PURGATORY

[Cornelius]

Why is it that the RCC is so confusing in their doctrine ? They need books to explain books.

They have so many doctrines that are not even in the Bible ! Its really silly. It keeps people from the true gospel. I have read the questions on the Catholic forum. I promise you its ludicrous ! A woman asking : " My baby grabbed the host out of my hand and then placed it in her mouth. She then spat it out on the floor. Is she going to hell?" The priest just dumped it into the dustbin, is that correct ?"

The answer : " NO your child is not going to hell, but the priest should not have thrown the host into the dustbin! He should have disposed of Christ in the proper manner : (Proper manner? There is a proper manner to throw Jesus away? What happens to Him now, once He is in the dustbin? )

 

[chestertonrules]

You were a child, and since it is clear that you don't understand Catholicism today, it is likely that you misunderstood then as well. I provided you the Truth. What you do with it is up to you.

- Snide comment made at Vince by Chesteronrules.

Maybe a bit of investigating by Chesteronrules might enlighten him to a bit of History.

This is taken from Wikipedia.
[quote:iac97khc]One of the beliefs most influential in popularizing the brown scapular devotion was a promise known as the Sabbatine privilege. It was associated with an apocryphal Papal Bull allegedly written in 1322 by Pope John XXII. It states that Pope John XXII had a vision of Our Lady granting that through her special intercession, on the Saturday following their death, Mary will come down to personally deliver the souls of Carmelites and Confraternity members out of Purgatory on the first Saturday after their death ("Sabbatine" means Saturday), as long as they fulfill certain conditions including wearing the brown scapular.[22]. The Vatican has denied the validity of this document since 1613 and forbade the Carmelites to preach the Sabbatine privilege, an admonition which they did not always adhere to.[23] At the same time however the Church gave the Carmelites pemission to preach that Mary's merits and intercession would help those "who have departed this life in charity, have worn in life the scapular, have ever observed chastity, have recited the Little Hours of the Blessed Virgin, or, if they cannot read, have observed the fast days of the Church, and have abstained from flesh meat on Wednesdays and Saturdays."[11] These elements are reflected in older versions of the requirements of enrollment in the Confraternity of the Brown Scapular.[24]
Today, the Carmelite Orders, while encouraging a belief in Mary's aid and prayerful assistance for their souls beyond death and commending devotion to Mary especially on Saturdays which are dedicated to her, explicitly state in their official catechetical materials that they do not promulgate the Sabbatine privilege, and are at one with official Church teaching on the matter.[23]

Its clear that it was at one stage Church doctrine, this could have easily been taught to Vince, and this had nothing with him being a Child. I am sure Vince can defend himself but I thought it good to add this.[/quote:iac97khc]



Seems clear enough to me.

 

[Biblereader]

Why is it that the RCC is so confusing in their doctrine ? They need books to explain books.

They have so many doctrines that are not even in the Bible ! Its really silly. It keeps people from the true gospel. I have read the questions on the Catholic forum. I promise you its ludicrous ! A woman asking : " My baby grabbed the host out of my hand and then placed it in her mouth. She then spat it out on the floor. Is she going to hell?" The priest just dumped it into the dustbin, is that correct ?"

The answer : " NO your child is not going to hell, but the priest should not have thrown the host into the dustbin! He should have disposed of Christ in the proper manner : (Proper manner? There is a proper manner to throw Jesus away? What happens to Him now, once He is in the dustbin? )

well said! so many conundrums in the RCC. have you ever read about their miracles?
wikipedia has a lot of them listed.

 

[Vince]

Does the Bible ALONE make you complete?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given ... that the man of God may be complete,"

Yes, it is. The changing doctrines of the Catholic Church are not dependable, By the way, you folks who think that you have a correct understanding of Catholicism, how do you know that the person who taught you wasn't in error?

The nuns who taught me belonged to an order licensed by the papacy. For eight years, EIGHT YEARS, we had Mass every First Friday because Mary was going into Purgatory the next day to get everyone who died wearing a scapular. Do you think that was enough time for the priests who said the special First Friday Masses (which were open to the public) to realize what was going on? They had the First Friday Masses during summer vacation and advertised them in the church bulletin. Do you think the cardinal didn't know what was going on?

