Do Our Pets Go to Heaven Too?
A while ago, I had a conversation with X, who was very sad. Her beloved pet had passed away, and she was very sorrowful about it. She wondered whether pets also go to heaven.
And yes, we understand that question… because on this side too, we miss the pets we have had.
Paddo, – Henri, Jaguar, Sima, Krabbel (1 to 6), Miepie, Hammie, they are no longer here.
🙁
So yes, let’s dive into that (sad) question, which has two sides in terms of the answer.
The Bible clearly shows that animals will have a place on the new earth and that the whole creation will be fully restored. This means there will be a restored harmony in which animals live in peace. That brings me comfort when I miss the pets I no longer have around me.
However, the Bible does not make a direct statement that specific pets, like your dog or cat, go to heaven. There is therefore no biblical evidence that individual pets have personal eternal life.
How does that work then? Let’s look at what the Bible does (or does not) say about this topic:
The New Creation and Harmony Among Animals
Isaiah 11:6-9 “The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat; the calf and the young lion will graze together, and a little child will lead them. The cow and the bear will graze, their young will lie down together; and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the child will put his hand into the viper’s nest. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”
Isaiah 65:17-25 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor shall they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing, and her people for gladness. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people; and the voice of weeping and the sound of crying shall be heard no more in her. The wolf and the lamb shall graze together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,” says the Lord.
These passages clearly say that creation will be fully(!) restored. Animals and humans will live in perfect harmony on God’s new earth, without danger. That is wonderful news!
Creation Longs for Redemption
Romans 8:19-22 “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”
Let’s be honest… losing your pet hurts, and we also look forward to the eternal time when that will never happen again. A new world, freed from all that pain. The whole creation, with all the animals, will be liberated and restored, and that “corruption,” as that verse expresses, will no longer exist. The new earth will display the full freedom and harmony of God’s creation.
Animals and God’s Care
Proverbs 12:10 “A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the compassion of the wicked is cruel.”
God clearly gives attention to animals. The well-being of animals is important to Him.
Humans Have an Eternal Relationship with God and a Role on the New Earth
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
1 John 5:11-12 “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”
Eternal life applies specifically to humans, through their personal faith in Jesus Christ. Animals do not receive this personal eternal life (see below, because “faith in God” is not part of that issue), but they do partake in the restored creation.
Can Animals Believe in God?
Sometimes the question arises: can an animal believe in God? As humans, we are called to faith and repentance, and promised that whoever believes has eternal life. But animals are nowhere addressed in the Bible in this way.
Humans are uniquely created in God’s image:
Genesis 1:26-27 “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
The image of God means that we can have a relationship with Him, that we can consciously know, love, and serve Him. Only humans are called to faith:
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him.”
Animals are not bearers of God’s image. They are creatures who are part of God’s good creation, but they are not called to faith or repentance. Their existence is not aimed at personal salvation, but they do share in the restoration of creation that God will accomplish.
Therefore, the Bible says that only humans receive eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Animals do not have a personal faith relationship with God, but they are included in the renewal of heaven and earth.
That brings comfort: they (the animals) belong to God’s good plan and will be present in the new creation, free from suffering and death, in harmony with humans and with each other.
On the New Earth, Humans Will Also Have an Active Role
Isaiah 65:21-23 “They will build houses and inhabit them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They will not build for another to inhabit, nor plant for another to eat; for the days of My people will be like the days of a tree, and My chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children for disaster; for they are the offspring of the blessed ones, the descendants whom I have chosen.”
Psalm 8:6-8 also confirms:
Psalm 8:6-8 “You have made him rule over the works of Your hands; You have put everything under his feet: sheep and oxen, and all of them, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas.”
This means that on the new earth we will have a caring role: we will live, work, and care for the earth and the creatures that live there. Because everything is perfect, animals will live in harmony: there will be no evil, aggression, or destruction. A dog will no longer bite unexpectedly, a cat will not scratch the furniture; all animals will live in perfect peace while we watch over and care for the earth.
Conclusion
- The Bible guarantees a restored creation in which humans and animals live in peace and harmony (Isaiah 11, Isaiah 65).
- The whole creation is freed from corruption and sin (Romans 8:19-22).
- God shows care for all creatures (Proverbs 12:10).
- Eternal life in personal fellowship with God is a gift to humans (John 3:16, 1 John 5:11-12), while animals are part of the restored creation without personal eternal life.
Factually and certainly: On the new earth, animals will live in peace and harmony, and we will actively participate in God’s new creation by caring for the earth and all its inhabitants. Their existence will be fully restored and part of God’s eternal plan, while personal eternal life is given only to humans.
We cannot wait until we are there. An eternal life without loss, mourning, or misery, but an eternal life where even the most wonderful and beloved animals are present, with whom we can live together forever.
