Animals in Heaven? (for those who have lost a furry friend)

[William Tell]

I wasn't kidding (and I forgot mice, thanks for the reminder). Is it really Heaven if I have to worry about nasty critters?

You 'manup' when you get to heaven.

 

[Suzanimal]

Is it possible that these critters are only nasty because of our temporal perspective?

Sure, it's possible. If I go to Heaven (and that's a big IF) and you're correct, I wonder if I will remember thinking roaches are gross? Or will I just be like...."Cool, roaches are in Heaven, I love roaches!"

 

[GunnyFreedom]

Sure, it's possible. If I go to Heaven (and that's a big IF) and you're correct, I wonder if I will remember thinking roaches are gross? Or will I just be like...."Cool, roaches are in Heaven, I love roaches!"

ROFL! Ha, I think it will be somewhere in the middle really, more like "Wow, I never realized how important these little living machines were to the ecosystem! It's a shame really that the world became so corrupt and disease ridden that the only rational response to them became disgust and revulsion."

And I do believe that the only critters that retain an individual identity are those which had some special relationship with a human soul that has been given to eternity. The scriptures provide a general 'animal' soul and a human 'spiritual' soul, and only the human kind retain an individual identity by default. The default seems to be the animal soul returning to God as a part of His 'general breath.' So you really won't be seeing roaches scurrying around heaven unless someone was keeping them intentionally as pets and had a relationship with them based on love.

 

[PursuePeace]

Is it possible that these critters are only nasty because of our temporal perspective?

I would think so. Macro photography kind of helps you appreciate them a little more. (although it might make it even worse for some people. Suzanimal, cover your eyes.)

Can you imagine if some of these things were as big as dogs? or elephants?
Crazy.

 

[Suzanimal]

Speciesist!

Yep

You 'manup' when you get to heaven.

Never

ROFL! Ha, I think it will be somewhere in the middle really, more like "Wow, I never realized how important these little living machines were to the ecosystem! It's a shame really that the world became so corrupt and disease ridden that the only rational response to them became disgust and revulsion."

And I do believe that the only critters that retain an individual identity are those which had some special relationship with a human soul that has been given to eternity. The scriptures provide a general 'animal' soul and a human 'spiritual' soul, and only the human kind retain an individual identity by default. The default seems to be the animal soul returning to God as a part of His 'general breath.' So you really won't be seeing roaches scurrying around heaven unless someone was keeping them intentionally as pets and had a relationship with them based on love.

I see your and raise it .

You know there's going to be that one asshole that loved his roaches....

some special relationship with a human soul that has been given to eternity

I wonder if that will apply to mean pets or will only good pets go to Heaven. I had an orange tabby when I was a kid, I loved that cat but he was mean as hell. I was the only person who could touch him without getting ripped to shreds. I named him Mr. Smith (from Lost in Space) but he was such an asshole my brothers called him "Smitty the shitty kitty" and, of course, that's what stuck.

I wonder if Smitty will go to Heaven and if so, will he be good? I'm not sure I would've loved him if he was good, the best thing about him was he attacked my brothers and I'll be kinda disappointed if he's in Heaven and acting all lovey dovey to everyone.

I got him for Easter if that helps.

 

[GunnyFreedom]

Yep



Never



I see your and raise it .

You know there's going to be that one asshole that loved his roaches....


I wonder if that will apply to mean pets or will only good pets go to Heaven. I had an orange tabby when I was a kid, I loved that cat but he was mean as hell. I was the only person who could touch him without getting ripped to shreds. I named him Mr. Smith (from Lost in Space) but he was such an asshole my brothers called him "Smitty the shitty kitty" and, of course, that's what stuck.

I wonder if Smitty will go to Heaven and if so, will he be good? I'm not sure I would've loved him if he was good, the best thing about him was he attacked my brothers and I'll be kinda disappointed if he's in Heaven and acting all lovey dovey to everyone.

I got him for Easter if that helps.

I'm not actually in a position to know any of that, it delves into territory FAR beyond what i can infer from scripture. However I will say that for the last ~20 years my go-to critter has been the red (orange) tabby. For a house cat, they tend to get big! And when they go buck wild, they usually do so without any restraint whatsoever. Something raw about that I like.

 

[Working Poor]

Well I happen to like wasp. I have had a hive of them for over 10 years. They are very alert and I trust their dislike of certain people. They are my personal drones. They have never biten me or anyone I like and when I move I will take them with me. I think they are great watchmen! Ilove them and I am taking them and my fire ants(I have trained them to help me till my garden) with me to heaven.

 

[VIDEODROME]

Never ever piss off Working Poor.

 

[Crashland]

I wonder if that will apply to mean pets or will only good pets go to Heaven.

If God were to save humans by grace, and animals by works...


Anyway although I don't currently believe this, the way I was taught was that the animals that we don't like, or that do harm to us (wasps, snakes, lions,....etc) are only like that as a result of the fall. Probably an interpretation of Genesis 3:15 with regard to the snake striking the heel, or Genesis 3:18 - since if plants suddenly started developing thorns as the result of the fall, why not hornets suddenly developing stingers or lions developing sharp claws and teeth? Or maybe I figured God had created the lions with those features to begin with but before the fall they were just peaceful vegetarians with big teeth for show...