 

[jasoncran]

you are close in that idea, however that doesnt mean that jewish rite or traditional of purgatory is biblical. by you a holy person you can pray that evil sinner into the kingdom. if this is true and the catholic version is the same, then the cross isnt needed.

http://www.jewfaq.org/death.htm

btw many catholics told me at my uncles funeral that they would pray him into heaven. i told them thanks but that isnt what my bible says.I told them what the bible does say, and i dont see the acophyra in the hebrew canon that my grandma has.

Are you saying it is pointless to pray for ANYONE, either here on earth or alive in the next world, since it supposedly means the cross isn't needed??? I wonder why Paul constantly prayed for others and asked people to pray for him - was he also bypassing the cross?

The prayers of a righteous man are truly efficacious. The Christ said "ask and you shall receive". Thus, the righteous man asks The Father, and we believe, at His good time and will, He will provide.

Regards

let me ask you this can we talk to dead and they hear us and guide us?
does st. james and mary the mother of god talk you. if ask them to talk to the Lord for us. like i can with you surely they would respond?

 

[francisdesales]

Does the Bible ALONE make you complete?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given ... that the man of God may be complete,"

Yes, it is. The changing doctrines of the Catholic Church are not dependable, By the way, you folks who think that you have a correct understanding of Catholicism, how do you know that the person who taught you wasn't in error?

How interesting that you change the Scriptures and its meaning by your ellipses. Is that how pastor bob works over there??? Cuts and pastes stuff to feed the masses?

It says ALL SCRIPTURES IS INSPIRED. That's it. It doesn't say all Scriptures...makes a man complete. It is PROFITABLE for doctrine, etc., so that a man may be complete. Note, being profitable does not rule out other means of being made perfect. IT ASSUMES THAT OTHER THINGS ARE BEING DONE OR ARE FOLLOWED TO COMPLETE THE MAN - see Ephesians 4.

What is ironic is how often this one verse is rolled out and how the sola scriptura understanding would TOTALLY UNDERMINE PAUL'S WORK!!!

Paul wasn't working from the New Testament, so HOW could he practice sola scriptura? A lot of Pauline doctrine is not found in the Scriptures that Timothy was reading!!!

Are you calling Paul a hypocrite????

Thus, even the author could NOT mean "sola scriptura" by this verse, terribly misinterpreted.

You avoid Ephesians 4. Why? I thought ALL Scriptures is inspired by God? What gives? What about 2 Thessalonians 2:15? Isn't that inspired BY GOD?

Don't you care about that, or are you just trying to win an argument by subterfuge?

As to "how do I know what Catholicism teaches", I read the official sources. I am not an infant waiting for people to regurgitate their understanding of things without my input or questioning. I read Counciliar documents, the Catechism and those writings that are acceptable to the Magesterium when i want to understand Catholicism. However, I would be the first to admit that I am wrong and will comply with official teaching, if somene points out that I am wrong on something and shows me evidence. I answer to higher authority, not myself.

The nuns who taught me belonged to an order licensed by the papacy. For eight years, EIGHT YEARS, we had Mass every First Friday because Mary was going into Purgatory the next day to get everyone who died wearing a scapular. Do you think that was enough time for the priests who said the special First Friday Masses (which were open to the public) to realize what was going on? They had the First Friday Masses during summer vacation and advertised them in the church bulletin. Do you think the cardinal didn't know what was going on?

Ever hear of disobedience to papal authority? Perhaps the priests were uneducated about the papal order. Diocesan priests may not know every papal order given to a specific religious order. Go to the Wikipedia article and look at the part I underlined. Clearly, the nuns were disobedient or ignorant of the papal order to cease and desist teaching such superstition. If you were Catholic, perhaps you will realize that Papal authority is often stretched and twisted by particular people to fit their own agenda. The Catholic Church is quite decentralized and Rome rarely butts into the affairs to such small scale things.

Regards

 

[francisdesales]

Are you saying it is pointless to pray for ANYONE, either here on earth or alive in the next world, since it supposedly means the cross isn't needed??? I wonder why Paul constantly prayed for others and asked people to pray for him - was he also bypassing the cross?

