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Purpose of Purgatory
Is Not Punishment
    Sufferings in this Life are: Sufferings in Purgatory similar to those of Hell
    • Intended as Calls to Repentance
    • Attempts to Dissuade others from Offending God
    • Trials (Tests in Regard to one's Faith)
    • Spiritual Development of self or others
  1. Endure your trials as "discipline"; God treats you as sons. For what "son" is there whom his father does not discipline? [Hebrews 12:7] – father; papa; pope; bishop of Rome.
  2. Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, [James 1:2]
  3. Because you have kept my message of endurance, I will keep you safe in the time of trial that is going to come to the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. [Rev. 3:10]
  • Purgatory is a place of correction; of training; of gaining full love of God.
    • It is a place of acquiring knowledge that should have been learned in this life.
  • Hell is a place of confinement of body, soul, and spirit.
    • It is a place that prevents contamination by evil ones.
    • It is a place where the worm dies not. [Mk. 9:46]
    • It is a place where Satan gloats over lost souls: Click on triangle that looks like this on the bar to right - the 2nd image
      • "And as for you, Capernaum, 'Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.' " [Lk. 10:15; Mt. 11:23]
      • "Yet down to the netherworld you go to the recesses of the pit!" [Is. 14:15]

        The earth’s crust on land is normally 50 miles thick. You’d have to go down 50 miles before the edge of the fire. But in parts of the ocean floor, the earth’s crust is less than a mile thick.
        Scientists recently discovered cracks on the ocean floor where fire was leaking out. Do you know what they found around these fire-breathing vents in the crust? Eight-foot long worms, found no other place in the world!

Conditions In HELL:   "Just as weeds are collected and burned (up) with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  Whoever has ears ought to hear."  [Mt. 13:40-43]  P A I N  Click bar on Click on triangle that looks like this on the bar to right - the 2nd image

Beloved, do not look for revenge but leave room for the wrath; for it is written,
"Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." [Romans 12:19]

Only the absolutely perfect are permitted into Heaven.  So long as there is any attachment to or desire for sin, eternal life is denied. In Hell, as in Purgatory, one is in a state of existence that is ultra sensitive to pain and suffering.  Only in Heaven is one's immortal body freed from all association with the throbbing torment of tribulation. – Temporal examples:

  • for the king's order was urgent. So huge a fire was kindled in the furnace that the flames devoured the men who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into it. But these three fell, bound, into the midst of the white-hot furnace.
            ..."But," he replied, "I see four men unfettered and unhurt, walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God." Then Nebuchadnezzar came to the opening of the white-hot furnace and called to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: "Servants of the most high God, come out." Thereupon Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire. When the satraps, prefects, governors, and nobles of the king came together, they saw that the fire had had no power over the bodies of these men; not a hair of their heads had been singed, nor were their garments altered; there was not even a smell of fire about them. [Daniel 3:22-23, 25-27]
  • Then I saw an angel standing on the sun. He cried out (in) a loud voice to all the birds flying high overhead, "Come here. Gather for God's great feast, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of military officers, and the flesh of warriors, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of all, free and slave, small and great." [Rev. 19:17-18]
        If those partially freed from the corruption of sin –repentant but still tainted with the desire for sin, or in some degree of denial in regard to personal responsibility for sin– were to made wholly clean by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, then there would be no reason for Christ's command, "be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." [Matthew 5:48].
        No one ever has been or ever will be given a free ride into Heaven. Free will must be utilized to establish one's worthiness or unworthiness to benefit from Jesus' suffering and death on the Cross.

