"Are there animals in Heaven?"

John Hoole July 20, 2003

I am sure the next question we will address is important to some here today. I have been asked it many times.
Animals In Heaven
ARE THERE ANIMALS IN HEAVEN?
IF YES, WHAT KINDS OF ANIMALS DO YOU EXPECT IN HEAVEN?

I have been asked this question many times, by people of all ages. This is a big question for many people, and stirs up great emotions especially for those who would like to see their pets in heaven.
So we actually have two questions.
1. Will there be animals in Heaven?
2. Will my pet be in heaven?

Let's deal with the first question - will there be animals in heaven?
Genesis 1:25 NKJV
25 And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 2:19 NKJV
19 Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.

Those who argue for animals in heaven sometimes refer to creation, where, after creating the animals, He pronounced them good. The paradise of the Garden of Eden was teeming with animals. Why would God have a future for us that would not include the pleasure and beauty of these animals?
The Word of God tells us that Heaven will contain many of the same things that were in the original creation - things such as a river, trees, and fruit. Why not animals also. After all, animals are an integral part of earthly life, and testify powerfully of the creative, imaginative genius of God. He created the giraffe, the camel, the platypus, the lion, the pachyderm, and the hummingbird.
Here is a quote from Dr. W. A. Criswell, former pastor of one of the largest Baptist churches in America in Dallas. and very instrumental with the founding of Dallas Theological Seminary.
Dr. Criswell stated,
"God has shown a penchant for varieties of life forms, and it would be difficult to imagine that this would not be perpetuated in the heavenlies."

Romans 8:19-23 speaks of how all creation is under the curse of sin. But it continues to tell of the deliverance of the whole creation from that curse. This burned-out planet, the barren deserts, and the fallen humanity will be delivered from the curse of sin. Animals have been an integral part of earthly life. And when we get to the Millennium - the 1000-year reign of Christ, the Bible describes the whole animal kingdom being at peace with itself.
Isaiah 11:6-9 (NIV) speaks of that time.
6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the se.a

In these and other verses, we see that during the reign of Christ, the animal kingdom has changed a great deal. There will no longer be wild animals, and none will see other animals as their next meal. Someone might ask, "but the 1,000 year reign of Christ is not the same as Heaven." And they would be factually accurate.
Back when we studied the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ, I raised a question concerning the reign of Christ. We had to address why some Bible passages tell us the reign of Christ is forever, while other mention it lasting only 1,000 years.
In answering this, we learned that both statements are true, and I stated at that time that the 1000-year reign of Christ is but the "front porch of eternity." It is only the beginning of the eternal reign. If that is true, then why would God change the animals to live in peace in the beginning of Christ's eternal reign, and not include them in the remainder of His reign.
We do have other Scriptural evidence for the presence of animals in Heaven.
Revelation 19:11 (NIV)
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.

Three verse later, we also read; 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
First of all, these verses tell me that there are enough horses in heaven for all the armies of heaven to ride. We also know that horses were used in taking Elijah to heaven (2 Kings 2:11). I think there is a strong argument for animals in Heaven. Heaven will be a beautiful Edenic paradise for all of us who are there. And it seems you could argue for the presence of animals.
Other animals in these verses are not mentioned, presumably because they don't play a role in Christ's second coming. But it seems likely that since there are innumerable horses in Heaven, there are all kinds of other animals too.
C. S. Lewis gives us an amusing twist to saints riding horses with Christ.
"These small and perishable bodies we now have were given to us like ponies are given to schoolboys. We must learn to manage: not that we may some day be free of horses altogether but that some day we may ride bare-back, confident and rejoicing, those greater mounts, those winged, shining and world-shaking horses which perhaps even now expect us with impatience, pawing and snorting in the King's stables. Not that the gallop would be of any value unless it were a gallop with the King; but how else - since He has retained His own charger - should we [wish to] accompany Him."

Pets in Heaven
As we have seen, I believe we can formulate a strong argument for the presence of animals in our eternal residence. But, usually when I am asked about animals in Heaven, it is in conjunction with "Will my pet be in heaven." This part of our question about animals in Heaven is much more hotly debated.
If you know anything about church history over the last 300 years, you probably have heard of the name John Wesley (1703 - 1791). John Wesley espoused animal immortality in his 65th sermon - titled "The Great Deliverance."
On one side you have those who say the Bible doesn't say anything about our pets in Heaven, so, obviously they are not going to be there. On the other side are those who say the Bible doesn't say our pets will not be in Heaven, so why not assume they will be there.
Billy Graham once responded to a little girl's question, "Will my dog who died this week be in heaven?" He replied, "If that would make you happier, then yes, he will be."
Randy Alcorn makes this statement:
"Animals aren't nearly as valuable as people and they don't have eternal souls, but God is their maker and has touched many people's lives through them. It would be simple for him to recreate a pet in heaven if this would bring his children joy."

Ancient civilizations believed in the resurrection of household pets, and placed replicas of those pets in the tombs of the deceased. But there is no indication in the Bible that animals have eternal souls or can be redeemed.
It is my opinion - and only an opinion, derived from the silence of Scripture, that if God chooses to place animals in heaven, or on the New Earth, they will NOT be our present or past pets in their resurrected bodies. But I know that if God so wished, He could resurrect them. On the other hand, I don't believe, as John Wesley, that animals are immortal in their current state.
To end this discussion about animals in Heaven, I think it is safe to say having our pets in heaven should not be our focus. Indeed, when we make it there, the thought of pets may not even cross our minds. The Lamb of God will be our focus. That doesn't means, however, that we will not enjoy other thing and the beauty of our heavenly paradise.
We might have to put the issue of pets in heaven on the back burner, and wait until we get there. It doesn't appear to me that animals fit the main purpose of Heaven. That is to articulate God's praise to His glory. Some may say that bird might sing the praise of God here on earth. But the main song of heaven is sung by redeemed humans and it is about the glories of Christ's redemption.
I want to end with a quote from Joni Eareckson Tada, in her book, Holiness in Hidden Places. In the book she talks about whether she will see her pet schnauzer, Scrappy, in heaven.
"If God brings our pets back to life, it wouldn't surprise me. It would be just like Him. It would be totally in keeping with His generous character…..Exorbitant. Excessive. Extravagant in grace after grace. Of all the dazzling discoveries and ecstatic pleasures heaven will hold for us, the potential of seeing Scrappy would be pure whimsy - utterly, joyfully, surprisingly superfluous….Heaven is going to be a place that will refract and reflect in as many ways as possible the goodness and joy of our great God, who delights in lavishing love on His children. So will pets be in Heaven? Who knows?"

Questions, comments & suggestions to John Hoole