Will Our Pets (and Other Animals) Greet Us in Heaven?

Dan Story photograph

Part Six:   “Was Jesus Indifferent to Animals?”

One of the common criticisms hurled at Christianity by secular animal rights advocates is that the Bible is indifferent to the welfare animals. In particular, critics claim that Jesus showed little concern for animal life. Well-known radical animal rights advocate, Peter Singer, is an example. He writes, “The New Testament is completely lacking in any injunction against cruelty to animals, or any recommendations to consider their interests. Jesus himself showed indifference to the fate of non-  humans when he induced two thousand swine to hurl themselves into the sea" (Animal Liberation: A New Ethic for Our Treatment of Animals, p. 209). 

In previous blog articles, I have already refuted the unwarranted allegation that the Bible is unconcerned or apathetic to the welfare of animals. Scripture teaches that God created non-human life. All animals belong to Him; He watchers over them; He enjoys them; He provides for their well-being. God desires that all animal life fulfill the purpose for which He created them. In light of this, it would be theologically impossible for Jesus to have an indifferent attitude toward animals. Why? As the second member of the triune Godhead, Jesus could not be apathetic toward wild and domestic animals because God the Father is passionately concerned for their welfare and survival. In other words, as the incarnate Son of God, Jesus would have shared the Father’s love and concern for animal life.

The primary purpose of Jesus’ incarnation was to open the door to human reconciliation with God through His sacrificial death on the cross for our sins. His Second Advent will include the removal of nature’s curse (Rom. 8:20-32; Rev. 22:3; cf. Gen. 3:17-19); the establishment of a new heaven and earth (Isa. 65:17; Rev. 21:1); and the redemption of all creation alongside His people—which of course will include animal life (Rom. 8:19-23). Nevertheless, even when Jesus walked this earth he still demonstrated an appreciation and concern for animals. He told His disciples that not a single sparrow “is forgotten by God” (Luke 12:6). He pointed out that God provides animals their food (Matt. 6:26; Luke 12:24) and is concerned for their welfare (Luke 12:6).

As far as the allegation that Jesus “showed indifference to the fate of nonhumans when he induced two thousand swine to hurl themselves into the sea,” it was not Jesus but the demons that drove the pigs into the sea (see Matt. 8:30–32). To claim otherwise is to read meaning into the passage that flies in the face of the actual narrative—as well as the whole Scriptural teachings on God and non-human life. However, this raises another issue that needs to be addressed before moving on.

What about Animal Sacrifices in the Old Testament?

Many Christians struggle over harmonizing God’s love for animals with His instructions in Leviticus and elsewhere to include animal sacrifices in religious activities. This is a fair concern, but an adequate response is beyond the scope of this study. But I can at least say this. Animal sacrifices—the shedding of innocent blood—vividly depicts the gravity of sin and the heartbreaking cost of redemption. In God’s revelatory plan for human salvation, animal sacrifices in the Old Testament point directly to the ultimate, once-and-for all sacrifice of Jesus Christ on behalf of rebellious sinners. I can see no more powerful or effective way for God to illustrate this crucial message. But animal sacrifices do not lesson God’s love for animals and should not distract us from this fact. Moreover, slaughtering animals for sacrificial purposes was done quickly and humanely; it was no different than butchering animals for human consumption today. In fact much of the edible portions of sacrificial animals were used for food. More importantly, it was Jesus who abolished animal sacrifices. And of course if earth-bound animals are privileged to enter heaven, the “sting” of death (1 Cor. 15:55) is removed for sacrificial as well as all other earth-bound animals.

Animals Respond to God

In response to God’s love and provision, through beautiful poetic language, all creation—including wild animals—is portrayed worshiping and praising the Creator. Palm 148 speaks of angels and other “heavenly hosts” praising God alongside “sea creatures” and “wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds” (148: 7,10). Speaking through the prophet Isaiah, God says “The animals of the field will honor me, jackals and ostriches, because I provide water in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” (Isa. 43:20). The last verse in the last Psalm concludes: “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD” (Ps. 150:6; also see Ps. 65:12–13; 96:11–12; 98:4–8). At the end of this present age, explains Revelation, “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them [will sing] ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praised and honor and glory and power, for every and ever’” (5:13)!

