Secrets from Beyond The Grave

for all is vanity. All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust. 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 3:19-21 This is perhaps the most revealing passage concerning the death of men and beasts in the entire Bible. The writer acknowledged that both man and beasts will eventually die, and both will return to the dust of the earth. They also all have one breath ( ruach ). However, the writer reveals that the spirit ( ruach ) of a man goes upward, and the spirit of the animal goes downward to the earth. This life force in man returns to God as the body returns to dust. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, Using just the Scripture and not tradition or personal opinions, it is difficult to find where an earthly animal is raised from the dead to join its former owners. We are told in 1 Corinthians 13:10, "When that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away." I am a very rational and systematic person, especially when studying a controversial subject, such as pets in heaven. From just a logical view, if a pet has an eternal soul and spirit and is part of the resurrection, then how would God distinguish which pet is in heaven? I know of people who have pet snakes, yet the serpent was cursed in the garden (Gen. 3). Some have a pet alligator or even a spider or rats, and so forth. We also have the issue of an animal being killed, either by a hunter or in an accident. This may sound ludicrous and to some sarcastic, but it is not intended as that. Years ago I accidently ran over a dog that ran out in front of my car. I felt sick for days, and it was as though I had run over a person. If the pet has an eternal spirit, was I guilty of a crime? Then we have another issue. God allowed the slaying of lambs, rams, bulls, and birds under the old covenant as a blood sacrifice. Why would the Lord permit the continual slaying of animals that, according to some, would have access to eternity? This raises another point to consider. Would our pet cats, dogs, and perhaps a few birds be the only creatures permitted into heaven, or does it include all the creatures--such as pigs, bats, rats, and so forth? There are millions of people who do not, for religious or moral reasons, eat any form of meat. After the Flood, God said to Noah and his sons: And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs. --Genesis 9:2-3 The Lord permitted the sons of Noah to eat meat after the Flood as long as they did not eat the blood, which was the life force. The sacrifices offered and burned on the ancient temple altar were actually eaten by the priests. Jews today have a specific manner in which they slaughter and prepare beef, ensuring there is no blood mixed with the meat. We do not eat dogs And the spirit will return to God who gave it. --Ecclesiastes 12:7