Pets And The Rapture

According to world statistics there are 900 million dogs in the world, and 600 million cats, says the Ecology Global Network. For those who adhere to the teaching on being caught up into the Lord’s presence (1 Thessalonians 4:17) at some point in the future, what happens to pets is a very popular subject. After all, pets become part of a family. There are a vast number of websites on the subject with many comments from readers. But the Bible says nothing about this subject, so it is all basically speculation. There are those who have taken verses out of context and tried to “stretch” them to make them apply, but the Bible does not have any real answers.

Pets are not mentioned in the part of the Book of Revelation that talks about the Tribulation Period. Does this mean they will not be present?  If not, what happens to them? However, Isaiah 11:6-9 is very clear about there being animals on earth after the Tribulation, during the 1000 year reign of Christ.
It says, “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together, and a little child shall lead them.”

This means that pets, and all animals, will be here after the rapture and Tribulation Period. So, the big question is, what will God do with them during this time of judgment upon the earth? In reading websites and reader comments, there are four possible speculations. One, they will be raptured with the Christians. Two, God will somehow supernaturally take care of them. Three, God will cause them all to die peacefully in their sleep. Four, the people who are left behind will provide for them. Relevant to this last point is the fact that there actually is an After The Rapture Pet Care organization, organized by  non-believers, that Christians can sign up for. (You can make your own decision as to whether or not it is bogus). https://aftertherapturepetcare.com.

The biblical support that animals will be around after the Tribulation Period suggests that animals will be reunited with their owners. If not, God would have to recreate His original creation.

My personal opinion is that God will somehow see that pets will not suffer nor starve during the Tribulation and, based on Isaiah 11:6-9, we will see them again.

This whole subject, in addition to the Bible not providing any answers, actually just raises more questions. Any person that says there is biblical “proof” of what happens to our pets, as one reader commented, is taking a verse out of context or trying to make it fit.

I, along with other pet lovers, hopefully find what has been said to be a source of comfort for our beloved pets that are a part of the family. I am sure we all wish the Bible had verses of comfort on this subject. But we have to leave it as mere speculation, and commit our pets into the loving care of their Creator.