The Reality of The Purgatory
as reflected in The Old and New Testaments
as reflected in The Old and New Testaments
PURPOSE
The purpose of this document is to remind the faithful that Purgatory is not a literary resource, but a reality reflected in the Old and New Testaments.
INTRODUCTION
Before we can face God, our souls must be pure. Therefore what we must endure before His Appearance is literally a period of purgation – or Purgatory.
Purgatory is not a literary resource invented by the mind of man to intimidate the faithful, no matter what alleged evangelizers may have wanted to take advantage of fear. The Purgatory is a reality reflected in the Old and New Testaments. It is a manifestation of God's Justice but also of His Mercy: without the purification that souls acquire through Purgatory, we could never meet God.
DETAILS
The reality of Purgatory is part of the Faith Deposit of the Catholic Faith as clearly expressed through the treasury of Indulgences. (1)
In The New Testament
This reality has clear foundation within the New Testament:
Matthew 5:25-26
Agree with your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny.
Agree with your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny.
and more clearly expressed:
Luke 12:54-59
He said to the multitudes also, “When you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’, and so it happens. When a south wind blows, you say, ‘There will be a scorching heat’, and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it that you don’t interpret this time? “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?
For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you, you will by no means get out of there until you have paid the very last penny.”
He said to the multitudes also, “When you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’, and so it happens. When a south wind blows, you say, ‘There will be a scorching heat’, and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it that you don’t interpret this time? “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?
For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you, you will by no means get out of there until you have paid the very last penny.”
In The Old Testament
Within the Old Testament there are several examples/teachings of praying for the dead as well as the encouragement to offer alms for the benefit of the dead. Obviously, the only benefit that could be realized by the dead through such actions would be a shortening of their stay in Purgatory; thus, by clear inference, Judaism (2) has such a place as part of their beliefs.
MORE DETAILS
A Note from miguel de Portugal about Purgatory: Before, I "believed" in Purgatory as most "Catholics believe". A "ho-hum" belief that is more an offense to God than the disbelief of those who do not acknowledge Purgatory because it is not part of their particular faith's creed. Now, I "know" the reality of Purgatory and encourage one and all to seek such salutary conviction from God.
Without using the fancy words of those "book learned" theologians who are more interested in "making a buck" using God than to fathom the depths of His Creation, allow me to tell you about Purgatory:
(a) "Time" in Purgatory is like "Time" for those in the flesh. A "minute", is a minute and a
"century" is a century. Purgatory does not fall in the Eternity time frame
(3). Only Heaven and Hell fall in such category.
(b) It is a place where the unpaid debts to Divine Justice are paid in the same coinage the debt was contracted. Using terms that fallen humanity understands well: If your debt to Divine Justice is in U.S. Dollars, you must pay for it in U.S. Dollars; if in European Union Euros, it must be paid in Euros; if in Japanese Yens, it must be paid in Japanese Yens; etc.
(c) The expiatory suffering takes the form of: Witnessing the suffering caused upon others as the result of the offenses committed against God by the particular soul in Purgatory.
(d) All of the above takes place with a greatness awareness of the joy that awaits the soul once it enters Heaven. (Understand this additional suffering as follows: When you are hungry, it is easier to bear the hunger so long no one is talking about delicious food or you are not witnessing others feast on a sumptuous meal.) Also, one's awareness of the Goodness of God is so enhanced, that the pain of having offended someone Who loves you so is very hard to endure.
(e) Divine Justice and the "Sentence" handed down by It can only be tempered —that is, reduced— through the Mercy of God (4) moved by the prayers of those who are still in the flesh, and, above all, the prayers and intercessions of His Most Holy Mother (5).
(b) It is a place where the unpaid debts to Divine Justice are paid in the same coinage the debt was contracted. Using terms that fallen humanity understands well: If your debt to Divine Justice is in U.S. Dollars, you must pay for it in U.S. Dollars; if in European Union Euros, it must be paid in Euros; if in Japanese Yens, it must be paid in Japanese Yens; etc.
(c) The expiatory suffering takes the form of: Witnessing the suffering caused upon others as the result of the offenses committed against God by the particular soul in Purgatory.
(d) All of the above takes place with a greatness awareness of the joy that awaits the soul once it enters Heaven. (Understand this additional suffering as follows: When you are hungry, it is easier to bear the hunger so long no one is talking about delicious food or you are not witnessing others feast on a sumptuous meal.) Also, one's awareness of the Goodness of God is so enhanced, that the pain of having offended someone Who loves you so is very hard to endure.
(e) Divine Justice and the "Sentence" handed down by It can only be tempered —that is, reduced— through the Mercy of God (4) moved by the prayers of those who are still in the flesh, and, above all, the prayers and intercessions of His Most Holy Mother (5).
NOTES
Part 2 – Why the need for Purgatory if Jesus already paid our
sins for us?
Does the existence of Purgatory proves that Jesus' sacrifice was not enough? No! See the answer
for yourself.
Related Documents
The treasury of Indulgences – Hope for the Souls in Purgatory
Suffering : Mankind's Participation in its Own Redemption
Do Not Despair – NEVER Give Up!
Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me! – It is the easiest possible way!
The Mercy of God – God's Greatest Attribute
The relationship between "Time" and "Eternity"
Halloween – Search Results from Keyword
About Sin – It should not be a tool of enslavement through guilt
The Future of Souls – Heaven or Hell? – What happen to the souls when the body dies
God does not punish – We freely choose that disgraces fall upon us
Suffering : Mankind's Participation in its Own Redemption
Do Not Despair – NEVER Give Up!
Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me! – It is the easiest possible way!
The Mercy of God – God's Greatest Attribute
The relationship between "Time" and "Eternity"
Halloween – Search Results from Keyword
About Sin – It should not be a tool of enslavement through guilt
The Future of Souls – Heaven or Hell? – What happen to the souls when the body dies
God does not punish – We freely choose that disgraces fall upon us
In Spanish: La realidad del Purgatorio reflejada en el Antiguo y el Nuevo Testamento
Originally published in 2004 as part of our document "Appearances Are Deceiving" • Published on October 31st, 2020 as a standalone document
© Copyright 2020 - 2023 by The M+G+R Foundation. All rights reserved. However, you
may freely reproduce and distribute this document as long as: (1) Appropriate credit is given as
to its source; (2) No changes are made in the text without prior written consent; and (3) No
charge is made for it.
Online since 1998
Introduction for First Visit
Frequently Asked Questions
Home Page English Español Portugues
Search Page Index of Documents
Disclaimer About Us Contact
Back Up Home Page (Mirror Site)
Home Page English Español Portugues
Search Page Index of Documents
Disclaimer About Us Contact
Back Up Home Page (Mirror Site)