God, Time, Purgatory and Eternity

[Michaelj86]

A young friend of mine has posed the following questions, I think part of his questions can be answered by his own statement. How would you answer his questions.

Eternity:
The Divine existence is that and much more; excluding all succession, past and future time-indeed all time, which is succession-and to be conceived as an ever-enduring and unchanging “now”.

The theology on “Heaven” states that it is an Eternity of Heaven
thus literally saying Heaven is in an unchanging, ever-enduring state.

Right now, my question still bothers me even after reading these pages over heaven, eternity, the beatific vision. (Topic pages from www.newadvent.org)

The Church teaches that, in the period between the death of each individual and the Last Judgment at the end of the world, each human being will be judged at the moment of their death by Christ. Each then will go either to heaven, purgatory or hell where he will wait for the final judgment of the whole world. The Church also teaches that those on earth may pray for the souls in purgatory so that their punishment will be shortened. These prayers result in indulgences which shorten the sufferings. So indulgences is the word you are looking for. The teaching is that those on earth can help the souls in purgatory by offering up their prayers and good works to relieve the suffering of those souls.

And this answer gives reason to believe that Purgatory is, in fact, affected by time. Because it says we are taught that our prayers for the souls in purgatory will shorten the time they are sentenced for the purging of sins.

1.)Is Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory affected by time? Weren’t these three created after Time?

2.)If they AREN’T affected by time (which is what we are taught), Then when do we arrive in Heaven?

3.) Do we arrive there after the people who died before us or do we all arrive at the same time?

4.) If we arrive after those who came before us, wouldn’t it suggest that Heaven is in FACT, affected by time (as well as purgatory)?

5.) If there is no time in Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory… Why do we pray for those in Purgatory if it’s not possible to help shorten the time sentenced there?

6.) Are we judged immediately after death? (we are taught “yes”)

7.) If Heaven is affected by time, then does that mean God allows Himself to be affected by time since He resides in Heaven?

 

[sara888]

**

1.)Is Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory affected by time? Weren’t these three created after Time?

Heaven, hell or purgatory are states of being of a spirit (angel/demon) or human soul, rather than places, as commonly perceived and represented in human language. This language of place is, according to the Pope, inadequate to describe the realities involved, since it is tied to the temporal order in which this world and we exist

2.)If they AREN’T affected by time (which is what we are taught), Then when do we arrive in Heaven?

After going through a state of purification in Purgatory.

Most Catholics at death, the soul goes to a state of purification, could be there 15min, or 15 years etc. no one really knows , however the saints do testify that 15 min of Purgtory is worse than all the pangs on earth, but we still know we are on our way to Heaven.

3.) Do we arrive there after the people who died before us or do we all arrive at the same time?

Mostl go to Purgtory for final purification, with the exception of the Saints, etc. however since we all do not die the same time we all go at different times.

4.) If we arrive after those who came before us, wouldn’t it suggest that Heaven is in FACT, affected by time (as well as purgatory)?

Yes but not the time we on earth here know, its a different state of being on a supernatural time scale.

5.) If there is no time in Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory… Why do we pray for those in Purgatory if it’s not possible to help shorten the time sentenced there?

**It is very possible to shorten their stay and OURS too, since we pray for them to enter into Heaven. They dont forget us and remember all our alms and prayers we sent them in return they also pray for us. It is very important we pray for the souls, again time here and in Purgatory is unexplainable. Its a state. example - 15 min here on earth could mean 10 years there./****B]

6.) Are we judged immediately after death? (we are taught “yes”)

Yes, that is when most go to Purgatory 7.) If Heaven is affected by time, then does that mean God allows Himself to be affected by time since He resides in Heaven?

No., again time in that world and here are two different entities.

Hope this helps.

Sara

 

[Michaelj86]

Yes thanks, your comments helped me shore up my view. I have known this lad since he was 11, and he is 19 now, so I was surprised by his question. But I shouldn’t have been, it would seem that is a perception problem of mine, he grew and I still saw him as a child. I will work to correct that perception. Thanks again

Pax.

Michael J

 

[Bishopite]

And this answer gives reason to believe that Purgatory is, in fact, affected by time. Because it says we are taught that our prayers for the souls in purgatory will shorten the time they are sentenced for the purging of sins.

1.)Is Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory affected by time? Weren’t these three created after Time?

I’m not sure what you mean by “affected by time?” Eternity isn’t affected by time in the way we think it is; one second in eternity could be one year. Since no one has gone to eternity and come back (save Lazarus who is now again in eternity) we can’t know for sure. Eternity transends time; God is in the eternal now. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is eternal even though it happened in time.

2.)If they AREN’T affected by time (which is what we are taught), Then when do we arrive in Heaven?

After we are purified or fully sanctified (made completely holy). Heb 12:14, Rev 21:27… no unclean thing shall enter it (heaven).

3.) Do we arrive there after the people who died before us or do we all arrive at the same time?

After them but that doesn’t mean we are old than them for eternity doesn’t follow in a time sequence. Time keeps moving forward but eternity doesn’t have to obey those time laws. Again the sacrifice of Christ on the cross is eternal and transends time, in that those who trusted in a messiah-to-come were saved through that faith. Others that died during Christ’s sacrifice on the cross are saved as we are through faith and obedience to Him, Mt 10:22.

4.) If we arrive after those who came before us, wouldn’t it suggest that Heaven is in FACT, affected by time (as well as purgatory)?

Well, yes it is affected in that it awaits those in time, but it doesn’t follow the same functions as time.

5.) If there is no time in Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory… Why do we pray for those in Purgatory if it’s not possible to help shorten the time sentenced there?

Because the are there for what we would understand as time, but we again don’t know what that time is. A second in enternity could possibly be a day or year; we just don’t know.

6.) Are we judged immediately after death? (we are taught “yes”)
Yes, that’s what called the particular judgment. After time stops we will all be judged in the general judgement.

7.) If Heaven is affected by time, then does that mean God allows Himself to be affected by time since He resides in Heaven?

To some degree, yes since He created time. But remember, God is in the eternal now. He isn’t bound by the constraints of time as we are; that’s why He can know every persons prayers at once and know them personally.

rc