What does the Bible say about animals in heaven?
Author Sheila Walsh gives biblical insight on whether we can expect to see our pets and other animals there with us.
It is hard to put into words the love that pets bring to us as humans. Animals have always been part of our story. When we go right back to the beginning at creation, before God created Eve from one of Adam’s ribs, he populated Eden with all sorts of wonderful creatures.
It was God’s original plan that we would live together with the animals in peace and harmony. It’s not unreasonable to think that if that was God’s original plan in Eden, then some day we will once again enjoy these beautiful gifts from God.
In the revelation given to John, he heard Jesus say from the throne, “Look, I am making everything new!” (Rev. 21:5).
Jesus doesn’t say I’m making new things. He says I’m making everything new. That has to include everything God created in Eden, the perfect garden where Adam was asked to give a name to every creature.
In Genesis 6 we see once again the importance of animals to God’s creation. When God determined to flood the earth because of the excessive wickedness, his instructions to Noah as he built his boat were to make sure that the animals survived as well.
Bring a pair of every kind of animal—a male and a female—into the boat with you to keep them alive during the flood. Pairs of every kind of bird, and every kind of animal, and every kind of small animal that scurries along the ground, will come to you to be kept alive. (Gen. 6:19–20)
If animals were always part of God’s plan for us, I’m sure they will be part of our eternal lives with him. In heaven we will be who we are now, but without sin, so animals that knew a certain beauty, grace, and strength in Eden will be perfected once again too. (Perhaps our dog Maggie will stop barking?)
Isaiah the prophet wrote about this new world,
In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together;
the leopard will lie down with the baby goat.
The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion,
and a little child will lead them all.
The cow will graze near the bear.
The cub and the calf will lie down together.
The lion will eat hay like a cow.
The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra.
Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.
Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,
for as the waters fill the sea,
so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord. (Isa. 11:6–9)
The question may remain, however, “What about my pet? Will my dog be there or just newly created dogs and cats?” I love what my friend Joni Eareckson Tada shared in her book Holiness in Hidden Places as she thought about heaven:
If God brings our pets back to life, it wouldn’t surprise me. It would be just like Him. It would be totally in keeping with His generous character . . . Exorbitant. Excessive. Extravagant in grace after grace. Of all the dazzling discoveries and ecstatic pleasures heaven will hold for us, the potential of seeing Scrappy would be pure whimsy—utterly, joyfully, surprisingly superfluous.
Billy Graham was once asked by a young girl if her dog would be in heaven. He asked her if that would make her happy. When she assured him that it would, he said he was sure her dog would be there.
I’m sure that as we will live pure lives free of sin, mistrust, and fear, animals will be raised to the existence and nobility they knew in Eden before the fall. What a joyous thought!
This post was adapted from Sheila Walsh’s book The Hope of Heaven: How the Promise of Eternity Changes Everything. We highly recommend it for an encouraging, biblical exploration of answers to your biggest questions about heaven. Check out the Hope of Heaven Study Guide for a perfect small group study too!
Sheila Walsh is an author, Bible teacher, three-time Grammy nominee, and television host who has spoken to over six million people around the world. She cohosts several shows, including Praise and Better Together on TBN, America’s most-watched faith and family channel. Sheila’s books have sold nearly six million copies and include bestsellers like It’s Okay Not to Be Okay and The Hope of Heaven. Originally from Scotland, Sheila lives in Texas with her husband. Learn more at SheilaWalsh.com.