Purgatory

[Joe King]

I am a Catholic believer and I have never heard of anything definite regarding Purgatory. Today, after years of not going to church, I went. I read a pamphlet that I got from the church and was stunned to find out that the church talks about it. I went to a catholic school during my early years and never was taught or read about it.

I've been reading the Bible intensly for the past few months and haven't seen it in there either. I hope it's not a made up thing to comfort people because now that I have seen it in print and in a church no less, I want to find out the truth about it.

[calidog]

Heaven or hell are the only places mentioned in the bible for the afterlife that I can find.

[enarchay]

I've been reading the Bible intensly for the past few months and haven't seen it in there either. I hope it's not a made up thing to comfort people because now that I have seen it in print and in a church no less, I want to find out the truth about it.

Like many doctrines, it is not spelled out in the Bible. Rather, the doctrine is developed by taking verses and putting them together and coming to a conclusion.

Personally, I don't think there is a purgatory. If anything, purgatory is right now living on Earth.


Here's one verse Catholics and Universalists use to support their doctrines. I will let you decide what it means.

"According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire" (1Co 3:10-15).

P.S. If you decide you disagree with the doctrine, there is no reason why you cannot remain Catholic and continue going to a Catholic Church.

[Joe King]

I don't agree with a Purgatory. Even if my church does. Why would God need to keep people in limbo?He knows what you have done. To me that is saying that he doesn't have perfect judgement, which he undeniably does.

I read today that there are people under the altar in heaven crying out for God to punish those that killed them and made them martyrs.

God responded by saying you have to wait because more martyrs are coming to join you. Then when it is completed the martyrs will get to exact their revenge on those that killed them in this life.

[enarchay]

Why would God need to keep people in limbo?He knows what you have done. To me that is saying that he doesn't have perfect judgement, which he undeniably does.

Well, Limbo is different than purgatory, I think, and if I'm not mistaken, it recently has been revoked.

I read today that there are people under the altar in heaven crying out for God to punish those that killed them and made them martyrs.

I think that is a hyperbole and metaphor and probably refers to the Jews before Christ and not the Christians.

God responded by saying you have to wait because more martyrs are coming to join you. Then when it is completed the martyrs will get to exact their revenge on those that killed them in this life.

Personally, I believe both the righteous and wicked enter hades until resurrection. I don't believe you are conscious when you die.

[Bick]

I am a Catholic believer and I have never heard of anything definite regarding Purgatory. Today, after years of not going to church, I went. I read a pamphlet that I got from the church and was stunned to find out that the church talks about it. I went to a catholic school during my early years and never was taught or read about it.

I've been reading the Bible intensly for the past few months and haven't seen it in there either. I hope it's not a made up thing to comfort people because now that I have seen it in print and in a church no less, I want to find out the truth about it.

MY COMMENTS: I'm not sure what scriptures the RCC uses to justify the idea of a 'purgatory'.

But, understanding that they believe all persons who die have an "immortal soul" that somehow is like another body which has all it senses and thus, can be tormented in some flame, I know they are wrong.

If they would study the Scriptures, particularly the OT, they would be enlightened.

Gen 2:7 reads, "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and he breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." AV.
NOTICE: A separate soul was not joined to a prepared body. Man became a living soul when the breath of life was breathed into his nostrils.
There are hundreds of OT verses in which 'soul' is used, and it will be seen that they relate knowledge, memory, thought, love, joy, delight, bitterness, distress, impatience, mourning, sorrow, grief, abhorrence, and hatred to the soul.

Man is a living soul, a living sentient being.

Many times man is called a 'soul' in the Bible. See Gen. 12:5, 46:26; Exod. 12:4; Acts 2:41, 43; 7:14; 27:37; Rom 2:9; 13:1 etc.

Many times the soul is said to die or be dead---which has to mean the person dies. See Josh. 10:28, 30, 32, 35, 37, 39; Jer. 2:34; Ezek. 13:19 etc.
And the oft quoted verse: Ezek 18:4 "The soul that sinneth it shall die."
Obviously, it speaks of a person ( a living soul).

CONCLUSION: While there are many other scriptures, my conclusion is that death is the opposite of life.

The cure for death is resurrection.

