If I go Purgatory, how will I know it's not Hell?

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followingtheway

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Let’s say I die and wake up in Purgatory, how will I distinguish it from the flames of Hell? :confused:

God bless :byzsoc:

David
 
I don’t think we “wake up” - we go before God in judgement so we know for certain where we are going.
 
Whatever pain you are experiencing, you will undoubtedly also have a consciousness of God’s love and God’s intent for your purification – factors which cannot exist in the isolation of Hell. There would not be a sense of finality of that state (which is another way of echoing the post just submitted, about hope).
 
TheDoctor said:
I don’t think we “wake up” - we go before God in judgement so we know for certain where we are going.
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Death itself is viewed as going to sleep. That is what he meant by “wake up”.

At this point we do not know what hell, heaven or purgatory really is like. Why worry about it? Lets do our best with what we have right now, where we are, so we can increase our chances to be in heaven.
 
followingtheway said:
how will I distinguish it
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Several ways:
  • The flames of purgatory are fed by the flames of hell, so you won’t be able to tell by the flames alone.
  • Pay careful attention to what everybody else is saying and doing. Are they going back and forth alternately praising God for his justice in exacting temporal punishment for their sins and then turning around and praising him for his mercy in allowing them to enter heaven in spite of their sins, or are they alternately bewailing their fate and the loss of eternal bliss (weeping) and then cursing God (gnashing of teeth)?
  • There are no angels in purgatory, so if you see an angel it’s a fallen one and you’re in hell.
  • Also, people and fallen angels in hell aren’t very nice to one another.
  • Nobody leaves hell, but everybody leaves purgatory, so if the guy burning next to you disappears at some point, you’re in purgatory. The best times to check are during mass times on earth, on Saturdays when Mary comes by to pick up her scapular-wearers, and in the autumn on Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and during the rest of the month of November. Unfortunately you won’t have a body with bodily senses, so you won’t be able to keep track of earthly events such as when masses are being said or what day it is, so watch for the pattern of disappearances.
  • Finally, check the locks on the doors. Hell is locked from the inside; purgatory is locked from the outside.
 
DianaCC said:
Several ways:
  • The flames of purgatory are fed by the flames of hell, so you won’t be able to tell by the flames alone.
  • Pay careful attention to what everybody else is saying and doing. Are they going back and forth alternately praising God for his justice in exacting temporal punishment for their sins and then turning around and praising him for his mercy in allowing them to enter heaven in spite of their sins, or are they alternately bewailing their fate and the loss of eternal bliss (weeping) and then cursing God (gnashing of teeth)?
  • There are no angels in purgatory, so if you see an angel it’s a fallen one and you’re in hell.
  • Also, people and fallen angels in hell aren’t very nice to one another.
  • Nobody leaves hell, but everybody leaves purgatory, so if the guy burning next to you disappears at some point, you’re in purgatory. The best times to check are during mass times on earth, on Saturdays when Mary comes by to pick up her scapular-wearers, and in the autumn on Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and during the rest of the month of November. Unfortunately you won’t have a body with bodily senses, so you won’t be able to keep track of earthly events such as when masses are being said or what day it is, so watch for the pattern of disappearances.
  • Finally, check the locks on the doors. Hell is locked from the inside; purgatory is locked from the outside.
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Now THAT’S funny!
 
DianaCC said:
Several ways:
  • The flames of purgatory are fed by the flames of hell, so you won’t be able to tell by the flames alone.
  • Pay careful attention to what everybody else is saying and doing. Are they going back and forth alternately praising God for his justice in exacting temporal punishment for their sins and then turning around and praising him for his mercy in allowing them to enter heaven in spite of their sins, or are they alternately bewailing their fate and the loss of eternal bliss (weeping) and then cursing God (gnashing of teeth)?
  • There are no angels in purgatory, so if you see an angel it’s a fallen one and you’re in hell.
  • Also, people and fallen angels in hell aren’t very nice to one another.
  • Nobody leaves hell, but everybody leaves purgatory, so if the guy burning next to you disappears at some point, you’re in purgatory. The best times to check are during mass times on earth, on Saturdays when Mary comes by to pick up her scapular-wearers, and in the autumn on Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and during the rest of the month of November. Unfortunately you won’t have a body with bodily senses, so you won’t be able to keep track of earthly events such as when masses are being said or what day it is, so watch for the pattern of disappearances.
  • Finally, check the locks on the doors. Hell is locked from the inside; purgatory is locked from the outside.
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Seriously?
 
