cat16 Purgatory Is Not Biblical explains why the Catholic fabrication of purgatory is not biblical, and what the Bible says will happen to the believer at death.

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The History of Purgatory

Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

The concept of purgatory is that, by means of suffering after death (to purge or purify sins supposedly) this will remove the temporal effects of sin. By paying for indulgencias, Catholics can shorten the time their loved ones are in purgatory. (of course, indulgences cost money).

The New Testament specifically teaches that the work of Jesus on Calvary is what placates the wrath of God. The concept of purgatory contradicts this doctrine of the New Testament as being false and insufficient in removing our sins. We should notice that only Catholics alone are going to have this second opportunity to be saved by purgatory, and everybody that isn’t Catholic will go straight to hell. Also, only these same Catholics (that the church charges for indulgences) will be helped to leave purgatory, or leave there sooner. Only Catholics go to purgatory, everybody else goes to hell.

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How Many Eternal Destinies are There?

Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; The Bible presents us with only two eternal destinies, heaven for the saved, and hell for the unsaved. The Bible only speaks of heaven, a place of rewards and blessings with God, and hell, a place punishment and suffering without God. Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

1 Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The work of Jesus is all sufficient and it only is what saves us. Jesus died to placate the wrath of God against the sins, making propitiation for us. It is finished without the need of the redeemed suffering for a time in purgatory (that doesn’t exist). Then, if purgatory exists, it is because the work of Jesus on the cross wasn’t sufficient!

After Death, it is Heaven or Hell

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Immediately after death, a person will go to their eternal judgment. Your eternal judgment is decided at the moment of death, on he basis of whether you have the Son of God or not. John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. These two destinies are not altered by suffering of the redeemed after death.

Numbers 16:29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me. 30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. 31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: Equally, in the rebellion of Korah, God sent them to hell immediately.

Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

In this teaching of Jesus about Lazarus and the rich man, both entered into their judgment.

Immediately, (Luke 16:22) the angels took him into Abraham’s bosom. Lazarus did not have to suffer before entering heave. But rather, Lazarus entered heaven immediately.

Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

The sinful thief on the cross just received Jesus as his Savior, but he did not have to pass through purgatory, but rather was promised that same day to be with Jesus after his death. His joy was to be in heaven immediately after dying.

The Catholic Church teaches that suffering in purgatory is physical pain and separation from God.

2 Corinthians 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

For the saved person, there are two states, alive on earth or dead and with Jesus in heaven. We have the promise of Jesus that the saved person believing in the Son as his Savior will be always with Jesus after the moment of death. The Bible does not open any other options. The “not being alive” is to place the redeemed immediately in heaven in the presence of Jesus for ever.

The Catholic History of Purgatory

Augustine of Hippo conceived the doctrine of Purgatory. The first Pope, Gregory I, spoke of a purifying fire before the final judgment. So, ever since the Catholic Church’s establishment, they’ve had this unbiblical doctrine. This doctrine wasn’t the doctrine of the apostles, and especially not of Peter. Catholics teach that purgatory is only for the saved who still have venial sin when they die, and purgatory is where they go to purify their souls for years (they speak of a thousand or two thousand years as normal) before being allowed to enter heaven. This time can be cut short by the prayers, Masses, and indulgences of those still alive. The Catholic Church charges for these Masses and indulgences. So the Catholic Church uses purgatory to trap its people under its control and to squeeze money out of them.

Mass is a New Sacrifice of Christ

Every time a Catholic priest celebrates Mass, he sacrifices Christ anew. But

Hebrews 10:11 says, “Every priest stands daily ministering, offering often the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.”

In other words, the Catholic Church wants to pretend that its priesthood is like that of the priests of Israel and that, in the ceremony of the Mass, people have their sins forgiven. But the Bible says that, under the Old Testament, its priests and what they did in sacrifices “can never take away sins.” They are projecting their doctrinal basis onto something they themselves don’t understand was ineffective in forgiving.

Jesus’ Sacrifice

Hebrews 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did ONCE, when he offered up himself.

Firstly, this deals with the priests own sins, before dealing with the sins of the people. But an intercessor that has sins is not acceptable before God. Jesus had no sin, and when he offered himself, his sacrifice was acceptable and He rescued the entire world with his sacrifice. Note: “He did this once for all time.” Jesus does not have to do this multiple times, and with his sacrifice, no other sacrifice is needed nor acceptable in the sight of God.

Matthew 17:25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? 26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

Jesus wanted to make the point that we are not to extort a child of God. They should support the work of God, but to force money from them is against the will of God.

Psalms 34:22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Jesus’ Substitute for Us

1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Jesus on the cross is what gives us access into heaven, and nothing more than that can take away our sins. Peter believed and taught this.

Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. So what saves us from God’s wrath is HIS BLOOD, nothing more. Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

We are “justified” (as if we had never sinned before God) by means of faith in the work of Jesus Christ.

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Believing in the person and work of Jesus Christ is the only thing gives salvation, that can cover sin or give us entrance into heaven. John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

In other words, salvation, entering heaven, is only by believing in Jesus Christ.

We Should Not Merchandise Faith

John 2:16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.

Jesus got angry at the Pharisees of his day because they sought to make money from faith and religion who supposedly were ministers serving God and the people.

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And THROUGH COVETOUSNESS SHALL THEY MAKE with feigned words MAKE MERCHANDISE OF YOU: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Here Peter noticed and warned the brothers about the same thing. Peter said that false prophets were going to come with destructive heresies. Their mark is that they will create and twist doctrines so they can profit from the people.

Why does the Catholic Church teach this doctrine of purgatory and then charge for these Masses? It’s because it uses the false doctrine (of purgatory) and makes the mourners feel guilty, and then they shell out money for these Masses. Note that THEY WILL NEVER ANNOUNCE SOMEONE WHO HAS PAID EVERYTHING AND HAS LEFT PURGATORY AND ENTERED HEAVEN while their family is still alive. There’s no money in this, so they don’t do it this way. The purpose of this doctrine is to manipulate mourners into money.

Verses Used to Support Purgatory

1 Corinthians 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Paul referred to fire in the context of judgment day in that God will evaluate the works of every person. If we understand that there is a “having the Son” or refusing the Son, then there are two states, saved or unsaved. This point determines your eternal state, or destination. But beyond heaven or hell, God will also judge people’s works, everything that they do. For the Christian, God will reward him for his works (good works). If they are invalid, not good, then they will be burned up or disappear. For the unsaved, each sin will “raise the temperature of hell a degree more.” Whatever good work he does will not count anything for the unsaved.

Malachi 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

The context is very obvious here, it is to better the person. But the question is, is this referring to the time during his life on earth, or after he dies? It is during his life on earth, and not after he dies.

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James spoke of this same purification on earth and in earthly life, not after death. He wrote this to living believers.

The Price of a Soul

Psalms 49:6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; 7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: 8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

The question is, Did Jesus pay the price that God demands for a soul? Or do we have to pay in purgatory to free us to get into heaven? If Catholicism teaches the “irrefutable” doctrine of purgatory, that it is necessary for Catholics to pass through purgatory before getting to heaven, then what Jesus paid is not sufficient.

Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Did Jesus err in promising the thief (obviously with sins) that he would be that same day with Jesus in Paradise?

2 Corinthians 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

There is no reference to a third place. Alive on earth or dead with the Lord.

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cat16 Purgatory Is Not Biblical