Where in the Bible is Purgatory mentioned?
The most prominent modern historian of the idea of Purgatory, Jacques Le Goff, dates the term purgatorium to around 1170; and in 1215 the Church began to set out the actual length of time in Purgatory required of souls.
Some Christians, typically Roman Catholics, recognize the doctrine of purgatory. The Eastern Orthodox are less likely to use the term, although they believe an intermediate state after death and before final judgment, and consequentially offer prayers for the dead. But what does God say in His Word about praying for the dead?
There are 43 scriptures in the Bible which say not to pray for the dead, or to the dead! Deuteronomy 18:11 is just one of them, which says "do not turn to a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead!"
1 Timothy 2:5-6 - "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time."
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 - "For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun."
Purgatory is said to be a place where souls with unforgiven sins will go, so that they can be purified and reach Heaven. One particularly well-known Catholic method of exploitation in the Middle Ages was the practice of selling indulgences, a monetary payment of penalty which, supposedly, absolved one of past sins and/or released one from purgatory after death, but no scripture in God's Word, supports nor confirms this.
Martin Luther dropped his belief in Purgatory, altogether. He denied that a person's actions had any role to play in salvation, saying faith alone was what counted. The sale of indulgences was abolished by the Pope in 1567.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 says tells us what happens when a person dies. It says, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.” In other words, when a person dies, his or her spirit goes back to God, the body returns to dust and the soul of that person no longer exist. That verse does not mean that all go to heaven, because there are those who don't want to go to Heaven nor have anything to do with God. In that case, He acknowledges their choice.
God's Word makes it clear, that those in the graves will “hear his voice” on Resurrection Day and then be raised from the dead, either to a resurrection of eternal life with God or to a resurrection of condemnation where they are separated from God. Contrary to belief, God does NOT make the choice of our eternal destination FOR us. That is strictly up to us. We are responsible for the care and destination of our own souls. That is why Jesus said to prepare our souls for eternity right now, because once we cross over into the spiritual realm, there are no opportunities to change our minds as to our eternal destination.
Some have promoted the idea of a second chance after death, but God said that people do not have an opportunity to repent or to put faith in Jesus after they die. Hebrews 9:27
Verses 27-30 make it clear that the context is final judgment. Everyone, including those in the graves will “hear his voice” and then be raised from the dead, either to a resurrection of eternal life with God, or the opposite, where they are separated from God by their own choice.
All people will “hear the voice of the Son of God” when the Son of God judges the world. There's no pre-judgment event where he preaches the gospel to people who have died, but never accepted him. If people have not accepted Jesus and his Plan of Salvation in this life, they will not all of a sudden change their mind just because they have died. They have made their choice and that is final. Once you cross over, there's no changing your mind and there's no one that can pray you out of hell. The scripture is clear on that. Because hell is permanent, praying for the salvation of souls who reside there, will do no good. Praying to the dead is strictly forbidden in the Bible. Deuteronomy 18:11. Jesus even said not to pray to, nor worship the dead. Not even Mary. The Bible says this is an abomination to the Lord if we do this. The dead cannot hear our prayers. The Bible expresslyforbids any practices which have a remote connection with any form of idolatry. Ancestor worship which has the notion of divine appellation intrinsic to it, is therefore clearly forbidden by the Scriptures. When we ask Jesus to save us, we are put into the state of grace and nothing will change that after we die.
Despite these truths, it is not up to us to assume the eternal destination of people, based on our external assessment of their lives. We are not in the position of God to know the inner workings of a person’s heart and mind, particularly in the hours preceding death. We need to rest in the assurance that both judgment and salvation belong to the Lord (Psalm 96:13, Jonah 2:9). God is perfect in all his ways and cannot sin. He is just in all his ways and we can trust that God will judge perfectly, not like flawed man. He is not willing that any perish.
Some Christians, typically Roman Catholics, recognize the doctrine of purgatory. The Eastern Orthodox are less likely to use the term, although they believe an intermediate state after death and before final judgment, and consequentially offer prayers for the dead. But what does God say in His Word about praying for the dead?
There are 43 scriptures in the Bible which say not to pray for the dead, or to the dead! Deuteronomy 18:11 is just one of them, which says "do not turn to a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead!"
1 Timothy 2:5-6 - "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time."
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 - "For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun."
Purgatory is said to be a place where souls with unforgiven sins will go, so that they can be purified and reach Heaven. One particularly well-known Catholic method of exploitation in the Middle Ages was the practice of selling indulgences, a monetary payment of penalty which, supposedly, absolved one of past sins and/or released one from purgatory after death, but no scripture in God's Word, supports nor confirms this.
Martin Luther dropped his belief in Purgatory, altogether. He denied that a person's actions had any role to play in salvation, saying faith alone was what counted. The sale of indulgences was abolished by the Pope in 1567.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 says tells us what happens when a person dies. It says, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.” In other words, when a person dies, his or her spirit goes back to God, the body returns to dust and the soul of that person no longer exist. That verse does not mean that all go to heaven, because there are those who don't want to go to Heaven nor have anything to do with God. In that case, He acknowledges their choice.
God's Word makes it clear, that those in the graves will “hear his voice” on Resurrection Day and then be raised from the dead, either to a resurrection of eternal life with God or to a resurrection of condemnation where they are separated from God. Contrary to belief, God does NOT make the choice of our eternal destination FOR us. That is strictly up to us. We are responsible for the care and destination of our own souls. That is why Jesus said to prepare our souls for eternity right now, because once we cross over into the spiritual realm, there are no opportunities to change our minds as to our eternal destination.
Some have promoted the idea of a second chance after death, but God said that people do not have an opportunity to repent or to put faith in Jesus after they die. Hebrews 9:27
Verses 27-30 make it clear that the context is final judgment. Everyone, including those in the graves will “hear his voice” and then be raised from the dead, either to a resurrection of eternal life with God, or the opposite, where they are separated from God by their own choice.
All people will “hear the voice of the Son of God” when the Son of God judges the world. There's no pre-judgment event where he preaches the gospel to people who have died, but never accepted him. If people have not accepted Jesus and his Plan of Salvation in this life, they will not all of a sudden change their mind just because they have died. They have made their choice and that is final. Once you cross over, there's no changing your mind and there's no one that can pray you out of hell. The scripture is clear on that. Because hell is permanent, praying for the salvation of souls who reside there, will do no good. Praying to the dead is strictly forbidden in the Bible. Deuteronomy 18:11. Jesus even said not to pray to, nor worship the dead. Not even Mary. The Bible says this is an abomination to the Lord if we do this. The dead cannot hear our prayers. The Bible expresslyforbids any practices which have a remote connection with any form of idolatry. Ancestor worship which has the notion of divine appellation intrinsic to it, is therefore clearly forbidden by the Scriptures. When we ask Jesus to save us, we are put into the state of grace and nothing will change that after we die.
Despite these truths, it is not up to us to assume the eternal destination of people, based on our external assessment of their lives. We are not in the position of God to know the inner workings of a person’s heart and mind, particularly in the hours preceding death. We need to rest in the assurance that both judgment and salvation belong to the Lord (Psalm 96:13, Jonah 2:9). God is perfect in all his ways and cannot sin. He is just in all his ways and we can trust that God will judge perfectly, not like flawed man. He is not willing that any perish.
