Posted on 05/18/2011 2:31:49 PM PDT by Salvation
Pets in Heaven? A question that comes up frequently is whether people will see their pets in heaven. Now the Catechism of the Catholic Church does not directly address this question. But it does hold principles which lead us in the direction of an answer. One principle is that all living things have a soul. Here soul is defined as what makes an organic body live. Now when any living thing dies, its soul is separated from its body. In the case of plants and animals the soul goes out of existence. But in the case of man, the soul remains in existence because it is a spiritual or immaterial thing. Consequently, it differs from the souls of animals in two important respects. First, it is the seat of intelligence or reason. For this reason a man is held responsible for his actions in a way that animals are not. Secondly, the soul is immortal. A thing which has no physical parts cannot fall apart or be poisoned or be crushed or be put out of existence. For this reason the souls of the saved will always be aware of themselves as enjoying the vision of God for all eternity. This enjoyment will be the result of having chosen to act on earth in such a way that one did the will of God rather than one's own will. And the souls of the damned will be aware of themselves as never attaining this vision of God because they have shown by their lives on earth that they did not wish this vision but instead preferred their own will. In the light of this essential difference between human beings and animals, it would seem that we would not see the souls of our pets in heaven for the simple reason that they do not have immortal souls and are not responsible for their actions. They do not have the intelligence which allows them to choose either God's will or their own will. There is, then, an incomparable distance, say, between the soul of the sorriest human being who ever lived and the most noble brute animal that ever walked the earth. Now a child might be heartbroken at the thought that he will never see his pet again. He cannot yet understand this explanation about the difference between the human and the animal soul. I suppose that one could tell the child that when he hopefully gets to heaven, he could ask God to see his old pets if he still wished to. There would be no harm in that. For we know that when a person finally sees God, he will not be concerned with seeing old pets or favorite places but rather will be captured in the complete fulfillment of the joy of which old pets and favorite places are but little signs. We adults know that, even if the child does not. For more information on how the Church sees animals in the lives of human beings, check the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2415-2418. You will learn, for example, that the Church, while it condemns cruelty to animals as an offense against the dignity of man, allow experiments on animals if done in a reasonable way. Again, you will learn of the tremendous difference that the Church sees between the lowliest of human beings and the most noble of the animals. It will allow animals to be used for food or clothing, but will defend the right of an innocent human being to live against Kings and Nations. The Church will demand that animals be respected as part of creation while at the same time insisting that the dignity owed a human being should never be given to an animal.
Oops
that God creates
Animals were put in the garden to be with mankind. They were created before we were created. They were a forethought, not an afterthought. They were and remain important. God did not make them temporary creatures, but intended rather that they should live with us as special companions forever. Nothing has been written to suggest God has changed His mind.
When the earth was destroyed by flood God preserved the animals along with mankind. Obviously, God’s lesser creatures (those not made in his image) are indeed important to him.
This is why I am convinced animals will be part of the Millennium and the New Earth, and perhaps Heaven as well. And like in Eden we will once again have that companionship with all of them like it was intended from the beginning.
Those saying here “we don’t need pets, in heaven” - don’t really understand God’s plan for the original Eden.
The Bible says a "new" heaven and "new" earth, so I think it will be totally a new creation and not a reworked one. Also, it says "wherein dwelleth righteousness", so there will be no trace of any unrighteousness in either place. A clean slate, so to speak, for eternity.
I didn’t think of the preservation of animals through the Great Flood. Always lots of jokes about that Ark of Noah’s. In fact I got one this last week — Lord, I had to get a building permit, I had to go to court over cruelty to animals. It was just crazy about our “big government” of today.
Yes. They could speak before the fall.
Remember Balaam’s donkey was allowed to speak to him when he beat her when she was actually saving him from being killed by an angel only she could see.
I believe they will get this ability back when God sets things right again. They lost it somewhere along the way, probably around the time God put fear of man into their nature (after we could eat animals for food, after the flood).
“To say, “Well, it’s not mentioned in the Bible.”, could just mean that people back then didn’t have ‘pets’ like we do today.”
Oh, but it does. Adam and Eve had a companionship like we have never seen before - with all the animals. How it was intended by God to be - and will be again.
The flood event is a forshadowing of the final resurrection of believers. Note God makes provisions for His animals. Note also that throughout history, animals’ fates have been tied to mans’ fate. When man is blessed or saved, so are the animals. When man is under wrath, so are the animals.
Ultimately we know God resurrects those that are His. As we know in Romans 8 that all of creation waits for this to happen, because when this happens, they will also be free and the curse on this world will be lifted and they will be beneficiaries as well, being part of God’s creation.
The bible states that the wild animals are the Lord’s animals and He takes care of them. He will bring them back.
Don’t forget, everything was initially created in a world where death didn’t exist. Nothing was created to die. He will restore life to the animals that have died, through no fault of their own.
That or perhaps they could see that they had angels with them, or at least they didn’t have demon spirits around them like the unconverted.
It is fascinating what animals can see. Balaam’s donkey could see an angel Balaam could not. I believe our pets have the same potential.
Read 2nd Samuel Chapter 11&12, Samuel uses a story to convict David killing Uriah and taking Bathsheeba. The rich man and the ppor man, who had a little ewe lamb he loved like a daughter, who sat in his lap and ate from his plate. The rich man took it and killed it for a meal and David was enraged (not knowing he was the rich man - yet).
So I think they did understand having pets and loving them in similar ways we do. Nothing new under the sun.
