Ecclesiastes 3:18-22: "I said in my heart, “Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like animals.” For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity. All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust. Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth? So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?"
I believe that is referring to both people and animals either going up or down, not necessarily stating that an animal's spirit goes downwards.
I *personally* believe that animals will be in Heaven. If you think about how God uses them in this world, they really do teach us a lot, especially about love, but so many get abused as a result of living in this sinful fallen world, dealing with sinful people. I think He has a plan for them. Don't forget also that God made a covenant with Noah as well as the animals, so that shows how important animals are to Him... and not one bird falls without His knowledge.
Scripture says that God does not withhold good things from us and that He will give us the desires of our hearts. If it's our desire to see our animals again *I really think* that He would make that happen for us. It's just too easy for Him, and we can request that.
One of the many things I want to do in Heaven is hug a lion
I believe that is referring to both people and animals either going up or down, not necessarily stating that an animal's spirit goes downwards.
I *personally* believe that animals will be in Heaven. If you think about how God uses them in this world, they really do teach us a lot, especially about love, but so many get abused as a result of living in this sinful fallen world, dealing with sinful people. I think He has a plan for them. Don't forget also that God made a covenant with Noah as well as the animals, so that shows how important animals are to Him... and not one bird falls without His knowledge.
Scripture says that God does not withhold good things from us and that He will give us the desires of our hearts. If it's our desire to see our animals again *I really think* that He would make that happen for us. It's just too easy for Him, and we can request that.
One of the many things I want to do in Heaven is hug a lion