This is a question that many people as believers have struggled with when they have lost a pet that they loved due to an accident, old age, or sickness. We will give our opinion on this, but we certainly do not have the last word on this, but these concepts have helped us through the trying times of losing a beloved pet. We are going to use as a text Psa 104.27-30 to try and bring out the concept that we believe we will see our beloved pets again.
Psa 104.27-30 says, “They (the animals) all wait for thee (is dependent), to give them food in due season (for him to give them their food in his timing). Thou dost give to them, they gather it up (what he provides); thou dost open thy hand, they are satisfied with good. Thou dost hide thy face, they are dismayed (depressed and terrified when food is scarce); thou dost take away their spirit (gathers it in) and they expire (die-Ecc 3.20), and return to dust. Thou dost send forth thy spirit, and they (the “they” of v 27 which includes the animals just talked about in v 18-26 of this psalm) will be created (to be born), and thou (God) dost renew (Hebrew “chadash” meaning to renew, repair and restore; the same word used in “new” covenant-Strong’s #2318) the face of the ground (God brings the old decayed bodies to the surface of the earth, and there he will renew them (see the book “Tehillim” by Mesorah Publications, comments on v Psa 104.30, p. 1266).” So, here is the thought that we would like to explore in these verses, and brings up the question about whether our beloved pets could be with us in the Olam Haba if we ask the Lord for that to happen.
Now, the Bible does not say explicitly that they will, but it doesn’t say won’t either. We know that animals are a part of the Kingdom of God on earth based on Isa 65.25. Rom 8.21-23 says, “that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation (including the animals) groans (presently in the old world called the Olam Ha Zeh) and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this but also ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.”
Yeshua came and brought the redemption, which included man and the creation. Those redeemed must be some of the same people who suffered in the old world called the Olam Ha Zeh. Likewise, some of the animals redeemed must be the same animals that suffered in the old world. We know that not all men will be redeemed, and likewise, not all animals will be redeemed, but some of them will be. As goes man, so goes the animals.
We believe that at least some of the animals who suffered in this old world due to the sin of man, and not because of their own sin, must be made whole in the new earth called the Olam Haba, or the term “redeemed” loses its meaning. God’s blessings on the righteous in the Scriptures include the blessings not only on their children but on the offspring of their animals as well-Deut 7.13-14, 28.1-4. All flesh will see the salvation of God, including animals – Luke 3.6.
The “they” in v 29 seems to refer to those who died and returned to dust. The same “they” who died are the “they” who are renewed, restored, or repaired in v 30. Suppose it would please us to have a beloved pet that suffered under the curse because of the sin of man, and not for anything they did, restored to us in the Olam Haba. Wouldn’t that be sufficient reason alone to have the Lord restore or renew them to us as part of the redemption if it would make us happy in the Kingdom of God? If that is true, then as believers, we can just ask the Lord to restore our beloved pets back to us and leave it in his hands. Just the thought can give us tremendous comfort during such times, and with God, anything is possible!
Leave a Reply