Purgatory and companion thinking

[placebofactor]

What are your thoughts on the following?

The word Purgatory comes from the Latin, purgo, meaning, “I cleanse.” The Catholic Church agrees that it is a place of suffering but is divided on how those in purgatory suffer. Some say fire, others say, tribulation.

Those who teach purgatory say, “That some die in grace and the friendship of God, but burdened with venial sins (minor sins) and imperfections, or before they have done suitable penance for their sins. They teach that the souls of these are cleansed in purgatory of these last hindrances to their entry into the vision of God.

Their communion with the faithful on earth is not broken. The living can bring comfort and alleviation to those in purgatory by their intercessions, Masses, prayers, almsgiving, and other pious works which, in the manner of the Church, the faithful are accustomed to doing for others of the faithful. They admit that the word purgatory is not a Biblical word, and that the doctrine is not taught in Scripture.” This is from the words found in the Catholic Catechism.

This is the teaching of the Catholic Church; Restorationists and Mormons who deny that death brings the final judgment. They maintain that millions of people will have an opportunity for salvation after they die. The Jehovah's Witnesses believe men do not have a soul or spirit, and upon a person's death, the body goes back to dust. But, on the last day, God will create them again out of nothingness.

[1213]

...and that the doctrine is not taught in Scripture....

I think that is good. I don't think there is a second chance, because Bible tells:

Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment,
Heb. 9:27

But, by what the Bible tells, there is "Hades", which seems to be similar to the purgatory. Some people wait there till the judgment day.

...The rich man also died, and was buried. In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom. He cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.' "But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in like manner, bad things. But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish. Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that none may cross over from there to us.' "He said, 'I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house; for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, so they won't also come into this place of torment.' "But Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.' "He said, 'No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' "He said to him, 'If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.'"
Luke 16:19-31

...Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.
Rev. 20:12-15

[placebofactor]

...and that the doctrine is not taught in Scripture....

I think that is good. I don't think there is a second chance, because Bible tells:

Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment,
Heb. 9:27

But, by what the Bible tells, there is "Hades", which seems to be similar to the purgatory. Some people wait there till the judgment day.

Good point: Put into Hades temporally until the judgment. 2 Peter 2:9, "The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:" There are two interesting words in this verse, Kept, or reserved. It is a present tense verb, and means, "being held captive continuously." So those who are in Hades now, those who have died, their soul is in Hades, being held captive continually.

Being "reserved" the second word. Reserved "unto the day of judgment." Literally "under punishment" an on-going punishment as they await the day of judgment. Some believe this thinking is harsh and judgmental. And for this reason, the idea of hell should sadden every Christian. That's why we should pray for those who do not know the Lord.


...The rich man also died, and was buried. In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom. He cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.' "But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in like manner, bad things. But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish. Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that none may cross over from there to us.' "He said, 'I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house; for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, so they won't also come into this place of torment.' "But Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.' "He said, 'No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' "He said to him, 'If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.'"
Luke 16:19-31

...Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.
Rev. 20:12-15

Good post, thanks for that.

[onewithhim]

What are your thoughts on the following?

The word Purgatory comes from the Latin, purgo, meaning, “I cleanse.” The Catholic Church agrees that it is a place of suffering but is divided on how those in purgatory suffer. Some say fire, others say, tribulation.

Those who teach purgatory say, “That some die in grace and the friendship of God, but burdened with venial sins (minor sins) and imperfections, or before they have done suitable penance for their sins. They teach that the souls of these are cleansed in purgatory of these last hindrances to their entry into the vision of God.

Their communion with the faithful on earth is not broken. The living can bring comfort and alleviation to those in purgatory by their intercessions, Masses, prayers, almsgiving, and other pious works which, in the manner of the Church, the faithful are accustomed to doing for others of the faithful. They admit that the word purgatory is not a Biblical word, and that the doctrine is not taught in Scripture.” This is from the words found in the Catholic Catechism.

This is the teaching of the Catholic Church; Restorationists and Mormons who deny that death brings the final judgment. They maintain that millions of people will have an opportunity for salvation after they die. The Jehovah's Witnesses believe men do not have a soul or spirit, and upon a person's death, the body goes back to dust. But, on the last day, God will create them again out of nothingness.

Yes, you are right in what JWs believe. But you don't understand what we believe about the soul and spirit. The soul is the whole person, and there are dead souls as well as alive ones. The soul can die. (Ezekiel 18:4) Animals are also souls. A thorough study of the Scriptures will show this to be true. The spirit that man has is the breath of God, if you will, that animates a person to be alive. (Genesis 2:7) This scripture shows just what I'm talking about. God breathed into Adam the breath of life, and the man "came to be a living soul." Notice that Adam wasn't given a soul. He IS a soul, as that verse confirms. And the spirit that a human has is the Spirit of God that keeps them alive, and when he is dead, the Spirit "returns" to God, because He is the Source of that Spirit. It is good that God will create people again out of nothingness or all the people who were incinerated in the World Trade Center will have no chance.