Although a bit late to the table, I thought it would be useful to provide the following resolution in this thread. In light of the evidence to the affirmative, the burden of proof contradicting animals in heaven is on the opponent, not the proponent. Note too, that God included the animals in His covenant with Noah. In fact, each of the seven times He spoke of His covenant with Noah, He also included the animals. One is quite orthodox acknowledging that animals possess souls, animals participate with the heavenly host, and mankind is charged accordingly with their care.
Animal souls::angel1:
"The animals possess a soul and men must love and feel solidarity with our smaller brethren.” “All animals are fruit of the creative action of the Holy Spirit and merit respect and they are as near to God as men are.” – Pope John Paul II, 1990 public audience
“And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the heavens, and to every creeper on the earth which has in it a living soul…” Genesis 1:30
“And all flesh perished that moved upon the earth, both fowl, and cattle, and beast, and every swarming thing that swarmeth upon the earth, and every man; all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, whatsoever was in the dry land, died.” Genesis 7:21-22
“I said in my heart concerning the sons of men, that God would prove them, and show them to be like beasts. Therefore the death of man, and of beasts is one, and the condition of them both is equal: as man dieth, so they also die: all things breathe alike, and man hath nothing more than beast: all things are subject to vanity. And all things go to one place: of earth they were made, and into earth they return together.” Ecclesiastes 3:18-20
“But some man will say: How do the dead rise again? Or with what manner of body shall they come? Senseless man, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die first. And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not the body that shall be: but bare grain, as of wheat, or of some of the rest. But God giveth it a body as he will: and to every seed its proper body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but one is the flesh of men, another of beasts, other of birds, another of fishes. And there are bodies celestial and bodies terrestrial: but, one is the glory of the celestial, and another of the terrestrial. One is the glory of the sun, another the glory of the moon, and another the glory of the stars. For star differeth from star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption: it shall rise in incorruption. It is sown in dishonour: it shall rise in glory. It is sown in weakness: it shall rise in power. It is sown a natural body: it shall rise a spiritual body. If there be a natural body, there is also a spiritual body…” 1 Corinthians 15:35-42
Animals’ entry into heaven::heaven:
“Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O LORD.” Psalm 36:6
“Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; The calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobra’s den, and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair. There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD, as water covers the sea. On that day, the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, the Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious.” Isaiah 11:1-10
“And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” Luke 3:6
“Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” Acts 3:21
“the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” Romans 8:19-21
“And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the ancients (and the number of them was thousands of thousands), Saying with a loud voice: The Lamb that was slain is worthy to receive power and divinity and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and benediction. And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard all saying: To him that sitteth on the throne and to the Lamb, benediction and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever.” Revelation 5:11-13
“I saw Heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True…” - Revelation 19:11
“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.” Rev. 21:5
Care of animals on earth::knight1:
“St. Francis looked upon creation with the eyes of one who could recognize in it the marvelous work of the hand of God. His solicitous care, not only towards men, but also towards animals is a faithful echo of the love with which God in the beginning pronounced His ‘fiat’ which brought them into existence. We too are called to a similar attitude.” - Pope John Paul II, 1979 interview
“But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee” - Job 12:7
“A righteous man regardeth the life of his animal,” - Proverbs 12:10
“All things of creation are children of the Father and thus brothers of man. … God wants us to help animals, if they need help. Every creature in distress has the same right to be protected.” - St. Francis of Assisi
“If you have people who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and kindness, you will have people who will deal likewise with their fellow human beings.” - St. Francis of Assisi
“And if your heart is straight with God, then every creature shall be to you a mirror of life and a book of holy doctrine, for there is no creature so little or so vile, that he does not represent the goodness of God.” - Thomas A. Kempis (priest and monk)
“Pets are companions and healers of human beings and they give us a better life here on earth. They are the spiritual connection between people and God’s creation” - Chaplain Keith
“I care not much for a man’s religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it.” - Abraham Lincoln
newadvent.org/cathen/04542a.htm
saintfrancisfoundation.com
all-creatures.org/ca/index.html
all-creatures.org/ca/
animalrightsmalta.com/catholicquotes.html
happycatholic.blogspot.com/2004/07/are-there-animals-in-heaven.html
Taken out of context, there could be some creepy critters in heaven. LOL
God Bless
