Purgatory

  • Thread starter Thread starter denwiles
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Purgatory is just like hell…but with hope. It’s not a quiet little rest home where we wait around until the “Heaven Train” pulls up and we get on board. It is a place of purification where we suffer, terribly, for as much time as it takes…or I should say, for as much intensity as it takes (since there is no ‘time’ outside this earthly life).

At death we will know, without any doubt, what Jesus did for us. Then, we will be asked to choose…Jesus, or hell. Those not deemed worthy of hell because of their acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice for them – and yet not worthy of Heaven because of the temporal effects of sin still in their souls – will be sent to Purgatory post haste. They will not want to go to Heaven because they will see for themselves how far they fall short of the purity and total love of God. They will make their own statement to God of their unworthiness, and God in His infinite mercy will allow them to be purified by the hellish tortures of self-recrimination and the pains of fire. They will, however, have hope and assurance that at one point in their purification – when all their sins have been paid for – they WILL go to Heaven. In hell…there is no hope.

Although Purgatory is a painful and somewhat scary process…it is, ultimately, a mercy from God. Even though we most likely will not be totally purified when we die, God provides a means for us to become so. Only then will we be able to enter into the perfection of Heaven.

I’m sorry if I’ve blown anybody’s bubble…but it’s better to deal with the reality now, and plan to avoid it…then to become lax and figure "Oh, I’m a good person and God loves me. When I die I’ll go to Heaven."
 
_L said:
I cant remember who the Priest was, but he was giving a talk on purgatory, and his take what that we will be so ashamed at the ugliness of the effects of our sins when we are before God at our judgement that we want to be purged of all last effects so it is a pain that we desire. I would liken it to exercise, people are so discontent with their state of unhealthiness that they willing put their bodies through the stress of rigorous exercise in order to be healthy.
Click to expand...
I am generally with you.

I don’t know what is involved, but accept 100% that whatever it is - it is necessary to remove the damage sin has done to the soul. I like to think of it as a hospital for the soul where the treatment may be difficult but there is a 100% guaranteed success rate.

I have written about this in a small piece called The good side of purgatory.
 
hotdjdave said:
“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” 2 Cor. 5:8
Click to expand...
Paul never said this. He said he would rather be away from the body and home with the Lord. This does not mean that the two concepts are mutually inclusive. This is an unwarranted, invalid conclusion.
For instance: if I am in school and would rather be home, and I say: “I would rather be away from here, at home”, this doesn’t mean that school and home are the only two possibilities.
 
‘Purgatory Explained by the Lives and Legends of the Saints’ by F. X. Schouppe covers all the areas already mentioned and much more. Great reading.
 
Dear Denwiles,
I would like to add to the Catechism quotes and what others have said that use of word fire and such are metaphors for the Holy Spirt. Seraphim angels are “burning ones”. If they were to touch a hot coal to your lips you would probably not feel it the same as as an earthly coal as it is a different type of fire. And, you would not be in a coropreal body.

Remember Moses and the burning bush. This metaphor is usuallly used with the appearance, so to speak, or presence of God several times in the bible.

Please try to locate the dvds published with Jeff Cavins as a commentator and treacher called Bible Timeline. This series of dvds shows the how the Old and New Testaments are interwoven and how Christs birth, life and death were prophesied. It explores the connections with the House of David and much more. I have been through the series twice at our church and will go again because I learn something new each time.

So you see, purgatory is something to be welcomed to purify us so that we may be closer to God and continue our work for Him.

I hope this helps.🙂
 
Spencerian said:
Hi.

This is a common question. Like the word “Trinity,” the word “purgatory” isn’t to be found in Scripture but its concepts are seen in both Old and New Testaments.

Note that some references aren’t to be found in a Bible you likely have because long ago, one man, a dissenting Catholic priest, took it upon himself to declare that seven books of the Bible were not inspired–a book that had changed not a bit for at least 900 years prior. These books were eventually not found in King James Version-based books. That version is likely what you have, and it is sadly incomplete.

You should ask yourself, to charitably counter your questions on purgatory, “Where in the Bible does it say that *everything *about being a Christian has to be in the Bible?” 🙂
Click to expand...
Very well said. A complete Catholic Bible (NRV) can be found on the U.S. Catholic Bishops site and the Vatican website in the “secret archives” which are obviously not so secret be cause they are all over the internet. Also, the Catholic Catechism can be found on the Vatican website.

