The Bible doesn't address that and I think most people know that. The interesting thing about this question is why is it being asked, and does the answer change anything? First, no one knows the answer. Second, even if you knew the answer it shouldn't change anything and if it did, then there's a big problem. Let's say you're invited to go to be in live in eternity with your loved ones in absolute paradise with total unconditional love beyond your comprehension and a level of fun that is high beyond your wildest imagination. Imagine your best day on earth and multiply that by a billion. Then let's say while you're here on earth someone shares an opinion that dogs won't be in heaven, will that then change whether you believe and follow Jesus Christ? Would someone seriously be willing to throw their eternity and salvation away based on someone's unsubstantiated opinion on something? What if your love of your pet was a 10/10 on earth, but in heaven it's considered 1/1,000,000 level of love and that something a million times greater was prepared just for you. Would that be rational? These are just questions. If someone follows Jesus as a Christian they will find the answer out for themselves after this life.
William, as much as we would like to think that our loving faithful pets will also be with us in Heaven, the understanding of God's creative Work, His Designs & Plans & Scripture itself, suggests that just won't happen.
Ecclesiastes 3:18-21 tells us that even though mankind & animals both return to dust from whence they came, it is only humans whose spirit is preserved that return to God Who gave it (Eccl 12:7). It is true, that all creatures have been given life (breath = spirit) from God, but to mankind, God has given a spirit that transcends anything given to any other creature.
Here are some other verses that lend support to this:
a. Gen 1:27: we're specially made, created in God's Image unlike animals.
b. 1 Thes 5:23: man is comprised of spirit, soul & body, unlike animals, & all three parts of the human makeup will be required by God at their specific times.
c. Mt 6:23: only man can commune with his Creator & has the ability to know, worship & serve Him.
d. Gen 3:4-6: humans have the power of using free will, discernment & choice (all attributes of God) whereas animals exist by instinct without the power to reason, calculate, effectively communicate, create, culturally develop, etc.
e. Rom 3:23: only mankind had the ability to sin against his Creator (re: his the special spirit given him). And that life of gross violation to God's Holy Standards & Character, prompted Him to pursue man to the point of offering up of Himself for man's redemption & restoration.
Animals simply don't fall into the same category as God's specific & special Work of creating man: we were created to love Him, serve Him, to enjoy His blessings & to one day return to Him. Why? Because we were specially created for Him to one day join the Heavenly throng in everlasting worship. Unfortunately, animals (& our beloved pets) don't become a part of this in-gathering after their death as they weren't created to this end - Heaven is not filled with beasts but holy beings.
William Kirkland, I certainly hope there are dogs in heaven. Your question roused my curiosity and I Googled "verses about whether pets go to heaven" after remembering about the verse about God's care of a sparrow.
I found 1Corinthians 15:39 and Romans 8:19 on to be wonderful reads. So yes, they go to heaven.
Additionally, I have wondered whether when we die and leave here do we keep our earthly memories (good and bad) but I feel according to Isaiah 65:16-17 "...: because the former troubles are forgotten and because they are hid from mine eyes." "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, or come into mind."
I also believe that I have read a scripture where we remember "our own" so we will see our own family and pets in heaven but no sorrow will be associated with them just joy.
I hope this helps you. It did me.
Keep reading the Word, it is full of treasures and guidance. I've read it through 3 times, now on my fourth and each time the treasures and guidance increase. Every word means something.
Also, people's comments and Matthew Henry's commentaries inspire me.
Ecclesiastes 3:18-21 tells us that even though mankind & animals both return to dust from whence they came, it is only humans whose spirit is preserved that return to God Who gave it (Eccl 12:7). It is true, that all creatures have been given life (breath = spirit) from God, but to mankind, God has given a spirit that transcends anything given to any other creature.
Here are some other verses that lend support to this:
a. Gen 1:27: we're specially made, created in God's Image unlike animals.
b. 1 Thes 5:23: man is comprised of spirit, soul & body, unlike animals, & all three parts of the human makeup will be required by God at their specific times.
c. Mt 6:23: only man can commune with his Creator & has the ability to know, worship & serve Him.
d. Gen 3:4-6: humans have the power of using free will, discernment & choice (all attributes of God) whereas animals exist by instinct without the power to reason, calculate, effectively communicate, create, culturally develop, etc.
e. Rom 3:23: only mankind had the ability to sin against his Creator (re: his the special spirit given him). And that life of gross violation to God's Holy Standards & Character, prompted Him to pursue man to the point of offering up of Himself for man's redemption & restoration.
Animals simply don't fall into the same category as God's specific & special Work of creating man: we were created to love Him, serve Him, to enjoy His blessings & to one day return to Him. Why? Because we were specially created for Him to one day join the Heavenly throng in everlasting worship. Unfortunately, animals (& our beloved pets) don't become a part of this in-gathering after their death as they weren't created to this end - Heaven is not filled with beasts but holy beings.
I found 1Corinthians 15:39 and Romans 8:19 on to be wonderful reads. So yes, they go to heaven.
Additionally, I have wondered whether when we die and leave here do we keep our earthly memories (good and bad) but I feel according to Isaiah 65:16-17 "...: because the former troubles are forgotten and because they are hid from mine eyes." "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, or come into mind."
I also believe that I have read a scripture where we remember "our own" so we will see our own family and pets in heaven but no sorrow will be associated with them just joy.
I hope this helps you. It did me.
Keep reading the Word, it is full of treasures and guidance. I've read it through 3 times, now on my fourth and each time the treasures and guidance increase. Every word means something.
Also, people's comments and Matthew Henry's commentaries inspire me.
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