In terms of here on earth, in this present age, such passages should probably be seen as mostly metaphorical. Nevertheless, they point to the reality that all creatures bringing glory and enjoyment to God simply by fulfilling the purpose of their creation—a purpose that will continue on and reach perfection in the Peaceable Kingdom.

           

This and the previous blog articles have shown that animals enjoy a wonderful—and dependent—relationship with their Creator. Standing alone, the data in these articles do not necessarily translate into earth-bound animals existing after physical death. But they do provide the foundation for a compelling theological case that God has more in mind for animals than their short sojourn here on this earth. There are many other evidences I’ll add to support this. The most crucial is the evidence that animals possess souls. If they do, there is no legitimate biblical reason to deny them a future abode in Heaven. This watershed issue will be the subject of my next one or two blog articles.

^*  The blog articles in this series are adapted from copyrighted material and may not  be reproduced in book or article form, either electronically or in print, without my written permission. But feel free to send links to these articles, with a brief introduction, to your personal email list, Facebook friends and groups, or other people who may enjoy them. Or post a link on your own website. If you would like to be added to my personal blog email list (people who receive an email notice whenever I post a new blog article), contact me through my website: www.danstory.net.

Will Pets (and Other Animals) Greet Us in Heaven?

                   

Dan Story photograph


Part Five:  
 “If God Is Only Concerned about Humans, Why Does He Give Animals So Much Attention in the Bible?”

Someone recently told me that the Bible doesn’t say much about animals, so maybe we shouldn’t either. Is this true? Does God have little to say about animal life? In this and the following blog article (and previously in blog three), I’ll demonstrate that the Bible has a lot to say about animals. Together, these articles present the first Scriptural evidence I’ll present for why I believe we can be fairly certain that today’s earthbound, sentient animals will inhabit the new heaven and earth prophesized in both the Old and New Testaments (Isa. 65:17, 25; Rev. 21:1). In other words, if God created, loves, provides for, and has immense joy in the animals He created, there is every reason to believe He will redeem them along with His people at the end of this present age (Rom. 8:19-23).

So, how does God demonstrates His love, provision, and joy in animal life? To begin with, there are numerous passages in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, that describe how God made specific provisions for the survival and propagation of animals. It begins as early as Genesis chapter one. The creation story relates that God designed the earth from the beginning to support animal life. Before the first creatures were spoken into existence, He created vegetation to produce “plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds” to be food for both humans and animals (Gen. 1:12, 29-30). Thus, food and shelter were available when wildlife began to inhabit the earth—and there was no predation among animals. Moreover, God instructed Adam to name the animals (Gen 2:19). By assigning him this duty, God showed a personal attentiveness for individual species of animals, not just the broad categories of created “kinds.” 

Nowhere is God’s providential care for animals portrayed more dramatically and personally than His protection of wild and domestic animals during the sin-cleansing, worldwide Flood. God made sure that a genetic stock of every kind of animal was preserved on Noah’s ark to later repopulate the earth (Gen. 6:19-7:3). This command was not qualified. It included what many people consider “vermin” as well as animals that would eventually become dangerous predators. God did not save just the animals that were profitable to people.

After the flood waters receded and the wild animals were released to repopulate the earth (Gen. 8:17–18), God made a covenant with the human race that included animal life. It was an unconditional, permanent covenant, and it continued to reveal God’s providential care for animals (Gen. 9:8–11). In the eschatological future, God will set forth another covenant that will include animal life: “In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air 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” (Hos. 2:18).

 This same concern for the welfare of non-human life continued with the emerging Jewish nation. God commanded the Israelites to adhere to specific stewardship guidelines that included provisions for wild animals. For example, in the Sabbath year instructions God told the Israelites:

For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove. (Exod. 23:10–11; also  Lev. 25:1–7, emphasis added)

God has equal concern for the humane treatment of domestic animals. This is expressed in Proverbs 12:10: “A righteous man cares for the need of his animal,” and in God’s instructions on the care of farm animals (e.g. Deut. 22:1-4). Moses directed the Israelites to work only six days so that on the seventh day their oxen and donkeys may rest (Exod. 23:12). He instructed them not to “muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” apparently so it may feed on what drops to the ground (Deut. 25:4). God’s command to protect domestic animals also included an enemy’s livestock (Exod. 23:4–5).

