Do you believe pets go to heaven?

1. 78

   dashingscorpioposted 8 years ago

   Do you believe pets go to heaven?
   
   Recently my wife had to make a tough decision to euthanize her cat of 18 years. He had become very ill and was no longer eating. Within 30 seconds of being given the shot he passed on. As I stood by consoling my tearful wife the veterinarian wrapped Payton in a blanket and told us: "He's in heaven now." For those who believe in heaven do you really believe pets (cats, dogs, gold fish, hamsters, or animals in general) go to heaven? How about animals slaughtered for food? road kill, those living in jungles, or even insects? All living breathing things? Do you believe animals go to heaven/hell?
   
   

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2. 60

   Niecey Docposted 8 years ago

   Do I believe animals will be in Heaven? Absolutely. According to my biblical hermeneutics, Heaven is going to be like it was in Eden.
   And there were certainly animals in Eden.
   Also Isaiah 11 v 6, about the messianic age (return of Christ) says " And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox.…" 
   
   It certainly depicts animals in Heaven. I'm not sure if it is literal or not, but I believe it to be.
   
   I also think it's significant to look at the story of Noah and the flood, which in many ways was a picture of the coming destruction of Earth and then creation of new Heavens and Earth. In the first destruction (through flood), Noah was required to spare some from each kind of animal. It is fascinating to speculate on what this might mean for the days yet to come, but if nothing else it teaches us something about the heart of God.
   
   God looked at the animals after He made them and said they were good. Then He went to great lengths to spare them instead of just smiting them off the earth and starting from scratch. The continuity was important to Him. And I believe it will be still at the end of this age.
   
   Do animals have souls?
   That is more of a complex philosophical question, and also a theological one. I'm not sure that it is terribly consequential though. The way I see it, if animals do have souls, then surely it is in the character of God that he would destine them to eternal bliss rather than eternal punishment because they are not sinners. And if they don't have souls, then He can reproduce our exact pets in Heaven for us and they would be no different from the ones we knew on Earth.
   
   So basically, yes. I believe we will be able to see our pets in Heaven. I believe God delights in our love for them and wants us to celebrate that love for eternity, and He will make a way for that to happen.

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   1. 78

      dashingscorpioposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      If you believe animals can go to heaven does this also mean you believe that they can go to hell as well?

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   2. 60

      Niecey Docposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Only if they sin or are corrupt. I don't believe animals following their nature (to eat another animal or protect themselves) are sinning. And the Isaiah passage seems to suggest that animals in Heaven will be redeemed and no longer carnivorous.

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3. 61

   JennaBDowningposted 8 years ago

   I absolutely believe pets go to Heaven.  They are pure and innocent beings, just as babies are when they die. They are not capable of sin, as they do not know what sin actually even is. They all cross over the Rainbow Bridge I don't see why anyone would want to even think that they just die and don't go anywhere!!

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4. 81

   abdussalaamposted 8 years ago

   I am unsure of God's relationship with animals. He saved many of them from the flood of Noah (a.s) and am aware that animals submit to the will of Allah; but I'm unsure whether animals have souls that'll go to heaven.

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5. 84

   Austinstarposted 8 years ago

   I would answer that, no, pets don't go to heaven or hell because, you know, I don't believe in such places.
   But, having said that, I do believe that nothing is ever really dead. We are all made of the star dust of the universe and that includes matter, vegetable, mineral, animal, and well, everything.
   We don't die, we just change forms.
   So, with that in mind, our pets are all around us, breathing or not. They cannot be created nor destroyed.
   The memories of our pets live inside of us as long as we remember them.

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6. 56

   turner397@gmail.cposted 8 years ago

   yes i do. why do animals, pets, that connect with us on a individual level have a purpose. everything god put here has a purpose. why was the ark loaded with animals if they were not needed. and how is it that they can understand and even attempt to talk to us. gestures often have strong meanings with us, and with animals.  i always say spell dog backwards.

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7. 75

   Shaddieposted 8 years ago

   If there is an Afterlife, I sincerely hope that not only pets, but all animals, are there.

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8. 60

   Florence Gilliamposted 7 years ago

   yes I do.  We have lost animals in the pasted and if I didn't believe that I would be a basket case.  We loved out animals and sometimes things happen that you can't do anything about. they are all with us and we still love them.  I believe that one day we will be with them again and they will be happy to see us

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