  • ...for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. [Mt. 26:28]  (Only repentant sinners benefit from Jesus' death.)
  • ...and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. [Luke 24:47]  (repentance is necessary for Jesus' shed blood on the cross to have effect. The gates of Heaven were made open but not all are allowed to enter.)
  • "To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name." [Acts 10:43]  (In Jesus' name sins are forgiven in confession, the sacrament of Penance. [Jn. 20:23])

Rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, insincerity, envy, and all slander; like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk so that through it you may grow into salvation, for you have tasted that the Lord is good. Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [1 Peter 2:1-5]

        Do not despair. Confronting oneself with spiritual reality can be most difficult for those who have long been presented with shallow teachings, often purely humanistic that have been denuded of the need for a positive relationship with God. Such humanistic teachings have commonly been presented, by word and/or omission, from the average pulpit. Watered down sermons, now referred to as homilies, have (by effect) encouraged people to be drawn to self-pity and self-love.
        These public presentations weaken faith, develop acceptance of self-centeredness and result in self-destruction. Overcoming denial is often the hardest part of the conversion of one's heart to God. Reflection on Jesus' suffering, and then His death on the cross, should help everyone understand the potential and often real difficulties that exist on the path to salvation.

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy,
and my burden light." [Mt. 11:28-30]

       When making a confession do not expect the priest to be surprised at the sins confessed. Many penitents before you have already confessed these same sins, and some of them he may have committed himself. A priest may seem disinterested or even bored when hearing your confession. While this at times may be true, at least to some extent, you should keep in mind that he is there because he has made a commitment to the Lord, and that his own salvation could depend upon how well he does his job in the confessional.

  • Whose sins you (eleven ordained priests {apostles} and their successors of faith) forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." [John 20:23]
  • "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered.
    Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not record." [Romans 4:7-8]
        Sins forgiven in the Sacrament of Penance are not recorded.
        Names of repentant sinners are found in the book of life.
    • Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the pool of fire. [Rev. 20:15]  Tormented in Hell received from BBC. Click on triangle that looks like this on the bar to right - the 2nd image
    • but nothing unclean will enter it (the holy city of God), nor any (one) who does abominable things or tells lies. Only those will enter whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. [Rev. 21:27]

       A penitent always has the option of anonymity (to not be seen by the priest). A penitent needs never identify himself and should not identify any accomplice in sin. It is useful if the penitent states his age, state of life, and details that help the priest act as proper judge and healer. He is required to state how long it has been since his last confession to the best of his recollection. If the penitent has problems of any sort in making a confession, he should state his concerns to the priest, who is to be understanding.
        Pertinent (relevant) questions may be asked by the confessor regarding matters of faith and morals. A penitent may seek the priests advice in the confessional, but concerns should not be so prolonged as to unduly delay the confessions of others who may be waiting for their confessions to be heard. Personal counseling sessions may be scheduled in regard to extended problems.
       It is obligatory, minimally once a year, to personally confess to a priest, by kind and at least approximately by number, all unforgiven mortal sins in a manner sufficiently clear to reveal the seriousness of the offenses. Information which changes the character or gravity of a sin confessed must also be stated. If there is no mortal sin to be confessed, a venial sin or a serious sin from earlier in one's life is sufficient matter for confession.

    The following traditional form for making a confession follows (While not mandatory it is a simple way of presenting oneself in a worthy manner):
    1. Begin with the following while making the sign of the cross: "Bless me, Father, for I confess to almighty God and to you father that I have sinned. It has been (__ days - __ weeks - __ months) since my last confession. By the grace of God, I received absolution and performed my penance."   Then, confess your sins stating how often you have committed each sin.  Do not use the words, "several times" or "quite often," or similar expressions.  Be as accurate as you are able.  Only if necessary use the qualifying word, "approximately."
    2. Add at the end: "I am sorry for these, and all the sins of my past life, especially for (here mention, in general, sins against charity, obedience, purity, of anger, etc.) and ask for absolution from almighty God and from you father for my sins."
    3. The confessor asks questions, gives counsel, assigns a meaningful penance to be completed soon after leaving the confessional –or as reasonably directed in keeping with the good of your soul– but except with special exception before one's next confession. If the penance is forgotten or does not seem clear, go back and tell the priest and receive another penance to perform.  Holy Communion may be received prior to doing one's penance.  The priest should ask the penitent to now make an Act of Contrition similar to the following example.
              (The act of contrition must be made with full sincerity and should be based upon a real love of God. The commitment to make a sincere effort at not committing the confessed sins again is obligatory. The concept that one can go to confession on Saturday and receive Holy Communion on Sunday, then be open to sinning again during the coming week is wrong, and the confessed sins have not been forgiven.)
        “Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins because of your just punishment, but most of all because I have offended you my God who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of your grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin.”
    4. Priest gives absolution as the penitent bows head and the penitent concludes with, "Amen." (For the words of absolution used by the priest Click Here)
    5. Priest: “Give thanks to the Lord for He is Good.”
    6. Penitent: “His mercy endures for ever.”
    7. Priest then dismisses the penitent. "Go in peace to love and serve the Lord."
    8. Before leaving the penitent responds: "Thank you father."