Animals Have Value to God Independent of People

Nowhere does the Bible communicate God’s love and joy for animals, independent of His even greater love and joy for people, more clearly than in Job 38 and 39 (the longest passage in the Bible that focuses on non-human creation) and Psalm 104 (the most descriptive passage of God preparing  nature to support animal life). These passages mention specific animals and specific habitats, which God prepared for individual varieties of animals. The wild donkey was given “the wasteland as a home, the salt flats as his habitat” (Job 39:6). The Ostrich “lays her eggs on the ground and lets them warm in the sand” (13-14). The eagle builds “his nest on high” and “dwells on a cliff . . . a rocky crag is his stronghold” (27-28). God “makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains” to give  “water to all the beasts of the field.” There “the wild donkeys quench their thirst” (Ps. 104:10-11). God waters the trees He created, and there “the birds make their nests; the stork has its home in the pine trees. The high mountains belong to the wild goats; the crags are a refuge for the coneys” (17-18). God “provides food for the raven (Job 38:41) and the lions “seek their food from God” (Ps. 104:21). Indeed, all animals, the Psalmist declares, look to God “to give them their food at the proper time” (v. 27), and He sends His “Spirit” to give animals life (v. 30).

There are two significant things we can learn from these passages. First, God provides food, shelter, and habitats for wild animals apart from human considerations. Second, only God is present and observes much of what happens in nature. In many of His reflections on wild nature, humans are totally absent. God causes rain to “water a land where no man lives, a desert with no one in it (Job 38:26). He asked Job. “Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you watch when the doe bears her fawn? Do you count the months till they bear? Do you know the time they give birth?” (39:1-2).  The self-evident answer to these rhetorical questions is that only God observes these events and is present when they occur.

In sum, God not only created animals and gives them life by His Spirit (Ps. 104:30), but He continues His care by establishing their habitats, providing their shelter, and giving them their daily food. Animals have intrinsic worth and value to God because He created and values them. So, does the Bible say much about animals? It says a lot, and I’ve given you just a sample. You might also like to read Job 38:41; Ps.136: 25; 145:15-16; 147:9; Joel 1:19-20; 2:21- 22; Luke 12:24 and many other passages. In next week’s blog article we’ll look at Jesus’ attitude toward animals.

^*  The blog articles in this series are adapted from copyrighted material and may not  be reproduced in book or article form, either electronically or in print, without my written permission. But feel free to send links to these articles, with a brief introduction, to your personal email list, Facebook friends and groups, or other people who may enjoy them. Or post a link on your own website. If you would like to be added to my personal blog email list (people who receive an email notice whenever I post a new blog article), contact me through my website: www.danstory.net.

Will Pets (and Other Animals) Greet Us in Heaven?

Dan Story photograph
 

Part Four:  “If the Bible Says Animals Will Inhabit Heaven, Will More

                           People Be Drawn to Christ?”

A friend recently told me about a pastor who declared to his congregation, during a Sunday sermon, that animals will not be in heaven. This bothered me for several reasons. For one, the pastor’s comment was unnecessary and insensitive—considering the millions of people who grieve over the possibility of never seeing their pets again. But it was also without biblical justification (as this series will show). It was merely an assumption. But in this case even worse; his comment chased away a spiritual seeker who was attending the service. This person was an environmental scientist, so obviously had strong feelings about the animal world.

This may not be a very good reason to walk away from church, and I pray this person will reconsider and return. But this account did cause me to reflect on why I’m writing this series of articles. And because of this, I’m taking a short detour in this article to explain why the eternal destiny of animals is important to me.  I actually have several reasons for writing this series, but there are two in particular.

