Dogs and the Rapture

Hi guys, I haven't posted in a long time, but I've been Watching and sense our Home going is coming soon. I know a lot of strong Christians believe we will go through the Tribulation for whatever reason but I can't overlook the Prophetic Feast Days, specifically Feast of Trumpets fulfilling the Rapture etc.

I'm really troubled at the idea of yes a pre-tribulation Rapture leaving millions of dogs trapped in closed bedrooms, moving cars, trapped and starving in that twinkling of an eye when their owners/guardians are caught up. Many of us are avid dog lovers and think of our dogs are our human children. And not just our dogs, all dogs. They are unlike any other animal.

Am I the only one who believes that for the sake and welfare of dogs, Christians may remain till the end of the Tribulation for their sake... Either that or that all dogs will join Rapture-ready Christians, children and babies at the Rapture?

I cannot believe that God created dogs the way He did, so pure, honest, true, good, holy and with hearts like His heart, and then abandon them at the Rapture. That doesn't make sense. They are so helpless and defenseless. He made dogs to need/love humans and humans to need/love dogs.

How do you think God will deal with dogs at the Rapture? This weighs heavily on my heart. I don't want to abandon my dogs, but I want to go Home like yesterday. Thanks for all your input.

[Glorify Him]

Re: Dogs and the Rapture

Hi Butterfly so glad to see you back. I, as a dog lover, have spoken with the Lord about this issue many times. Now, I have zero reason scripturally to base this on but I do believe that His love for us is so great that our fur babies are going up with us. Believe it or not, I have prayed and prayed about this over the years and I now have peace with it. He is a good God. He cares for these little creatures and I believe that they are His gifts to us. He is full of compassion. He went through all the effort to save the animals before the Flood when He could have just spoken them into being again with no effort. I focus on His character and that gives me peace about it. I always saw myself going up with Greta. Now she has already gone on before me but my next fur baby will go with me when it is time. Should the Lord not tarry.

[Guest]

Re: Dogs and the Rapture

I feel the same way. I have three dogs that are our four legged children now that our kids are all grown. I have asked the Lord for a doggie-door in my heavenly mansion and believe He will provide.

[Guest]

Re: Dogs and the Rapture

I believe GOD gave us Golden Retrievers to show us unquestioning in your face love...

imho It was likely a cat that beguiled Eve in the garden of Eden ... who then blamed the serpent...((I'm ducking and running now ))

[Butterfly]

Re: Dogs and the Rapture

You're so funny, Lewis! Goldens are amazingly awesome creatures. I have loved a cat or two, but still they are quite different than dogs. Thanks, GH and SueC for your input.

Has any one read Tom Horn's book, "Do Our Pets Go To Heaven?"

[Guest]

Re: Dogs and the Rapture

...((I'm ducking and running now ))

Duck and running won't do any good lewisb. Cat's are stealthy and see very well in the dark. Just when you least

expect it....

[Glorify Him]

Re: Dogs and the Rapture

LOL at Lewis, that is soooo funny. Goes with "dogs have masters, cats have help"

[Issachar]

Re: Dogs and the Rapture

I'm really troubled at the idea of yes a pre-tribulation Rapture leaving millions of dogs trapped in closed bedrooms, moving cars, trapped and starving in that twinkling of an eye when their owners/guardians are caught up. Many of us are avid dog lovers and think of our dogs are our human children. And not just our dogs, all dogs. They are unlike any other animal.

. . . .Am I the only one who believes that for the sake and welfare of dogs, Christians may remain till the end of the Tribulation for their sake...

We have no clue from scripture, what happens to animals at that day. We can "imagine" what might be for various sorts of animals depending on one's liking .. e.g. there are those who 'love' their snakes, others, cats .. then there are the ferrets, the assorted types of birds .. horses and on and on. All we do know is that God is mindful of all things. Rapture or not, all sorts of nasty things happen to animals .. thousands and maybe tens of thousands of animals .. daily.

However, one thing I think we can know safely from scripture is that God's timing of things is not based on "the sake and welfare" of any animals. But we do know He is Lord.

There are all sorts of situations with real humans; the only creature made in God's image, after His likeness, that are crazy to contemplate.

Matthew 10:
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Issachar

[cornerstone33]

Re: Dogs and the Rapture

I'm believing that our beloved and beautiful dogs, will be with us in heaven, and when we arrive, they will be on that line wagging their tails and welcoming us home. I truly believe heaven is full of happiness and joy, and we shall see our beautiful LORD, but also, He will allow us to see our fur babies too. Bless your hearts, and all our fur babies at the rainbow bridge.

[Andy]

Re: Dogs and the Rapture

Good to see you posting again, Butterfly.

[SAT]

Re: Dogs and the Rapture

I hope no one minds if I jump in here, as imvho we need to clarify a few things for any new Christians or those who don't know the Lord and maybe reading.
God creates. He created angels. He created angels to live forever.
God created man. Man's body does go through the process of death but he/she was made in the image of God and God Himself breathed the life into mankind. Allowing the body or shell of man to go through the death process, but the most important part of man lives forever.
No where in the Bible does it say anything else fits into those categories.
Please, I hope everyone understands I'm not saying this to be cruel but to clarify between what the Bible teaches and what the new age and many of the false religions teach.
There are big differences. Animals, trees etc. do not have a spirit. They do not live forever and were not created in God's image to be with God forever. Only man.