Understanding Purgatory

       A reasonably sincere confession with absolution removes the evidence of sin (One's name is restored to the "Book of Life"). The eternal consequence of sin –permanent separation from God– is removed by the act Jesus made on Calvary. However, that which remains –the tendency toward sin– must also be removed before one is permitted to enter into Heaven. The imperfection which remains –weakness of faith and the tendency toward sin– is the reason for Purgatory (a place of cleansing for the mind and heart). It is improbable that most will sufficiently act to entirely remove this tendency (imperfection) prior to death.

       Without Purgatory –a place of cleansing from attachment to sin; a learning process for gaining wisdom not acquired in this life– very few would ever be qualified to be received into Heaven. Because of human stubbornness the fires of Purgatory have to be educationally hot, otherwise final judgement would –due to common human obstinacy even in the fires of Purgatory– have to be pushed off until the super blaze just before the day of final judgement.

  1. They invaded the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the holy ones and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them. The Devil who had led them astray was thrown into the pool of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. [Rev. 20:9-10]
  2. But as for cowards, the unfaithful, the depraved, murderers, the unchaste, sorcerers, idol-worshipers, and deceivers of every sort, their lot is in the burning pool of fire and sulfur, which is the second death." [Rev. 21:8]

        Those who die closer to the end time will correspondingly suffer hotter fires and an increase in other sufferings to adjust for the shorter duration of time available for corrective education. One must have perfect love of God –totally free from the tendency toward sin– before being permitted into Heaven. There are no exceptions; no free rides into Heaven.

Shorting the Stay in Purgatory

       The time one spends in Purgatory can be shortened –by those still living on earth– through expressions of love conveyed through Masses said for them. Almsgiving and other good deeds, sacrifices, acts of reparation and mortification, and prayers unselfishly offered by priestly people at Holy Mass can be presented by a moral priest for their benefit. According to the sincerity of the offerer and the worthiness of the celebrant priest, the recipient in Purgatory receives a proportionately heightened learning experience by which he can gauge and adjust his own faulty value systems and otherwise increase his own love of God.

    13 May 1917, Fatima, Portugal
             During a conversation between Lucia Abóbora (dos Santos) –the oldest of the three children of Fatima, born 22 March 1907 and still living– and Our Lady of Fatima, Lucia had asked if a deceased friend, Amelia, was in Heaven. The Blessed Mother responded, "She will be in Purgatory until the end of the world."
             It is believed that this girl, about 16 years of age, had become involved with sins of fleshly desire. On a later date the three children were given a vision in which countless numbers of people were endlessly falling into Hell. Many years later Lucia said she believed that most people go to Hell because of sins of the flesh.

       Masses, personal sacrifices, and prayers offered for the benefit of the poor souls in Purgatory are also personally developmental as they help the offerer to understand and reject their own tendency for self-absorption.*  Great numbers of offerings are of less immediate value than personally involved offerings that reveal to the poor souls the unselfish depth of love someone is willing to share with them.

*       Being self-absorbed is different from being selfish. It is being so focused on one's own life, own surroundings, and own activities that one becomes contained in a circular existence that sets aside the importance of both the spiritual and non-associative temporal worlds. Self-contained people are of little real value to this life or the next. Such an existence can only be broken away from by recognizing the shallowness of such an existence and then turning to God for the true meaning of life.  NOTE:  Many charitable acts only serve to promote personal prestige.

