I am so pumped about our new message series, The Heaven Series. To be honest with you, the study and preparation for this one has been wearing me out. I spent several hours Tuesday night (while the family was watching American Idol…I could not tell you the name of one contestant on that show.) in my basement office trying to figure out if pets go to Heaven. It is a little more complicated than I originally thought. Nonetheless, this Sunday, I will be answering the question, “Do pets go to Heaven?”.
Our main discussion for this Sunday is, “What will Heaven be like?”. Have you ever wondered what Heaven will look like? Well, I am going to tell you this Sunday.
Then, week 2 (March 21), we will discuss, “What will we do in Heaven?”. And I will answer the following questions:
What will our bodies look like (height, age, skin color, glowing?, etc.)?
Will we have sex in Heaven?…This is a question that one of our Women’s Bible Studies asked me last Fall. Go figure.
Will we eat food?
Will we know and spend time with loved ones?
Will we play sports? Work? Sing a bunch of worship songs?
Hey, if you are going to Heaven, you might want to find out a little more about the place that you will be living FOREVER and what it is that you will be doing for ALL eternity. It should be a great series, and I can promise you that the creative team will throw in a few surprises along the way. The next 5 weeks will be great Sundays to invite your friends and family to Graystone.
Are you going to wear a white suit? I can see you in all white with a bright light behind you, Sorry had to get that out.
Are you kidding me!! Are they saved? Then they are going to heaven.
Dale, I don’t think pets can be saved or have the capacity to put the faith in Christ…
Well, I guess its that easy. So what in the world did you study?
The animals that will be in Heaven (Isaiah 11:6-9)…where do they come from? Are they newly created animals or are they “redeemed” animals? When God makes “all things new” (Revelation 21:5) on the new Heaven and the new earth, does “all things” include animals?
As I wrote earlier, the study is wearing me out. There are several well-respected theologians that seem to think there will be animals (even pets) in Heaven. I really have never even entertained the thought. Animals do not have souls. But apparently, there is great debate about the subject.
The lion will lie down with the lamb. The human, the lion, the bull, and the eagle – the faces of those beasts which surround God. Ezekiel 7. They collectively represent all creation and surround the throne – “you become like what you worship!”
Interesting question – “all things new” – one of my most favorite parts of Scripture. All tears are gone, no sorrow, all things are new, we get a fresh start. There is a new heaven and a new earth. We get a new name, and sing a new song. We get a new home, we get new clothes, we are given new work, we have a new body.
Forget the theologians, lets just have some fun in heaven with some birdies, eagles and plenty of mulligans.
Not sure there is an award for this on earth or heaven, but I think I get the blog-stopper of the year award. I’m not proud of it, but I have a lot of “last” comments.
Jonathan – my answers are below, after your comments:
The animals that will be in Heaven (Isaiah 11:6-9)…where do they come from?
Other animals
Are they newly created animals or are they “redeemed” animals?
The are not redeemed, but they may have come out of the 1,000 year reign of Christ. Consequently, during this reign we have pets, if we want to, but we believe in an undeniable dominion theology. We have dominion over them, and they do not stink up the house.
When God makes “all things new” (Revelation 21:5) on the new Heaven and the new earth, does “all things” include animals?
I’m not new, at that point – just a new name. However, after the 1000 years, things get a little confusing. Personally I think there are no animals, but I’m willing to be wrong. Certainly no redeemed animals, no fallen animals, and no stinky animals. I seriously am willing to eat vegatables forever, and manna.
I will actually spend some time on Sunday discussing animals in Heaven. I’m sure some will agree with me and others will not…although I will not be very dogmatic either way. I do want to try and get the cat people back on my side.
Jonathan – I wasn’t going to say this. I think there will be animals/creation in heaven. I’m not a theologian, nor a scholar, but just an accountant.
Redemption – is for the human, individually to be saved, purchased back, and given a place in Heaven and God’s family. However, “all creation” will be redeemed – the “lion will lie down with the lamb.” There will be human and animal reproduction in the 1,000 year reign – but not for everyone. I doubt that there will be anything like that in the “new heaven and new earth.”
However, all creation will be redeemed, and will be represented in Heaven. “All creation groans…..” The Beast – or Cherub which surrounds the throne is representative of all creation. Interesting enough the four faces I am told represent the four gospels, or four perspectives of Christ/God.
Sorry for the number of comments. I have really thought about this more than I should have.
Dale…now you can see why I spent so much time on it. It gets more complicated the deeper you get into it. And I an no theologian either…simply a professional athlete in the body of a church planting pastor.