what Scripture Teaches about your beloved pets and God’s eternal plan.
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Our pets aren’t just animals to us – they’re our friends and companions, and sometimes they hold a place in our lives that’s far deeper than many of our “human” relationships. They love us unconditionally and without judgment, and they are always happy to see us, no matter how cranky we might be!
And that’s why, when we lose them, the pain is very real and often cuts incredibly deep. If you’ve ever loved and lost a pet, then you know exactly what I’m talking about!
And of course, if you have ever lost a beloved pet, then I’m sure you’ve also wondered whether pets and animals go to heaven and what the Bible teaches us.
The honest truth is that Scripture doesn’t specifically spell it out in black and white. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t lots of clues and examples in scripture to help us understand what God’s plan is for our pets.
In this Bible study, we are going to take a deep dive into what the Scriptures say about animals, the role that they play in God’s creation, and their place in eternity.
Before we begin, I think I should mention that I am biased. Completely and utterly biased. I completely believe our pets will be with us in heaven, and in my mind, this isn’t even a question. I will, however, try to give a balanced view as best I can 😉
If you enjoy this Bible study about Pets and Heaven, please consider pinning it so others can find it too!
From the Very Start, Animals Mattered to God
Let’s go all the way back to the beginning! In Genesis 1:24-25, God creates all the animals
24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:24-25
Note that God saw all the creatures He created, and He saw that they were good! Not just acceptable, not just thrown together as an afterthought, but good!
This divine approval is so important! The Hebrew word used here for “good” implies excellence and beauty. Let’s look at what else received this divine stamp of approval:
Light — Genesis 1:4 says “God saw that the light was good.” The very first created thing gets God’s approval.
Land and seas — Genesis 1:10 tells us “God saw that it was good” when He separated the dry ground from the waters.
Plants and vegetation — Genesis 1:12 records that after creating seed-bearing plants and trees, “God saw that it was good.”
Sun, moon, and stars — Genesis 1:18 says God placed the lights in the sky to separate day from night, “and God saw that it was good.”
Sea creatures and birds — Genesis 1:21 describes how God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves in the water, plus all the birds, “and God saw that it was good.”
Land animals — Genesis 1:25, as we just read, confirms “God saw that it was good” after creating livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals.
The animals and creatures received the exact same divine approval as light itself! The same “good” that describes the sun, moon, and stars also describes your dog, your cat, and even your pet rabbit!
I think it’s also important to note that God called the creatures He created good before humans were created. I think that this highlights that the goodness of animals is not dependent on their usefulness to us; it is inherent, given to them by their Creator. They have value because God values them, and they were woven into God’s good and perfect creation right from the start.
And after creating everything – including humanity – Genesis 1:31 says, “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” All of it, including the furry, feathered, and finned friends we love so much!
Let’s jump ahead to the story of Noah. When God decided to destroy the earth because of human evil, He specifically instructed Noah to “Bring two of every kind of living creature into the ark so they can survive along with you” (Genesis 6:19)
I love that God made certain that, just like Noah, the animals would survive the flood. And after the flood, God made a covenant with both the humans and the animals… I think this speaks volumes about God’s heart for His creatures!
9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth.
Genesis 9:9-10
Do Animals Have Souls or Spirits?
This is a question that I’ve heard so often, and everyone has an opinion. I’ve heard very well-respected Christian teachers say that animals do not have souls or spirits.
I disagree. Here’s why…
The book of Ecclesiastes addresses this directly. It’s important to remember that King Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes, and he is considered the wisest man who has ever lived. In 1 Kings 3:10-12 we read:
So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.
1 Kings 3:10-12
The reason I highlight this verse is because I feel that we can’t take Solomon’s observations lightly – these are the insights and opinions of the man that God gave unmatched wisdom to.
Now, let’s take a look at Ecclesiastes 3:19-21…
“Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the animal spirit goes down into the earth?”
Ecclesiastes 3:19-21
I love how this passage highlights that we both have the “breath of life” (the Hebrew word “ruach“, which can mean both breath and spirit). This verse suggests that humans and animals share the same kind of breath or life force from God. This same word is used in Genesis 1:30 where God talks about every living creature having the “breath of life”.
Every Single Creature Matters to God
Throughout the Bible, there are hundreds of scriptures that talk about animals and God’s relationship to them.
“Every animal of the forest belongs to me, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and every creature in the fields is mine.”
Psalm 50:10-11
God knows every single animal! Every bird flying overhead. Every creature scurrying through the grass.
If He cares enough to know His creatures individually, wouldn’t He care about what ultimately happens to them when they die?
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.
Matthew 10:29
Matthew 10:29-31 reminds us that not one sparrow falls from the sky without God’s awareness. If He notices one tiny bird’s death, then in my mind, there is no doubt that He takes note when our beloved companions pass away.
I think that it’s also important to notice Proverbs 12:10:
“The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.”
Proverbs 12:10
God calls people who take care of their animals righteous – a sign of being in right standing with God. Taking care of our animals and pets is not just about being a good owner, but it’s also a reflection of a godly character. God expects compassion and kindness toward creatures.
This verse also shows us that He cares about animals and that their well-being matters to Him. They have value to them. This aligns perfectly with Jesus’s statement that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without God knowing.
I love how this proverb was also written by King Solomon! It makes me wonder whether the wisest man, inspired by God to write these words, also had a special love for the creatures in his care?
