Do Horses Go to Heaven?
After a number of years of interviewing
horse lovers, we have been overwhelmed by the number of virtues that have been
attributed to these noble animals that have long served mankind. Stories were told
of their close friendships and devotion, stories of horses with an uncanny
caring for children and such amazing levels of intelligence that allowed them
to become part of the family. Often mentioned were the pleasures that people
get just being around horses, watching them in a field or being carried on
their backs. The sounds of their hooves on a gravel road and how their neighs
and soft knickers are like music to their ears. There is apparently a certain
magic that defies explanation and a bonding that is different from that between
people and dogs.
Mysterious healings of mind, spirit and body
have been reported from interacting with horses. Some of the most glowing
reports came from our therapeutic riding facility for handicapped people.
There, people who are unable to respond to many things in their lives, somehow become animated around horses.
“Horses are also valuable for family
counseling,” said therapist Faith Deter, who uses horses in some of her
sessions. “Horses really can play a valuable role in healing families. It
appears that it is sometimes easier for people who have relationship problems
to relate to non-humans.”
Since it’s a common belief that good people
who are devoted to serving others will go to heaven when they die, we wondered
if horses might be headed in the same direction. So we contacted a number of
local churches to get their take on this somewhat fanciful question.
We called the Santa Ynez
Valley Presbyterian Church and spoke with the assistant pastor Steve Miller who
said, “You know, I’ve thought a lot about whether or not animals go on to
heaven. I think that heaven is definitely a place and that there’s a place in
heaven for animals. But I don’t think there’s a place in the scriptures that
deals with this.
“If animals have souls they are of a
different or lesser quality than humans. However, when the time for the new
heaven and earth arrives there will be a place for all beings - animal and
human. God created animals and said they were good. It’s impossible to say definitely,
but God is just!”
At the Santa Ines Mission, Father Dan Cabot
said, “Animals don’t have immortal souls, so they don’t go to heaven. Only
humans are made Rev. Jarmo Tarkki
of the Bethania Lutheran Church in Solvang told said,
“Lutheran teachings have no official opinion on animals in heaven. They have
not stated whether they believe that they are there or not. My personal opinion
is that heaven is not a place but a state of being. While we are alive some
people are in heaven and some live lives of hell. Horses and other animals are
treasured companions and certainly add to our heavenly state.”
Dr. Richard Smitley
of the First Baptist Church in Solvang said, “Personally, I feel that the Lord
gave us animals to help us and be best friends. However, the scriptures don’t
say definitively whether or not animals go to heaven. But in the book of
Revelations it says that riders on swift and powerful horses carry warriors
from heaven to earth at the time of the ending of the earth.”
“If
you open the Bible and turn to Revelations, you will indeed find the mention of
horses of different colors. First comes a white horse
carrying a rider with a crown on his head and carrying a bow. He will ride out
to conquer in many battles and win the war. A red horse appears and its rider
has the authority to banish peace and bring anarchy to the earth. Next a black
horse appears with a rider holding a pair of balances in his hand. Then a pale
horse comes whose rider is death and another whose rider is Hell. Together the riders
cause complete havoc on one-fourth of the earth with war, famine, disease and
wild animals. Then finally, as the heavens open up, a white horse appears with
a rider named ‘Faithful and True’ (Jesus). But remember that this is the
prediction of the ending of the world and it is not recommended that after
reading this part of the bible, you turn on the world news. It can be scary.