It’s a question that tugs at the heartstrings of pet lovers everywhere: Can We See Our Pets In Heaven? For many who cherish their animal companions, the thought of eternity feels incomplete without the wagging tail of a beloved dog, the purr of a comforting cat, or the playful chirp of a feathered friend. This heartfelt query isn’t just a simple curiosity; it delves into deeper theological questions about the nature of heaven, the afterlife, and God’s love for all creation.
Every year, pastors and religious leaders are met with this poignant question, often from the most sincere and earnest of hearts. Just like the children in Sunday school classes who honestly voice what many adults ponder in silence, the question “Will my pet be in heaven?” resonates across generations. Having experienced the profound bond with a pet myself, I understand the depth of this yearning. My Welsh Springer Spaniel, Towy, was more than just a dog; he was a member of the family, a constant companion, and a source of unconditional love. The pain of his loss was significant, and the hope of reunion is a comforting thought.
Heavenward
By Cameron Cole
Cameron Cole, in his insightful book “Heavenward,” explores the transformative power of heavenly mindedness in the lives of Christians, drawing from personal experiences of grief and the Apostle Paul’s theological perspectives on heaven.
Beneath the surface of this seemingly straightforward question about pets in heaven lie profound concerns that touch upon our understanding of faith, loss, and eternal life. To approach an answer, let’s address three crucial questions that reveal the deeper longings behind this common inquiry.
Understanding Heaven: The Intermediate State and the New Earth
When we talk about heaven, it’s essential to distinguish between what theologians refer to as “the intermediate state” and the “new heavens and new earth.” The intermediate state is where believers in Christ go immediately after death. It’s a state of being in the presence of Jesus, liberated from earthly suffering, sin, and evil. Imagine a state of perfect peace, joy, and unbroken communion with Christ – a truly euphoric and eternal happiness.
However, the intermediate state is understood as temporary. Christian theology teaches that at the second coming of Christ, heaven, in a fuller sense, will descend to earth. This will be accompanied by the resurrection of the dead, where believers receive glorified bodies in the renewed creation – the new heavens and new earth. Our existence in the intermediate state is somewhat mysterious, particularly regarding our bodily form.
Regarding our pets, the Bible offers no explicit or implicit indication that they will be with us in the intermediate state. Therefore, it is highly improbable. But what about the new heavens and new earth? Is there a possibility of seeing our beloved pets there? This is a question worth exploring further.
Pets in the New Heavens and New Earth: A Hopeful Possibility
When considering whether we will see our pets in the new heavens and new earth, a strong “maybe” seems to be the most honest answer. Scripture doesn’t give us a definitive “yes,” but there are reasons to hold onto hope. Firstly, it’s important to remember that pets, as physical beings, do not possess souls in the same way humans do, which likely excludes them from the intermediate state.
However, the new heavens and new earth represent a transformed reality. The death of our pets, like all suffering in the animal kingdom, is a consequence of human sin in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:14, 19). The fall’s devastating effects extend to all of creation, not just humanity. Since Christ’s ultimate redemption aims to fully reverse the damage of original sin, it’s plausible that God’s restorative work could encompass animals who died due to the fall.
The prophet Isaiah offers a beautiful vision of this restored creation in Isaiah 11, depicting animals living in harmony in the Messianic age. Isaiah 11:6 paints a picture of peace:
“The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.”
While some interpret these verses metaphorically, representing peace and the absence of conflict under Christ’s reign, the presence of animals in this vision is undeniable. Whether Isaiah refers to Christ’s current reign or the future new heavens and new earth, the broader context suggests a harmonious rule of Christ encompassing both eras. It’s not unreasonable to infer from this passage that animals will indeed inhabit the new heaven and new earth.
Furthermore, consider the original creation in the Garden of Eden. Animals were present in paradise. They are also part of our current creation. It logically follows that animals would also have a place in the renewed, perfect creation. A complete discontinuity where animals are absent in the new world order seems less consistent with God’s pattern of creation and redemption.
Christ’s death and resurrection and the Lord’s faithfulness in all of redemptive history assures us that the Lord will not let us down.
Isaiah 11 also highlights the restoration of the broken relationship between humanity and creation. Given that our pets’ mortality is a result of the fall, it’s conceivable that God’s restoration of harmony could include bringing our beloved pets back to life. While this remains speculative, it’s a hopeful possibility rooted in the promise of complete restoration.
Therefore, we can be reasonably confident that animals, in general, will exist in the new heavens and new earth. It’s likely we can expect to see pets in this new creation, in a generic sense. However, the more personal question lingers: Will we be reunited with our specific pets from this life? Will I see Towy again? Scripture doesn’t provide a definitive answer. It’s possible that Christ’s redemption extends to restoring our individual pets in the new heaven and new earth, but we cannot claim this expectation with certainty based on biblical evidence alone.
Trusting God’s Goodness: Will Heaven Disappoint?
The question of seeing our pets in heaven often taps into a deeper fear: Will heaven truly be heaven if something we deeply cherish is missing? This concern echoes a fundamental struggle of faith – trusting in God’s goodness and provision, even when things don’t align perfectly with our desires.
I recall a conversation with a Christian man whose atheist son rejected faith entirely. The father poignantly expressed, “I think my son will be in heaven even though he’s rejected Christ. Heaven can’t be heaven for me if my son’s not there.” While his statement sadly deviates from biblical truth regarding salvation, it reveals a raw human emotion: the fear of incompleteness in heaven, the worry that even eternal bliss might be marred by the absence of loved ones.
Similarly, our concern about pets in heaven can stem from this underlying question: Will I be disappointed with heaven? We are told of heaven’s unsurpassed joy and perfection, a reward for enduring earthly hardships. But what if, upon arrival, something feels amiss? If we walk the golden streets and our beloved pet is not by our side, will a shadow of sadness linger? Could we even feel let down by heaven itself?
These anxieties resonate with the very doubts that Adam and Eve faced in the Garden of Eden – the whispers of the serpent and our own sinful nature suggesting, God isn’t truly good. He’s withholding something from you. You can’t fully trust Him. For some, the uncertainty of seeing pets in heaven can amplify these doubts, challenging our ability to wholeheartedly trust God in all aspects of life.
Ultimately, the question of our pets’ presence in eternity boils down to trusting in the goodness and faithfulness of God. Our human nature may fear disappointment, even in heaven. However, Christ’s sacrifice, resurrection, and God’s consistent faithfulness throughout history assure us that He will not fail us.
We can be certain of this truth: heaven will not disappoint. The perfect joy of heaven will make even our greatest earthly joys pale in comparison to the complete and overwhelming euphoria of being in Christ’s presence. When we behold Jesus face to face, dwell in His glory, and experience perfect union with Him, we will discover a fulfillment so profound that no longing, no disappointment, no sense of loss will ever touch us again. In that perfect state, whether our pets are visibly by our side or not, our joy will be complete in Him.
Cameron Cole is the author of Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth.
Cameron Cole (MA, Wake Forest University) is the founder of Rooted, a ministry dedicated to fostering gospel-centered student ministry. He is the author of Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy, and the coeditor of Gospel-Centered Youth Ministry and The Jesus I Wish I Knew in High School.
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