God’s Eternal Plan For His Animal Creation
"God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Revelation 21:4
"Cast... all your care upon Him, for He careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7
"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart." Psalm 34:18
If you have lost a pet, we pray you will find comfort during your time of heartache, through your faith in God, knowing that one day you will see your precious pet again. The Lord loves you and He does feel your pain.
Since everything on earth is a pattern of things in Heaven, then God's Eternal home will certainly be filled with these loyal friends. Scripture says a great deal about animals, portraying them as Earth’s second most important inhabitants.
The Bible tells us that during the Millennial Reign of Christ, the earth will be filled with tame and beautiful animals of all descriptions, so we know the New Earth will also be filled with all of God’s wonderful animals. Isaiah speaks of a coming glorious era on Earth when.....
"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." Isaiah 11:6-9
After the thousand year Millennial Reign of Christ, God says, "Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth..." (Isaiah 65:17), and then mankind and animals will enjoy a redeemed Earth where they will never have to face death or suffering throughout a never ending Eternity.
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Revelation 21:4
"And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." Revelation 21:5
It’s not just people who will be "renewed" but also the earth and "all things" in it. "All things" include animals. Dogs, cats, birds, fish, horses, deer, squirrels, lions, and dolphins, (or whatever your pet may be) ..... will be beneficiaries of Christ’s death and resurrection. Jesus seems to be saying, "I’ll take all I made the first time, including people and nature and animals and the earth itself, and bring it back as new, fresh, and indestructible."
Did Christ die for animals? Certainly not in the way He died for mankind. People are made in God’s image, animals aren’t. People sinned, animals didn’t. Animals are sinless, they are God’s creatures and they are part of His plan for Heaven. Because animals didn’t sin, they don’t need a Redeemer in the same way that mankind does. But in another sense, Christ died for animals indirectly, because His death for humanity purchased redemption for what was brought down by humanity’s sin, which was all of creation, including the animals.
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God....... because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also....... groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for....... the redemption of our body." Romans 8:18-19 & 21-23
This is a clear statement that our resurrection, the redemption of our bodies, will bring deliverance not only to us but also to the rest of creation, which has been groaning in its suffering. This seems to indicate that on the New Earth, after mankind’s resurrection, animals who once suffered on the old Earth will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death.
When sin got out of control and God decided to destroy the earth with a flood, God chose to save the animals as well as the people (Genesis 6:19-22).
Consider the very first covenant established between God and his people, made with Noah right after the flood. The clouds part and the world’s first Rainbow appears. God tells Noah..... "Behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; and with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth." Genesis 9:9-10
God also makes covenants with His creatures,
"And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth." Genesis 9:16
"And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground." Hosea 2:18
God goes on to say that His covenant with "all flesh" shall never be "cut off" — a strong suggestion that animals will not be excluded from His dealings with the world. When Adam was created, God surrounded him with animals. When Noah was delivered from the Flood, God surrounded him with animals. When Jesus was born, God surrounded Him with animals. When Jesus establishes the renewed Earth, with renewed men and women, He will surely surround Himself and us with renewed animals.
Randy Alcorn notes in his book called "Heaven", "It would be simple for God to re-create a pet in Heaven. He’s the giver of all good gifts, not the taker of them. If it would please us to have a pet restored to the New Earth, that may be sufficient reason. Consider parents who’ve acquired a pet because of their child’s request." He also says, "If we believe God is their Creator, that He loves us and them, that He intends to restore His creatures from the bondage they experienced because of our sin, then we have biblical grounds for not only wanting but expecting that we may be with them again on the New Earth."
"For with God nothing shall be impossible." Luke 1:37
"All things are possible to him that believeth.!" Mark 9:23
"If ye shall ask any thing in My Name, I will do it." John 14:14
"...No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly." Psalm 84:11
"Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, .... your reward is great in heaven." Luke 6:23
"How much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask Him?" Matthew 7:11
Since God promises that He will not withhold any good thing from those who love Him... there is the possibility that a simple request to our Savior, could make petitions for our pets a fulfilled request instantaneously. There are multitudes whose beloved pets have gone the way of all flesh and died. God is able to bring them back from dust and ashes as simply as He does humans when the dead in Christ rise.
However, their restoration may occur only after believers arrive in Heaven and request their pets because having the animals we loved with us in Heaven would not be because of salvation, which is a spiritual experience, but because our requests produced God's recreation or restoration of our faithful, loving, and loyal furry friends.
"The Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
God extends to animals the blessings of mankind’s redemption, just as He extended to them the curses of mankind’s sin. Every living thing, animals and people alike wait for the redemption that will extend to the entire creation. God meant for animals to be part of His World, now and in the Eternal ages to come.
