Hi Duane
However, Ray writes "Beasts (animals) don't go to heaven or hell when they die." ....
Neither do humans go to heaven or hell when we die physically. It is liberating to know there is no such thing as endless punnishment, torture or torment in Hell reserved for anyone. What happens is:
Ecc 3:19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath [Heb. - spirit]; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. Ecc 3:20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. If all SPIRITS return to God at death,
There can be no doubt that
all spirits return to God at death.
Psa 104:24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches
Psa 104:25 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
Psa 104:26 There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
Psa 104:27 These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
Psa 104:28 That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
Psa 104:29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath [ruach-spirit], they die, and return to their dust.
Psa 104:30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit [same word-ruach], they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth. If …………. heaven is not a PHYSICAL PLACE
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.Ray also asserts as do the Scriptures, that heaven is a realm. The kingdom…realm, empire, monarchy, sovereignty or territory, is within, contained, inside not outside of YOU and I. This is a conceptual reality not a physical one.
what is the harm or hurt in enjoying your favorite pet(s) in heaven
Asking what is the harm or hurt in enjoying your favorite pet in heaven could also apply to every other physical item like flowers, birds, perfumes, foods or any other” thing” that God creates for our sake.
2Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.We can only find our fulfillment and complete reconciliation with God, in God, not IN any “thing” of God but God Himself. Not what God makes or does but in Who God IS. This is like loving the King not for His Palace Powers and Principalities Assets or Acquisitions but for Who God is. God is Love.
Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by Him to reconcile ALL THINGS unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.One day we shall all know the pleasure and fulfillment in the perfection of Christ and our senses and appreciations shall no longer be anchored in things that perish or die, or are made or created, but only in the Creator of heaven and of earth wherein all our tears will be wiped away. God knows how He will do that and His Word promises that He Will.
Arc