The question of whether animals go to heaven has been discussed for many years among Christians. Many believe that since God created animals and called His creation good, He must have a purpose for them beyond this life. The Bible does not give a direct answer, but it does provide clues that animals are part of God’s plan for eternity.
Some scriptures suggest that God’s redemption plan includes all of creation, not just humans. Many believe that since creation was affected by sin, it will also be restored in the future. Descriptions of a peaceful future where animals live together in harmony suggest that they may exist in God’s kingdom.
The Bible also speaks of animals in the new heaven and new earth, giving hope that they will have a place in eternity. Some passages mention all creatures praising God, which suggests that animals have a role in worship. Others describe animals in God’s future kingdom, showing that they may be included in His eternal plan.
Preachers Quotes
“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.” – Joni Eareckson Tada
“Heaven is not the absence of all things human, but the presence of all things glorified. That may well include our beloved pets.” – Randy Alcorn
“The Bible says nothing about pets going to heaven, but it does say that God will make a new heaven and a new earth, and nothing in God’s plan will be lost.” – Billy Graham
“I think God will have prepared everything for our perfect happiness. If it takes my dog being there, I believe he’ll be there.” – C.S. Lewis
“God has made animals as part of His creation, and He will redeem all creation, which includes them.” – John Piper
“The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox. This is not just poetic language. It is a glimpse of the world to come.” – Charles Spurgeon
“Our God is a God of life, and His kingdom will be full of all He has made.” – Max Lucado
You might also be interested in: Bible verses about Animals
Bible Verses About Animals in Heaven
Isaiah 11:6 – Animals will dwell peacefully together in God’s kingdom.
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.” – Isaiah 11:6
Isaiah 11:7 – Even predators will be gentle in the new creation.
“The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.” – Isaiah 11:7
Isaiah 11:8 – Children will be safe among animals.
“The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den.” – Isaiah 11:8
Isaiah 65:25 – The animal kingdom will be at peace in eternity.
“The wolf and the lamb shall feed 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.” – Isaiah 65:25
Psalm 50:10 – God owns all the animals.
“For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.” – Psalm 50:10
Job 12:7-10 – Animals testify of God’s power.
“But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; and the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; and the fish of the sea will explain to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this, in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?” – Job 12:7-10
Revelation 5:13 – All creatures will praise God.
“And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!’” – Revelation 5:13
Romans 8:19-21 – All creation will be delivered from corruption.
“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits 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; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” – Romans 8:19-21
Luke 12:6 – God cares for animals.
“Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.” – Luke 12:6
Proverbs 12:10 – The righteous care for animals.
“A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” – Proverbs 12:10
Genesis 9:9-10 – God’s covenant includes animals.
“And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth.” – Genesis 9:9-10
Ecclesiastes 3:21 – The spirit of animals.
“Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth?” – Ecclesiastes 3:21
Genesis 1:25 – God created every living creature.
“And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” – Genesis 1:25
Genesis 7:2-3 – God preserved animals during the flood.
“You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female; also seven each of birds of the air, male and female, to keep the species alive on the face of all the earth.” – Genesis 7:2-3
Psalm 36:6 – God preserves both man and animals.
“Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O Lord, You preserve man and beast.” – Psalm 36:6
Psalm 148:10 – Animals praise the Lord.
“Beasts and all cattle; creeping things and flying fowl.” – Psalm 148:10
Jonah 4:11 – God cares for animals.
“And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?” – Jonah 4:11
Matthew 6:26 – God provides for animals.
“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” – Matthew 6:26
Job 38:41 – God feeds the animals.
“Who provides food for the raven, when its young ones cry to God, and wander about for lack of food?” – Job 38:41
Isaiah 43:20 – Animals will glorify God.
“The beast of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen.” – Isaiah 43:20
Hosea 2:18 – God will make a covenant with animals.
“In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, with the birds of the air, and with the creeping things of the ground. Bow and sword of battle I will shatter from the earth, to make them lie down safely.” – Hosea 2:18
Revelation 19:11 – Jesus returns on a white horse.
