Question:
Dear Greg,
I
have always had a certain amount of respect for “The Plain Truth”, though we
differ on certain things, but I am totally horrified and shocked to read the
issue dealing with whether or not pets go to heaven!!!
On
what basis can you possibly say that there is the remotest chance of that when
you examine the way that any of us get there?
It is only by accepting the ransom of Jesus Christ who opened the gates
of Heaven to all believers. How on
earth can you hold out any hope whatsoever of animals falling into that
category? Souls they may be, as we all are, but I cannot think of one
scriptural reference to Jesus dying for anything but all mankind.
I’ll
be interested in your reply.
NO,
WAY, NO WAY can animals enter into Heaven.
If God created animals in Heaven that would be one thing, but dead
animals would never have a resurrection because they cannot believe, repent or
be saved!!!
Violet
Answer: Dear Violet,
The
article in the May/June Plain Truth, 2001 was intended to be controversial—and
it was, and still is! Please read
the article briefly. The author
quotes biblical passages that can appear to make a case for animals in the
afterlife (note, for example, that great picture of God’s kingdom of heaven in
the afterlife in Isaiah 11:6-9). Might
be symbol and metaphor, might be literal. Having
said that, this issue is not a central tenet of the historic Christian faith.
Salvation is, as you say, by God’s grace, not because of works, but by
grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-10).
While
refusing to compromise on the central and core beliefs of Christianity, while
combating legalism, exclusivism, prediction addiction, and a host of other
spiritual maladies that affects the body of Christ, the Plain Truth also tries
to avoid the “same old, same old”. The
Plain Truth publishes some controversial articles designed to make Christians
think (witness recent articles on the Prayer of Jabez, the “Left Behind”
craze, etc.). Hope we are serving you in that way.
In
Christ,
Greg
Albrecht