We certainly wouldn’t necessarily “need” a pet in heaven. But I do have such a high regard for my dog, and I enjoy her company so dearly, that I would want to know that she’s happy and well taken care of. And the truth is, the thing that makes her the most happy is to be with me, just like the thing that would make me the most happy is to be with God.
What would make me happy? Well... asking a random thought to pop into my head.... < Jeapordy Music > ding! I’d like to catch frisbee with Jesus Christ in a nice field along a river on a hot day... with my dog there having fun with us. :)
Animals don’t have to be saved because they are not corrupt and evil like man is. Animals are in the Bible as being in His Glory.
Be prepared to be surprised when you see all the animals you ever knew.
Good point. It's hard to imagine ancient cultures with animals as pets or that they thought of them as companions, feeding them and nurturing them, without any plans to eat them or use them for working. But the human heart and mind is always the same across time and culture.
There's a book out that I've only seen the title but which appears to be a PETA kind of thought process. It's called: Animals: Some we love, some we hate, some we eat. Have you heard about it?
I'm now looking at the screen through misty eyes.
However we look at it,God is good.
I do believe animals are in Heaven. I lost my dog, and I do believe that she is there. I know some people say, and I see it echoed a lot in this thread, that your pet will be with you in Heaven if it will make you happy because people are supposed to be joyful in Heaven. That could be, but personally, I don’t think that’s the reason.
A local priest writes a column in the weekly community press. He said in his column that animals and nature were created by God, and God declared them good and was pleased. If God’s creation is good, he will not allow it to die and be “thrown away” so to speak. He will allow it to live on in Heaven.
I believe animals are in Heaven in part because of what the priest said. I believe it because God created them, and he would not allow creatures that live, move, suffer, have intelligence (some animals), feel happiness, anger, grief, and yes, even love, to die and never and be gone as though they never existed. What would be the point?
I look at the animals who have served humans like rescue and therapy dogs, the animals who have died saving humans or for humans to eat, and the animals that have suffered. Animals suffer, and some animals, as with people, suffer worse than others. For example, one dog may be abused his/her whole life and/or euthanized alone in a shelter while another may live in pampered in a mansion. I believe animals are in Heaven and want them to be in Heaven, not because it will make me happy, but because I feel the animals deserve to be there. How could the same God that gave me a sense of justice and compassion not have the same?
Even the Catholic Church admits animals have a soul, albeit a material soul. There are plenty who will argue that that soul ceases to exist at death. They will argue that God sent his son to save humanity, not the animals, but the Bible says:
“I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you-the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you-every living creature on earth.” (Genesis 9:9-10)
“In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety.” (Hosea 2:18)
“There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying.” (Hosea 4:1-3)
“The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.” (Romans 8:19-21)
“Through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.” (Colossians 1:20; cf. Ephesians 1:10)
People will argue animals are incapable of knowing God, but the Bible says this:
“Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” (Job 12:7-10)
This Isaiah quote and this Job quote are the bottom line to me:
“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:6-9)
“For the soul of every living thing is in the hand of God.” (Job 12:10)
Sometimes the most obvious points go missing when I start to think about why I believe what I believe; and why it’s important.
At Bible Study tonight three huge omissions in my arguments occurred to me.
1. God required for thousands of years that animals of various kinds be slain, burned, etc. as sacrifices. Split apart, laid out, blood drained. Were we sacrificing heaven-bound souls all that time?
2. God informed Adam and Eve as they left the garden that the animals were now food. He also clothed them in skins. Was God telling them to eat beings with souls, and was He slaying souls for clothing?
3. We ate plenty of animals in the Old Testament times; then in Acts God lifted the prohibition even on unclean animals (”Rise, Peter, kill and eat.”) I could kill and eat a dog, a cat, any sort of pet, without sinning (unless it belonged to someone else, then it would be stealing). Are we to rise, kill and eat beings with souls who are qualified for heaven?
No matter how hungry I am, I can’t kill a man and eat him. That would be a grave, evil sins. It is no sin at all for me to slay ANY animal and eat it.
Furthermore please note animals slay and eat other animals, are these soul-bearers killing and eating other soul-bearers?
The Bible consistently shows us that animals are a good part of God’s creation, to be used for clothing and sacrifice during OT times and for food. Not as soul mates destined to spend eternity in heaven with us. Will I be worshiping in heaven next to all the chickens, pigs, cows and sheep I have eaten over my lifetime?
It just becomes too ridiculous to be believed. Think it through.
nice ,that should shut up anyone that says pets arent mentioned in the bible.i had forgotten that story about david and bathsheba.heres another one,,didnt issac have to sacrifice his pet sheep for his half brother?
I think we are thinking as earthlings on this and not as God thinks.
You assume they would be there to suit us. I don't assume that at all. God created animals, He blessed them, and they please Him.
Animals exist for a reason, though we may not now know what all of the reason is. God could have just as easily not made them, but He did and they are exactly as He planned them to be, down to the finest detail.
Genesis:
And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.”23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.
24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
In light of the fact that they exist because of Him, and we know that they please Him, and that He blesses them, why would He exclude them from Heaven?
It's not necessarily what we want or need, but what God wants, or sees fit to have.
There's your key. Sin changed our relationship to God's creation. Jesus restored it.
Will I be worshiping in heaven next to all the chickens, pigs, cows and sheep I have eaten over my lifetime?
Why not? None of your points support your conclusion that I can see. They were there before the fall. And God said it was good. Why won't they be there in the restored world?
So very sorry for your loss and I do thank your son for his service to this country as well. (((((((((((Hugs)))))))))))))
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