First, I want an answer to the question of animal immortality myself. Little has been written on this subject and, to be honest, what I’ve read has been mostly fluff: personal opinions and assumptions with little theological justification. Most people who comment on this issue are like the pastor above—but with the opposite view. Instead of stating emphatically that animals will not be in heaven, as the pastor did, they state emphatically that animals (pets in particular) will be in heaven. But like the pastor, their opinion has little or no biblical justification. So, one of my goals for writing this series of articles is to provide a comprehensive, well-researched, theological, and even scientific study of this issue.

But there is another reason I’m writing these articles, and the incident of a person  leaving church because a pastor denied animal immortality opened my eyes to it.

For most of the past thirty years, my ministry has been Christian apologetics. Through my books and articles, and occasional classes and talks, I answer the tough questions that critics raise to challenge Christianity. I also try to remove the doubts of genuine spiritual seekers. So almost everything I write is related to apologetics, even if it’s not my specific purpose. Moreover, if you read the brief biography in my website, you will also see that I  have had a great love for nature and all things wild, lonely, and beautifully since I was a child. This has played out in dozens of articles on wildlife and even a book (Where Wild Things Live). More recently, I’ve written articles and a book on Christian environmentalism (Should Christians Be Environmentalists?). So, in retrospect, it seems natural to me that I took up the case of animal immortality—but with an apologetic slant.

Here’s why I’m sharing this. As a Christian apologist, I understand that there are myriad reasons why non-Christians fail to give Christianity a fair hearing. More often than not, they reject it even before considering the incredible amount of objective and historical facts supporting it. The above story of a spiritual seeker’s disillusion with church because the pastor said animals will not be in heaven may seem trivial to some Christians, but it was this person’s particular issue. It was real and important to her. And in light of the fact that millions and millions of other Americans are also concerned with the eternal destiny of their beloved pets (and for nature lovers like myself, all animals) this isn’t a trivial issue—it’s a huge issue.

Evangelists and apologists in today’s postmodern world are seeking culturally relevant points of contact with unbelievers. By “points of contact” I mean areas of common concern and interest that both Christians and non-Christians share. These points of contact can be starting points for dialogue, stepping stone that can lead to sharing the Christian world and life view. For example, my writings and talks on Christian environmentalism is a point of contact because global environmental degradation is “top of the list” of concerns for young people today. I likewise believe the question of the eternal fate of pets and other animals can serve a similar apologetic and evangelistic point of contact. Hence, the other reason I’m writing this series of articles. I believe that people who love their pets and wildlife may be moved to consider Christianity if they understand we have something relevant to say on this issue. We have the probable answer to the eternal fate of their pets and other animals.

By pointing out that a strong biblical case can be made that God’s people (i.e. Christians) will be reunited with their beloved pets in heaven (and that wild animals will inhabit it too) just may be the point of contact some people need to open the door for productive dialogue with Christians. So, my hope is that readers will take this topic seriously. It just may prevent someone else from walking away from church—or draw a spiritual seeker to consider Jesus Christ. (I’ll give Jesus’ view of animals in a later article.)

Next week I’ll get back on topic and give specific examples of how God shows His love for animals. This biblical insight will help skeptics see that animals—both wild and domestic (including pets)—are important to God, and because of this there is every reason to believe He will extend His love for them into the next life.

^*  The blog articles in this series are adapted from copyrighted material and may not  be reproduced in book or article form, either electronically or in print, without my written permission. But feel free to send links to these articles, with a brief introduction, to your personal email list, Facebook friends and groups, or other people who may enjoy them. Or post a link on your own website. If you would like to be added to my personal blog email list (people who receive an email notice whenever I post a new blog article), contact me through my website: www.danstory.net.

Will Our Pets (and other Animals) Greet Us in Heaven?

Steve McSparran photograph

Part Three: 

“Does God Love Animals As Much As He Loves Humans?”

