Post-Rapture Pet Care?

It may just be one of the strangest business ventures ever conceived – but it is real. It's called Eternal-Earthbound-Pets.com. or EEP. And as the title suggests, it revolves around pets. But closer scrutiny reveals it to be a post-rapture pet care service developed by people who do not believe in a real God or Rapture for those who really do.

The service was founded by atheists whose target clients are devout Christians. They hope to ‘help’ those who are anticipating a soon-coming rapture and who are concerned over the fate of their beloved four-footed, winged, or finned earthly companions. The starting subscription fee for EEP for is $110, which promises that if and when the rapture occurs, they will care for any pets left behind.

The founder of EEP states that all members of his organization have three basic qualifications. They are of good character. They love pets. And they have all blasphemed against the Holy Spirit of God according to Mark 3:29. "But he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation."

The idea of pets being left behind could be a concern to those who love them. It is understandable that the thought of someone caring for them would be comforting. But the crucial issue is, who will care for those left behind if a rapture does come? According to Scripture, caring for pets, after what would be the world’s most shocking event ever, may well be that last thing on the agenda for any who ignored the warnings and invitation of God’s Holy Spirit.

The Bible teaches the concept of a literal rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” Scripture also reveals that, after the church of Christ is ushered into His presence, the world will face a time of unimaginable and unparalleled horror. Matthew’s gospel describes it this way. “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:21)

The concept of a literal snatching away of the ‘Christ’s Bride’, the church, has lost some of its popularity in recent times. But even that was predicted in Scripture in 2 Peter 3. Verse 4 begins, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." But then verses 8-9 reveal the explanation and the reason for this ‘seeming’ delay. “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

A careful look at the passage shows that the ‘postponing’ of Christ’s return so that Christians can use the time to share their faith with the lost. Verse 9 says that His longsuffering or patience is “toward us” wishing that none should perish. Simply stated, God is giving those who are saved additional time to reach those who are not!

Those who run Eternal-Earthbound-Pets may have no clue or interest in God or salvation whatsoever – and even proud of it. That is their prerogative. But Christians who might use their services for their beloved pets should be more concerned about the fate of these precious souls who are beloved by God and who face a future of unimaginable torment apart from Christ. (Luke 12:28, Mark 9:42-48, Matthew 10:28)

Bill Breckenridge