IS PURGATORY BIBLICAL?

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

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 31 – Ecclesiastes 3

 

The tradition of purgatory teaches that, upon death, many souls enter a spiritual realm between heaven and hell during which sins are dealt with until they are prepared for heaven. Purgatory is a place where sin is “purged” before a person can enter heaven.  Furthermore this tradition encourages the living to do works on behalf of the dead in order to improve the situation of those in purgatory. It also encourages praying for the dead, indulgences, just to mention a few. Those who practice this tradition back it up with 1 Corinthians 3:15 which Say, if any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yes so as by fire.

 

Firstly, 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 uses an illustration of things going through fire as a description of believer’s works being judged.  If our works are of good quality “gold, silver, costly stones,” they will pass through the fire unharmed, and we will be rewarded for them. If our works are of poor quality “wood, hay, and straw,” they will be consumed by the fire, and there will be no reward. The passage does not say that believers will pass through fire, but rather that a believer’s works pass through the fire.  1 Corinthians 3:15 refers to the believer “escaping through the flames,” not “being cleansed by the flames.”

 

Secondly, the bible speaks clearly of two options in the afterlife in Luke 16: 19-31 (the story of Lazarus and the rich man).  When the wicked rich man died, he went straight to hell. When Lazarus died, he went straight to heaven. Jesus makes it clear that after life has two options, and that both heaven and hell are eternal.  The end of the bible also makes clear God’s plan for the end of time. Revelations 20: 12 -15 says "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."Once again, only two choices exist, heaven or hell.

 

Lastly apostle Paul says in Hebrews 9:27, and as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. The doctrine of purgatory is not anywhere in the bible.

 

ACTION: Let us remember all those who are yet to give their lives to Christ in prayer, that the Lord will touch their hearts. Let us also remember all those whose hearts are broken, that the Lord will comfort them.

 

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.