       The time spent in Purgatory is a period of cleansing during which a process of learning is undertaken that eventually brings about a change of mind and heart. The process is speeded up by sincere and unselfish offerings. As with all good works there can be seen a potential reciprocal response/reward. It is very likely that one who has obtained an early release from the sufferings of Purgatory will in turn strongly petition God for your needs in this life and for your early release from Purgatory should the occasion arise.

Praying to Saints

"Amen, I say to you, among those born of women
there has been none greater than John the Baptist;
yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." [Mt. 11:11]

       The above passage indicates that saints in the lowest rank of those in Heaven have direct access to, and the full attention of God. While God is fully aware of everyone on earth, even John the Baptist – the holiest natural person ever to have existed (Jesus and the Blessed Mother were apart from the natural order in that they were conceived without original sin) – was not capable of directly conversing with God as were those already in Heaven. The happiness that each perfected person in Heaven brings the Holy Trinity is so far superior to that received from the holiness of the best person in this life is such that a realistic comparison cannot be made.

God listens more attentively to the requests of the
least significant saint at home with Him in Heaven
than to the petitions of the holiest person who is still in this life.

Everyone can pray to God directly, and will be worthily heard if in the state of grace
(freed from the contamination of mortal sin in confession),
but, praying to a saint living with God in Heaven will be much more effective.

Is it more effective to pray through saints or directly to God ?

Fear on Doomsday:  Click bar on Click on triangle that looks like this on the bar to right - the 2nd image   "Then the angel took the censer, filled it with burning coals from the altar, and hurled it down to the earth. There were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake." [Rev. 8:5]



The Existence of Purgatory
The fires of Purgatory are incentives for spiritual growth. The fires of Hell punish those who have rejected truth (who failed to pay attention to the Word of God) --- Angels bring the purified from fire to Heaven

PRAYING for the Dead

    All Souls Day and Remembrance of those who are in, or may be in Purgatory -- Departed souls who are in Heaven do not need your prayers, but, they will use them for their own intentions; frequently for the souls who offered them for their benefit when the need arises, as it often does. Departed souls who are in Hell can never benefit from your prayers and offerings. It is suggested that you make a secondary intention of some sort, such as, for the intentions of the Blessed Mother, or, for any soul in purgatory. (Except for formally declared saints by a moral pope there can be no certainty that anyone who has died following conception is now in Heaven.)

PURGATORY

            From the very earliest stages of our lives we focused on our own needs, that is, food, comfort, attention, etc. By design, our attention is first drawn to ourselves and to our surroundings. As we grow we commonly learn to seek those things which bring us personal pleasure. Depending on our own strength of relationship with God, we often give into temptation and accept the pleasures of sin and further turn away from what is truly good.

            While it may well not be intentional on our part or theirs, we learn and accept many thoughts, words and practices from our parents, guardians, relatives, friends, instructors and society as a whole which are not eternally beneficial to ourselves or to others. To put it simply, we acquire a taste for sin.

            Some are drawn to what is good at an early age, others during later life and most choose, either directly or by inaction, the temporal or momentary pleasures of this life. (“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many.   How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.” Mt. 7:13f).  Those of us who do seek what is true and good have great difficulty in overcoming the bad practices or habits which we have learned and cultivated during the prior years of our lives.

            Heaven is a place of absolute perfection. Spiritual imperfection is not allowed. Those who are not 100% perfect in exercising self-control, according to the will of God, and have not reached the point of absolute faith, love and trust of God cannot enter Heaven until they have achieved this goal. Purgatory is the place of learning in the next life, through intense suffering, what we could have learned in this life, but did not.

            Reaching perfection is an intellectual process of gaining perfect self-discipline. It is a process which calls for the absolute acceptance of the power of God and the complete intellectual control of our free will in a process which brings us into total agreement in thought and in action, with the unlimited and perfect knowledge of God. There is no acceptance in Heaven of the tendency toward even one bad habit. We either overcome all bad habits and the tendency toward them in this life, or, we spend time in Purgatory purging our acceptance of such habits.

