Click to expand transcript
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Some people believe Purgatory is the place our souls go after death, but Is purgatory in the Bible? What should we understand about Purgatory? Where did the belief regarding purgatory originate? Is it important that we know the truth about purgatory?
[SHOW OPEN]
The Bible: The basis of our faith in the Church Of Christ, which answers questions about proper worship, the right relationship with God, and most importantly, salvation. That’s in the Bible.
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: I’m Bob Pellien and welcome to the program, That’s in the Bible. There are many popular beliefs about purgatory. A simple internet search shows that, well, people ask what does it mean, if it’s in the Bible, and what Catholics or other Christian professing religions believe purgatory to be.
So let’s ensure we get a full spectrum of understanding about this popular belief by posing several questions together, such as:
- What is purgatory?
- What is the Catholic history of purgatory?
- Is purgatory in the Bible?
- What happens after death?
Dear friends, to begin, we open with the first question: What is purgatory? Understand dear viewers, that this doctrine is believed in, first and foremost, by those in the Catholic Church. And it originated with their teachings, and it’s a teaching that actually cannot be found in the Bible. But to understand what so many in the world do believe, and why they believe it, let’s ask, what are Catholic beliefs about Purgatory?
Here is a quote from one of the authoritative writers of the Roman Catholic Church, a priest by the name of Francis B. Cassilly. He wrote this book entitled, Religion Doctrine and Practice and here’s a quote from page 506:
What is purgatory?
“Purgatory is a state in which the souls of the just after death are purified from the stains of sin still remaining before they can enter heaven.”
“Religion: Doctrine and Practice” by Francis B. Cassilly, pg. 506
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: So the belief and teaching of the Roman Catholic Church about purgatory is that it is the place where souls go after death to be purified from sin. They teach that it is also a process of purification from sin that must take place before those souls can enter heaven. By the way, dear friends, can members of the Roman Catholic Church decide on their own, for example, that well, they do not believe in purgatory? Would that be okay with the authorities of the Roman Catholic church? Let’s listen to the answer from another Catholic writer, in his book “My Catholic Faith” the Bishop Louis Laravoir Morrow writes on page 167:
This dogmatic definition contains three points of faith that all Catholics are compelled to believe: (a) that there is a purgatory; (b) that after death souls suffer there for their sins; (c ) that the living can extend assistance to such souls
“My Catholic Faith” Louis Laravoir Morrow, Bishop of Krishnagar, p167
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Members of the Roman Catholic Church are compelled by Catholic authorities to believe in purgatory, it is not optional. They must also believe that the living can help the dead suffering in purgatory.
Dear friends, what’s another way that the Catholic Church teaches or describes purgatory? You know, Catholic authorities have also written in the Catholic Catechism: Book Two, page 230 and 231 the following:
A sin is an offense against God it deserves punishment… but after forgiveness of both mortal and venial sin there may remain a kind of debt due to the all-holy God which is paid by the punishment of purgatory if it has not already been paid when the person dies. By the works of our good Christian Life we help to pay the debt, by the offering of the mass, by prayer, by self-denial, by sufferings and disappointment patiently born.
Catholic Catechism: Book Two, Nihil Obstat Rev. Lawrence Gollner, Imprimatur by Leo A. Pursely
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Dear friends, what else do they believe about purgatory? They teach in Catechism that it is a place of punishment and where debts can be paid, and that the living can help pay the debt by the offering of the Mass (which is their worship services that are led by a priest), or through prayers, oftentimes on the anniversary of their death.
What is the Catholic history of purgatory? Where has this Purgatory doctrine originated? In another book written this time by a Cardinal of the Catholic Church, the Cardinal James Gibbons, wrote the book “Faith of our Fathers” page 260:
The doctrine of an intermediate state is thus succinctly asserted by the Council of Trent: “There is a Purgatory and souls there detained, are helped by the prayers of the faithful, and especially by the acceptable sacrifice of the Altar”
“Faith of Our Fathers” by Cardinal James Gibbons, pg. 260
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Dear friends, we can see here that the teaching about purgatory was further taught to all Catholics around the world as an official doctrine in the Council of Trent by the authorities of the Roman Catholic Church and not by the Lord in the Holy Bible.
On this program we regularly study what IS in the Bible, no. On this program we regularly study what is in the Bible. But it’s important to also understand what’s not in the Bible–because if we find ourselves believing in something that’s not in the Bible, wouldn’t we want to know? And then we should take steps, right? Take steps to discover the truth that is in the Bible.
So let’s ask, is purgatory in the Bible? Is the popular belief about purgatory found anywhere in the Bible, according to Catholic authorities who are adamantly teaching the Purgatory Doctrine to their followers? Here’s what is said by a former Priest of the Catholic Church, in his book here entitled “I was a Priest” by Lucien Vinet, here on page 41 and a quote from page 43 as well:
Mass and Purgatory are simply inventions of Rome: Purgatory had been invented by Rome in A.D. 593 but it remained a very unpopular Doctrine for many centuries. When Mass came into being however, these two innovations of the Roman Church became inseparably connected with each other. The question came up in Roman circles: “Can mass of an alleged infinite spiritual value, deliver the souls in purgatory?” The Pope soon accepted this new idea and the Mass imposter in connection with Purgatory was born.
