We have to agree to disagree, I think, but it’s a family debate. :-D When God breathed into man, that made him unique. Jesus did not die on the cross to absolve the sins of animals (who have none and do not, therefore, need a saviour). I do believe our animals (perhaps all animals) go to heaven. I would hate to think my beloved friends would not be there when I arrive!
and you just made my point!!!!!
the non-human animals are far superior to people as they do not transgress God’s Law and they do not require any help getting into Heaven (they go direct, don’t need any tickets punched)
your pets will be with you in the next life....
Isaiah 65 (and Revelation 19) both envison non-human animals in the world to come
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I’ve never quite understood the debate, myself. Yes, human beings were and are special, created in the image of God, to have dominion over Creation. That is not a debatable point from scripture.
However, the lesser creatures have hope beyond pain, suffering and death, according to the Book of Romans. They were subjected to death due to the actions of man, not due to any sin of their own. There is ample scriptural support for animals having a spirit, man is even chastised for believing that only his spirit goes up while the spirit of the beast goes down into the ground.
So, they’ll be there. I don’t have to lean on some sweet, modern Rainbow Bridge poem to believe that. It’s there, in the Bible.