feelings on purgatory?

Question

I personally believe in purgatory and I've always thought it was kind of like a waiting room were you get second chances and are judge by God. So what are your feelings and beliefs about purgatory?

Answer 1

The word or meaning of "Purgatory" is NOT found in the Bible. It is a man made "invention" of the RCC. The Biblical Truth to the entrance into eternal life in the Kingdom of God is scripturally documented in the Bible as God's master plan of salvation. The resurrection of the dead is one of the fundamental doctrines leading to perfection and eternal life (Hebrews 6:1-2). Without the resurrection of the dead, Christ would not be risen and our faith would be in vain (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). Humans are mortal, with no inherent immortality. Furthermore, man is incapable of giving himself eternal life; thus the need for a resurrection.

We find in 1 Corinthians 15 that the resurrection is the hope of all mankind. Resurrection means a raising up or rising. Biblically, it refers to the raising of the dead to life again. The Scriptures teach the resurrection of "all who are in the graves" (John 5:28), but there is an order in which all the dead will be resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:23). The Bible reveals that some will be resurrected to everlasting life and others are to be sentenced to eternal death (Daniel 12:2-3; Revelation 20:13-15).

Resurrections are possible because God has the ability to give life. God, through the Word, who became Jesus Christ, gave life to the first man, Adam. He has the same power to give life to a human being a second time. Both the Father and the Son have life within themselves (John 5:26). This inherent power of God can produce both physical and spirit life. God has power to resurrect one from the grave in physical or spirit form (1 Corinthians 15:35-38). God has proven He has the power to resurrect to physical life (John 11:43-44; Matthew 27:52-53) and to spiritual life (Matthew 28:6-7). Resurrections are also possible because Christ has been raised (1 Corinthians 15:20-22). His resurrection as a living Savior made possible the salvation of all people; hence, their resurrections. Mankind would die and perish forever were it not for Christ's resurrection (Romans 5:10; 1 Corinthians 15:26, 55).

God's plan for mankind's salvation requires the resurrection of all who die (John 5:28). The apostle John describes three resurrections—one to eternal life (Revelation 20:4-6); one to physical life (verses 11-12); and one to death in the lake of fire (verses 13-15 [although these verses do not mention a resurrection specifically, the incorrigibly wicked, who have rejected God's offer for salvation, will need to be resurrected to be cast into the lake of fire]). John 5:29 is another important verse in understanding God's plan. There are two resurrections mentioned in this verse, but the Bible actually refers to three resurrections.

The first resurrection is called by that name: ". . . They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years . . . Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years" (Revelation 20:4-6). This resurrection will take place at the second coming of Christ when the righteous dead will be resurrected to immortality (1 Corinthians 15:50-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17). This is called a "better resurrection" (Hebrews 11:35) because it is to immortality and rulership with Christ during the Millennium.

The second resurrection will take place at the end of the 1,000-year reign of Christ and the saints. "But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished" (Revelation 20:5). This resurrection is further described in verse 12: "And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books."

This is a resurrection back to physical life (Ezekiel 37:1-14). It will include the vast majority of all people who have ever lived—people who never knew God and His great purpose for them. It will be an exciting time when virtually all of history comes back to life (Matthew 11:20-24; 12:41-42). These people will have a second chance for physical life but their first opportunity for salvation and glorious immortality in God's family. They will be given ample time for learning and growing in God's way of life. Truly, God's plan includes everyone. He is not willing for any to perish but that all should come to repentance and salvation (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4).

The third resurrection will take place at the conclusion of God's plan for mankind. This will be a resurrection to physical life for all those who have rejected God's offer of eternal life in past ages—a resurrection to death in the lake of fire. "And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:14-15; Hebrews 10:26-29; 2 Peter 3:10-12). Our loving God gives everyone an opportunity to have eternal life and wishes no one to perish. But if they refuse, the punishment is the second death, which ends their lives quickly and forever (Malachi 4:1, 3; Matthew 25:46).

The three resurrections reveal the order of God's marvelous plan and purpose for all of humanity. It is appointed to man once to die (Hebrews 9:27), but afterward there will be a resurrection for everyone who has ever lived......EDIT......This link exposes the Satanically influenced heresies and abominations of the RCC....http://www.lcg.org/cgi-bin/tw/booklets/print-bk.cgi?action=print_item&category=Booklets1&item=1140203084&print=yes

Answer 2

This is interesting reading, Father K & cristoiglesia put a long list of scripture verses that support the existence of Purgatory, then some follow him by denying it even though the evidence has been put right in front of their eyes (pray for your blindness to be removed.) None of the (very few) verses others have mentioned are in conflict with purgatory, even Dr Theo’s error full essay. Simply stated. Only the perfect can stand before God. So what happens to one who dies in God’s grace but isn’t perfect/sinless? If God was a Protestant either you go to Hell or God can be deceived into thinking you look clean, (since God can’t be deceived you’ll burn instead.) While the truth is God in his mercy and justice allows those who die in his friendship and grace to be cleansed (purified) so that they may face him unharmed, before they face him. Because to face God with sin, is to burn, for nothing unholy can stand before him.