The concierge at the front desk should be able to help you. If you have a check-out date for your room, you know you’re in purgatory. If you don’t have a check-out date, you know you’re not. 😛
 
followingtheway said:
Let’s say I die and wake up in Purgatory, how will I distinguish it from the flames of Hell? :confused:

God bless :byzsoc:

David
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Hi followingtheway,

Wow! That’s an interesting question and one I don’t think I have ever heard asked, or even considered.

I would imagine that you would know the difference. Hell is tortuous, and devoid of God’s presence. There would be demons, pain beyond description, and no love.

Purgatory does not have flames like hell. I believe you can still feel the presence of God because it is God’s firery cleansing love that will perfect you for heaven while you are in this “state” (purgatory is not really a “place” per se, but more a state of being where we are purged of our venial sins and imperfections).

So my fellow Christian and brother in Christ, I would kindly suggest that you not dwell on this, (don’t be concerned or worried please) because purgatory is a far cry from hell and you’d know the difference. Just ensure you do not commit any grave/mortal sins and strive to be an obedient “child of God” and you’ll obtain the gift of eternal salvation as Jesus promised.

God bless you and peace of Christ,
CEM
 
One’s death does not occur in a vacuum. The Lord calls you by name, and your life will be examined. First, you will have undergone the particular judgment. I refer to sections 1021 and 1022 of the catechism:

I. THE PARTICULAR JUDGMENT

1021 Death puts an end to human life as the time open to either accepting or rejecting the divine grace manifested in Christ.592 The New Testament speaks of judgment primarily in its aspect of the final encounter with Christ in his second coming, but also repeatedly affirms that each will be rewarded immediately after death in accordance with his works and faith. The parable of the poor man Lazarus and the words of Christ on the cross to the good thief, as well as other New Testament texts speak of a final destiny of the soul–a destiny which can be different for some and for others.593

1022 Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven-through a purification594 or immediately,595 – or immediate and everlasting damnation.596

At the evening of life, we shall be judged on our love.597

Footnotes:

592 Cf. 2 Tim 1:9-10.
593 Cf. Lk 16:22; 23:43; Mt 16:26; 2 Cor 5:8; Phil 1:23; Heb 9:27; 12:23.
594 Cf. Council of Lyons II (1274):DS 857-858; Council of Florence (1439):DS 1304- 1306; Council of Trent (1563):DS 1820.
595 Cf. Benedict XII, Benedictus Deus (1336):DS 1000-1001; John XXII, Ne super his (1334):DS 990.
596 Cf. Benedict XII, Benedictus Deus (1336):DS 1002.
597 St. John of the Cross, Dichos 64.
 
Hell has that sign over the door:

“Abandon hope all ye who enter here.”
 
If you are in Michigan, it’s Hell; if you are in Colorado, it’s Purgatory:):)🙂

Seriously, there’s no issue of not knowing. You will have been judged and will know fully your eternal state.

ICXC NIKA
 
Do you as a catholic believer really think that Purgatory will be just like hell?

Do you as a catholic believer wonder if Limbo will be just like hell?

Do you as a catholic believer wonder about hell a lot?

Do theologians help you out with all this? Which have you read and what were your thoughts?
 
To be honest, I’ll be very happy going to purgatory.
What I always understand is that purgatory is not hell, not even close!
Purgatory is for the elect, for the saved and such a blessing to be tended and purged to become perfect by the Lord himself.

I think Dante have better understanding of what purgatory is, instead of what we usually think purgatory is.
 
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