Heaven;Purhatory; Hell are they 4 real

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Friends,

I have long been interested in what other Faiths believe and teach.

What does your faith [PLEASE identify which], teach of the “Last Things,” referring to Heaven, Purgatory an Hell…

And what may we ask is the Foundation for such understanding?

God Bless,
Pt
 
I suppose someone has to get the ball rolling.

I’m Catholic now, but used to be Presbyterian, and Wesleyan Methodist for a bit. My wife is Baptist so I’ve got some experience there as well.

In all 3 denominastions they believe in Heaven and Hell, but not Purgatory, mainly because “it’s not in the Bible”. Personally I think it’s clearly implied, if not specifically named eg. “There you will stay I tell you, until you have paid every last penny of your fine.” But that’s my later Catholic self talking. The Bible doesn’t say anything about space travel either, or computers, or robots or a host of other modern social factors, but they exist.

When I was a Protestant, Purgatory wasn’t even a topic of conversation as far as I could recall. But then I didn’t hang out with the anti-Catholic hard line boys.

Generally speaking I think you’ll find mainstream and fundamentalist protestant churches believe in heaven and hell, but not purgatory. The Mormons and JW’s (like some Catholics) soft pedal Hell, and try to pretend it doesn’t exist. But then they’re not really Christian.

I think Anglicans accept Purgatory, but I’m not sure. They seem to have a very diverse range of views, so it’s hard to pin Anglicans down at times.

Moslems obviously believe in Heaven and Hell. Hindus believe in endless reincarnation, while Buddhists seem to have a sense of something that is Nirvana, a sort of impersonal infinite peace, and another state that is not Nirvana, or a hellish state. But that’s my uninformed opinion speaking.

Judaism doesn’t seem to pay much attention to the after death scenario. Jews put a lot more emphasis on this life, as far as I understand their philosophy. This might be one reason they are generally a bunch of high achievers, despite their small numbers.

After all, it was Christ who really first emphasised the reality of both Heaven and Hell. The judgements the OT prophets referred to were usually national judgements, and even when they involved specific humans, it seemed to involve a gruesome method of death. They didn’t say much about the after life, as far as I know.
 
First is a Dogma of the Faith

CCC-1030 - All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven".

So this isn’t automatic either, as its worth reading that opening line again “ALL WHO DIE IN GODS GRACE AND FRIENDFSHIP”.

In latin purgatory means “burning by fire”

1 Corinthians 3:14–15: "If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

So St Paul isn’t talking about a literal place of fire, but a place where the sins of man are burnt away or purged in time as a saving grace by God.

This is precisely what the Catholic Church teaches. A person at death who still has personal faults is prevented from entering into heaven because he is not completely purified. He must go through a period of purgation in order to be made clean, for nothing unclean will enter heaven [Rev. 21:27].
 
Also the confirmation of Purgatory comes at Fatima through a direct question from the Seer Sr Lucy to the Blessed Mother.

The conversation involves the Seer’s salvation which the Blessed Mother assures them, they all [the Three] will go to Heaven. As an after thought Sr Lucy asked about a friend of the familys who often came by the home before she passed on.

The Blessed Mother replied, “She will remain in Purgatory till the end of time”
 
Bob Crowley;7603622]I suppose someone has to get the ball rolling.
I’m Catholic now, but used to be Presbyterian, and Wesleyan Methodist for a bit. My wife is Baptist so I’ve got some experience there as well.
In all 3 denominastions they believe in Heaven and Hell, but not Purgatory, mainly because “it’s not in the Bible”. Personally I think it’s clearly implied, if not specifically named eg. “There you will stay I tell you, until you have paid every last penny of your fine.” But that’s my later Catholic self talking. The Bible doesn’t say anything about space travel either, or computers, or robots or a host of other modern social factors, but they exist.
When I was a Protestant, Purgatory wasn’t even a topic of conversation as far as I could recall. But then I didn’t hang out with the anti-Catholic hard line boys.
Generally speaking I think you’ll find mainstream and fundamentalist protestant churches believe in heaven and hell, but not purgatory. The Mormons and JW’s (like some Catholics) soft pedal Hell, and try to pretend it doesn’t exist. But then they’re not really Christian.
I think Anglicans accept Purgatory, but I’m not sure. They seem to have a very diverse range of views, so it’s hard to pin Anglicans down at times.
Moslems obviously believe in Heaven and Hell. Hindus believe in endless reincarnation, while Buddhists seem to have a sense of something that is Nirvana, a sort of impersonal infinite peace, and another state that is not Nirvana, or a hellish state. But that’s my uninformed opinion speaking.
Judaism doesn’t seem to pay much attention to the after death scenario. Jews put a lot more emphasis on this life, as far as I understand their philosophy. This might be one reason they are generally a bunch of high achievers, despite their small numbers.
After all, it was Christ who really first emphasised the reality of both Heaven and Hell. The judgements the OT prophets referred to were usually national judgements, and even when they involved specific humans, it seemed to involve a gruesome method of death. They didn’t say much about the after life, as far as I know.
THANKS so very much Bob. GREAT post!

What perplexes ME, is why so many seem to assume no need for a “Purgatory.” 🤷
 
Friends,

I have long been interested in what other Faiths believe and teach.

What does your faith [PLEASE identify which], teach of the “Last Things,” referring to Heaven, Purgatory an Hell…

And what may we ask is the Foundation for such understanding?

God Bless,
Pt
Actually, friend I’ve already posted something like that in another thread. Thread, page 10 - See also Page 9! 🙂

Shall I copy them to this thread?
 