            For all of us this is a very difficult learning process. We are so wrapped up in our own opinions, wants and/or human comforts that we keep putting off decisions to learn and conform to God's will. We all have a high degree of stubbornness within us and we find it very difficult to even acknowledge that we even might be in error, let alone accept the fact that we really are in error and need to change. Lack of Humility is the major factor in our failure to change.

            We fail to accept the full extent of God's power, which is absolute, and we fail to accept the necessity of conforming to his will. Generally we find it easier to accept our own opinions and interpretations of what is right and wrong, rather than to submit to authentic teaching authority. Humility demands that we submit fully to morally just authorities.

            We should always keep in mind that all just authority is able to withstand thorough examination. We should also understand that just authority is always reasonable, even as God is always reasonable. Please keep in mind that what we would often like to consider reasonable or unreasonable, using our normal human standards, is not binding upon God. Before we may enter Heaven we must learn the way of God's thoughts, that is, we must learn to think from his point of view and put his commands from his point of view into practice.

Testing for Personal HUMILITY:

    1. Am I willing to learn something new?
    2. Am I willing to change what I have learned in error, or learn a new way of doing something?
    3. Do I submit to legitimate authority?
    4. When in ignorance of something do I often acknowledge that I do not know the answer to a question or that I do not know how to perform a particular task?
    5. Do I listen to others more than I talk?
    6. Do I often ask questions in order to learn rather than not say anything and continue in ignorance?
    7. Do I readily acknowledge my weaknesses?
    8. Do I readily acknowledge my personal imperfections?
    9. Do I readily acknowledge when I am at fault?
    10. Do I humbly regard others as more important than myself, looking out for their interests as well as my own? (Phil 2:3)
    11. Do I apologize when I am in the wrong?
    12. Have I been to confession in the past 12 months?
    13. Do I stay in mortal sin (longer than necessary) even though I could readily go to confession?
    14. Do I accept my own limitations?
    15. Am I willing to say, “I don't Know!” Please tell me or help me to understand.
    16. Do I retain or defend any of the following habits: Smoking _ Chewing tobacco _ Taking the Lord's name in vain _ Using of illegal drugs _ Drinking to excess (frequently accompanied by denial and/or secret drinking) _ Desiring pornography _ Practicing illicit sex _ etc.
    17. From the answers I have given above, how many years of very painful learning will I have to suffer before I will be allowed into Heaven if I were to die today - and do not go directly Hell?

    We must all learn to apply each and every one of God's teachings to ourselves.

WHY DOES PURGATORY EXIST?

    We were created in the image and likeness of God (GN 1:27).

            Complete and totally uninhibited eternal free will is essential to the nature of our existence as intelligent beings who are intended to share Heaven as brothers and sisters of Christ.  For God to subvert or circumvent our free will in any way, either in this life or in the next, would be to reduce the nature of our being, infinitesimal though it may be, to a point of our being incapable of having a fruitful, i.e. a worthwhile, relationship with God.
            For the majority of us who do make the positive decision to serve God and are not yet properly prepared (humble enough) to enter Heaven, the only choice is to make the transition to goodness in Purgatory.  This is done through an intense learning process by spending as much time in purgatory as is necessary to accomplish the required goal of absolute spiritual perfection.  Depending upon the degree of our denial of being a sinner, denial of personal guilt for sin, and our stubbornness, this process may take hundreds or even thousands of years.  Denial is easier to overcome in this life than in Purgatory.

Catechism of the Catholic Church (©1994)
The Profession of Faith


III.   THE FINAL PURIFICATION, OR PURGATORY
    1030        All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

    1031        The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. 604  The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent.  The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire: 605

            As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come.1 From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come. 606

    1. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. [Matthew 12:32]

    1032        This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: “Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.” 607  From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. 608  The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:
            Let us help and commemorate them. If Job’s sons were purified by their father’s sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them. 609

604      Cf. Council of Florence (1439): DS 1304; Council of Trent (1563): DS 1820;
            (1547): 1580; see also Benedict XII, Benedictus Deus (1336): DS 1000.
605      Cf. 1 Cor 3:15; 1 Pet 1:7.
606      St. Gregory the Great, Dial. 4,39: PL 77, 396; cf. Mt 12:31.
607 2   Macc 12:46.
608      Cf. Council of Lyons 11(1274): DS 856.

