Posted on 12/12/2014 4:16:12 PM PST by FR_addict
A lot of love on this thread.
Though I suspect your are being sarcatist...our love for our animals is profound.
Beware.
Please provide a synopsis for this emotional and defensive thread.
> If there are horses in Heaven it stands to reason there will be dogs.
If there are horses, there is a barn. If there is a barn, there are barn cats. Thus, there are cats in Heaven.
God loves His entire creation. Animals included. This means they have value to God as well. They do not simply cease to exist. God doesn’t abandon His creation to nothingness. It would have no value if God tosses it away.
Animals are given spirits that animate a living body.
Animals are also sinless, not requiring a Redeemer to pay fo their sins, so there is nothing that would keep them from returning to God, their creator, when they die. The spirit God made will return to its Maker.
Romans 8 discusses all of creation groaning during the fallen period, waiting for God to come back and renew everything.
as far as talking, remember Balaam’s donkey in Numbers who God allowed to speak. In Genesis we have Eve holding a discussion with the serpent. She doesn’t seem surprised a snake can talk to her. I believe this was actually something many animals could do, and when God makes everything new again, people and anmals will be restored to their full abilities. Imagine your mind operating at 100% or more ability. We know right now it doesn’t appear like brains are using their full capabilities.
Lucky you-——a real cutie.
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Which means my 4 dogs and 2 cats will have a great time.
Great conversation! The usual Catholic answer against is that, while all creatures that live have souls, only “rational souls” can apprehend God and thus are capable of heaven, once redeemed.
A minority view (and mine) is the we know the creation groans like someone giving birth waiting for the consummation. The creation suffers for the choice of our first parents and longs for the fulfillment of redemption.
Then, consider the tamed animal. Isn’t he more human-like? Even my cat, Clint, has submitted to some discipline and shows some feline love.
So, despite their questionable rationality (which of them would wonder about this question) they show traces of a humanized love. That’s an unquestionable and profound good which ought not to be belittled.
Besides, if I may say so, I don’t think God is looking for reasons to restrict his love and joy. He does far more than we can imagine to spread his peaceful and jocund kingdom “far as the curse is found.”
Just the four legged type or was he thinking of including the two legged type also (ie Bill Maher, Al Sharpton, etc.)?
I’ve lost several horses over the years.Kind and gentle souls,I hope to see them again.
The burden of proof is on you, pal. Show me scripture that indicates animals do NOT sin as well as scripture that says animals go to heaven.
Here is the breakdown of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3:
I. Look up: God orders time (Ecc 3: 1-8)
II. Look In: Eternity is within you heart (Ecc 3: 9-14)
III. Look Ahead: Death is Coming to All (Ecc 3: 15-22)
Ecclesiastes is not making a pronouncement on the eternality of animals. That isn't the theme of the book, nor is it the theme of chapter 3. Ecclesiastes is a book of wisdom. It is not a book establishing doctrine of soteriology (that's why there is the book of Romans); or any other church or New Covenant doctrine for that matter. If you read chapter 3 (or the whole book for that matter), you would find the wisdom Solomon is pointing out: There is a pattern that is inescapable: we all die. That is the main idea in chapt 3, and we share that in common with the animals. Psalm 49 also repeats this idea.
Melancholy as the tone of Ecclesiastes is, "The Preacher" concludes that all is vanity on earth, and that the end of the matter is for man to fear God, and keep His commandments (last two verses of the book).
The fact of the matter is, Scripture is silent on this issue, and Francis spoke outside of Scripture.
If we fixate on an cute, cuddly animal (and push out of our minds the babies eaten by dogs and such) and their eternal state, doesn't that become an idol, diminishing the special creation man is, and the rescue mission Jesus was sent to perform?
The Gospel and the cross of Jesus Christ becomes all that much bigger when you consider God has his eyes squarely on humans. Animals server their purpose. But the New Covenant has no provision for them.
“Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown...”
https://rainbowsbridge.com/poem.htm
Tremendous comfort. . .sappy but a loving tribute.
Serious question: So, do all people who lived and died before Christ are in hell?
And in my case, my cats will be hurling hairballs all over those clean white clouds. . .
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