Dogs in Heaven? The Experts Speak
These questions have been asked by animal lovers for centuries, and even some heavy-hitting theologians have weighed in on the issue. According to many of them, yes, animals probably DO go to heaven.
C.S. Lewis, a well-known apologist for the Christian faith in the 1900s and author of the famous books The Chronicles of Narnia, is known for his assertion that animals would get to heaven through the relationship of their owners with God. Therefore, a Christians pets would be found in the new heaven because of their owners faith.
Martin Luther, the well-known reformationist of the 16th century and the unwitting founder of the Lutheran denomination within Christendom, believed dogs go to heaven. Referring to his beloved dog Tolpel, he once said about dogs and other animals being in Heaven:
But its understood that even brilliant minds such as Lewis, Graham, and Luther can be wrong, so what is the reasoning behind their belief that animals go to heaven?
If you look at the quotes above, you see a common theme. The Bible is specific that God will create a new heaven and a new earth at the end of our current earth. This newness will be a “restitution of all things,” says Luther. With the understanding that God plans on restoring creation, these biblical scholars agree that within that restoration will be the restoration of our beloved pets.
Although all of God’s creation is for His glory and pleasure, human beings alone were created in God’s . Animals were made from the same dust as humans and have the same breath of life in them as we do, but God made men and women in His own and entrusted them with the responsibility of overseeing, protecting, and enjoying the rest of His creation. “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our , according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own ; in the of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’ And God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food;’ and it was so” (Genesis 1:26-30, NKJV). “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it” (Genesis 2:15, NKJV).
The plan of salvation is designed for human beings, not for animals. Since animals cannot reason and make moral decisions, they are not included in the salvation God has offered to humans. Jesus died to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21, NKJV). We are saved through our faith in Him. John 3:16 (KJV) says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should nor perish, but have everlasting life.” In order for one to be saved, one has to believe in Jesus. But animals cannot exercise saving faith in Jesus.
Another way to ask this question is, “Will there be animals in heaven?” Yes. God’s original creation has been subjected to degradation and decay through sin, but it will be restored as it was in the beginning. The apostle Paul wrote, “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:20, 21, NKJV). Although our sins have destroyed ourselves and nature, God will restore both. Just as animals were part of God’s untainted, original creation, so they will be part of the world and life when He restores everything new—without the corruption of sin and death.
The best advice is for us to love our pets and enjoy them while they are here with us—and trust God in everything for the future. He sees and knows all, and nothing is too hard for Him to do. God knows how much we love our pets and how much they mean to us. The Bible doesn’t directly address whether our pets will be with us in heaven, but we do know that God loves us and wants us to be happy. The Bible says, “No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11, NKJV). We can trust God that heaven will be a place filled with everything necessary for our happiness.
We must not insist that God orders things according to our desires or understanding. Perhaps God may allow our beloved pets to be with us in heaven. Or He may choose to create a new pet for you. We must be willing to allow God to order things as He sees best—and trust that we will be happy with the situation in heaven. God says, “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind” (Isaiah 65:17, NKJV).
Are the streets of heaven really paved with gold?A
Gates made of pearl, a foundation of precious stones, streets of gold. . .. We’ve heard these descriptions of heaven—but these heavenly features are directly from the Scriptures. In the book of Revelation, John gives us a glimpse of the New Jerusalem in all its majesty: She had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates . . .. The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: . . . jasper . . . sapphire . . .
This is the New Jerusalem—heaven’s capital—described in Scripture. And one day, we’re going to walk into this holy city in absolute wonder. Even the most beautiful places on earth cannot compare to what God has prepared for those of us who have placed our trust in Him. Q
There is no purgatory or middle holding ground for souls where they have a second chance to gain forgiveness for their sins. The Bible teaches that “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
The Bible does describe an intermediate heaven. Every believer who died prior to the Ascension of Christ went to this intermediate place called Paradise (also called “Abraham’s bosom” in Luke 16:19-23).
But when Jesus ascended after His death, He entered into Paradise and took all who were there—all the Old Testament saints, all who had died and believed in God before the Ascension—with Him to the third heaven (Ephesians 4:8-10).
This means that believers no longer go to the intermediate heaven upon death. The soul and spirit of today’s believers rise immediately to the third heaven because Paradise is no longer an intermediate place; Paradise is now with God (2 Corinthians 12:2-4). Q
The Bible does not clearly state whether we will see our pets again in heaven, but Scriptures suggests the presence of animals in heaven.
In Isaiah 11:6, we are told that during the Millennial reign of Jesus on earth, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.” A similar scene is painted later in Isaiah 65:25. It’s clear there will be animals on earth during the Millennium and that predator and prey will live in harmony.
Later, John gives us a glimpse of heaven in Revelation 19:11, 14: “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war…. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.” Jesus and His armies will ride white horses to capture Satan and the false prophet and cast them into the lake of fire forever.
It seems clear that there will be animals in heaven. It is uncertain whether the ones we loved on earth will be there. Whatever the case, we know the character of God and His love for us. He gives “good things to those who ask Him” and “gives us richly all things to enjoy” (Matthew 7:11; 1 Timothy 6:17). Heaven will be a place of joy and peace and the richest of blessings as we live in the presence of God and enjoy His good gifts for eternity.Q
Do Dogs Go To Heaven?
The Mega Millions prize has grown again to an estimated $1.35 billion after there was no winner of the lottery’s latest giant jackpot.
The numbers drawn late Tuesday night were: 7, 13, 14, 15, 18 and gold Mega Ball 9.
The new jackpot drawing on Friday night will be another milestone in the game, Mega Millions said in a statement early Wednesday.
“Now at $1.35 billion, the Mega Millions jackpot is moving up and making history as the second highest Mega Millions jackpot ever,” Pat McDonald, Ohio lottery director and lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium, said in the statement.
The only Mega Millions jackpot larger than Friday’s prize is the $1.53 billion won in South Carolina in 2018, Mega Millions said.
The largest jackpot in the U.S. to date was a $2.04 billion Powerball won by a single ticket in California in November.
The estimated $1.35 billion jackpot in the next drawing would only be distributed to a winner who chooses an annuity paid over 29 years. Nearly all grand prize winners opt to take a cash payout, which for Friday night’s drawing is an estimated $707.9 million.
There have been 25 drawings over three months since the last time a player matched all six numbers and claimed the jackpot.
Despite the game’s long odds of 1 in 302.6 million, players continue to purchase tickets as the size of the grand prize grows.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states as well as in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.