A fellow asked me the other day whether I thought dogs went to heaven. His wife thought they did. He was sure they did not. "They ain't got no souls," he stated emphatically. The Bible says they just die."
Actually, the Bible is silent on dogs in heaven. The Bible is a story about human relationship to God, and that is what it is about. But could God grant dogs entrance into heaven? If you believe God is all-powerful, which I do, then surely He can.
However, the Bible is seems to indicate that there will be some animals in the new heaven and new earth. It may be just symbolic of God's great peace, but what a great way for God to show us that peace -- by having former natural enemies in the animal kingdom acting in peace towards each other!
Isaiah 65:25 states that "The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain," says the LORD."
I have no doubt that it is entirely possible that our loving heavenly Father can resurrect our pets and make them part of our happiness in heaven. However, the Bible does not give any references to this, as the Bible was written for the salvation of mankind. (After all, something written for animals wouldn't do a lot of good when the animals can't read!!)
Sin came on this earth through man, not through animals. The animals are but innocent by-standers. Rom 5:12: Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.
So I hope to see my old dog in heaven. (And i hope that there may be cats, too, for those feline lovers out there!) I hope God in His infinite goodness might grant that great comfort to those of us who have adopted animals as members of our earthly families.
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