Rapture and animals

I’ve been a Christian all my life. I’m currently 16 now and have my heart set on being a veterinarian. My walk with God has taken a huge hit recently because I found out that my animals are not coming with me in the rapture. They are left here to suffer the horrible fate of all the unbelievers. It’s a lonely, painful, sad, horrible death and I just don’t see why God would inflict that on a little puppy or even a lion. God is supposed to be merciful and loving! How is that any of this? I can’t get over the fact that my poor little maltipoo is going to be left here to die all alone and afraid when I’m taken up. Why would God do that?

There is no need to be concerned about the rapture because the Bible does not teach that. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”) is describing what will take place on the Last Day. The context of that verse is clearly describing events associated with Jesus’ visible return on the Last Day. The Bible does not teach a whisking away of Christians prior to the Last Day.

While God created animals, people are the crown of his creation (Genesis 1 and 2). It is people who have bodies and souls. It is possible that animals will be part of the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1), but Scripture does not explicitly state that.

I wish you well as you pursue a vocation in veterinary medicine. You can serve God and others by using your God-given abilities in that career.