A common question many people have is whether or not they will see their beloved pets in Heaven/Eternity. The Bible answers that question indirectly in the affirmative. As a child, I was constantly finding hurt animals and bringing them home. I intrinsically had compassion for them and wanted to ease their suffering. I never went looking for them, they seemingly, found me. On one occasion, I found a malnourished dog that had run into a nest of bees. He was in really bad shape and all I could do for him was give him some food and water, put ointment on his wounds and pet him. It was a tearjerker for sure but at least he died receiving love.
How will Jesus make that situation right? How will He reverse the suffering and abuse that millions of animals have experienced? Where did my compassion for animals come from? Why do we feel a connection with animals? Why do we long to play with them and see them happy?
GOD has a great affection for all of His creation, including the animals–He created them and called them good. He endowed animals with playfulness, curiosity, cuteness, majesty and many other attributes. Animals are important to GOD and He watches over them and feeds them.
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them… Matthew 6:26 NIV
GOD also created man to take care of animals and rule them.
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Genesis 1:26 NIV
The love and affection we have for animals comes from GOD because we were made in His likeness. And, ruling over something according to GOD’s way, involves caretaking, fair treatment, affection, etc. The more affection we have for someone, or, with an animal, the stronger the connection. The two-go hand in hand because this is the way GOD designed relationships to flow.
Animals and man have been connected throughout all of recorded history. This continuity will continue throughout all of eternity. Why? Everywhere GOD ordained life, animals were present. They lived in the Garden of Eden, outside the Garden of Eden, before the flood, and after the flood. Many animals will continue to live past this age and survive the tribulation. The Bible tells us the wolf will lie down with the lamb and children will play with snakes during the Millennium. Animals are even represented in Heaven. There are angels who have the face of a lion, an ox, and an eagle.
Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. Ezekiel 1:10 NIV
Just like GOD created man and gave him a purpose, He also gave each animal a purpose. Many animals were sacrificed as sin offerings in the Old Testament–that purpose alone is a testament to their significance.
GOD ordained animals as a necessary component for life to exist on this planet and this is part of the reason why GOD saved representatives of each order and put them on Noah’s Ark. For example, life on Earth would be drastically different without bees.
Animals are so important that GOD has made covenants with them.
The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. Genesis 8:21 NIV
This next covenant describes how animals will be safe during the Millennium.
In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety. Hosea 2:18 NIV
This next verse in the book of Joel tells us that GOD has affection for the animals and allows them to share in the blessings of paradise.
Do not be afraid, you wild animals, for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green. The trees are bearing their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their riches. Joel 2:22 NIV
I find this verse in Joel quite interesting. Why did GOD put that verse in the Bible? Animals can’t read. Is GOD telling us that He has planted hope into the animals? Just as many human beings have been abused in this life, and are in need of justice, many animals have been abused and live in fear. Additionally, when sin entered the world, the animals were affected and experienced painful toil. When GOD says, “Don’t be afraid, you wild animals”, He is securing a blessed future for the animals–this is part of making all things right. One day, the animals won’t toil anymore, they will experience a life free of abuse and free from the effects of sin. They will live without pain and they will enter into the culmination of GOD’S plan.
Some of Jesus’ attributes are described through the characteristics of animals. He is called The Lion from the tribe of Judah and The Lamb of GOD. Certainly, this implicates that lions and lambs are important and will continue through all eternity.
When Jesus makes all things new, two possibilities exist for the animals—re-generation or re-creation. After the flood, re-generation is GOD’s pattern–not complete annihilation and re-creating. Re-creating a whole new set of animals is not making all things right—it’s starting over. Throughout the Bible, and during our lives, we see a pattern of GOD’s setting things free. HE likes to take the original, redeem it, and upgrade it–He re-fashions and makes it better. HE has done this with His children and one day, He will do it to the Cosmos.
For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. Romans 8:19 NIV
Who or what is waiting for glorified saints to be revealed? The creation–everything created. Does this mean the animals are waiting? That’s the way I read it because creatures that haven’t been created yet can’t be waiting—this verse is talking about creatures that GOD has already made.
All of these truths implicate GOD’s re-generation of the animals, and since dead animals will be re-generated, it’s safe to assume that you will see your beloved pet again.
I hope these truths from GOD’s word brings you hope and comfort. What an awesome eternity GOD has prepared for those who love Him!
Reflection
Read Romans chapter 8.
Describe your freedom in Christ today.
Describe what you will be set free from in the future.