“I was a Priest” by Lucien Vinet page 41 & 43
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Dear friends, is purgatory found in the Bible? Here is an author trained as a priest inside the Roman Catholic Church who openly admits that Purgatory was simply an invention of the Roman Catholic Church. Also worthy to note here dear friends, regarding what we have read earlier from the Cardinal of the Catholic Church, Cardinal James Gibbons where he said in his book “Faith of Our Fathers” that it became an official doctrine of the Catholic Church only at the Council of Trent, and that’s like between 1545 and 1563 A.D.
It is therefore a teaching that has its roots in the Councils of the Catholic Church rather than God and our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s not in the Bible.
What happens after death? Is there purgatory after death? Dear friends, what does the Bible actually have to say about all of this, most especially purgatory and the idea that those who have died in the past can have a share or benefit in anything that is done by those who are still living? Like when Catholic families are taught to pray and offer mass for the souls of the dead in the so-called purgatory, would, and here’s the question we pose to the Bible, would such practices benefit the souls who have died according to the Holy Bible? Ecclesiastes [chapter] nine answers the question this way, verses five and six:
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. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 New King James Version
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Dear friends, the Bible is very clear. Those that have died in the past will not benefit from anything done under the sun by those in this life now. No matter how many masses we would have said for a loved one that passed away, or no matter how many prayers the priest says on behalf of our loved one, all those who have died in the past will not benefit from any of that, anything done under the sun.
Because, where are the dead according to the Bible? Is it true that there are those who are already in heaven and some are in purgatory? Is there such an intermediate location described in the Bible, is that where Catholics got the idea from? We turn to the Holy Bible for more answers to these questions, dear friends. We turn to the Book of Psalms, here in Psalm 146:4:
When they die, they return to the dust; on that day all their plans come to an end.
Psalm 146:4 Good News Bible
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: What happens to mankind when he dies according to the Bible? Do they go to purgatory? No. When they die, they return to the dust and in the grave they will stay until the day they will receive God’s judgment.
When Judgment Day comes, where will people emerge from to be judged – will they come from purgatory? Or from their graves? We turn to the Bible for answers again dear friends, John 5:28-29:
Do not be surprised at this; the time is coming when all the dead will hear his voice and come out of their graves: those who have done good will rise and live, and those who have done evil will rise and be condemned.
John 5:28-29 Good News Translation
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: So, dear friends, will people come out of purgatory or will they come out of their graves? The Bible is very clear, right? They will be resurrected from their graves on the Day of Judgment. They will be brought to life eternal or eternal condemnation.
The popular Catholic teaching then about purgatory is a false teaching, a false doctrine that must be rejected by all those who aspire for truth and eternal life on the Day of Judgment.
What hope do we hold on to, as members of the Church Of Christ, if we uphold our faith until death? The Bible responds this way, in the Book of Revelation 14:12-13:
Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
Revelation 14:12-13 New King James Version
BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: What hope do we hold on to, as members of the Church Of Christ, if we meet death and we uphold our faith until the end? According to the Bible, blessed are those who die in the Lord and patiently keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Why are they blessed? Because such servants are promised here to be given rest from their labors. And it is to us that such rest promised by the Lord is reserved. Therefore, we do not pray for those who have died in the past because they have no more share in what we do. The time for anyone to do what he has to do to receive salvation is while he still lives. Because when he dies, he cannot do anything anymore, nor any of his loved ones for the salvation of his soul. That is why we continue to invite all of you our dear viewers to join with us inside the Church Of Christ and serve the Lord devotedly so that when the day comes we will be resurrected from the grave and brought with all members of the Church Of Christ into that Heavenly Kingdom.
So, let’s review what we have learned today. Let’s review the questions we began with, let’s see what the Bible has revealed to us. We asked:
What is the doctrine of Purgatory all about? Well we learned that the belief and teaching of the Roman Catholic Church about purgatory is that it is the place where souls go after death to be purified from sin.
We asked as well, what is the Catholic history of purgatory? We also learned that it was a created doctrine of the Catholic Church in 593 A.D. and emphasised in the official Council of Trent of the Roman Catholic Church.
Is purgatory, dear friends, in the Bible? We learned from the Bible that there is no intermediary place of punishment for souls. None.
So, what happens after death? Is there purgatory after death? Those that have died in the past will not benefit from anything done under the sun or by those in this life now. We learned they remain in their graves until resurrected on the Day of Judgement to be determined worthy of eternal life in the kingdom of heaven, or condemnation forever.
So we invite all of you to join us inside the Church of Christ where here we can serve the Lord in spirit and in truth, you must reject all the false doctrines and teachings around us in this world, one of which is purgatory, as it is another false teaching created by the Roman Catholic Church.
We’d like you to continue learning about the teachings of the Bible taught here inside the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church Of Christ. To do so, please visit online and browse the different topics or set up an appointment to meet with a minister of the gospel. If you have any questions about the Bible or salvation, please email them to us. I’m Bob Pellien. Thanks for watching. See you next time, right here on That’s in the Bible!
