Will We See Our Pets in Heaven?

Will We See Our Pets in Heaven?

One of life’s greatest joys is having a pet. They bring so much happiness, companionship and enjoyment that we can’t imagine life without them. Many Christians wonder, "Do animals have souls? Will I see my pet in heaven?"

In the past few decades, scientists have proven beyond any doubt that some species of animals possess intelligence. Porpoises and whales can communicate with other members of their species through audible language. Dogs can be trained to do relatively complex tasks. Gorillas have even been taught to form simple sentences using sign language.
Animal rights activists point to this intelligence to claim that all creatures have equal rights to life and to certain treatment. Some activists even bristle when someone says they own a pet. They prefer the term "caretaker."
But does animal intelligence constitute a soul? Does a pet’s emotions and ability to relate to human beings mean that animals possess an immortal spirit that will survive after death?
Theologians say no. They point out that man was created superior to animals and that animals can’t be equal with him.
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." (Genesis 1:26, )
Most interpreters of the Bible assume that man’s likeness to God and animals’ subservience to man implies that animals may have the "breath of life," nephesh in Hebrew, but not an immortal soul in the same sense as man’s.
Later in Genesis we read that by God’s command, Adam and Eve were vegetarians. There is no mention that they ate animal flesh:
And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." (Genesis 2:16-17, )
After the flood, God gave Noah and his sons permission to kill and eat animals:
"Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything." (Genesis 9:3, )
In Leviticus, God instructs Moses on animals that are suitable for sacrifice:
"Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When any of you brings an offering to the LORD, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.'" (Leviticus 1:2, )
Later in that chapter God includes birds as acceptable offerings and adds grains as well. Except for the consecration of all firstborn animals in Exodus 13, we do not see the sacrifice of dogs, cats, horses, mules or donkeys in the Bible. Dogs are mentioned many times in Scripture but cats are not. Perhaps that’s because they were favorite pets in Egypt and were associated with pagan religion.
God prohibited the killing of man ("You shall not murder," Exodus 20:13) but he placed no such restriction on the killing of animals. Man is made in God’s image, so man must not kill one of his own kind. Animals, it would seem, are different from man. If they do have a "soul" that survives death, it is different from man’s. It does not need redemption. Christ died to save the souls of human beings, not animals.
Even so, the prophet Isaiah says God will include animals in the new heavens and new earth:
"The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, says the LORD." (Isaiah 65: 25, )
In the last book of the Bible, Revelation, the Apostle John’s vision of heaven also included animals, showing Christ and the armies of heaven "riding on white horses." (Revelation 19:14, )
Most of us can't picture a paradise of unspeakable beauty without flowers, trees, and animals. Would it be heaven for an avid birdwatcher if there are no birds? Would a fisherman want to spend eternity with no fish? And would it be heaven for a cowboy without horses?
While theologians may be stubborn in classifying animals' "souls" as inferior to those of humans, those learned scholars must admit that descriptions of heaven in the Bible are sketchy at best. The Bible does not give a definitive answer on the question of whether we will see our pets in heaven, but it does say, "... with God, all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26, )
My Cairn Terrier, Charlie, is an important part of my life and I often feel he is a gift God has given me. You probably feel the same way about your pet.
That’s why I like the story about the elderly widow whose beloved little dog died after fifteen faithful years. Distraught, she went to her pastor.
"Parson," she said, tears streaming down her cheeks, "the vicar said animals have no souls. My darling little dog Fluffy has died. Does that mean I won’t see her again in heaven?"
"Madam," said the old priest, "God, in his great love and wisdom has created heaven to be a place of perfect happiness. I am sure that if you need your little dog to complete your happiness, you will find her there."

HAPPY DEEPAVALI TO ALL !!!!இனிய தீபஒளி திருநாள் வாழ்த்துக்கள்!!!

