Your email:

Dear Randy,

I cannot find anything in the Bible referencing what will happen to our beloved pets when we believers are raptured. Technically, they are not "believers" because they cannot understand the Word of God and cannot make the decision to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. I believe that animals have souls and that they are innocent beings worthy of God's love and protection. The "unbelieving humans" left on this earth after the Rapture will continue to be able to take care of themselves, but what happens to the pets whose believing owners are raptured?? I cannot bear to think that my pets will suffer fear, loss, cruelty, and starvation when I'm gone. Does the Bible talk about this?

Thank you,
P.

 My answer:

Hi P.,
Thanks for the e-mail.

You wrote: I cannot find anything in the Bible referencing what will happen to our beloved pets when we believers are raptured.

My response: First thing in clearing our understanding is to clarify the event. The term [rapture] is not biblical, let's use the term Jesus used and called himself by, the term 'resurrection.' "I am the resurrection and the life." John 11:25.

With that clarified we need to identify how many resurrections there are (in order to place who will take part in them). The resurrection that believers have put their hope in is called the first resurrection and happens on the last day of this age. Only those who are true believers make it into this one. There are no animals mentioned. The second resurrection is for the wicked and comes at the end of the age to come, the thousand year reign of Jesus Christ. There are no animals mentioned in this one either. After this there are no other resurrections.

The reason that animals will not be resurrected is because although they have souls like us, they do not have spirits. We will die perishable (in the flesh) but raised imperishable in spiritual bodies. This is not available to animals. There will be animals that survive the wrath of God on the earth. They will no longer suffer under the curse of sin and will not hunt or be hunted. They will intermingle, prey and predator alike. They and their offspring will enjoy the thousand year reign of Christ on earth. There is no mention of animals joining us in the New Jerusalem after the thousand years are over.

You wrote: Technically, they are not "believers" because they cannot understand the Word of God and cannot make the decision to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior.

My response: This is a proper observation.

You wrote: I believe that animals have souls and that they are innocent beings worthy of God's love and protection.

My response: Yes, like humans, they have a life force called a soul. They are innocent in the sense that they didn't take part in Adam and Eve's rebellion in the garden. I do not find evidence, in the Bible, that they have a conscience and understand right from wrong (although sometimes you have to wonder). They are part of the creation that is groaning under the curse of sin because of man. God has expressed his love for the animals of his creation and evidence of this can be seen everywhere. But God also makes clear that man is more important to him than his other creations.

You wrote: The "unbelieving humans" left on this earth after the Rapture will continue to be able to take care of themselves, but what happens to the pets whose believing owners are raptured?

My response: We need to first understand when the resurrection takes place. Jesus specifies four times in the 6th chapter of John that He will raise us up on the last day. That means that we are not taken before the desolation (tribulation), there is no 'left behind.' So whether you are a true believer or not you will have pets around to the last day of the age, technically. That is, if you can feed both them and yourself and if you can keep others from eating them as famine increases. The scriptures provide evidence that many animals will die during the desolation. They show that famine will be rampant in places. They show the believers captured, killed or on the run. I know I have alarmed you, but the situation is going to be very real. We are going to go through 3 1/2 years of trial. During that time, encouraging and feeding the brethren will be top priority and a test of our faith. It may be that your animals will not make it through the last years of this age, but neither may we.

You wrote: I cannot bear to think that my pets will suffer fear, loss, cruelty, and starvation when I'm gone. Does the Bible talk about this?

My response: P., as hard as the things I have written sound, I am like you. Reading your heart in this email brings tears to my eyes. My dog 'Rudi' and cat 'Butzi (Bootzi)' are like best friends to me and I have often pondered their eternity in my prayers. I am what some would call an 'animal person.' I understand animals and they understand me. God had to show me that the order of things are not as they seem. God made the creation for the delight of man. And delighted by it you and I are! But God didn't create them to be His companions for eternity, He created us for that purpose. He created them as our companions for this age on earth. We both came from the dust, but their end is to return to the dust, whereas, we will live eternal because we, righteous and wicked alike will be raised spiritual. The righteous destined to paradise, the wicked to the lake of fire - forever. In seeing this I learned in my heart that we are to enjoy the company of our animal companions as much as possible while they are with us, for that is their purpose. I know by your letter that you are doing just that. Be encouraged my sister, the best is yet to come and our God will quiet any sufferings the animals may be subjected to. When we look into the eyes of a pet we see the love of Jesus Christ. It is He that created that pet and it is His will that the pet exists and it is through Him that the pet is held together.

I pray that I have served you well.

In the service of the LORD Jesus,

Randy