Let’s be clear about this up front. The answer is no; God does not love animals as much as He loves humans. Only people were created in God’s image (Gen. 1:27). We are the “crown” of creation (Ps. 8:4-6) and of more value to God than animals (Matt. 12:11-12; Luke 12:6-7). But the psalmist also points out that God preserves both man and beast (Ps. 36:6). And Jesus said that not a sparrow falls to the ground that God isn’t aware of it (Matt. 10:29). God tells us that He feeds the ravens of the field and all the other creatures on earth (Ps. 145:16; 147:9).

If the title question above is, “Does God Loves Animals Independently of Humans?” the answer would be an emphatic, yes! And understanding this is the first step in developing a comprehensive theology affirming the likelihood of animal immortality; that is, today’s earthbound animals will inhabit the “new heavens and earth” prophesized in both the Old and New Testaments (Isa. 65:17; Rev. 21:1; cf. Isa. 11:6-9).

Look at it like this. If God created, loves, provides for, enjoys, and bestows (at least on sentient animals) immortal souls—and I will show in a future blog article that He does—it seems likely God will redeemed them along with His people at the end of this present age. Certainly Paul seems to imply as much in Romans 8: 21: “All creation anticipates the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay” (i.e. the “curse,” NLT). This seems even more likely when we consider that animals were cursed as part of the consequences of mankind’s rebellion against God and technically not fallen (Gen. 3:17). Rather they are victims of human sin. Thus, they have no need for a savior, at least in the sense that humans do. Again, Paul implies this in the Romans 8:19-23 passage.

I’ll explain all this in more detail later. For now, I need to lay a foundation for the following couple of articles, which will show that God does love animals independently of humans. The best way to do this is to survey God’s perspective on non-human life. My goal is to demonstrate in Scripture that God does indeed love, provide for, and enjoy earthly animals independent (but not equal to or above) His love, provision, and joy in humans. If so, why would He not continue this love on into the next life, as He does with His people? There is no biblical or rational reason He won’t!

“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it”

This statement in Psalm 24:1 is key to understanding God’s perspective on non-human life. People do not own the earth. God does—and everything else He created. This is plainly stated in other passages in the Bible. Centuries before David penned Psalm 24, Moses wrote in Deuteronomy, “To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it” (10:14). Everything means everything, and everything includes animals. In fact God specifically emphasized his ownership of the animal kingdom: “Every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine” (Ps. 50:10-11).

The Bible mentions dozens of animals by name, and even in antiquity biblical characters recognized their inherent value. King Solomon “taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish” (1 Kings 4:33). Job told his accusers that people can learn from fish, birds, and other animals (12:7–8). Furthermore, God often used animals for His own purposes. When He instructed the prophet Elijah to go into hiding, He used ravens to bring him food (1 Kings 17:1–6). God used a great fish to save Jonah’s life (Jon. 1:17) and a small fish to provide the money for Jesus and Peter to pay the temple tax (Matt. 17:24–27). In the account of Balaam and his donkey, it was the donkey—not Balaam—that saw the angel sent to prevent Balaam from doing evil (Num. 22). Jesus used the sparrow and raven as illustrations in spiritual lessons (Luke 12: 6-7, 24). It’s noteworthy that Jesus chose birds for His illustrations that people generally considered insignificant (the sparrow) or devious (the raven). Perhaps most remarkable of all, wild animals accompanied Jesus during His temptation in the wilderness (Mark 1:13). We’ll examine this amazing passage in a later article.          

This is all the space for now. Next week we’ll see more specific examples of how God oversees and provides for wild animals, and we’ll discover that much of what occurs in the lives of wildlife is beyond human observation or awareness. Only God is present to observe the events in animal lives. All this biblical data will help you to see that animals—both wild and domesticated (including pets)—are important to God. But the question remains, are they important enough that they will “greet” us in heaven? I’ll continue to build my case that they are—which is the thesis of this entire series.

^*  The blog articles in this series are adapted from copyrighted material and may not  be reproduced in book or article form, either electronically or in print, without my written permission. But feel free to send links to these articles, with a brief introduction, to your personal email list, Facebook friends and groups, or other people who may enjoy them. Or post a link on your own website. If you would like to be added to my personal blog email list (people who receive an email notice whenever I post a new blog article), contact me through my website: www.danstory.net.