heaven. Heaven is going to be a place that will have no tears and will have complete comfort from pain. So if this question still bothers you, remember that heaven will be more than you realize. And it's okay not to understand everything about heaven, because despite the fact that there's a lot we don't know from everything we've read in Scripture, it's clear to see that God deeply cares for his creation. So even if animals are there or not, we can rest knowing that there will be complete comfort and a final thought for you. When Jesus first came to earth, he was laid in a manger where animals ate. So Jesus, being Almighty God and the King of Kings, chose for animals to be part of his story. So I think it's pretty clear to see from the Bible that Jesus loves animals. And as you consider that, I hope you always remember that Jesus loves you.