Do all dogs go to Heaven?
It took me a while to write this post. We lost our sweet NaJe…our Yorkie…our overweight, 12 and a half year Yorkie…last summer. She was doing great, although she had slowed somewhat in the later years. We had just moved to our new city, and she loved it for the walking. One morning I was at work and Cheryl went to lunch. When Cheryl came home NaJe was not the same. She became paralyzed immediately…within the hour Cheryl was gone to lunch. We took her to the veterinarian as soon as we could. The Vet said it was a brain tumor. There was nothing we could do for her. It was one of the hardest decisions we’ve ever made and being with her at the end one of the hardest things I’ve personally ever done.
I know…it’s a dog, right? But she was our dog. She was part of the family. She was named for our two boys…Na…Nathaniel…Je…Jeremy. (Jeremy is the oldest, but NaJe sounded better to us than JeNa.)
So the question…
Do all dogs go to Heaven?
Believe it or not, I get asked that question. Very seriously. And, I understand.
Unfortunately, the answer is one that I can’t solve that for you. Not definitively.
I wish I could, but I am a Bible teacher. I read and believe the Bible as truth. I can’t make it fit my needs or desires. I have to take it for what it says. I can’t add to or take away from it. I know mankind is His highest creation. The Bible makes clear provision for mankind and Heaven. (If you confess with your mouth and believe in your hear that God raised Jesus from the dead you shall be saved.)
The problem is, I can’t definitively assure myself of any eternity for my dog or any dog. Or cat. Or hamster. Although I would think my dog would likely to get in if any animal did :).
I know this though. My viewpoint has changed in light of NaJe. I now recognize I can’t say dogs “don’t” go to Heaven. Can you?
All creation waits. “All creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.” The Bible says that. Revelation also says “every creature” pays reverence to the glory of God. Every creature. But, is that creatures created now or then. I can’t say. Will there be dogs in Heaven. I don’t know? For sure.
But, I do know NaJe was God’s creation. She did exactly what she was created to do while she was alive on earth. Everything. She loved. She loved greatly. She loved passionately. She was a most loyal man’s best friend. I can’t imagine God wasn’t pleased with the example of unconditional love NaJe proved to be.
If any dogs went to Heaven…NaJe would be one. Probably you feel that way about yours too.
And, though I can’t solve the question for you, not definitively, I can’t imagine a perfect place without a dog like NaJe. But, then no eye has seen or imagined what God has created for us. Heaven will be perfect. I’m not sure I have really ever seen perfect as God intended perfect to be. Some day I will.
I also know this, as much as I entertain this question, I’m most concerned about your eternity. I am confident God will take care of His creation, but He’s given you and me the option to choose to be obedient or to rebel. Will you be in Heaven? Have you surrendered your life to Christ’s life? Do you believe that Jesus died on a cross, rose from the grave, and that by your faith in Him you shall be saved?
What do you think? Do all dogs go to Heaven?
(Opinions are welcome…I honestly don’t believe we know definitively, but please don’t write me your “theological” understanding based on what you “think”.).
my name is jim n I do believe all dogs go to heaven my little dog topper is really sick n the vet told me it b cancer n then I hv a difficult decision to make maria my minister friend n her family is praying for him no matters what happens on Thursday when I go back to the vet I truly believe he go to heaven n I pray n I place him in gods hands for him to take care of him
Hi,
I've just stumbled across this website and definitely agree with some of these comments. God loves all his creatures, man or animal, equally. There is no hierarchy of the living in God's eyes.
I am a very big believer in eternal life and I am very interested in spirituality. A while ago I went to see a bling clairvoyant. She knew nothing about me except for my first name only! As I entered the room to her she said she saw a little Jack Russel running beside me (my Jack Russel died only a few years previous). She described her & told me her name, which was Mandy – not a common name here in the UK! She told me she never leaves my side and will only pass over to heaven once I have as she is waiting for me to take her.
On Monday I had to have my beautiful King Charles spaniel put to sleep and she was only 8 & I can't shake this sense of guilt of making the dreadful decision. However, I couldn't bear to see her suffering anymore (she had mitral valve disease & was struggling to breathe). I am going to see another clairvoyant next week to see if he can sense her & that she knows I did what I did out of unconditional love for her & that I was with her until the end! I know I might sound a little obsessed with my dog but to me she was like another baby and I am truly heartbroken! I hope she too is waiting for me & we can go live eternal life together when it is my time. They'll have a long wait though…I'm only 30!!!
I can't imagine dogs don't go to heaven. It seems that God sent me my dog when I needed him the very most and still feel like he is my personal angel. He loves so completely without reserve or judgement. He enjoys walks and naps and food and hugs like these things will all be his last. He comforts me when I am sad and makes me laugh with his sense of humor. He makes me want to be a better person so I can go to heaven and be with him. Because surely God would want such goodness in his kingdom even if he is a dog.
