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A Biblical View Of The Loss Of A Pet
God’s Eternal Plan For His Animal Creation
This question has taken on a special meaning for me. During the week I was writing this chapter my family had to have our dog put to sleep. Roi had been our family pet for six years. He was a loyal, playful Welsh Corgi. He developed lymphatic sarcoma, and we finally decided to bring an end to his suffering. After Roi died my sons asked me: "Dad, will Roi be in heaven?"
Its interesting to me that I have been asked about animals in heaven many times by people of all ages. This issue stirs up a great deal of emotion for those who deeply love their pets.
Questions about whether or not we'll see our pets in heaven should not be our focus. Indeed, when we make it there, it may not even cross our minds. The Lamb of God will be our focus. However, this does not mean that we will not enjoy one another and the beauty of the heavenly paradise. And part of this beauty and enjoyment may include our pets from here on earth.
Although Scripture does not say conclusively whether our pets will be in heaven, three key points lead me to believe that animals in general and pets in particular will be in heaven.
First, animals were part of the original creation of God that was declared "good." The Garden of Eden was filled with animals (Genesis 1:25). Revelation tells us that heaven will contain many of the same things that were in the original creation, such as a river, trees, and fruit. Why not animals too? After all, animals are an integral part of earthly life and testify powerfully of the creative, imaginative genius of God. He created the giraffe, the camel, the platypus, the lion, the pachyderm, and the hummingbird.
As the noted pastor W A. Criswell says, "God has shown a penchant for varieties of life forms, and it would be difficult to imagine that this would not be perpetuated in the heavenlies."54
Concerning the question of animals in heaven, author Peter Kreeft says, "The simplest answer is: Why not? How irrational is the prejudice that would allow plants (green fields and flowers) but not animals in heaven!"55
Concerning the more difficult issue of whether the same animals will be in heaven that were here on earth, Kreeft adds:
Would the same animals be in heaven as on earth? "Is my dead cat in heaven?" Again, why not? God can raise up the very grass; why not cats? Though the blessed have better things to do than play with pets, the better does not exclude the lesser. We were meant from the beginning to have stewardship over the animals; we have not fulfilled that divine plan yet on earth; therefore it seems likely that the right relationship with animals will be part of Heaven; proper "petship". And what better place to begin than with the already petted pets?56
Second, the Bible suggests from beginning to end that animals may have souls. In Genesis 1 20, 24, for instance, the Hebrew word nepesh is used to refer to animals. While this word can simply mean "creature" or "living thing," in the Old Testament it is often understood to mean "soul." And in Revelation 8:9, the Greek word psuche-which can mean heart, mind, or soul-is used about sea creatures.
Of course, the soul of an animal would be very different from the soul of a human being. But the biblical suggestion that animals have souls may indicate that they too will be resurrected in the afterlife.
Third, in the Millennium, animals will be present in abundance. Isaiah paints the well-known picture of animal life in Christ's kingdom:
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.
The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra,
And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper's den.
(Isaiah 11:6-8)
While the thousand-year reign of Christ is not heaven, it is the initial phase or "front porch" of the eternal kingdom of God. Therefore, if animals exist in the Millennium, this at least establishes a precedent for suggesting that arnmals may populate the eternal state, too.
In her book Holiness in Hidden Places, Joni Eareckson Tada talks about whether she will see her pet schnauzer, Scrappy, in heaven. Her words are a poignant summary of this issue.
If God brings our pets back to life, it wouldn't surprise me. It would be just like Him. It would be totally in keeping with His generous character.... Exorbitant. Excessive. Extravagant in grace after grace. Of all the dazzling discoveries and ecstatic pleasures heaven will hold for us, the potential of seeing Scrappy would be pure whimsy-utterly, joyfully, surprisingly superfluous.... Heaven is going to be a place that will refract and reflect in as many ways as possible the goodness and joy of our great God, who delights in lavishing love on His children. So will pets be in heaven? Who knows?
"God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Revelation 21:4
"Cast... all your care upon Him, for He careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7
"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart. " Psalm 34:18
If you have lost a pet, we pray you will find comfort during your time of heartache, through your faith in God, knowing that one day you will see your precious pet again. The Lord loves you and He feels your pain.
Since everything on earth is a pattern of things in Heaven, then God's Eternal home will certainly be filled with these loyal friends. Scripture says a great deal about animals, portraying them as Earth’s second most important inhabitants.
The Bible tells us that during the Millennial Reign of Christ, the earth will be filled with tame and beautiful animals of all descriptions, so we know the New Earth will also be filled with all of God’s wonderful animals. Isaiah speaks of a coming
glorious era on Earth when.....
"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." Isaiah 11:6-9
After the thousand year Millennial Reign of Christ, God says, "Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth..." (Isaiah 65:17), and then mankind and animals will enjoy a redeemed Earth where they will never have to face death or suffering throughout a never ending Eternity.
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Revelation 21:4
"And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." Revelation 21:5
It’s not just people who will be "renewed" but also the earth and "all things" in it. "All things" include animals. Dogs, cats, birds, fish, horses, deer, squirrels, lions, and dolphins, (or whatever your pet may be) ..... will be beneficiaries of Christ’s death and resurrection. Jesus seems to be saying, "I’ll take all I made the first time, including people and nature and animals and the earth itself, and bring it back as new, fresh, and indestructible."
Did Christ die for animals? Certainly not in the way He died for mankind. People are made in God’s image, animals aren’t. People sinned, animals didn’t. Animals are sinless, they are God’s creatures and they are part of His plan for Heaven. Because animals didn’t sin, they don’t need a Redeemer in the same way that mankind does. But in another sense, Christ died for animals indirectly, because His death for humanity purchased redemption for what was brought down by humanity’s sin, which was all of creation, including the animals.
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God....... because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious
liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also....... groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for....... the redemption of our body." Romans 8:18-19 & 21-23
This is a clear statement that our resurrection, the redemption of our bodies, will bring deliverance not only to us but also to the rest of creation, which has been groaning in its suffering. This seems to indicate that on the New Earth, after mankind’s resurrection, animals who once suffered on the old Earth will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death.
When sin got out of control and God decided to destroy the earth with a flood, God chose to save the animals as well as the people (Genesis 6:19-22).
Consider the very first covenant established between God and his people, made with Noah right after the flood. The clouds part and the world’s first Rainbow appears. God tells Noah..... "Behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; and with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth." Genesis 9:9-10
God also makes covenants with His creatures . . .
"And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of  all flesh that is upon the earth." Genesis 9:16
"And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground." Hosea 2:18
God goes on to say that His covenant with "all flesh" shall never be "cut off" — a strong suggestion that animals will not be excluded from His dealings with the world. When Adam was created, God surrounded him with animals. When Noah was delivered from the Flood, God surrounded him with animals. When Jesus was born, God surrounded Him with animals. When Jesus establishes the renewed Earth, with renewed men and women, He will surely surround Himself and us with renewed animals.
 
We are sorry, but due to the fact John and I work
out of the home we don't have time to answer all
our email. If you Would like to ask a question about
us or our pondview puppies it would be best to call
or just send your phone number and we will call you.
Hope To Hear From You Soon !!!
pondviewpups@iowatelecom.net
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