"Yet the Bible teaches that God does save animals."

1. What if I had a pet here on earth that I don’t want to see again in eternity? I had a gerbil once that bit me every time I tried to pet it. Would I be forced to open my eternal abode to it because it belonged to me once?

2. Speaking of which, do bad pets go to hell? I had a dog once who would never listen. Chewed, ran away, pottied on the carpet, whatever it felt like, whenever it felt like it.

3. Also, what about the pets that ran away. If I owned a cat who ran away to my brother’s house, then ran away to our other brother’s house later on, then ran away to our sister’s house awhile after that, which one of us gets the cat in heaven?

Just wonderin’

[Chip Van Emmerik] If I owned a cat who ran away to my brother’s house, then ran away to our other brother’s house later on, then ran away to our sister’s house awhile after that, which one of us gets the cat in heaven?

The cat will be cut in half (or maybe thirds in the above example) (The Judgement of Solomon - 1 Kings 3:16-28)

[Jim Peet]

[Chip Van Emmerik] If I owned a cat who ran away to my brother’s house, then ran away to our other brother’s house later on, then ran away to our sister’s house awhile after that, which one of us gets the cat in heaven?

The cat will be cut in half (or maybe thirds in the above example) (The Judgement of Solomon - 1 Kings 3:16-28)

My life’s motto: So many cats, so few good recipes!

I had a dog named Mischief who was a serial fornicator. I wonder if he repented before he got hit by that car.

Can we agree that there is a place for horses in heaven/kingdom? Revelation 6, 14, and 19.

Could we stop thinking that heaven is the final abode for man? Pets won’t be in heaven, as we won’t be in heaven (except briefly). Animals will be on the new earth though, apparently. I wonder if cold weather will be? As a Floridian, I sure hope not.

Enjoying the hot sun.

whether or not there are/will be animals (of some kind) in Heaven, or will our animals that we’ve known and loved, have a second life in Heaven as a glorified creature that does not puke on the couch or chew up the kids’ socks?

It’s possible pets will be resurrected, not promised. There’s a ton we don’t know about the new heavens and earth. There’s got to be a line somewhere here between wondering about the future and vain speculation. It’s not wrong to look into scriptures for clues about our future physical resurrection bodies, but there’s a line when it becomes ridiculous.

animals do not have a spiritual nature. there is nothing to resurrect.
animals will be in our after life, but not our animals. too bad though, i’ve a couple of great pets.

How much of this whole discussion is motivated by idolatry of pets. I’m not saying pets are wrong. I have had wonderful pets, but when we get to the kingdom I cannot not imagine worrying about our pets when we get to see our Savior. The whole discussion about getting to have our own pets in heaven sounds like saving up treasure to bring with us. I do not want to sound calloused, but I just don’t get it. How would you answer a person who asked, “If I restore a ‘57 Chevy will I get to have that in heaven?” Or “if I buy a Rolex will I get to have that in heaven?” Not all people idolize pets, but for those who do, why is idolatry of pets more acceptable than idolatry of other things?

Why are people focused only on their pets? You rarely if ever hear people asking about all the animals they’ve eaten at the table. I guess our attachment to spicy chicken is different than pet chickens.

I actually read this article in the print edition and wondered if I could get those fifteen minutes of my life back. But this comment stream alone has redeemed them for me. Thanks everybody! :-)

[Chip Van Emmerik]
3. Also, what about the pets that ran away. If I owned a cat who ran away to my brother’s house, then ran away to our other brother’s house later on, then ran away to our sister’s house awhile after that, which one of us gets the cat in heaven?

I see what you did here! According to the principle of Matt. 22:30, your pets would not be owned or given in ownership. Therefore, though it’s possible your pet might be in heaven, it’s altogether conceivable that you might go through most of eternity without your pet giving you so much as the time of day. In fact, since you were specific to the feline pets, I’d say it’s practically guaranteed.

Hmmm…tell http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/04/16/loyal-dog-braves-highway-to-remain…] this dog she isn’t going to heaven. :)