Do Pets (Animals) Go to Heaven?

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Animals in the Bible Series
What Are Clean Animals?   -   A Red Heifer?
Is Eating Meat Wrong?   -   List of Bible Animals
Biblical Dinosaurs   -   Noah's Ark Size   -   MORE!
Do pets (animals) go to heaven when they die? Will they exist after Jesus returns to the earth?

Before we tackle the issue of pets (animals) and heaven, it is interesting to note that animals play a unique role in the Bible. After his creation, the first task graciously given to Adam was to name all the animals that were created (Genesis 2:19). The Bible records that not only did our loving Creator bring them to Adam, he was willing to refer to them by whatever name the first man gave them!

God certainly cared for the needs of the animals he created when he made the heavens and the earth. He obviously intended some of them to be treated like pets. When he gave his laws to the children of Israel, he specifically stated that they, as well as humans, were to rest on the Sabbath day (Exodus 20:8 - 10). He also commanded that beasts whose labor helped man harvest food be allowed to eat some of the produce they worked on (Deuteronomy 25:4).

Will Anyone Be There?

Regarding pets in heaven, we first need to consider whether humans will be there! When Jesus gave his well-known message called the Sermon on the Mount, he stated the righteous ("meek") would inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).


Pet of site owner that died in 2021
A Schipperke Named Onyx

Jesus is the only person so far who died and now lives in heaven next to God. Even after his resurrection, it was stated that King David had not yet ascended to his reward according to the message Peter gave Pentecost (Acts 2:29, 34).

Another issue is that nature is not an end in itself, unlike what many religious and philosophical environmentalists believe. Rather, the world of animals (even those we call pets) and plants serves the purposes of the master plan of God, who created nature for His overriding purposes.

Everything is Renewed

One interesting thing to note is that when God creates a new heaven and earth there is no longer any need for seas.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea. (Revelation 21:1, HBFV).

Presumably, then, there will be no more whales or even fish. It may be that "saving the whales" from men driving them into extinction (not to say that is a good idea!) would only give them (say) a thousand or so years reprieve.

Animals Will Exist!

Animals will exist during the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. Those that are carnivores will be made docile like pets and eat plant-based food. In this regard Isaiah's millennial prophecy states the following.

Also the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the cub lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the suckling child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the viper’s den. (Isaiah 11:6 - 8, HBFV).

Animals, and any pets people have, will live on the earth and not in heaven, as only beings composed of spirit live there (see 1Corinthians 2:11). Men will live with them on the planet, but not in the eternal state created after God makes everything new again (see Revelation 21:1, 5).

Recommended Articles
Does Heaven Exist?
How Old Is the Earth?
Why Was Jesus Born?
How Does Science Prove the Bible?
Are There Levels of Heaven?
Why Does God Create a New Jerusalem?
Do Babies Go to Heaven?

Animals in the Bible
Mythical Animals in Scripture!
Was Noah's Ark Big Enough for the Animals?
Parable of Camel Through Eye of Needle
The Role of Animals in Jesus' Ministry
Why Do Fish Represent Christians?
What Did Animal Sacrifices Mean?
Can We Eat Any Animal We Want?
Why Do Animals Symbolize Kingdoms?
When Did Animals Begin to Eat Meat?
Did Jerusalem Have a Dragon's Well?
Can Any Christian Safely Handle Snakes?
Was Eve Tempted by a Snake?
Humorous Quotes about Pets!
Can Animals Sin?
When Were Dinosaurs Created?
How Many Animal Were on Noah's Ark?


Quotes in this series taken from
Holy Bible in Its Original Order
unless noted.