God entrusted animals to us, and our relationships with animals are a significant part of our lives. The Scriptures show that animals are not of themselves sinners, but are subject to the results of sin— not of their own accord, but because of man's sins. It was human sin, not anything the animals did, that caused God to place a curse on creation, subjecting all living things to eventual death.
That's because God created the first human, Adam, in a position of responsibility over the world. Man was given the choice to choose sin or righteousness, the lesser animals were not given this choice. When Adam disobeyed God, he did so as the head of humanity and the world.
The animals had been put under the protection and dominion of man. This is why the consequences of sin, including death, came not just upon Adam, but upon his descendants and the whole earth.
God has shown in His Word that animals are an important part of His Creation, and once the Curse is lifted, we will see even more characteristics of God in the animals. The playfulness, love, and devotion in the pets we have had, communicate the beauty of, God, their Maker.
Some of the following is noted in one of Moira Allen's, pet articles ..... The Christian concept of heaven is inextricably linked with the concepts of salvation, redemption, and resurrection. Christians don't believe that "going to heaven" happens automatically; it's the result of conscious decisions made during one's life. While the Bible is very specific about the requirements for human salvation, it says nothing about salvation for animals..... However..... the Bible states that redemption is "necessary" for humans, ..... because, in scriptural terms, humans are "fallen" beings. Humans have free will, and thus the ability to choose between good and evil. Humans can choose salvation (and heaven), or choose to reject both.
Animals, have never "fallen" -- and if one has not fallen, it is not at all clear that the intermediary step of "redemption" is necessary. Animals cannot "choose" between good and evil; when animals behave badly in our homes, it is generally because of a conflict between their God-given natures and our human requirements. Animals have no need to be saved because they are not considered "sinners." This doesn't mean that we can necessarily assume that because animals have no "sin," they are automatically received into heaven. What it does mean is that the whole issue of "redemption" simply doesn't apply. Whether animals go to heaven or not, the question of "redemption" is not the basis for letting them in -- or keeping them out.
What do you believe Heaven is like? If you ask this question of most people, you're likely to get a description of a glorious garden, filled with beautiful trees and radiant flowers, with sparkling waters and soft breezes. Very few people imagine heaven as some sort of giant, sterile concrete parking lot, devoid of life. We base our image of heaven on the beauties of the creation that is Earth.
Does your garden have birds singing in those heavenly trees? Do butterflies flit among the divine flowers? Just as we can't imagine a heaven without plants, neither can we imagine one without animals. ... there are animals in heaven. And if it is... possible to encounter heavenly dogs and heavenly cats amongst those heavenly flowers and trees, then perhaps... one of those might be your heavenly dog, or my heavenly cat.
Your favorite Koi Fish may already be swimming in one of the lovely ponds or brooks.
Just as humans are redeemed through the love of God, pets may possibly be "redeemed" through our love. Corinthians speaks of the sanctification of a household through an individual; while it may be stretching a point to suppose that this household might include pets, it's not a completely illogical stretch.
"For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy." 1 Corinthians 7:14
God uses pets to help humans learn about love. From pets, we learn mercy, compassion, patience, and understanding, and we also learn what it means to receive unconditional love. Our pets offer us companionship, devotion, amusement, and joyful delight. God meant for them to add pleasure and fulfillment to our lives. Animals are one of the "good gifts" God has given to us!
Many of the world’s Christian scholars and ministers such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, Dr.Andrew Linzey, St. Francis of Assisi, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, Randy Alcorn, Jack Van Impe, and many others, support the belief that our animals have a place in Heaven.
Jesus filled his teachings with references to animals. His promise in Matthew and Luke that not even a sparrow falls to earth without God’s knowing it subtly but powerfully suggests what every grieving pet owner feels: God refuses to forget a single one of his creatures, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.
"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:6-7
Luke makes the same point as Matthew about the "value" of sparrows and men. What is being said is not that God foreordained or willed (or permitted) the sparrows to fall, but rather that when even something as seemingly insignificant as the death of a sparrow occurs, God takes note and is moved because something of value has been lost.
Thus it seems fair to paraphrase Christ’s meaning as follows: We (humans) may think sparrows are not very precious. But they are so precious to God that not one of them falls to the ground without His notice. And you are of much more value than many sparrows. So don’t be afraid; if God is that concerned with sparrows, think how much more He loves and cares for you!
As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:12, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then I shall know [fully] even as also I am known." What we do not know now, we will know then; what we do not understand now, we will understand then.