Anyway, the Apochrypha is what is missing in the King James version and it is worthwhile reading, also the Book of Sirach which is in all bibles I believe.👍
 
I see Purgatory as a cleansing and polishing process. Not so much like a cleansing that you go through before a colonoscopy but more of like the process that a piece of coal goes through to become a diamond.
 
denwiles said:
OK I Believe in pugatory, but does anyone actually knows what takes place there? Some make it sound as a place of peace and well others make it sound kida of scary. Personally I have allways been afraid of the thought of it. I was hoping to go straight to Heaven LOL!!!
Click to expand...
The bible is clear, purgagory is were you go to temporarily clearns yourself of sin. You burn there for a while and then after that you go to heaven. This is explained very clearly in scripture where it says there is where the weeping and gnashing of teeth will be. This shows that it is only temporary but it is cleansing.
 
If Purgatory is a cake walk, we wouldn’t be praying for the souls there. On a positive note, one knows that once in Purgatory, the race is won & that the goal of Heaven has been achieved.
 
denwiles said:
OK I Believe in pugatory, but does anyone actually knows what takes place there? Some make it sound as a place of peace and well others make it sound kida of scary. Personally I have allways been afraid of the thought of it. I was hoping to go straight to Heaven LOL!!!
Click to expand...
Why do you believe in purgatory? Is it because grandma and aunt Sue believed it? If not then prove it from the bible.
 
hmalley said:
Why do you believe in purgatory? Is it because grandma and aunt Sue believed it? If not then prove it from the bible.
Click to expand...
We don’t believe in sola scriptura. Not everything is in the Bible nor is it possible to “literally” interpret it. Purgatory is a teaching of the Church Jesus founded and that alone is good enough for me.

The concept also happens to be in the Bible, please see:

gotquestions.org/purgatory.html

purgatoryisreal.blogspot.com/

catholicfaithdefender.wordpress.com/2009/01/20/purgatory-in-the-bible/
 
lutherlic said:
We don’t believe in sola scriptura. Not everything is in the Bible nor is it possible to “literally” interpret it. Purgatory is a teaching of the Church Jesus founded and that alone is good enough for me.

The concept also happens to be in the Bible, please see:

gotquestions.org/purgatory.html

purgatoryisreal.blogspot.com/

catholicfaithdefender.wordpress.com/2009/01/20/purgatory-in-the-bible/
Click to expand...
Lutherlic, I’m confused as to why you would post that first link if you are defending purgatory. 🤷
 
savienu said:
Lutherlic, I’m confused as to why you would post that first link if you are defending purgatory. 🤷
Click to expand...
Sigh… sloppy copy of links from various open tabs. Sorry, please ignore. Here is a more complete (and hopefully accurate) list:

purgatoryisreal.blogspot.com/

catholicfaithdefender.wordpress.com/2009/01/20/purgatory-in-the-bible/

cmri.org/00prog11.html

catholicsource.net/articles/purgatory.htm

ourcatholicfaith.org/purgatory.html

scripturecatholic.com/purgatory.html

catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0511sbs.asp
 
guys, I will ask about the word prison. Catholics often prove that prison in 1 Peter depicts about purgatory. But protestants defend it by using Isaiah’s depiction of the word prison which they support it also to the Romans 8;9 where it is all about those who were alived but were spiritually dead in faith, not all about purification process in purgatory.
 
denwiles said:
OK I Believe in pugatory, but does anyone actually knows what takes place there? Some make it sound as a place of peace and well others make it sound kida of scary. Personally I have allways been afraid of the thought of it. I was hoping to go straight to Heaven LOL!!!
Click to expand...
How many of you struggle with logic pulling at your mind to beg for the fog to be lifted? When I read this, I recognize the easily overlooked reason of this comment, and it is this:

You believe in purgatory, but you don’t actually know what takes place there. How do you actually know it exists? Let’s start with that. Are there any verses that state that “purgatory” is a real thing? None of them are straight forward, revealing or otherwise explicit.

To believe in something solidly, you should first see it with your eyes, hear it, feel it, taste it, or smell it. The senses are the only connection to reality, a realm which purgatory does not exist. Be confident my friend that when you die, eternal rest is the ultimate prize. No one can trouble you with their stresses, because your brain is off… for the first time since you were born. No torture awaits you brother, nor does the torture of trillions of conscious years in the clouds. Bear in mind, these ideas were constructed when people thought the earth looked like this:

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

None of it is true. Let your tension go.

~Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top