Do you have a pet you love? Do you long to keep them with you forever? Have you ever wondered if there will be animals in heaven? Have you heard people mention “doggy heaven?” Is there a biblical basis for people believing animals will be with them after this life?
We see many people who have pets that are loved as family members. Some take their pets with them everywhere they go, including the grocery store, department store, and vacations. Some of these pets are not just pets but working animals—emotional support animals.
Let’s cover the uncomfortable news first. There is no biblical evidence there are animals in heaven. When heaven is mentioned, the only living beings included are God the Father, God the Son, angels, and the saints (followers of God).
Now let’s move on to the good news. Heaven is not the end state. God will create a new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21:1). In this new earth there will be animals. Not only will there be animals, but they will all be tame or domesticated. There will be no carnivorous animals. There will be no hunter animals. Though these animals are natural predators in this life, they will not be predators in the new earth.
The biblical evidence points to the possibility, and perhaps probability, that pets will be with us in the new earth. God created the animals to be our helpers (Gen. 2:19). Even if our pets may be more than helpers today, God has put them here for a purpose and will put animals in the new earth as well.
I pray we all read God’s Word. I pray we understand God’s plan for eternity. I pray each one of us understand animals are meant to be our helper and we will see animals in the new earth. Read God’s Word. Understand God’s plan. Know there will be animals in eternity. Know God created animals to be our helper. Care for your pets.
Isaiah 65:25
“The wolf and the lamb will feed together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox,
and dust will be the serpent’s food.
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,”
says the Lord.
Marty Pressey 