Animals In The World To Come

[KathleenElsie]

Yes, you’re right Bob - heaven is full of attack dogs.

And to the people who are claiming that pets do not go to heaven, but yet there are other animals there - or even better, that they have temp souls that die… uh, what?

Joel- I have wonderful memories of the animals I have been blessed with for the last 60 years. I as a human would like to believe that they will be with me in heaven. But, I have found nothing in the Bible nor the teachings of Holy Mother Church that would support this. I might be wrong. I hope so. Yet I don’t think so.

But one of my favorite poems is

THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together…
Author unknown…

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. For your see I have hope that there is a place just this side of heaven that holds my beloved friends and they are waiting for me. It is a comforting thought.

 

[Newbie2]

Animals in heaven?

Hopefully, if that is the case, they will be disease-free. I’m a veterniarian and was hoping to retire when I leave this life!

 

[bobzills]

Animals in heaven?

Hopefully, if that is the case, they will be disease-free. I’m a veterniarian and was hoping to retire when I leave this life!

And I was hoping to get some peace and quiet away from these snarling dogs. You can’t take a peaceful walk in this neighborhood without being barked at and having dogs chasing you, ready to bite.

 

[KathleenElsie]

And I was hoping to get some peace and quiet away from these snarling dogs. You can’t take a peaceful walk in this neighborhood without being barked at and having dogs chasing you, ready to bite.

Since Heaven will be perfect then there will be no animal illnesses, meaniness or allergies. The Lion and Lambe shall lay together.

 

[bobzills]

Since Heaven will be perfect then there will be no animal illnesses, meaniness or allergies. The Lion and Lambe shall lay together.

I thought that you had to be baptised to get to heaven? Now you tell me that there will be dogs in heaven? What about other animals? Will there be dinosaurs or rats in heaven also?

 

[SeanTom]

I thought that you had to be baptised to get to heaven? Now you tell me that there will be dogs in heaven? What about other animals? Will there be dinosaurs or rats in heaven also?

I quoted Isaiah 11 in my original posting which includes “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 go 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” This doesn’t mention dog’s per se, but then it doesn’t exclude them. It appears to include all animals.

The notation in my bilble for this chapter states: “This picture of the idyllic harmony of paradise is a dramatic symbol of the universal peace…”

I can not conceive of all this ever happening here on earth - but only in God’s Kingdom. But then again, one never knows, does one?

 

[KathleenElsie]

I thought that you had to be baptised to get to heaven? Now you tell me that there will be dogs in heaven? What about other animals? Will there be dinosaurs or rats in heaven also?

If the God of all so wills it.

 

[SeanTom]

If the God of all so wills it.

Kathleen,

Your reply covers ALL situations where we may have questions about what is and what will be in God’s Kingdom. No matter what, we do know that God is all that is all good and for those entering the Gates of Heaven, they will receive the utmost of happiness imaginable. What more can we possibly ask for?

We should concentrate on doing what is necessary to get to Heaven - and not worrying so much about the if’s and’s or but’s about what it will be like. Jesus already gave us that information…

Thanks

 

[iamscifimike]

SeanTom,

Didn’t your original post deal more with the “New Earth” than Heaven and the Beatific Vision. Jesus mentioned drinking the wine anew in the Kindom of Heaven. Did he accomplish this as the final act on the cross? I think we need to examine what the “New Earth” of Revelation referrs to. We will have no need for nutritional sustinance but, if I wont be eating at a great feast( with no bad fruit:thumbsup: ), I don’t know what I’ll do. I might be ok w/o a steak for eternity but no cheese with my wine? I’m gonna need some milk and we bottle feed our kids.

I do not believe animals will be present for the beatific vision. Would they understand it? I believe so for they are the “blissfully ignorant” and are not capable of denying God. By that rational, what is their fate?

I don’t see God maintaining his physical universe minus his genius ecosystem.

So answer me this, what will our fate be, New Heaven or New Earth or both?