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  1. He then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view; for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death. But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. [46] Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin. 2 Macc. 12:43-45
  2. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5:25-26
  3. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. Matthew 12:32
  4. If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny." Luke 12:58-59
  5. But if someone's work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire. 1 Cor. 3:15
  6. For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the spirit. In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison, who had once been disobedient while God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved through water. This prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him. 1 Peter 3:18-22
  7. If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly. 1 John 5:16-17
  8. But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to examine it. Rev. 5:3
  9. Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out: "To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever." Rev. 5:13
  10. whom God set forth as an expiation, through faith, by his blood, to prove his righteousness because of the forgiveness of sins previously committed, Romans 3:25
  11. How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. Romans 5:9
  12. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 1 Cor. 10:16
  13. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have become near by the blood of Christ. Ephes. 2:13
  14. and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross (through him), whether those on earth or those in heaven. Col. 1:20
  15. how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God. Hebrews 9:14
  16. in the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification by the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ: may grace and peace be yours in abundance. 1 Peter 1:2
  17. but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb. 1 Peter 1:19
  18. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
  19. and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, Rev. 1:5
  20. and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.' [Luke 16:23-24]
  21. In Matthew 13:42, Jesus says: "And shall cast them into a FURNACE OF FIRE: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
  22. In Matthew 25:41, Jesus says: "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting FIRE,. . ."
  23. Revelation 20:15 says, " And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the LAKE OF FIRE."
  24. Ephesians 4:9, says of Jesus: "Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the LOWER PARTS OF THE EARTH."
  25. (Isa. 14:9, 15: Ezek. 32:18-21) and 'the abyss' (Rev. 9:2). . .
  26. In Numbers 16, the Bible gives the account of people falling into hell alive!
  27. "And THE EARTH OPENED HER MOUTH, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive INTO THE PIT, and the EARTH CLOSED UPON THEM:" Numbers 16:32-33
  28. "In Mark 9:46, Jesus Christ says about hell: "Where THEIR WORM dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."
  29. Isaiah 66:24:  And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
          And at this point — they have received their NEW BODY! Notice what Isaiah says, the saved people shall "LOOK upon the CARCASSES of the men that have transgressed. . ." It's worth mentioning that a "carcass" is not always a "DEAD body". Twice the Bible specifically uses the term "dead carcass" [Dt. 14:8 and Ez. 6:5].

WHAT JESUS CHRIST SAYS ABOUT HELL !

  1. "fire" Matt 7:19, 13:40, 25:41
  2. "everlasting fire" Matt 18:8, 25:41
  3. "eternal damnation" Mark 3:29
  4. "hell fire" Matt 5:22, 18:9, Mark 9:47
  5. "damnation" Matt 23:14, Mark 12:40, Luke 20:47
  6. "damnation of hell" Matt 23:33
  7. "resurrection of damnation" John 5:29
  8. "furnace of fire" Matt 13:42, 50
  9. "the fire that never shall be quenched" Mark 9:43, 45
  10. "the fire is not quenched" Mark 9:44, 46, 48
  11. "Where their worm dieth not" Mark 9:44, 46, 48
  12. "wailing and gnashing of teeth" Matt 13:42, 50
  13. "weeping and gnashing of teeth" Matt 8:12, 22:13, 25:30
  14. "torments" Luke 16:23
  15. "tormented in this flame" Luke 16:24
  16. "place of torment" Luke 16:28
  17. "outer darkness" Matt 8:12, 22:13
  18. "everlasting punishment" Matt 25:46

WHAT IF JESUS IS RIGHT?

  1. Hebrews 9:27 says, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this THE JUDGEMENT:"
  2. "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" [Mark 8:36]
  3. ". . . Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."  [I Cor. 2:9]

REALIZE THAT YOU ARE A SINNER.

