[quote:2rv5ekpb]I’ll tell you when I get to Heaven and I don’t care about the other place, I don’t figure on going there so what does it matter?
(Maybe different demensions, whatever, they will be real which ever place one ends up in)[/quote:2rv5ekpb]
In Matthew 12:32 Jesus says, “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.” Why does Jesus talk about forgiveness after death?
Jesus speaks of purgatory in Matthew 18:23-35. While speaking on forgiveness He says: “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to…” and then He tells a story about a king who forgave a servant’s large debt. That same servant refused to forgive a much smaller amount of a fellow servant. The king then threw the first servant into prison “until he should pay back the whole debt.” Jesus then says, “So will my Heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.” What prison is there in the kingdom of heaven where you might remain until your debt is satisfied ‚Äì purgatory maybe?
Paul also spoke of purgatory in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15. He says in part, “The work of each will come to light, for the day will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire [itself] will test the quality of each one’s work. If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive a wage. But if someone’s work is burned up, that one will suffer loss, the person will be saved, but only as through fire.”
Those detained in Purgatory can be aided by the prayers of the faithful. Inscriptions in the catacombs bear witness to this ancient Church teaching. One reads, “Intercession has been made for the soul of the dear one departed and God has heard the prayer, and the soul has passed into a place of light and refreshment.” Another one reads, “In your prayers remember us who have gone before you.”
Support is also found in the writings of Tertullian (200AD), who declares that prayers for the dead are an apostolic ordinance. Clement of Alexandria (150-216 AD) writes about a place after death where “expiation and purification” occur before heaven is attained. Other Church Fathers agree, such as Origen (185-254 AD), Cyprian (200-258 AD), Jerome (342-420 AD), Ambrose (340-397 AD), Augustine (354-430 AD), and many others.
The tradition of the Jews is found in 2 Maccabees 12:42-46: “Turning to supplication, they prayed that the sinful deed might be fully blotted out… 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;if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death;Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin.”
Numbers 20:12 – Moses and Aaron, though forgiven, are still punished 2 Samuel 12:13-14 – David, though forgiven, is still punished 1 John 5:16-17 – There is sin that is not deadly Revelation 21:27 – Nothing unclean shall enter heaven Hebrews 12:23 – All in heaven have been made perfect Matthew 12:36 – “On judgment day men will account for every careless word they utter” Matthew 18:23-35 – In the kingdom of heaven you will remain in prison until your debt is paid 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 – Fire will test each ones work. He will be saved but only as through fire Luke 12:41-48 – There are different degrees of punishment after death 2 Maccabees 12:42-45 – He prayed for the dead that they might be freed from their sin 2 Timothy 1:16-18 – Paul prays for his dead friend Onesiphorus
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