Sorry about your dog,that’s a tough loss.I personally think pets should be viewed as flowers. The reason I say that is God created them just for us to look at and see beauty&smell a wonderful fragrance. I know some flowers have other purposes,but most are simply to give us joy. To say our pet is in heaven gives us comfort ,but don’t we have to stop & think maybe we are being a bit selfish? There will be flowers in heaven,but will there be the dozen roses I gave my wife on her birthday,no they were enjoyed here that’s what they were meant for&that is what I believe pets are meant for. I look at it this way people have pet pigs that they truly love. Is a pig going to heaven? The pig is considered unclean so I wouldn’t think pigs or any other unclean pet is going to heaven . No I don’t have a pet pig just thinking out loud. Who is to say yes or know other than God?
Thanks
Hi Ron,
As a pastor it’s hard to provide decent answers to this question. But when I encounter people who can be harsh to the point of cruelty against the idea of animals in the hereafter, I remind that that (a) we see through a glass darkly; and (b) Jesus seems to be a horse owner.
The nobility, for lack of a better word, displayed by many dogs and horses, for example, points back to a lost and higher companionship in the Garden, and one which we may enjoy again when lions eat straw like the ox.
I've had two sets of schnauzers and now have three chihuahua's. If we all are reunited in heaven my mansion will be crowded. Will the love I had for them be remember in heaven? Will the grief I had at their loss be remembered? The world wouldn't be complete without animals and I'm hoping heaven won't be either.
Be comforted, little dog, thou too in the Resurrection shall have a tail of gold. Martin Luther.
Thanks.
Ironically, I was just going thru some e-mails for this past week, and I sometimes save Ron's until the end of the week, so that I can absorb his message. I lost my 18-year-old cock-a-poo, Mozart, yesterday, actually exactly the way Ron spoke of their NaJe…suddenly, fortunately; however, we are never prepared, even when we know it really is time. And I am still having to come to terms and pray. I will keep these Bible verses and Martin Luther's quote in my mind. I have two more precious dogs, Bentley and Lu Lu, my Scotties, who forever keep me busy and entertained. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you.
If we cannot answer the question "Do pets go to heaven?", we can answer the question: "Will heaven be as good as I can imagine?" I think the answer is no, it will far exceed that! Whatever is in store for those who believe in the resurrection of his son, is going to be so much better than we can possibly imagine, and I can easily imagine animals in heaven, so whatever happens it is going be immeasurably better than that, for you and for NaJe.
Interesting question. I absolutely agree. Better than anything we can imagine. Thanks
Twitter: kmac4him
says:
awwwww sad for you but happy for this: Yes heaven is for dogs and ALL Creatures
Revelations 5: 13 And I heard EVERY CREATED THING in heaven and on earth and under the earth [in Hades, the place of departed spirits] and on the sea and all that is in it, crying out together, To Him Who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb be ascribed the blessing and the honor and the majesty (glory, splendor) and the power (might and dominion) forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities)!
Hi Ron,
Sorry about the loss of your dog. I had a similar experience many years ago. It is only a dog, unless of course it is your dog. Then it hurts. Do all dogs go to heaven? is definitely one of those questions that the Bible doesn't clearly address. I remember as a young pastor, one of my first house visits was to go to someone's house to pray for healing over their family pet. As a new pastor on staff of a large church, I felt a bit awkward, but at the same time I knew that God had called me to minister to this family in their time of need. As I prayed for direction from the Lord, He gave me a great verse for those who have animals. It is from Proverbs 12:10, "A righteous man regards the life of his animal…" We know that when God created animals, He said that they were "good" (Gen. 1:24-25). God's covenant with Noah included protection of animals (Genesis 9:9-17). And, as I pointed out in Proverbs 12:10, God clearly affirms those who regards the life of his or her animals. I know that doesn't answer the question for us as to whether or not pets go to heaven, but it does reveal the heart of God to us in the matter, which is that He expects us to care for and tend to our animals while we have them.
Thank you. I have had this post in my draft folder for a while. Keep delaying it because I want to review a bit more. Didn't mean it to post today yet. I realize it will be controversial. Will post tomorrow
Twitter: kmac4him
says:
awwwww sad for you but happy for this: Yes heaven is for dogs and ALL Creatures
Revelations 5: 13 And I heard EVERY CREATED THING in heaven and on earth and under the earth [in Hades, the place of departed spirits] and on the sea and all that is in it, crying out together, To Him Who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb be ascribed the blessing and the honor and the majesty (glory, splendor) and the power (might and dominion) forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities)!
I’m sorry about the loss of your dog. I believe animals DO go to heaven because they can’t actively reject Christ. People, on the other hand, can CHOOSE whether or not to go to Heaven. But when we get to Heaven, the main thing that will take our attention is God Himself in all His glory which will outshine any of His creations. Maybe our memories and earthly relationships with pets & people will be healed. We expect joy in Heaven, so I don’t think God will cause us a painful experience longing for pets. I guess the pet becomes HIS – not ours any more. It will be different in Heaven, and there will be joy.
This post was in my upcoming folder and I didn't realize the date for it to post was here. Wasn't quite ready, so I've pushed it out a little ways