The prayers of a righteous man are truly efficacious. The Christ said "ask and you shall receive". Thus, the righteous man asks The Father, and we believe, at His good time and will, He will provide.

let me ask you this can we talk to dead and they hear us and guide us?
does st. james and mary the mother of god talk you. if ask them to talk to the Lord for us. like i can with you surely they would respond?

Can I have a two way conversation with the dead? With God, all things are possible, however, I am not saying that this is required to request someone to pray for me. What is lacking is the faith that in God, we are not separated from Him, even by death.

Are not the cloud of witnesses watching us - and those in Christ perfected, wouldn't it follow that these righteous people WOULD pray for us, if we asked them (since they can sense us from "above")?

Regards

 

[glorydaz]

Can I have a two way conversation with the dead? With God, all things are possible, however, I am not saying that this is required to request someone to pray for me. What is lacking is the faith that in God, we are not separated from Him, even by death.

Are not the cloud of witnesses watching us - and those in Christ perfected, wouldn't it follow that these righteous people WOULD pray for us, if we asked them (since they can sense us from "above")?

Regards

No, it wouldn't follow considering what the Word tells us.

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

We're told to come boldly before the throne of grace...no back door needed.

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

 

[jasoncran]

then why pray to them, may be they had the same problems as you did, and can encourage you. but they remain silent, rather odd.

 

[Vince]

Many Christians do not understand how heavily the Catholic Church contradicts itself. Popes contradicted each other so heavily that in the 1800's, they made a new doctrine that the Pope was only infallible when he spoke from the Chair of Saint Peter--and they had the Chair in the Vatican! Then, in the 1960's, it turned out that the Chair had been made during the reign of Charlemagne.

Going back over the contradictory doctrines of the Catholic Church, modern Catholics pick the ones they want and declare that they were the official teaching of the Church. Yet, different Popes had often opposed those doctrines, and many of the "doctors of the Church" believed doctrines that the Catholic Church condemns today.

 

[jasoncran]

Many Christians do not understand how heavily the Catholic Church contradicts itself. Popes contradicted each other so heavily that in the 1800's, they made a new doctrine that the Pope was only infallible when he spoke from the Chair of Saint Peter--and they had the Chair in the Vatican! Then, in the 1960's, it turned out that the Chair had been made during the reign of Charlemagne.

Going back over the contradictory doctrines of the Catholic Church, modern Catholics pick the ones they want and declare that they were the official teaching of the Church. Yet, different Popes had often opposed those doctrines, and many of the "doctors of the Church" believed doctrines that the Catholic Church condemns today.

ah, but the bible never contradicts its self.

 

[chestertonrules]

[ We're told to come boldly before the throne of grace...no back door needed.
]

The bible is quite clear that we are to seek the prayers of the righteous, we are to pray for one another, that death will not separate us from Jesus, and that all Christians live in Christ.

We are one body.

Do you think you will stop praying for your loved ones when you are in heaven?

 

[chestertonrules]

Many Christians do not understand how heavily the Catholic Church contradicts itself. Popes contradicted each other so heavily that in the 1800's, they made a new doctrine that the Pope was only infallible when he spoke from the Chair of Saint Peter--and they had the Chair in the Vatican! Then, in the 1960's, it turned out that the Chair had been made during the reign of Charlemagne.

Going back over the contradictory doctrines of the Catholic Church, modern Catholics pick the ones they want and declare that they were the official teaching of the Church. Yet, different Popes had often opposed those doctrines, and many of the "doctors of the Church" believed doctrines that the Catholic Church condemns today.

You are just making things up again. Repeating false assertions about the Church in no way supports your claim that contradictory doctrines were or are taught.

 

[francisdesales]

No, it wouldn't follow considering what the Word tells us.
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

I don't think you realize the difference between THE MEDIATOR and an intercessor... Maybe you should read the immediately preceding verses?

We're told to come boldly before the throne of grace...no back door needed.

Paul "used the backdoor" on a number of occasions in Scriptures. Did he not request numerous times that others pray for him???

I hadn't realized I was surrounded by so many perfect living Christians who are not in need of prayers from others...

This is why most modern Protestants are so full of pride and don't even realize it. A symptom of OSAS, I suppose...

