Purgatorio

The concept of a intermediate place between heaven and hell dates back to the comcept of Abraham’s Bosom (Luke 16:19-31), the place were the Old Testament Prophets, Teachers, and Heroes like King David awaited tell Christ Jesus our Lord died and harrowed hell, and emptied it (1 Peter 3:18-20). 

Unfortunately, the Purgatorium lives on in Roman Catholic tradition. It was invented in 1160 A.D. and wasn’t made a dogma of the Romanite Church until The Council of Lyons in 1245 A.D. The idea evolved from a Maccabean false belief in Judaism that ones prayers could purify (purgate) the dead souls in purgatory so that they could go to heaven (2 Maccabees 12:42-44). This entire ideal is antichrist, for there is one mediator between God and Man, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,” (2 Timothy 2:5), and we are permitted to enter holiest place by Christ’s blood and need only His blood’s purification, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.” (Hebrews 10:19). The idea that people can go to intermediate realm after being lukewarm and disinterested in the Lord is false, Jesus says of the lukewarm, “So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth,” (Revelation 3:16), “Jesus replied, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God,” (Luke 9:62) and “Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:38). 

The greatest refutation to the doctrine of purgatory are these Scriptures:  

“And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43) 

“But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him (die), but he will not return to me.” (2 Samuel 12:23) 

“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:27-28)) 

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21)

“To an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,” (1 Peter 1:4) 

“Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8) 

“I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better,” (Philippians 1:23)

“In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2) 

“But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11:16) 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ [Jews called God Lord, but fail to believe the Truth that Jesus Christ is the Lord see Romans 10:9-10, Philippians 2:4-11) will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven: For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day."“ (Matthew 7:27 + John 6:40). 

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:16-18) 

“Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.,” (1 Thessalonians 4:17) 

“This is the Will of my Father, that all who look to the Son and believe in Him shall have eternal life and be raised up from dead at the last day” (John 6:40) 

“And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3) 

“and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.” (Philippians 3:9)

“ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10) 

“Anyone who confesses Jesus Christ as Son of God, God lives in them and they live in God” (1 John 4:15) 

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) 

Purgatory is a false doctrine ungrounded in Scripture that guves people who are lukewarm or even wicked people the hope that some relative or friend can purify them with prayers for the dead. The truth is you have one chance in this life to choose Christ and go to heaven, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son,” (John 3:16-18)  and “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27). Eternal life is reserved for those who believe in Jesus Christ now and comfess Him tell they finish the race. The Purgatorio is a false hope for those who fell away in the faith or choose to walk in lawlessness. Our Lord Jesus Christ promises heaven only to thise who believe in Him this side of life, in this world (John 6:40, John 3:16-18). Those who think they can depend on a second chance when dead are in for an inferno awakening. To quote the apostle, “For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation,” (2 Corinthians 6:2) and now is when you can be sealed unto paradise by faith in Jesus Christ, God and Son of God. Amen.