  1. "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" [Rm. 3:10]
  2. "... for there is no difference. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" [Rm. 3:23]

REALIZE that JESUS CHRIST DIED on the CROSS to OPEN the GATES of HEAVEN.

    1. Sins are forgiven in the Sacrament of Penance.
      • Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." [Jn. 20:23]
      • "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered. [Rm. 4:7]
    2. The remnant of sin (continuing association with sin) is overcome in Purgatory.
  1. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, ..." [1 Pet. 2:24]
  2. "... Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood," [Rev. 1:5]

  1. The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood,
    At the coming of the Day of the LORD, the great and terrible day. [Joel 2:31 – 3:4]
  2. On this day, when the LORD delivered up the Amorites to the Israelites,
    Joshua prayed to the LORD, and said in the presence of Israel:
    Stand still, O sun, at Gibeon, O moon, in the valley of Aijalon!
    And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, while the nation took vengeance on its foes.
    Is this not recorded in the Book of Jashar? The sun halted in the middle of the sky; not for a whole day did it resume its swift course. [Joshua 10:12-13]
  3. (Isaiah answered:) "This will be the sign for you from the LORD that he will do what he has promised: See, I will make the shadow cast by the sun on the stairway to the terrace of Ahaz go back the ten steps it has advanced." So the sun came back the ten steps it had advanced. [Isaiah 38:7-8]
  4. On that day, says the Lord GOD, I will make the sun set at midday and cover the earth with darkness in broad daylight. [Amos 8:9]
  5. Therefore you shall have night, not vision, darkness, not divination; The sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall be dark for them. [Micah 3:6]
  6. at sight of you the mountains tremble. A torrent of rain descends; the ocean gives forth its roar. The sun forgets to rise, [Habakkuk 3:10]
  7. "Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. [Matthew 24:29]
  8. "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. [Luke 21:25]
  9. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and splendid day of the Lord, [Acts 2:20]
  10. Then I watched while he broke open the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; the sun turned as black as dark sackcloth and the whole moon became like blood. [Rev. 6:12]
  11. They will not hunger or thirst anymore, nor will the sun or any heat strike them. [Rev. 7:16]
  12. When the fourth angel blew his trumpet, a third of the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them became dark. The day lost its light for a third of the time, as did the night. [Rev. 8:12]
  13. It opened the passage to the abyss, and smoke came up out of the passage like smoke from a huge furnace. The sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the passage. [Rev. 9:2]
  14. Did he not by his power stop the sun, so that one day became two? [Sirach 46:4]
  15. Jeremiah 12:6 says:  For even your own brothers, the members of your father's house, betray you; they have recruited a force against you. Do not believe them, even if they are friendly to you in their words.
    [11:19] Yet I, like a trusting lamb led to slaughter, had not realized that they were hatching plots against me: "Let us destroy the tree in its vigor; let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will be spoken no more."
    [11:20] But, you, O LORD of hosts, O just Judge, searcher of mind and heart,
    Let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause!
    [11:21] Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the men of Anathoth who seek your life, saying, "Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD; else you shall die by our hand." [11:22] Therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: I am going to punish them. The young men shall die by the sword; their sons and daughters shall die by famine. [11:23] None shall be spared among them, for I will bring misfortune upon the men of Anathoth, the year of their punishment. [Jeremiah 12:6]
  16. and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Matthew 24:51
  17. And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." Matthew 25:46
  18. for these days are the time of punishment when all the scriptures are fulfilled. Luke 21:22
  19. then the Lord knows how to rescue the devout from trial and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, [2 Peter 2:9]
  20. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love. [1 John 4:18]
  21. Likewise, Sodom, Gomorrah, and the surrounding towns, which, in the same manner as they, indulged in sexual promiscuity and practiced unnatural vice, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. [Jude 1:7]
  22. Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Matthew 6:27
  23. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matthew 10:39
  24. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? Matthew 16:25-26
  25. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it. Mark 8:35
  26. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. Luke 9:24
  27. He said to (his) disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life and what you will eat, or about your body and what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Luke 12:22-23
  28. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it. Luke 17:33
  29. It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. John 6:63
  30. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. John 12:25
  31. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:13