No Dogs or People "Go to Heaven"

I have made a life-long study of ancient prophecy, poetry, history and literature (specifically the 66 books of the Bible), and, though I’ve never had a “near-death experience” (The closest I’ve come is being knocked unconscious, coming-to as a Dr. stuck a long hypodermic in my nose, and thinking that dying might not be a bad alternative.), I have some semi-firm opinions about the afterlife.

First of all, no one is "going to Heaven.” According to the book of Revelation, the Devil and his angels have a dark place reserved for them away from God, and evil doers will suffer eternal destruction, but believers will inhabit a “new earth.”

That image is comforting. A new earth, prepared specifically as a home for the sanctified human race, could be very much like the Garden of Eden, which, after all, God prepared as a perfect environment for a man and a woman. Adam and Eve had work to do, ruled over the earth and worshiped by walking and talking with God.

Most of what the Bible says about the end of time and eternity is in the book of Revelation. Our typical descriptions of “Heaven”: pearly gates, streets of gold, etc., are actually the prophet John’s vision of the “New Jerusalem” (Christ's purified church) which will “come down from Heaven” to the earth. The heaven of the Bible, full of worshiping angels and indescribably foreign experiences is the realm where God dwells, now.

In eternity, God will be with his people.

Revelation 21: 1-4
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”