Dogs bond with people in a more intimate way than lots of other animals, and many have a fun-loving personality, making them seem like a member of the family. For many people, when a dog dies, it feels like they’ve lost a loved one. Some wonder if they will ever see their dog again. Show The Bible doesn’t explicitly teach that dogs go to heaven. However, some well-known Bible teachers believe that they do. Scripture teaches that animals will populate the New Earth because they were part of God’s creation before sin entered the world. What’s unclear is if former pets will be among the animals. Do dogs go to heaven when they die? What does the Bible teach about animals being in heaven? Where does the Bible mention dogs? Keep reading to learn the answers to these questions and others. Also see How Many People Can Go To Heaven? to learn more. Where does the Bible teach that animals will be in heaven? See belowDo dogs go to heaven when they die?Animals are God’s creation and the innocent victims of people’s sin. In the Bible, animals are referred to as God’s. Here are two examples:
Did Jesus die for dogs? No. Jesus died for people. But like dogs were “swept up” in the fall of humanity into sin, even though they themselves didn’t sin, some believe that perhaps they will get “swept up” in the redemption of humanity. Some scholars believe this is the implication for creation from the Apostle Paul’s teaching in Romans 8.
There will be future freedom for animals in bondage. Romans 8:20-21 states that all of creation, which includes animals, are currently in bondage due to people’s sin, but will one day be set free because of Jesus Christ. (Also see Do Children Go To Heaven?) If God creates new animals for the New Earth, they would have never been in bondage to sin. The animals that will one day be free from the effects of sin are currently in bondage on the present Earth. A former pastor and current writer, Randy Alcorn writes,
Alcorn admits that he isn’t positive that pets like dogs go to heaven when they die, but he suspects they do. Author Joni Eareckson Tada agrees:
Also see Do Short People Go To Heaven? learn why so many people ask the question. Does the Bible teach that there will there be animals in heaven?Below are verses and passages from the Bible that teach that animals, in general (not necessarily pets), will be in heaven. Most scholars agree that while heaven is sometimes depicted with poetic descriptions in the Bible, readers should interpret the presence of animals literally. (Also see Will People Eat Food In Heaven?) Below are five commonly-referenced verses that teach that animals are in heaven.
What is the nature of the New Earth at the end of time? The Bible teaches that people will live on a New Earth (2 Pet. 3:10-13, Rev. 21:1-5, Isa. 65:17-19, 66:22). The Bible’s phrase “New Earth” suggests that something about it will be different because it will be “new,” and something about it will be the same because it’s still the “Earth.” This aligns with verses like Isaiah 65:25 (quoted above). The wolf is still the same animal as it was on the Old Earth (i.e., it’s still a wolf). However, the wolf is also different because it’s not attacking the lamb.
Why will animals be on the New Earth? Animals glorify God. They are part of God’s creation, which reflects his attributes (Rom. 1:19-20). Animal life was a prominent aspect of God’s creation, which he called good multiple times (e.g. Gen. 1:25). After the Fall, animals suffered because of sin. Yet, animals didn’t rebel against their Creator; people did. Animals were innocent victims of people’s rebellion against God (Rom. 8:21). Also see Do Cats Go To Heaven? learn why so many people ask the question. Are dogs mentioned in the Bible?Dogs are mentioned in Scripture but often with negative connotations. In the ancient world, dogs weren’t seen as the lovable, friendly, affectionate pets that they are today. Most didn’t live with people but roamed the streets and countryside looking for scraps of food to eat. Some had diseases. Others were violent. Most were filthy. What Bible verse says pets go to heaven?Indeed, the Bible does confirm that there are animals in Heaven. Isaiah 11:6 describes several types (predator and prey) living in peace with one another. If God created animals for the Garden of Eden to give us a picture of His ideal place, He will surely include them in Heaven, God's perfect new Eden!
What does it say about dogs going to heaven?While religious views around the world vary, Christianity has traditionally held that animals have no hope of an afterlife. But Pope John Paul II said in 1990 that animals do have souls and are “as near to God as men are”.
Do we see our dogs in heaven?The pets that we had to say goodbye to are alive in heaven right now in their spiritual bodies and we will see them again if we accept Jesus as our Savior. Your Pet Is Not Gone Forever.
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