[mike1983]

Personally, I don't think there is a purgatory. If anything, purgatory is right now living on Earth.

Exactly! In this life we are allowed to make errors. Our Father forgives us. What's the point of this if we can go to purgatory anyway. I think it's just another tool of satan. With purgatory in your perspective you tend to life your life in a way that is fitting to yourself. Who cares, you'll be cleansed anyway...

Why would we need a Saviour if we don't need cleansing from Him but get it from fire?

God bless!

[Deriluxa]

Purgatory is a sign of Gods mercy, purgatory is a place that purges us from sin, because God cannot look upon iniquity we must be clean before we enter the presence of the Lord.

Psalm51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Psalm51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities.

Psalm51:17 A sacrafice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God you will not despise.

Habakkuk1:13 Your eyes are to pure to behold evil, and you cannot look on wrongdoing; why do you look on the treacherous, and are silent when the wicked swallow those more righteous than they?

Revelation21:25 Its gates will never be shut by day-and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

[angelus5370]

Hi Joe,
There is no such place as purgatory, but before Christ died on the cross there was a holding place called Abraham's Bosom that was like purgatory, only it was just a holding place, so people like Lazarus, etc. would not be tormented in Hell. Once Christ died on the cross, Abraham's Bosom was removed, because there was no need of it.

[angelus5370]

Purgatory is a sign of Gods mercy, purgatory is a place that purges us from sin, because God cannot look upon iniquity we must be clean before we enter the presence of the Lord.

Psalm51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Psalm51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities.

Psalm51:17 A sacrafice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God you will not despise.

Habakkuk1:13 Your eyes are to pure to behold evil, and you cannot look on wrongdoing; why do you look on the treacherous, and are silent when the wicked swallow those more righteous than they?

Revelation21:25 Its gates will never be shut by day-and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

We do not get purged from sin in a make believe place called purgatory! We get cleansed by Christ, when we become His follower, ask His forgiveness of sins, and do God's Will according to His Word. It's as simple as that! No religious rituals, or special masses, or praying to every dead saint you can think of! We carry the Holy Spirit with us, and when we fall on our face, as we are prone to do, we keep asking for forgiveness, because Jesus knows that we are imperfect, and in need of a Savior! If all the glitz and rituals were removed from the Catholic Church, what would be left?

[Deriluxa]

Hi Joe,
There is no such place as purgatory, but before Christ died on the cross there was a holding place called Abraham's Bosom that was like purgatory, only it was just a holding place, so people like Lazarus, etc. would not be tormented in Hell. Once Christ died on the cross, Abraham's Bosom was removed, because there was no need of it.

Where in scripture does it say that? Where does it say there is no holding place for souls awaiting entry into heaven?

There is a clear scriptural basis for the doctrine of purgatory.

[Brotherken]

Im not sure where they came up with purgatory
Im sure a person could research it on line and get many opinions on the subject

Like you said. Its not in the Bible that i can see
Although it May be Abraham's Bosom
like angelus said, It may have been removed after Christ died for us.

Lk 23:43 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

2 Cor 12:4 how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Rev 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God.

[angelus5370]

Show me............

[angelus5370]

Where in scripture does it say that? Where does it say there is no holding place for souls awaiting entry into heaven?

There is a clear scriptural basis for the doctrine of purgatory.

Show me a scripture in the Bible, that says clearly, there is a purgatory where men and women go to be prayed for, so their sin won't be so bad when they stand before Christ? There is no gray area, you accept Christ, repent, pray for forgiveness.........walk the path. You become a follower of Christ, there is no need for religious rituals, you have a relationship with your Savior, that leads to God The Father.

[Sold Out]

I am a Catholic believer and I have never heard of anything definite regarding Purgatory. Today, after years of not going to church, I went. I read a pamphlet that I got from the church and was stunned to find out that the church talks about it. I went to a catholic school during my early years and never was taught or read about it.

I've been reading the Bible intensly for the past few months and haven't seen it in there either. I hope it's not a made up thing to comfort people because now that I have seen it in print and in a church no less, I want to find out the truth about it.

"If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." I Corinthians 3:15

This word 'fire' in the greek is 'pur', which is where the word 'purgatory' is derived from.

That entire belief is based on one word from ONE verse in the bible.

I commend you on your further study into God's Word.