(Dr Theo, the 1000 years in revelation – 10 is Hebrew for completeness. 1000 is 10 x 10 x 10, which is full completeness. The first resurrection has been underway for the past 2000 years – we are now in the millennium.)

Answer 3

The Bible absolutely supports the concept of a fiery trial after death in which the imperfections and sinful habits of our lives are purged.

That having been said, (1) we will be with God during this process, and to be with God is to be in Heaven; and (2) the Office of the Keys does not give the Church the power to affect this process, since this has nothing to do with forgiveness of sins, but rather is about sanctification.

Therefore, I do not believe in Purgatory, at least not in the sense that Catholics do.

Answer 4

I find no scriptural basis for the classic concept of purgatory; limbo is another matter. Historically ; the Church coffers were flagging in the late 1400s and early 1500s, this seems to be when the theory of purgatory was essentially raised (and so were the sale of indulgences). Belief in Purgatory became a formal church 'dogma' only in the 16th century.

Until that time THIS was the official stand of the Church ; taken from the Roman Catholic Catechism::

1021: "Each will be rewarded immediately after death in accordance with his works and faith."
1023: "Those who die in God's grace and friendship and are perfectly purified [with no need of purgatory] live for ever with Christ"
1031: "The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent"
1032: "This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead..."

Fr. Benjamin Driggers,OBB
Reformed Catholic Church of America

Answer 5

Anyone can have a "feeling" or a "belief", however, if that belief or feeling is not based on FACTS, it is simply an opinion. Opinions are like belly buttons and everyone seems to have one!

The FACT is that purgatory is a catholic invention and not based on anything taught in the scriptures at all! There IS NO such thing as purgatory. God tells us in His Word that "there is appointed unto man ONCE to die, and then comes the judgement."

No second chances. All the chances anyone will ever get to simply BELIEVE the good news that Christ died, was buried and rose again to save YOU from your sins and to make you the righteousness of God in HIM, are available NOW, while one is still living and breathing. Once you are dead, whatever choice you made while alive will determine where you spend eternity.

Don't make the mistake of thinking you will get another chance after you are dead, as the Bible doesn't support THAT line of thinking anywhere.

God warns us NOT to follow after the "traditions of men", and that is what the purgatory line of thinking is....no more and no less.

Answer 6

Father K above me gives a stunning idea that purgatory exist . I'm sorry but I don't agree . There was Sheol which was the holding place for all souls before the birth of Christ Until till death , and now there is no Sheol because the only chance we had to accept him in any fashion is during our life time , not death and then a waiting period . You either are a follower or you aren't . You will be judged by God .

Answer 7

Purgatory should never be confused as being " the outer darkness"
One exists.. the other does not.

Answer 8

Purgatory is real and biblical.
It is not a "second chance" though. Purgatory is the further purification of our soul that was started while on earth. None of us die with a clean spirit...we all need further purification. Sin cannot exist in heaven.

Just because we do not see the word Purgatory in the Bible does not mean the concept was never there. It is. The Jews also believed Purgatory. There are many Bible verses that imply we do not go directly to heaven or hell.
http://www.scripturecatholic.com/purgatory.html


http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=00C16T
http://www.fisheaters.com/purgatory.html

Answer 9

Today, few protestants believe in purgatory. The Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England state: 'The Romish doctrine concerning Purgatory...is a fond thing vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture; but rather repugnant to the word of God". (article 22) John Calvin, central theologian of Reformed Protestantism, considered purgatory a superstition: 'The doctrine of purgatory ancient, but refuted by a more ancient Apostle. Not supported by ancient writers, by Scripture, or solid argument. Introduced by custom and a zeal not duly regulated by the word of God… we must hold by the word of God, which rejects this fiction'. (Institutes 5.10).

Answer 10

I thought this was purgatory. I swear God keeps asking questions then answering them himself. But every time I want to tell him something, I fade away.

Answer 11

There IS NO PURGATORY, & NO SECOND CHANCES!

As seen here:

Hebrews 9:27 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society


27Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,


It's heaven or hell.

Purgatory has nO SCRIPTURAL BASIS!