 

[francisdesales]

Many Christians do not understand how heavily the Catholic Church contradicts itself. Popes contradicted each other so heavily that in the 1800's, they made a new doctrine that the Pope was only infallible when he spoke from the Chair of Saint Peter--and they had the Chair in the Vatican! Then, in the 1960's, it turned out that the Chair had been made during the reign of Charlemagne.

Going back over the contradictory doctrines of the Catholic Church, modern Catholics pick the ones they want and declare that they were the official teaching of the Church. Yet, different Popes had often opposed those doctrines, and many of the "doctors of the Church" believed doctrines that the Catholic Church condemns today.

Where did you go to journalism school, the National Enquirer? Do you always make such slanderous statements without supporting evidence? I can see the "fruit" here, my friend... When all else fails, make unwarranted and unsupported statements as if they were facts...

 

[Vince]

While researching "First Friday," I came across an article by a psychiatrist who had done a study on it. He reported that in the early 1900's, a fellow had counted all the pictures of Mary descending into Purgatory on the first Saturday. The guy counted 202 pictures, just in Hispanic churches in New Mexico.

The Catholic Church has a lengthy history of changing and contradictory doctrines, and the Church DID clearly teach that Mary descended into Purgatory on the first Saturday of the month. When the superstition became embarrassing, the Church found a Pope who had been ignored for over six centuries and claimed that he had taught the true Catholic doctrine.

 

[Physicist]

Catholicism teaches: "Purgatory merely completes sanctification that God has begun in His children,"

The Bible teaches: Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

It is Christ's Sacrifice on the Cross, alone, that perfects God's people. Nowhere does the Bible teach that Purgatory even exists, nor is there a need for it.

Purgatory. like the worship of Mary, seems to have been a Medieval Christian fashion. The modern Catholic church rejects it, along with other strange doctrines like Limbo. Instead, modern Christianity has its own new fashions, usually related to decreasing the threat of Hell since the concept violates modern views of justice and mercy.

I am not aware of any Biblical support for the concept of Purgatory.

 

[Ed the Ned]

Have you even read the "Wikipedia" article you cite??? It was not taught as Church doctrine, I underlined the sentence for you. The Church specifically told the Carmalites that the Sabbatine privelege is NOT to be taught as an article of faith. The idea that Mary's prayers can assist us is no different an idea that I praying for another Christian. If Vince was taught otherwise, he was taught incorrectly. It wouldn't be the first time a nun didn't know what she was talking about...

- Francisdale

I did read it, and maybe I misunderstood it, it said the following:

It was associated with an apocryphal Papal Bull allegedly written in 1322 by Pope John XXII

and then:

The Vatican has denied the validity of this document since 1613 and forbade the Carmelites to preach the Sabbatine privilege

Thats almost three hundred years of Church doctrine.
It also stated the following:

One of the beliefs most influential in popularizing the brown scapular devotion was a promise known as the Sabbatine privilege.

So it seems that some are still trying to promote the belief. Although my argument was not trying to disprove or agree that it was church doctrine. I was merely stating that Vince was not confused and it could have been taught to him.

Ed

 

[ronniechoate34]

Purgatory? There's no such place.

 

[chestertonrules]

[

I am not aware of any Biblical support for the concept of Purgatory.

It is clear that there is much you are unaware of, but it is probably not your fault.

FYI:

I. A State After Death of Suffering and Forgiveness
Matt. 5:26,18:34; Luke 12:58-59 – Jesus teaches us, “Come to terms with your opponent or you will be handed over to the judge and thrown into prison. You will not get out until you have paid the last penny.†The word “opponent†(antidiko) is likely a reference to the devil (see the same word for devil in 1 Pet. 5:8) who is an accuser against man (c.f. Job 1.6-12; Zech. 3.1; Rev. 12.10), and God is the judge. If we have not adequately dealt with satan and sin in this life, we will be held in a temporary state called a prison, and we won’t get out until we have satisfied our entire debt to God. This “prison†is purgatory where we will not get out until the last penny is paid.

Matt. 5:48 - Jesus says, "be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect." We are only made perfect through purification, and in Catholic teaching, this purification, if not completed on earth, is continued in a transitional state we call purgatory.