 

[TER]

Well I happen to like wasp. I have had a hive of them for over 10 years. They are very alert and I trust their dislike of certain people. They are my personal drones. They have never biten me or anyone I like and when I move I will take them with me. I think they are great watchmen! Ilove them and I am taking them and my fire ants(I have trained them to help me till my garden) with me to heaven.

This is a taste of the Kingodm of Heaven. The order as created good by God will be restored and we will be back to how we were created to be.

There is no official teaching on the presence of pets in Heaven and there are various pious opinion.

Interesting, the only story in the Bible where a dog as a pet is mentioned is in the Book of Tobit.

In pretty much every other time a dog is mentioned in Scriptures, they are considered dirty and placed in a negative light.

Commentators have been baffled by the presence of the dog who journeyed with Tobit.

What is God revealing to us with this furry loyal companion of Tobit? The dog who journeyed with him on his mission to find a bride and bring back his father's inheritance. Tobit is a type and image of Christ in the Old Testament. Surely, his loyal pet has significance.

While there may be various opinions, the most common Orthodox answer you hear is that what awaits us in the Kingdom of Heaven cannot be described by human word or concepts. It will be beyond description. There will be eternal peace and freedom and joy. And there will be a Kingdom, with Christ as King.

And these pets who journey with us through life become part of us. They are imbedded in our very psyche- our soul.

May their memory be eternal in this life, and in the life to come!

In the image of Tobit's dog, may they endure through the ages. Amen.

 

[Suzanimal]

If God were to save humans by grace, and animals by works...


Anyway although I don't currently believe this, the way I was taught was that the animals that we don't like, or that do harm to us (wasps, snakes, lions,....etc) are only like that as a result of the fall. Probably an interpretation of Genesis 3:15 with regard to the snake striking the heel, or Genesis 3:18 - since if plants suddenly started developing thorns as the result of the fall, why not hornets suddenly developing stingers or lions developing sharp claws and teeth? Or maybe I figured God had created the lions with those features to begin with but before the fall they were just peaceful vegetarians with big teeth for show...

You make a good point Crashland...

"The wolf and the young lamb will feed together, the lion will eat hay like the ox, and dust be the serpent's food. No hurt, no harm will be done on all my holy mountain, Yahweh says." Isaiah 65: 25

 

[PierzStyx]

I am sure this was in jest but it does raise an interesting question. How complex does a living creature have to be for it to have a living "soul" or an immortal soul? Horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, snakes, ferrets, mice, dolphins, jellyfish, clams, ants? Or does it kind of become less and less of a soul for creatures that are not as human-like? Do the trillions of living cells in your body each have their own soul?

I hope mosquitoes get reincarnated. The idea of an uncountable swarm of mosquitoes in Heaven sounds like Hell. Unless their Heaven IS Hell. :o

 

[Suzanimal]

Well I happen to like wasp. I have had a hive of them for over 10 years. They are very alert and I trust their dislike of certain people. They are my personal drones. They have never biten me or anyone I like and when I move I will take them with me. I think they are great watchmen! Ilove them and I am taking them and my fire ants(I have trained them to help me till my garden) with me to heaven.

Now we know who to blame for the wasps in Heaven, thanks Working Poor.

 

[PierzStyx]

You make a good point Crashland...

"The wolf and the young lamb will feed together, the lion will eat hay like the ox, and dust be the serpent's food. No hurt, no harm will be done on all my holy mountain, Yahweh says." Isaiah 65: 25

Though I think there is a strong argument that this is symbolic, not literal. Also, I think this is in reference to the millennial rule not Heaven.

 

[Suzanimal]

Though I think there is a strong argument that this is symbolic, not literal. Also, I think this is in reference to the millennial rule not Heaven.

You're right, but I would be cool with snakes eating dust.

Also, if all the dead pets that I've loved go to Heaven, it's going to be a little awkward 'cuz some of them were pretty jealous.

 

[Kevin007]

WELL.. who watched the video?

 

[Suzanimal]

WELL.. who watched the video?

I did, it was tearjerker.

 

[Kevin007]

I did, it was tearjerker.

it sure was.......but so so true. Imho the least we can do for our furever friends is to give them rest at the end and limit their pain as much as we can. They look to us to make that decision for them. They trust as

 

[heavenlyboy34]

it sure was.......but so so true. Imho the least we can do for our furever friends is to give them rest at the end and limit their pain as much as we can. They look to us to make that decision for them. They trust as

My last furbaby was suffering terribly with arthritus and incontinence in her last days. It was terrible to see her suffer all the time. :'( I hated having to lose her, but her constant pain was worse.

 

[Kevin007]

My last furbaby was suffering terribly with arthritus and incontinence in her last days. It was terrible to see her suffer all the time. :'( I hated having to lose her, but her constant pain was worse.

sorry to hear HB BUT THEY TRUST US TO DO THE RIGHT THING. Quality of life friend