Are Animals In Heaven?

Well...are animals in heaven?

We begin with the intent of God:  fundamentally, God desires to delight us -- not deny us -- if we abide in Him.  Paul underscores this in 1 Corinthians 2:9 – “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him…”  (1 Corinthians 2:9).   But does that include critters – pets -- animals; let's look at some Biblical clues.

Clue #1 – God Is Determined To Bring Us Joy.  Joy today, and for eternity.  Jesus is clear:  “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.  Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh [in the realm of glory]…” (Luke 6:21).  

John Piper, a prominent theologian, visualizes that part of that laughter, part of that joy, will involve his dog Blackie.  “And as I knelt beside the brook” – Piper imagines -- “To drink eternal life --  I took a glance across the golden grass -- and saw my dog, old Blackie -- fast as she could come.  She leaped the stream almost -- and what a happy gleam was in her eye.  I knelt to drink – and knew that I was on the brink – of endless joy.  And everywhere I turned I saw a wonder there.” - John Piper.    I think John Piper is on to something.  “[So] rejoice and leap for joy – [for as Jesus notes elsewhere in Luke 6] – great is your reward in heaven.”  (Luke 6:23).   A greatness, I believe, includes the animals of our lives.

Clue #2 – All Living Things, Can Live On, In Christ.  Living things did not self-create; they were created by a Creator, the God in Christ. You remember the creation story: “Let the land produce living creatures…creatures that move along the ground…each according to its kind.  And it was so…And God saw that it was good…”  (Genesis 1:24-25). 

God still believes living things are good.  In fact they are so good, He wants them to live on with Him, through His amazing grace.  

Now basically theologians believe there are two forms of grace:  common grace and saving grace.  Saving  grace is well known.  It’s the grace found in Jesus that each of us must personally appropriate, as accountable adults, to be saved, to live on with God.  No ‘ifs ands or buts!” 

But what about the 2 year old child who – God forbid – dies before the age of accountability?  Why legitimately, he is not able to personally appropriate God’s grace -- he’s too young.  Well that’s where common grace kicks in.  It’s the grace that covers – protects – secures -- all other living things – to be precise, living things who legitimately can not personally appropriate – God’s saving love in Jesus.  I believe animals are living things covered – protected and secured -- by God’s common grace.  I mean legitimately they cannot personally appropriate God’s grace – they’re too primitive, developmentally lower than human beings.  But animals do have a spirit – or in Hebrew -- a nepesh (Genesis 1:20; 24) – that God created and loves.   

And so God covers animals -- protects animals -- secures animals – empowering animals -- to live on, forever -- with Him.   

Clue #3 - God’s Ultimate Goal Is A New, Redeemed Eden.  As in the Garden of Eden.  But not an actual garden, again – but a whole new heaven – and a whole new earth (Revelation 21; Revelation 22).  Frankly, the entire creation is yearning, groaning in this direction.  Paul makes that clear in Romans 8:  “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed…in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from…bondage and decay and brought into [a] glorious freedom…”  (Romans 8:19-21).   

In the context of our question:  "are animals in heaven?" -- part of the redemption of creation will be the redemption of all living creatures.   This is hinted at in Revelation 19, but pronounced in Isaiah 11.  Why in the new heaven and new earth, Isaiah tells us, in the redeemed creation -- “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat…and a little child will lead them…They will neither harm nor destroy…for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord…”  (Isaiah 11:6; 9).  Mind you: it doesn’t say dogs, and cats and horsies will be a part of the new creation, but wolfs, lambs and leopards are close enough, to the critters we know best and love!  Why? – because everything is redeemed, made new.  Indeed, nothing will harm or destroy “…for the [new heaven and new] earth will be full of the knowledge, [the redemption] of the Lord.”  (Isaiah 11:9). 

And so relax:  God is making all things new, extending His grace, His love to every living thing, giving us reason to be expectant and animated about God’s tomorrow!

There’s great story about a little boy, Jonathan, who got to pick any dog he wanted for his birthday.  But it was tough.  I mean as he stood in the animal shelter, there were a zillion dogs to choose from. Finally however he zeroed in on a mangy old critter; I mean this particular dog was just a mess -- shaggy, unsightly!  But boy was its tail wagging!  I mean it was whirling; animated, moving with high energy! Well sure enough Jonathan chose that dog, and off he went.  But on the way home his mom quizzed him.  “Jonathan, why did you choose that particular dog? I mean, after all, it wasn’t exactly the pick of the litter.”  “Oh that easy Mom,” Jonathan said. “I wanted the one, with the happy ending!”

Isn’t that what you want: the choice, the outcome with the happy ending?  I do.  Whether for me, my family, or frankly any living creature – I want an ending, an eternity, that is full, promising and animated. 

God's ending, God’s eternity is full, promising and animated!  For God's ultimate goal is a new  Eden, a new creation!  Not just for you, but every living thing.  Gary Kurz says it best:  “There is no dog heaven.  There is no cat heaven.  There is no people heaven There’s only God’s heaven, and He can put anything and anybody there that He wants …” – Gary Kurz  

And so let’s let God be God, for Paul is right: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived, what God has prepared, for those who love Him…”  (1 Corinthians 2:9).