Bob, I am sorry you’ve never known “man best friend” as such. Perhaps those animals need your prayers for better owners. At the very least you could offer up your misery for the benefit of humans who make poor pet owners and the Michael Vics of the world. I think he and his peers will need a lot of assistance to get to the Lord.

 

[Randb]

OK, on another note, if most people are like me we have had a bunch of pets over the years that have gone before us , are they ALL going to be waiting for us to get to the Rainbow Bridge???

On the serious side I would think there is a special place for all of our pets because they have been very faithful to us & always had unconditional love for us which we should learn from .

 

[Mapi]

When God created the world, he saw that everything that He had created was good. I believe that animals and plants have souls too, and I sure hope and pray that when I go back to my Heavenly Father I can be and see my love ones there and that include my pets too.

 

[ASimpleSinner]

I have not read every single reply… LOOOOOOONG work day. But while I am thinking about it, I just wanted to add this.

I have always been fascinated by trying to contemplate heaven. It is near impossible to even get a glimpse of it, but in contemplating its joys there is much to be gained: it is more righteous to earnestly seek Him than to fear hell. I turned to God fearing hell, I think of heaven to love Him more.

If we think about What and Who God is and what it would be to be happy with Him for all eternity if we die in His Friendship… to be bathed in His light and glory, to have a share as he so wills in the most perfect knowledge of Him we can have…

Well knowledge of God is to know what God is - in a real sense Everything. Not a sort of pantheanism that God is dirt and dirt is God. But God knows every grain of sand, every hair on your head, every molecule of air floating throught the world.

What does this have to do with animals? Well I love my dog in the sense that I have of knowing him. I love the little feel of his fur, the way he whines when I am at the front door because he knows I am coming in, that puppy smell he has when he sleeps next to me on the bed… the way his tail wags. When we share in God’s knowledge and light, we will have understanding about everything as best He allows us to have. And as much as I know my dog - God knows how many hairs are on his little body. (and how many are on my bed spread -shedding season.)

I believe the joy of knowing Mr. D (my dog) will be increased in the light of divine knowledge.

Theologians out there, correct me if my understanding is wrong.

 

[SeanTom]

A Simple Sinner,

I don’t believe anyone here on earth has the true knowledge of what it will be like in Heaven. We do find much in Scripture about what it will be like, but not in details as you have mentioned.

BUT, we do know that God will provide each and every one of us whatever it will take to make us extremely happy in His paradise. I believe that says it all. Further discussion on this topic could not detract from God’s promise to us.

 

[KathleenElsie]

A Simple Sinner,

I don’t believe anyone here on earth has the true knowledge of what it will be like in Heaven. We do find much in Scripture about what it will be like, but not in details as you have mentioned.

BUT, we do know that God will provide each and every one of us whatever it will take to make us extremely happy in His paradise. I believe that says it all. Further discussion on this topic could not detract from God’s promise to us.

 

[bobzills]

What does this have to do with animals? Well I love my dog in the sense that I have of knowing him. .

I don’t see where animals are held responsible for their actions or where they have an immortal soul. How are animals capable of deserving heaven and eternal bliss with God? I don’t see where the Catholic religion or Sacraments in any way help an animal to attain heaven. Also, animals are below humans because humans are allowed to eat animals as food.

 

[Viki59]

We know there are trees in heaven, and plants, flowers . . .why wouldn’t there be animals? God enjoys creating things, He makes wildly diverse ecosystems inhabited by an incredible variety of creatures. I think part of our happiness in heaven will be exploring (ruling?)parts of His universe. I expect it to be more complex and interesting than our present world. After all we can only appreciate the parts of it that our limited senses allow us right now. What if we could perceive all ranges of light - ultraviolet, etc. and hear all ranges of sounds? Use all of our brains instead of 10%? Travel at the speed of thought?
I don’t think of the Beautific Vision as a warm bath, but as an exciting journey that never ends.
There have to be animals.