07 August 2004

From The Dallas Morning News

Re: "Dogs and heaven," Letters, Religion, July 24

Nothing in Ann L. Wilson's quotes from Scripture and statements provided any basis for her claim that animals don't go to heaven. Angels don't have souls, and they're in heaven.

John 1:11 states, "He came unto his own and his own received him not." Those two "owns" are two different words in the original language. The first "own" is all of creation and the second "own" is mankind. He came unto all of his creation and mankind received him not. The rocks received him. The animals received him—the donkey he rode, the fish that swam to his hand for the disciples' breakfast. They knew who he was.

Romans 8:19-24 states that all of creation awaits his return. From the Amplified Bible, verse 21: "That nature (creation) itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and corruption [and gain an entrance] into the glorious freedom of God's children."

Until we arrive, we have only a glimpse of heaven and cannot state for certain what it will be like or who will be there. Based on the above Scripture, I choose to believe that Louie, my beautiful, loving, faithful Australian shepherd, who died last August, who was my companion of 14 years, awaits me there.

Cheryel McRoy, Duncanville

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