God could recreate animals but they don't have spirits that live forever.

[Issachar]

Re: Dogs and the Rapture

Please, I hope everyone understands I'm not saying this to be cruel ...

I don't see it as cruel. It is what you believe based on what you think the bible says about this. It's what I think too .. It is true in the Creation history that after God created everything else, the last thing He created was man .. "in His image; after His likeness."

However God works it out with us when we are with Him and not here, will be good, of course. We will have no awareness of lack when in His presence.

Issachar

[Butterfly]

Re: Dogs and the Rapture

Sat I understand what you're saying and you make an important point. Issachar, I don't agree about God allowing an assortment of animals in the Rapture according to our preferences like snakes, ferrets, guinea pigs, rabbits, or God forbid cats. (Haha, that was for you Lewis.) No I think dogs are different than other types of pets, even cats.

I understand what the Bible specifically says about humans having a body, soul and spirit. Humans were created as nephesh like animals which are living souls, but when God breathed into Adams nostrils he became a spirit being. Tom Horn talks about a covenant God made with some of the animals in Genesis. In his book he chronicles people with near death experiences who saw their deceased dogs in Heaven.

The Bible doesn't focus or go into detail about dogs, but we have learned about their unique qualities just by observing them, unlike any other animal. Sure other animals are smarter than dogs but no other animal has the same kind of human-like emotions and ability to relate to humans as all dogs do. I think about the Living Creatures around the Throne serving God continually we see in Revelation and Ezekiel. Are they angels or something else? The Living Creatures have souls and spirits right? Do we know for sure dogs don't have spirits? They're not created in God's image but neither are angels or Living Creatures. I know the Bible doesn't address the role of dogs in His Kingdom, whether each dog will serve God for eternity. They are surely aware of God. I think most people like dogs but those of us who have a special connection to dogs can see godly even holy qualities about them that He designed.

I'm just saying that God created dogs to have this unique ability to have a strong love relationship and bond with humans very similar to the kind that human have with humans. No other animal has this ability. Cats would come in second but not the same I don't think. It is their complete trust in humans and vulnerability that makes me think they are so child like that He would take them up in the Rapture to stay with their humans. If our hearts are tender for dogs wouldn't His be too?

I just had a dream about my dogs being Raptured and so I asked this. In my dream my male dog Tigger went up with me but my female Tumbalina wasn't with me. I wondered why Tumbalina didn't go up with me and when we all arrived, I found her and understood that she travelled with the old lady friend as an escort or something. When we arrived in Heaven, there crowds of people and dogs everywhere. It was a cool dream actually.

[Issachar]

Re: Dogs and the Rapture

Thanks for the conversation on this matter Butterfly ..

... I think dogs are different than other types of pets, even cats.

What I see in scripture though:

Genesis 1:
20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.
23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

As we can see here, God created all living creatures on days 5 & 6 .. and saved man for last, on day six. After that, He rested .. day seven. Genesis 2 is where God gives us more detail about His creation of man and woman ..

Genesis 2:
7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

So we see in v.7, that God formed man's flesh out of the ground and when He breathed into the man (I believe that is when He placed a spirit in Adam), he then became a living soul; created in the image of God; after His likeness.

So in my mind, all created creatures are of the same sort and man is of a different sort.

I know that everyone's experience with various and assorted animals is different. But I also know people that have the exact same feelings you do about dogs, about other sorts of animals.

My experience with dogs is mostly good, but I've often observed them rolling around in the carcass of dead animals, bite people, know of reports where dogs have mauled people, including babies .. often to death. My own granddaughter was attacked by a stupid pit bull because her parents made the silly mistake of walking down the street with her in a stroller. Up over a six foot fence, between the parents, that animal grabbed the 2 year olds face but fortunately, let go and ran .. a good thing for my son-in-law because as I too would have wanted to, he was wanting his hands very firmly around that demented creatures neck for as long as necessary to make it cease from further activity. It would not of gone well for my sil .. but still, as a dad; as a man; he would have tried.

I have had dogs most of my life up to about 15 years ago. The first one I picked out on my third birthday .. an Australian Sheep dog. Walking it one evening with my dad, in Anaheim, Ca., it was attacked by another dog. It ripped off most of one ear. I was sad. I don't remember it, but I was probably scared too. The last one; that one that "wouldn't hurt a flea", was VERY good around children, for ZERO provocation, waited until the mailman turned to leave and bit him faster than lightning on the back of the leg and broke the skin. Very good for me that the guy was very gracious about it. My wife and I did a paper delivery thing for 9 years .. more for exercise than anything else .. and we got a very unwelcome acquaintance with many types of dogs because we did mean things apparently .. like walk on the sidewalk.

Coyotes are of the dog kind ... do you know what they do to pets that are caught unawares outside? Not nice. Last summer, sitting around a campfire with my son and daughter-in-law out back there way, some coyotes got to the neighbors dog. It was horrific. By the time we got a gun, it was over. We all know or at least, know of, some very nasty dog stories. So whatever you're trying to say about dogs, is based on the good stuff your experience has been.

Anyway .. we'll just differ on our opinions ..

In Christ,
Issachar

[Glorify Him]

Re: Dogs and the Rapture

Jesus is coming back riding on a horse. For me that settles it. You all make some points here about man being different than other beings and its true. Unlike Issachar, I don't want to expound on this but the fact that there are horses in heaven makes my point.