Nicole - I
was drawn to read your post thru the title “Purgatory is
real.” This is the first time I hear that Purgatory
is here on Earth. Therefore, I will apply my beliefs
only to those who believe that Purgatory is somewhere
between here and heaven. There is no such place as
Purgatory but if proven scripturally (KJV), who knows….. .
Please know that this theory of Catholicism
comes from the Catechism, a book of Catholic
traditions and not a book scripturally inspired.
I was
raised Catholic and served mass into my college
days. If there is such a place as a “Holding area in
order to get a 2nd chance”, then regardless of
the type of life you live on earth, you could/can still
have a chance to make Heaven. According to this
belief, all the Kennedys, Rockefellers and the money
people could/can have prayers & paid masses said by
the church so as to get out of Purgatory ASAP. But
because I don’t have the finances to pay the church for
masses (a money making tradition) and don’t have friends
to pray for me, (if I was still Catholic) then according
to most Catholics, I’m going to be there a looooong,
loooooong time. Please know that a church cannot
save you; a denomination cannot save you; a priest, a
pope, a pastor cannot save you. Jn.3:5 says “Ye must be born
again.” The bible also says in Heb. 9:27, “It is appointed unto
man once to die, but after this the judgment.” If
“born again”, my judgment at death will come at the
“Judgment Seat of Christ” (this judgment will be for
rewards or loss of rewards and not for salvation. I
was saved at the cross & when I accepted that
fact). If unsaved at death, I will be judged and go
to Hell immediately and will receive a second judgment at
the Great White Thrown judgment and then be cast into the
Lake of Fire forever.
If you
believe what you wrote, how can God be a good God & a
just God by favoring the rich? Peter said that when
it comes to salvation that God was not a respecter of
persons.
Be
Blessed, Kenn <><