Matt. 12:32 – Jesus says, “And anyone who says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but no one who speaks against the Holy Spirit will be forgiven either in this world or in the next.†Jesus thus clearly provides that there is forgiveness after death. The phrase “in the next†(from the Greek “en to mellontiâ€) generally refers to the afterlife (see, for example, Mark 10.30; Luke 18.30; 20.34-35; Eph. 1.21 for similar language). Forgiveness is not necessary in heaven, and there is no forgiveness in hell. This proves that there is another state after death, and the Church for 2,000 years has called this state purgatory.

Luke 12:47-48 - when the Master comes (at the end of time), some will receive light or heavy beatings but will live. This state is not heaven or hell, because in heaven there are no beatings, and in hell we will no longer live with the Master.

Luke 16:19-31 - in this story, we see that the dead rich man is suffering but still feels compassion for his brothers and wants to warn them of his place of suffering. But there is no suffering in heaven or compassion in hell because compassion is a grace from God and those in hell are deprived from God's graces for all eternity. So where is the rich man? He is in purgatory.

1 Cor. 15:29-30 - Paul mentions people being baptized on behalf of the dead, in the context of atoning for their sins (people are baptized on the dead’s behalf so the dead can be raised). These people cannot be in heaven because they are still with sin, but they also cannot be in hell because their sins can no longer be atoned for. They are in purgatory. These verses directly correspond to 2 Macc. 12:44-45 which also shows specific prayers for the dead, so that they may be forgiven of their sin.

Phil. 2:10 - every knee bends to Jesus, in heaven, on earth, and "under the earth" which is the realm of the righteous dead, or purgatory.

2 Tim. 1:16-18 - Onesiphorus is dead but Paul asks for mercy on him “on that day.†Paul’s use of “that day†demonstrates its eschatological usage (see, for example, Rom. 2.5,16; 1 Cor. 1.8; 3.13; 5.5; 2 Cor. 1.14; Phil. 1.6,10; 2.16; 1 Thess. 5.2,4,5,8; 2 Thess. 2.2,3; 2 Tim. 4.8). Of course, there is no need for mercy in heaven, and there is no mercy given in hell. Where is Onesiphorus? He is in purgatory.

Heb. 12:14 - without holiness no one will see the Lord. We need final sanctification to attain true holiness before God, and this process occurs during our lives and, if not completed during our lives, in the transitional state of purgatory.

Heb. 12:23 - the spirits of just men who died in godliness are "made" perfect. They do not necessarily arrive perfect. They are made perfect after their death. But those in heaven are already perfect, and those in hell can no longer be made perfect. These spirits are in purgatory.

1 Peter 3:19; 4:6 - Jesus preached to the spirits in the "prison." These are the righteous souls being purified for the beatific vision.

Rev. 21:4 - God shall wipe away their tears, and there will be no mourning or pain, but only after the coming of the new heaven and the passing away of the current heaven and earth. Note the elimination of tears and pain only occurs at the end of time. But there is no morning or pain in heaven, and God will not wipe away their tears in hell. These are the souls experiencing purgatory.

Rev. 21:27 - nothing unclean shall enter heaven. The word “unclean†comes from the Greek word “koinon†which refers to a spiritual corruption. Even the propensity to sin is spiritually corrupt, or considered unclean, and must be purified before entering heaven. It is amazing how many Protestants do not want to believe in purgatory. Purgatory exists because of the mercy of God. If there were no purgatory, this would also likely mean no salvation for most people. God is merciful indeed.

Luke 23:43 – many Protestants argue that, because Jesus sent the good thief right to heaven, there can be no purgatory. There are several rebuttals. First, when Jesus uses the word "paradise,†He did not mean heaven. Paradise, from the Hebrew "sheol," meant the realm of the righteous dead. This was the place of the dead who were destined for heaven, but who were captive until the Lord's resurrection. Second, since there was no punctuation in the original manuscript, Jesus’ statement “I say to you today you will be with me in paradise†does not mean there was a comma after the first word “you.†This means Jesus could have said, “I say to you today, you will be with me in paradise†(meaning, Jesus could have emphasized with exclamation his statement was “today†or “now,†and that some time in the future the good thief would go to heaven). Third, even if the thief went straight to heaven, this does not prove there is no purgatory (those who are fully sanctified in this life – perhaps by a bloody and repentant death – could be ready for admission in to heaven).

