Will There Be Hedgehogs In Heaven?

Is there any basis to believe that there will be hedgehogs in heaven? Death is a heart-wrenching and tragic event whether it strikes a human or a pet. As humans, we form bonds with other living creatures. It's what we do and how we were created. In order to even begin to discuss the question of whether or not there will be hedgehogs in heaven (or any other animal), there has to be at least a basic amount of faith in a Creator a.k.a. God. In order to continue this discussion, some logical assumptions that we must make are:

• If you wonder about hedgehogs in heaven, then you believe there is a heaven
• Which, if you believe that there is a heaven, then you believe that there is a Heavenly Father (God)
• If you believe in God, then you believe that He created all things on earth and in the heavens (including animals and more specific to this discussion – hedgehogs)
• And if you believe in God, then you probably believe that the Bible is the word of God and our guide or manual for life as we know it

Unfortunately, the answer to the question at hand isn't a simple yes or no answer. We wish that it was. Nowhere in the bible does it specifically state that when an animal dies, it goes to heaven. That probably wasn't the answer you were hoping for as you try to process your grief or help another process theirs. Does that mean there won't be hedgehogs in heaven? There isn't a short answer, but there are conclusions that can be drawn, which we will detail below. If you continue reading, we believe you will find a comforting answer.

Within the bible, there are numerous references regarding how God feels about the creatures He created:

• After He created the animals (and man), He declared them to be “very good” (Gen 1:25,31)
• He owns all that He created, even the animals (Psa 50:10-11), and preserves them (Psa 36:6)
• Not only did He give man a soul, but he also gave animals a soul (breath of life) (Gen 6:17, Gen. 7:15, Job 12:9-10)
• God has the ability to speak to the animals and direct them (Gen. 7:9, 1Ki 17:4)
• Showing His mercy on the animals, God saved a male and female of every living thing from the flood (Gen 6:19)
• Not only did God make a covenant with man, but He also made a covenant with the animals (Gen 9:8-17)
• God gave animals the ability to play and enjoy life (Psa 104:26, Job 40:20)
• Although God places a higher value on man, He still places value on the animals He created (Mat 6:26, Mat 10:29-31)
• The New Earth, as given in vision to the prophets Isaiah and Hosea, will have animals that live in peace with each other (Isa 11:6-9, Isa 65:25, Hos 2:18)

If the New Earth is all the best of the old earth and more, then we should expect it to contain animals. If animals weren’t part of the New Earth, this would seem an obvious oversight. Eden was ruined through sin and will be restored through Christ’s reign of righteousness. All that was part of Eden, and then made wrong through the sin of the first Adam, we would expect to be part of the New Earth, made right through the virtue of the Second Adam.

Randy Alcorn

From the bible, it is clear that there are at the very least, horses in heaven. After all Elijah was taken up to heaven by a chariot and horses of fire (2Ki 2:11).

Additionally, there are a multitude of white horses plentiful enough to carry armies led by the one called Faithful and True [Christ] on a white horse (Rev 19:11-14).

Again in Revelations chapter 5 verse 13, “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” That seems pretty clear that there are creatures in heaven, although we cannot foresee what animals; or even if these animals in heaven include hedgehogs.

Whenever we look at all that God has created, we see an imaginative and caring Creator. Personally, when I look at the comedic and unique appearance of so many of the animals He created, I believe that God has a sense of humor. When you look at the sloth's unusually long arms and legs…or the duck-billed platypus…or even the prickly ball of a huffy hedgehog, you've got to see that God was having fun when He was creating all His creatures. He made mankind in His own image and if we find comedy in His creation, it's not hard to imagine that He was having a jolly good time while He was doing the creating.

Yet He never gave ownership of the animals he created over to man. He only gave man dominion over them. And throughout the bible we see evidence, after evidence, that God cares and makes provision for them. In fact He speaks to them, which indicates that they have intelligence. Admittedly, not the same intellect as man. But then again, God made man in His own image, not animals.

Given that animals have souls and prophecy was given concerning animals on the New Earth, I think we can extrapolate that when an animal dies, its soul goes to heaven. So will there be hedgehogs in heaven? Why not? If God can raise His Son from the dead, He can do anything. For with God nothing shall be impossible. (Luke 1:37) – including welcoming hedgehogs in heaven.

It's a common practice for pet owners to have their beloved hedgehog's remains cremated and either keep the remains in an urn or put some of the ashes in a lovely piece of cremation jewelry. Being able to keep some of their hedgie's ashes on you at all times can help you process your grief in your own time. Grieving is a natural process and it will take time for the pain to go away.

Hopefully you can gain some comfort knowing that you aren't the only one that cared for your beloved hedgehog. Your Heavenly Father cared too. Loss of a loved one hurts and it's probably going to be awhile before the pain diminishes. We encourage you to read your bible and verify that what we have said is true. We also encourage you to pray that God give you the strength to process your grief and to make you stronger. He cares about your feelings and doesn't find the loss you are feeling to be a trivial thing. Also, if you would like for one of the staff here at Heavenly Hedgies to pray for you, please don't hesitate to send us a message. We would be glad to lift your grief up in prayer.