That's quite deep right there...
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C.S. Lewis in "Mere Christianity" tackled the question of whether a dog will be in heaven head on. He reasoned that dogs/cats and many other creatures are "sentient beings" and as such will be in heaven because of attatchment to humans.
I cleared this with my Pekinese Whitman and he says "Amen". I personally can't conceive of heaven being a place I would want to be without my critter friends.
Char-Gar, you always impress me with your wisdom. Anyone can learn facts, but it takes a real MAN to develop wisdom!
That's it? Settled by C.S. Lewis? No Biblical reference? How many "sentient beings" can you bring with you? And why would you need a dog in heaven? It's heaven...Quote:
C.S. Lewis in "Mere Christianity" tackled the question of whether a dog will be in heaven head on. He reasoned that dogs/cats and many other creatures are "sentient beings" and as such will be in heaven because of attatchment to humans.
I've been interested in people's arguments for and against animals being in heaven for a long time. What's most odd is what I've seen as the two primary reasons for saying there won't be.
First, some don't see any Biblical mention of animals in heaven so they reason there will be none. I think that's a weak argument. There is likely to be many things in heaven we aren't told about. Maybe because it won't mean a thing to us yet?
Second, some say animals have no "immortal souls" so they can't be "resurrected". I ask, maybe animals have immortal souls, maybe they don't, maybe some do and some don't, but how can the lack of evidence make some folk so sure of either position?
What I KNOW from scripture is there will at least be white horses in heaven (Rev 19:11). I know the final heaven will be on earth (Rev 21:1-7) and I know God declared his original creation, including animals, to be "Good" and there's no logical argument suggesting He will concede any part of his original handiwork to Satan and leave it out of his final resurrection plans. From all that I know there will certainly be horses and almost certainly there will be many other animals on the new earth BUT I have no clue if they will be old animals resurrected or an entirely new batch or a mixture of old and new. ???
Bottom line, it's an interesting topic to discuss but it makes no difference because no one really knows and no one will go to heaven or hell on the animals in heaven question anyway.
Since humans have been on this earth for millions of years I ask this question. How did they get to heaven before Christianity was even invented?
Good question. Short answer is, "By faith (trust) in God." Long answer is, "We aren't told in detail so we really don't know anything other than salvation is by faith/trust in God."
The historical flow of scripture is the record of what would become the Jews from which Messiah Jesus would come. The Old Testament records Jewish history up to the birth and sacrifice of Jesus (as the son of man) and the New Testament church in his name. It was the physical resurrection of Jesus that completed the old rules and founded Christianity by the heart (faith) of believers. As you know, faith in Jesus (as the Son of God) has been the only means of salvation since that time.
Now, I wonder, what do you understand to be "heaven"? I ask because there are two heavenly states (Sheol/Hades and Paradise - there's NO Purgatory!) for the storage of departed souls before anyone sees the REAL heaven on earth. The REAL (final) heaven won't come until after the seven years of hell on earth we call the Tribulation period AND after the following 1,000 year kingdom of God of God on earth AND then not until after the following Great White Throne judgements. So, no one is in the real heaven or hell at this time. And no one can honestly tell you any more than that because that's all there is in the Book.
There's a lot we don't yet know but I trust that God has things worked out so the saved of all history are secure and they too will all be fully restored with us - in the flesh - right here, for eternity, on this very earth that we were all made from.
:)
The nature of God is revealed in his creation/nature. Those who correctly discerned His nature, worshiped him and followed in faith are heaven bound. Christanity was not "invented" it was revealed.
The operative concept here, is the peoples response to God revelation/revealing through out the history of humankind.
I do not believe that a loving creator God would create a world made rich by our love for family, friends and pets and then say..."Well you can forgit all of that, in heaven all you need is me". God did not create us as loving beings, give us people and critters to love and then jerk it all away from us at death. That is not my notion of a loving creating God.
So, you can get to heaven then without accepting God?
Remember: God didn’t create religion...mankind did.
Also: the meaning of life, the universe and everything is:
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R/Griff
What about aborted babies that had a heartbeat, brainwaves and fingerprints when they were murdered? Where do they end up? I'm not trying to stir the crap. I would like to know that they have a place, and those that killed them will be punished.