Finally, let’s take a look at Jonah 4:11….
11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”
This scripture clearly shows us that God’s compassion reaches even to the animals. He didn’t want to destroy Nineveh partly because there were animals there! If God cares that deeply about creatures, I believe we can trust His plans for them.
Animals in God’s Future Kingdom
There are several Bible verses that give us a peek at what eternity will look like. And guess what! Animals are right there! Lots of them!
6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
Isaiah 11:6-9
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
A vision of complete harmony and love in God’s coming kingdom! And it absolutely includes animals!
The New Heaven and New Earth
The Bible talks about a “new heaven and new earth“. A perfect version of creation where God lives among His people.
If God’s ultimate plan is to make a brand new earth, wouldn’t it naturally have animals? After all, what would Earth be without all the magnificent creatures God created?
19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
Romans 8:19-21
All of creation – animals included – are waiting for the freedom and restoration that God promises. I believe that God’s plan isn’t just about rescuing humans, it’s about renewing His entire creation!
Animals In Heaven Praising God?
So far, we’ve seen that animals share the breath of life (ruach) and that caring for them is a mark of righteousness. But do they have a role in eternity? The Bible suggests a resounding yes!
Let’s take a look at Revelation 5:13…
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
Revelation 5:13
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”…
Every creature is singing praise to God! If animals are worshiping in these scriptures, doesn’t that confirm that they will be right there in eternity with us?
And this idea isn’t just in Revelation. Let’s take a look at Job 12:7-10…
7 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; 8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. 9 Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? 10 In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.
Job 12:7-10
In these verses, Job is saying, “Look around! The animals themselves show us how awesome God is.” Their very lives are a testimony and a special kind of worship.
In Job, the animals show us God’s glory. In Revelation, they’re singing about it right there with us!
Do Our Pets Go To Heaven: Different Views Christians Have
Of course, not all Christians see this the same way. Different people have different perspectives. Let’s take a closer look at both:
The “Yes, There Will Be Animals” View
Many believers (like me!) believe that animals will be part of God’s new creation. They point to Isaiah’s prophecies showing animals in heaven, Romans 8 describing all creation being freed from decay, and the simple fact that God called animals good and worth saving.
The “We Just Don’t Know” View
Other Christians are more cautious, saying that Scripture doesn’t explicitly promise pets in heaven. They believe that some passages about animals might just be symbolic or metaphorical, and they believe that the Bible primarily focuses on human salvation.
This view isn’t saying that animals definitely won’t be there, but rather that we shouldn’t make promises that Scripture doesn’t clearly make.
What Does This Mean for You?
So where does all this leave us with our question? While the Bible doesn’t give us a straightforward “yes, your specific pet will be in heaven,” it does give us so many reasons to be hopeful!
- God made animals and declared them good.
- He saved them through the flood.
- He knows and cares for every single one.
- His restoration plan includes all of creation, not just people.
- Multiple passages show animals in the future kingdom.
- Animals have God’s breath of life within them.
1 Corinthians 2:9 tells us that, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
The Bible promises us that heaven will exceed our wildest imagination! If the joy and love our pets bring us reflect God’s goodness, wouldn’t our loving Father want that joy in eternity too?
Surely the God who notices when a small sparrow falls, who knows every creature by name, and who will restore all creation can be trusted with what matters most to your heart?
Trusting God’s Character
Even without every answer spelled out, I believe we can trust who God is. He is kind, loving, and good beyond measure. I don’t believe that the same God who gave you the special gift of your pet’s companionship in this life will leave you disappointed in the next.
Finding Peace Without All the Answers
It truly is okay to not know everything in this life. But we do know that God is good! He loves and cares for every creature He’s made, and eternity will be more wonderful than we can possibly imagine. We can trust God’s plan is perfect.
Revelation 21:4 promises:
4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Revelation 21:4
While this verse isn’t specifically about animals, it does describe a future without death or suffering, and I believe that our beloved pets will share in this perfect world.
Moving Forward with Hope
While we wait for God’s perfect plan to unfold, we can celebrate and enjoy the gift of our pets right now! We can care for them well, knowing that God cares for them too.
Will you see your pet in heaven? Scripture hints strongly that God’s new kingdom includes all creation – including animals. It clearly shows God values, knows personally, and cares deeply for them and it promises that what God has prepared for those who love Him is beyond anything we can dream up.
That’s genuine, biblically-grounded hope. And honestly? That’s something worth holding onto.
A Prayer for Those Who Have lost a pet
If you’ve lost a beloved pet and your heart is aching, this prayer is for you. Trust that God sees your tears and understands your pain!
“Heavenly Father
Thank You for the gift of [your pet’s name].
Thank You for every moment of joy, laughter, and unconditional love they brought into my life.
I’m so incredibly grateful for the time we had together!
Right now, my heart hurts.
The house feels empty without them. I miss their presence, their companionship, their unique personality that made them so special to me.
Lord, You know every tear I’ve cried. You saw every moment we shared. You created them and loved them too. I take comfort knowing that You care about what matters to me, and that includes the pets I love.
Help me trust Your good heart, even when I don’t have all the answers. Give me peace as I wait to see Your perfect plan unfold. Remind me that You make all things new, and that Your new world includes all of creation.
Thank You that heaven will be more wonderful than I can imagine.
Thank You that You are good, faithful, and trustworthy.
I place my grief, my questions, and my hope in Your loving hands.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