Here are some things I know about the afterlife:

Psalm 84:10 (New Living Translation)

10 A single day in your courts
is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.

Psalm 23:6 (New Living Translation)

6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.

1 Corinthians 15:23-24 (New Living Translation)

23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.

24 After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power.

1 Corinthians 15:35-38 (New Living Translation)

The Resurrection Body

35 But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?” 36 What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. 37 And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. 38 Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. A different plant grows from each kind of seed.

1 Corinthians 15:42-59 (New Living Translation)

42 It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. 43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.

46 What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later.

48 Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. 49 Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like** the heavenly man.

50 What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.

51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die,[c] this Scripture will be fulfilled:

2 Corinthians 5 (New Living Translation)

2 Corinthians 5

New Bodies

1 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.[a] 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.
6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord**
 
The LDS view:

Immediately after death a person goes to either spirit prison (like purgatory, but specifically there will be teachers who come and teach those in spirit prison about the gospel) or paradise, a place of happiness, rest, and peace (people in paradise can visit spirit prison to teach those bound to spirit prison). After final judgement, people go to either outer darkness (hell, complete separation from God), or one of three kingdoms of varying glory. The highest is where direct contact with both The Father (who to them has flesh and bones), Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. People who make it to the highest kingdom get to become gods and create like Jesus Christ did, though some will simply be angels and not necessarily gods who get to be masters of their creation. In the next highest kingdom people don’t get to become gods, but will none the less get to be in direct contact with Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, but not The Father. In the next highest kingdom, people don’t get direct contact with Jesus Christ or The Father, but are allowed the Holy Ghost. People in higher kingdoms can visit those in the lower kingdoms, but those in any kingdom of glory will never have contact with those in outer darkness.
 
Moslems obviously believe in Heaven and Hell. Hindus believe in endless reincarnation, while Buddhists seem to have a sense of something that is Nirvana, a sort of impersonal infinite peace, and another state that is not Nirvana, or a hellish state. But that’s my uninformed opinion speaking.

Judaism doesn’t seem to pay much attention to the after death scenario. Jews put a lot more emphasis on this life, as far as I understand their philosophy. This might be one reason they are generally a bunch of high achievers, despite their small numbers.

After all, it was Christ who really first emphasised the reality of both Heaven and Hell. The judgements the OT prophets referred to were usually national judgements, and even when they involved specific humans, it seemed to involve a gruesome method of death. They didn’t say much about the after life, as far as I know.
Having some understanding of others faith, I will tell what I know. The Bahai’s accept only a symbolic depiction of Hell unlike their Muslim ancestors, in Bahai belief when a soul dies everything that it learned while on Earth is where it starts it’s journey in the life hereafter. When you die, you begin your progression towards God ad infinitum never quite reaching that state… even wicked souls who die and are separated from God through Hell can eventually progress towards God also, but Abdul Baha would say it is only by grace that they are able to do so. Bahai’s also believe in prayers for the dead, similar to the Catholics and Orthodox.

Hindus believe in several Heavens, and several hells. Really it all depends on what school of Hinduism you belong to, the same goes for Buddhists. In Hinduism the goal of life is samadhi, or absolute absorption into God. Now ask any Hindu, who God is and they will tell you a number of different answers ranging from an impersonal Universe, to a Goddess, to any one of the Hindu deities and avatars. As far as Hell goes in Buddhism and Hinduism, your stay in such a realm depends entirely upon your karma. When your karma is consumed, then you may be reborn or reincarnated into another world or even this one.

As to reincarnation, most of Buddhism doesn’t subscribe to a soul per say. What is reborn according to them are our habits, our tendencies. In Hinduism, it is the soul that transmigrates from one form to another.

As towards Judaism, some Jews actually do have a theology of the afterlife. I’ve heard it’s called Gehinnom and is very similar to the Catholic concept of Purgatory, and the Bahai concept of the afterlife where even the most wicked soul could not remain in a Hellish state for longer than 12 months.

I hope that’s somewhat informative…
 
=AveChriste11;7606200]Having some understanding of others faith, I will tell what I know. The Bahai’s accept only a symbolic depiction of Hell unlike their Muslim ancestors, in Bahai belief when a soul dies everything that it learned while on Earth is where it starts it’s journey in the life hereafter. When you die, you begin your progression towards God ad infinitum never quite reaching that state… even wicked souls who die and are separated from God through Hell can eventually progress towards God also, but Abdul Baha would say it is only by grace that they are able to do so. Bahai’s also believe in prayers for the dead, similar to the Catholics and Orthodox.
Hindus believe in several Heavens, and several hells. Really it all depends on what school of Hinduism you belong to, the same goes for Buddhists. In Hinduism the goal of life is samadhi, or absolute absorption into God. Now ask any Hindu, who God is and they will tell you a number of different answers ranging from an impersonal Universe, to a Goddess, to any one of the Hindu deities and avatars. As far as Hell goes in Buddhism and Hinduism, your stay in such a realm depends entirely upon your karma. When your karma is consumed, then you may be reborn or reincarnated into another world or even this one.
As to reincarnation, most of Buddhism doesn’t subscribe to a soul per say. What is reborn according to them are our habits, our tendencies. In Hinduism, it is the soul that transmigrates from one form to another.
As towards Judaism, some Jews actually do have a theology of the afterlife. I’ve heard it’s called Gehinnom and is very similar to the Catholic concept of Purgatory, and the Bahai concept of the afterlife where even the most wicked soul could not remain in a Hellish state for longer than 12 months.
I hope that’s somewhat informative…
THANKS, very well done!

God Bless,
Pat
 
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