Do Animals Go To Heaven? How 'Bout Pets?

[JoeyKnothead]

Do animals go to Heaven?
Pets?

I gotta say, I would find it hard to accept a heaven without animals or pets. Not that I'm gonna make it there

[Word_Swordsman]

Find a place in the Bible saying that is so would convince me it is so. Heaven does have animals, horses in particular come to mind, but I don't know of any statement indicating animals dying on Earth go to heaven. The whole idea of having pets on earth focuses on a need of humans to have "friends" in various meanings. In heaven no person would need a pet, having God and the heavenly host as friends.

[JoeyKnothead]

I have human friends as well as animal friends. No animals though would just seem barren. No pets (former deceased) would also leave me lacking. What's the point in going to heaven if you can't be with all that you love?

[Thought Criminal]

I have human friends as well as animal friends. No animals though would just seem barren. No pets (former deceased) would also leave me lacking. What's the point in going to heaven if you can't be with all that you love?

Yes, it's only heaven if we can take all we love. That's why my Dell XPS M170 is coming with me!

TC

[OnceConvinced]

But you can't possibly have all you love in Heaven. Well not if what you love did not accept Christ as their savior. All those who rejected Christ will end up in Hell.

Which leads to the question of the fact that animals have not accepted Christ as their savior. If they haven't then they can't possibly go to heaven. I guess it comes down to the much debated question about what happens to the ignorant. Do they end up in Hell or Heaven?

[anne]

But you can't possibly have all you love in Heaven. Well not if what you love did not accept Christ as their savior. All those who rejected Christ will end up in Hell.

Which leads to the question of the fact that animals have not accepted Christ as their savior. If they haven't then they can't possibly go to heaven. I guess it comes down to the much debated question about what happens to the ignorant. Do they end up in Hell or Heaven?

We don´t end up anywhere, because apperantly god forgives all. So, without heaven there can´t be a hell. And how can you say that in your heaven there will be no animals allowed. You belong to an animal ras too, you know. So if there is a hell in your believes, you wouldn´t be allowed too. every being talks in their own language, you babbel, dogs bark, cows go mooo. Maybe they have their own way of prayer. You never know! If horses can laugh behind you back, who knows what they talk about when your gone!!

[Word_Swordsman]

We don´t end up anywhere, because apperantly god forgives all.

Maybe according to some religion that is considered by some to be true, but the Bible doesn't teach that. God forgives on the basis of belief, faith, repentance, and continued obedience which proves repentance was honestly carried out. Nobody bringing unforgiven sin to death's door enters heaven. Think of that door being like an elevator shaft. Sin is a burden, a weight, that lets a person fall to the pit. The "weightless" person can rise to the highest level.

So, without heaven there can´t be a hell.

Right! The Bible clearly indicates a heaven where people will spend eternity with God in great glory, so that allows for a logical alternative existence, a place for those not eligible to live in heaven.

And how can you say that in your heaven there will be no animals allowed.

Left to myself without knowledge of the Bible I would be in the dark about that. I've read the Bible too many times to venture a guess as to how often, never once reading about a provision for pets to go to heaven. I have read of many animals being there, apparently created there apart from earthly animals. God does seem very fond of horses.

You belong to an animal ras too, you know. So if there is a hell in your believes, you wouldn´t be allowed too. every being talks in their own language, you babbel, dogs bark, cows go mooo. Maybe they have their own way of prayer. You never know! If horses can laugh behind you back, who knows what they talk about when your gone!!

The Bible never equates a human to the level of any pet. Here's your problem as I see it. You want pets to go to the heaven described in the Bible? It happens to be God's heaven, and beings get there His way. He had not indicated a way for animals, but only people. That fact alone ought to explain why man is not an animal. If an animal, in the animal class, then God would have made it clear how an animal ought to go. To do that He would have made animals capable of meeting God's conditions. Can you explain how a cow can believe on Jesus and be baptized?

[OnceConvinced]

Of course one has to consider that animals can't read, so God would not have aimed his word at them. There would be no real need to differentiate between humans and animals in the bible.

The again there is that scripture about preaching to all living creatures under the sun, so perhaps God wants to save animals too? That guy who tried to preach to real lions and got himself mauled certainly believed that.

[Word_Swordsman]

Of course one has to consider that animals can't read, so God would not have aimed his word at them. There would be no real need to differentiate between humans and animals in the bible.

The again there is that scripture about preaching to all living creatures under the sun, so perhaps God wants to save animals too? That guy who tried to preach to real lions and got himself mauled certainly believed that.

So let me sort your thoughts for clarification of your position. You say preach to animals so they can be saved? We are also allowed to eat them, as stated in 1 Tim 4:4. No creature is to be refused if offered for food, a reason it is wise to bless food through prayer. So then perhaps I understand this to mean we first preach to the animals, give them a chance to accept Christ, then kill and eat them, thus sending them on to heaven?

My advice to anyone wanting to preach to lions is to keep them on the other side of bars or kill them, wait for some swelling the next day, then preach. It will make no more difference delaying a day since they won't understand live or dead beyond while live viewing the preacher as a free lunch.

As for reading the Bible, that really isn't nearly as important as listening to the word of God preached. Here's the official prescription for getting creatures into heaven: Romans 10:11-15 "For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. [12] For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. [13] For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. [14] How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? [15] And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"

[C-Nub]

Putting my lack of faith in heaven aside, I think it's much more pleasant to believe your pets will be there than not. There's no evidence of this in the Bible, but then again, there's no evidence that the Bible is worth reading to begin with.

If you're going to accept and embrace a spiritual existance, then do so with one that fits you entirely, and not just 'more-or-less.' God is very much what you make of him, and the only rules that matter are the ones you believe in.

As for the comment about listening to preachers, I'd like to emplore you, with some conviction, to do just the opposite. They're mortal men with mortal motivations, and don't have any more or less insight into God's nature than you do. I'd say they don't have more than I do, but I believe rather strongly that I'm right about whether or not there's any such being as 'God' to begin with.

Don't let other people sway you to believe as they believe, they're looking to strengthen their position, and should be avoided and maybe feared a little.