Gen. 50:10; Num. 20:29; Deut. 34:8 - here are some examples of ritual prayer and penitent mourning for the dead for specific periods of time. The Jewish understanding of these practices was that the prayers freed the souls from their painful state of purification, and expedited their journey to God.

Baruch 3:4 - Baruch asks the Lord to hear the prayers of the dead of Israel. Prayers for the dead are unnecessary in heaven and unnecessary in hell. These dead are in purgatory.

Zech. 9:11 - God, through the blood of His covenant, will set those free from the waterless pit, a spiritual abode of suffering which the Church calls purgatory.

2 Macc. 12:43-45 - the prayers for the dead help free them from sin and help them to the reward of heaven. Those in heaven have no sin, and those in hell can no longer be freed from sin. They are in purgatory. Luther was particularly troubled with these verses because he rejected the age-old teaching of purgatory. As a result, he removed Maccabees from the canon of the Bible.

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II. Purification After Death By Fire
Heb. 12:29 - God is a consuming fire (of love in heaven, of purgation in purgatory, or of suffering and damnation in hell).

1 Cor. 3:10-15 - works are judged after death and tested by fire. Some works are lost, but the person is still saved. Paul is referring to the state of purgation called purgatory. The venial sins (bad works) that were committed are burned up after death, but the person is still brought to salvation. This state after death cannot be heaven (no one with venial sins is present) or hell (there is no forgiveness and salvation).

1 Cor. 3:15 – “if any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.†The phrase for "suffer loss" in the Greek is "zemiothesetai." The root word is "zemioo" which also refers to punishment. The construction “zemiothesetai†is used in Ex. 21:22 and Prov. 19:19 which refers to punishment (from the Hebrew “anash†meaning “punish†or “penaltyâ€). Hence, this verse proves that there is an expiation of temporal punishment after our death, but the person is still saved. This cannot mean heaven (there is no punishment in heaven) and this cannot mean hell (the possibility of expiation no longer exists and the person is not saved).

1 Cor. 3:15 – further, Paul writes “he himself will be saved, "but only" (or “yet soâ€) as through fire.†“He will be saved†in the Greek is “sothesetai†(which means eternal salvation). The phrase "but only" (or “yet soâ€) in the Greek is "houtos" which means "in the same manner." This means that man is both eternally rewarded and eternally saved in the same manner by fire.

1 Cor. 3:13 - when Paul writes about God revealing the quality of each man's work by fire and purifying him, this purification relates to his sins (not just his good works). Protestants, in attempting to disprove the reality of purgatory, argue that Paul was only writing about rewarding good works, and not punishing sins (because punishing and purifying a man from sins would be admitting that there is a purgatory).

1 Cor. 3:17 - but this verse proves that the purgation after death deals with punishing sin. That is, destroying God's temple is a bad work, which is a mortal sin, which leads to death. 1 Cor. 3:14,15,17 - purgatory thus reveals the state of righteousness (v.14), state of venial sin (v.15) and the state of mortal sin (v.17), all of which are judged after death.

1 Peter 1:6-7 - Peter refers to this purgatorial fire to test the fruits of our faith.

Jude 1:23 - the people who are saved are being snatched out of the fire. People are already saved if they are in heaven, and there is no possibility of salvation if they are in hell. These people are being led to heaven from purgatory.

Rev. 3:18-19 - Jesus refers to this fire as what refines into gold those He loves if they repent of their sins. This is in the context of after death because Jesus, speaking from heaven, awards the white garment of salvation after the purgation of fire (both after death).

Dan 12:10 - Daniel refers to this refining by saying many shall purify themselves, make themselves white and be refined.

Wis. 3:5-6 - the dead are disciplined and tested by fire to receive their heavenly reward. This is the fire of purgatory.

Sirach 2:5 - for gold is tested in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation.

Zech. 13:8-9 - God says 2/3 shall perish, and 1/3 shall be left alive, put into the fire, and refined like silver and tested like gold. The ones that perish go to hell, and there is no need for refinement in heaven, so those being refined are in purgatory.

Mal. 3:2-3 - also refers to God's purification of the righteous at their death.