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.” – Revelation 19:11
Revelation 19:14 – The armies of heaven ride horses.
“And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.” – Revelation 19:14
Deuteronomy 22:6 – God commands kindness to animals.
“If a bird’s nest happens to be before you along the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, with the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young.” – Deuteronomy 22:6
Exodus 23:12 – Animals need rest.
“Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female servant and the stranger may be refreshed.” – Exodus 23:12
Psalm 104:24-25 – God made animals in wisdom.
“O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions—This great and wide sea, in which are innumerable teeming things, living things both small and great.” – Psalm 104:24-25
Psalm 104:27-28 – God provides for all creatures.
“These all wait for You, that You may give them their food in due season. What You give them they gather in; You open Your hand, they are filled with good.” – Psalm 104:27-28
Matthew 10:29 – God sees even the smallest animals.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.” – Matthew 10:29
Luke 3:6 – All flesh shall see God’s salvation.
“And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” – Luke 3:6
1 Kings 17:4 – God uses animals for His purposes.
“And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” – 1 Kings 17:4
Daniel 6:22 – God saved Daniel in the lions’ den.
“My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” – Daniel 6:22
2 Samuel 12:3 – Animals are dear to their owners.
“But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him.” – 2 Samuel 12:3
Genesis 2:19 – God brought animals to Adam.
“Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.” – Genesis 2:19
Leviticus 25:7 – Animals share in God’s blessings.
“For your livestock and the beasts that are in your land, all its produce shall be for food.” – Leviticus 25:7
Nehemiah 9:6 – God preserves all living things.
“You alone are the Lord; You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You.” – Nehemiah 9:6
Psalm 145:9 – God’s mercy extends to all His works.
“The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.” – Psalm 145:9
Psalm 147:9 – God feeds the animals.
“He gives to the beast its food, and to the young ravens that cry.” – Psalm 147:9
Joel 1:20 – Even animals cry out to God.
“The beasts of the field also cry out to You, for the water brooks are dried up, and fire has devoured the open pastures.” – Joel 1:20
Matthew 21:2-3 – Jesus used animals in His ministry.
“Saying to them, ‘Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.’” – Matthew 21:2-3
Mark 16:15 – Preach the gospel to every creature.
“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’” – Mark 16:15
If you’re interested, here’s another article on: Bible verses about Nature’s Beauty
What Does The Bible Say About Animals In Heaven
The Bible does not directly say if our pets will be in heaven, but it does give us clues that animals will be part of God’s new creation. From the beginning, God created animals and called them good (Genesis 1:25). He made them part of His perfect world, and when sin entered, they also suffered. But the Bible says that God’s plan includes restoring all creation, not just humans (Romans 8:19-21). This means animals could be in heaven when God makes everything new.
In Isaiah 11:6-9 and Isaiah 65:25, the Bible describes a future time when animals will live in peace. It says that wolves, lambs, lions, and cows will live together without fear. This is a picture of God’s kingdom where there is no more death or suffering. Since these verses show animals in God’s future plan, it is possible that heaven will have animals.
Revelation 5:13 says that every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and in the sea will praise God. This means animals have a place in God’s eternal plan. Revelation 19:11-14 also describes Jesus coming from heaven riding a white horse, and the armies of heaven following Him on horses. This suggests that animals exist in heaven.
The Bible teaches that God cares for animals. He feeds them (Matthew 6:26, Psalm 147:9), watches over them (Luke 12:6), and even made a covenant with them after the flood (Genesis 9:9-10). If God loves animals so much on earth, it makes sense that they will be part of His new creation.
Some people wonder if their pets will be in heaven. The Bible does not say for sure, but we know that God will make heaven perfect for those who love Him. If having our pets is part of our joy, God may allow them to be there. After all, He promises to wipe away all tears and fill us with happiness (Revelation 21:4).
While we cannot be certain, the Bible gives us hope that animals will be in heaven. God’s plan is to restore everything, and since animals were part of His original creation, they may also be part of the new heaven and earth. Whatever happens, we can trust that God’s new creation will be wonderful and full of His love.