அனைவருக்கும் இனிய தீபஒளி திருநாள் வாழ்த்துக்கள்!!!நரகா சூரனின் விழ்ச்சியின் விளைவே தீபஒளி திருநாள்,.அது போல தீர்ப்பு நாளில் ஆண்டவர் இயேசு சுவாமி    நரகா சுரநாண பிசாசை வீழ்த்தி வெற்றிகொள்வர் என்று வேதத்தின் இறுதி புத்தகத்தில் தீர்க்க தரிசனமாக சொல்லபட்டுள்ளது,இந்த ஒரு நாளுக்கே இவ்வளவு முக்கியம் கொடுக்கிறோம் என்றால் நித்திய வாழ்விற்கு நாம் ஆயத்த படவேன்டமா ? மனுசரின் ஆவி கர்த்தர் தந்த தீபம் என்று வேதத்தில் நீதிமொழிகள் என்ற புத்தகத்தில் 20:27 ல் சொல்லபட்டுள்ளது.நம் உயிராகிய தீபம் அவரால் படைக்கப்பட்டது என்பதை நம் நினைவில் வைத்து,தற்காலிக உலகத்தின் மய்மாலமான கொண்டாடங்களை விலக்கி இரண்டாம் வருகின் போது வெட்கப்பட்டு போகாத படிக்கு தேவரீர் என் விளக்கை  ஏற்றுவீர்:என் தேவனாகிய கர்த்தர் என் இருளை வெளிச்சமாக்குவார்  என்று நம்பி:வேத சத்தியத்தின் படி வாழ்ந்து இயேசுவை புற சாதிகளுக்கு அறிவிப்போம்.

ஆமென்

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syBSPQvIqYs

God's answer

God's answer to loneliness is not the quantity of your relationships, but the quality.


Going back to the Old Testament, we discover that the first four of the Ten Commandments are about our relationship with God. The last six commandments are about our relationships with other people.
How is your relationship with God? Is it close and intimate, like that of a loving, caring father and his child? Or is your relationship with God cold and distant, only superficial?
As you reconnect with God and your prayers become more conversational and less formal, you'll actually feel God's presence. His reassurance is not just your imagination. We worship a God who lives among his people through the Holy Spirit. Loneliness is God's way, first, of drawing us closer to him, then forcing us to reach out to other people.
For many of us, improving our relationships with others and letting them get close to us is a distasteful cure, as dreaded as taking your toothache to a dentist. But satisfying, meaningful relationships take time and work. We're afraid to open up. We're afraid to let another person open up to us.

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ - Profile of Jesus Christ from the New Testament:

Jesus of Nazareth, he is the Christ, the "Anointed One," or the "Messiah." The name "Jesus" is derived from the Hebrew-Aramaic word "Yeshua," meaning "Yahweh [the Lord] is salvation." The name "Christ" is actually a title for Jesus. It comes from the Greek word "Christos," meaning "the Anointed One," or "Messiah" in Hebrew.
Jesus is the central figure in Christianity and his life, message and ministry are chronicled in the four Gospels of the New Testament.

Most Bible scholars agree that he was a Jewish teacher from Galilee who performed many miracles of healing and deliverance. He called twelve Jewish men to follow him, working closely with them to train and prepare them to carry on the ministry.
He was crucified in Jerusalem by order of Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, for claiming to be the King of the Jews. He resurrected three days after his death, appeared to his disciples and then ascended into heaven.

His life and death provided the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. Man was separated from God through Adam's sin, but reconciled back to God through Jesus' sacrifice. He will claim his Bride, the church, and later return at his Second Coming to judge the world and establish his eternal kingdom, thus fulfilling Messianic prophecy.

Jesus Christ's Accomplishments:

Jesus Christ's accomplishments are too numerous to list. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin. He lived a sinless life. He turned water into wine, healed many sick, blind and lame people, he forgave sins, he multiplied fish and loaves of bread to feed thousands on more than one occasion, he delivered the demon possessed, he walked on water, he calmed the stormy sea, he raised children and adults from death to life. He proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom of God.

He laid down his life and was crucified. He descended into hell and took the keys of death and hell. He resurrected from the dead. He paid for the sins of the world and purchased the pardon of men. He restored man's fellowship with God, opening the way to eternal life. These are just a few of his extraordinary accomplishments.

Jesus Christ's Strengths:

Though difficult to understand, the Bible teaches, and most Christians believe that Jesus is God, or Immanuel, "God with us." For more information about Christ's divinity, visit this study of the doctrine of the trinity. Jesus has always existed and has always been God (John 8:58 and 10:30).

Jesus Christ's Weaknesses:

Also difficult to understand, yet the Bible teaches, and most Christians believe, that Jesus was not only fully God, but fully man. He became a human being so that he could identify with our weaknesses and struggles, and most importantly so that he could give his life to pay the penalty for our sins (John 1:1,14; Hebrews 2:17; Philippians 2:5-11).
Check out this resource for more information about why Jesus had to die.

Life Lessons:

Once again, the lessons from Jesus Christ's life are too numerous to list. Love for mankind, sacrifice, humility, purity, servanthood, obedience and devotion to God are some of the most important lessons that his life exemplified.

Hometown:

Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea and grew up in Nazareth in Galilee.

Referenced in the Bible:

Jesus is mentioned more than 1200 times in the New Testament. His life, message and ministry are recorded in the four gospels of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Occupation:

Jesus' earthly father, Joseph, was a carpenter, or skilled craftsman by trade. Most likely, Jesus worked alongside his father Joseph as a carpenter. In the book of Mark, chapter 6, verse 3, Jesus is referred to as a carpenter.

Family Tree:

Earthly Father: Joseph
Mother: Mary
Brothers: James, Joseph, Judas and Simon (Mark 3:31 and 6:3; Matthew 12:46 and 13:55; Luke 8:19).
Sisters: Not named but mentioned in Matthew 13:55-56 and Mark 6:3.
The Genealogy of Jesus: Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-37.

What Did Lazarus See?

Think about this scene. One of your best friends has died. Inconsolable, you cry not only at his funeral, but for days afterward.

Then another friend of the deceased comes to visit. He starts saying strange things. You listen to him intently, because your friends' sisters have great respect for him, but you can't grasp what he means.

Finally, he commands that the grave be opened. The sisters protest, but the man is adamant. He prays loudly, looking up to heaven, then after several seconds, your dead friend walks out of his grave--alive!

If you're not familiar with the raising of Lazarus, you'll find this episode described in great detail in the 11th Chapter of the Gospel of John. But what isn't recorded seems equally as baffling. Nowhere in Scripture do we learn what Lazarus saw after he died. If you knew him, wouldn't you have asked him? Wouldn't you want to know what happens after your heart beats for the last time? Wouldn't you pester your friend until he told you everything he saw?
The Plot to Kill a Dead Man
Lazarus is mentioned again in John 12:10-12: "So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him." (NIV)

Whether Lazarus told his neighbors about heaven is only speculation. Perhaps Jesus commanded him to be silent about it. The fact remained, however, that he had been dead and now was alive again.

Lazarus' very presence--walking, talking, laughing, eating and drinking, embracing his family—was a cold slap in the face to the chief priests and elders. How could they credibly deny that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah when he had raised a man from the dead?

They had to do something. They couldn't dismiss this event as a magician's trick The man had been dead and in his tomb four days. Everyone in the tiny village of Bethany had seen this miracle with their own eyes and the whole countryside was buzzing about it.

Did the chief priests follow through with their plans to kill Lazarus? The Bible doesn't tell us what happened to him after Jesus' crucifixion. He's never mentioned again.
Right From the Source
Surprisingly, we don't find many hard facts about heaven in the Bible. Many of Jesus' teachings about it are in metaphors or parables. We do find a description of the heavenly city in the book of Revelation, yet there isn't much detail on what the saved will be doing there, besides praising God.

Considering that heaven is the goal of every Christian and many non-Christians as well, this lack of information seems like a serious omission.

We're curious. We want to know what to expect. Deep within every human being is the desire to find answers, to break this final mystery.

Those of us who have suffered the disappointment and heartache of this world look forward to heaven as a place where there is no pain, no hurt, and no tears. We hope for a home of endless joy, love, and communion with God.
The Most Important Truth About Heaven
In the end, our human minds are probably incapable of grasping the beauty and perfection of heaven. Maybe that's why the Bible doesn't record what Lazarus saw. Mere words could never do justice to the real thing.

Even if God doesn't disclose all the facts about heaven, he does make perfectly clear what we need to do to get there: We must be born again.

The most important truth about heaven in the story of Lazarus is not what he had to say afterward. It's what Jesus said before he raised Lazarus from the dead:

    "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26 NIV)