The Sham That is Purgatory!!!!

Hebrews 9:27- "For as it appointed unto man once to die BUT AFTER THIS THE JUDGMENT!"

One of the biggest issues that Martin Luther had attacked on the day that was All Hallow's Eve was the attack on the sales of indulgences. The sales of indulgences was woefully the gold mine of Roman Catholicism which after October 31 came November 1 or "All Saint's Day" and November 2 which is "All Soul's Day". What better day would I raise this sermon... on the day when Martin Luther slammed the fact that the indulgences were a sham and when he declared the Biblical truth that salvation is not for sale. Pope Leo X was no successor of Peter but of Caiaphas. And why is he a successor of Caiaphas? Certainly one may think of the blasphemy of the Apocrypha which is not Scripture. The Book of Maccabees that heretical book of great historical inaccuracy was used to justify the praying for the dead.

Now why is Purgatory a sham? Let me open up this topic called Purgatory. The satanic teaching is found in 2 Maccabees 12:43-46 to justify the practice. The problem of the Apocrypha is that not only does it disagree with Scripture proper but also with historical practice. For example, how can Antiochius Ephiphanes die in three different times in three different places? Now it's time to expose of what went on with Purgatory and why it's a terrible sham! It is the gold mine of the priesthood. It made me think that while religion needs money, the pastor needs your money, every institution needs money. The problem itself is not money but how the money is earned. A church may prosper from honest donations. The problem is Purgatory is earning money through dishonest donations!

I remembered talking with a Roman Catholic apologist. I said, "Have you ever read Hebrews 9:27?" and he would answer yes. And then I said, "Then why do you believe in Purgatory?" He said, "Purgatory does not deny Hebrews 9:27. If you die in the state of grace but your sins need to be forgiven and worked for and paid for in Purgatory." I have met so many absurd apologists who have given me a different view lest the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus is used against them.

What are these two views? The two views of the Roman Catholic apologist of the Rich Man and Lazarus to defend Purgatory happens in two ways. One says that Lazarus was in Purgatory, another says that the rich man who was called as "Dives" by tradition, was in Purgatory. Now why is neither in Purgatory. Let us take a look at these points. Let us re-read Luke 16:16-31 to determine the truth of the Scriptures.

First, Lazarus could not be in Purgatory. Purgatory is defined by the Catholic Encyclopedia as "a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God's grace, are not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions." In the Scriptures, we read that Lazarus was comforted. He was in Paradise, at the bosom of Abraham which could not be Purgatory. He was not in temporal punishment, he was in comfort! Just think of it, Lazarus was in comfort!

Second, the rich man could not be in Purgatory either. It makes me wonder what sheer idiot would believe that the rich man was in Purgatory. In the Catholic Bible, the words were used were Hades and Gehenna, but they also were synonymous to Hell itself. The rich man was in Gehenna in Hell and was in torment. Remember he was there, in torment and he knew there was no way out. Dives did not say, "Father Abraham... send Lazarus to ask my brothers to pray for me." but rather to "warn them". He knew he had no more hope... he was in Hell already! One may have to look at the Greek and two, common sense will tell us that the rich man was in Hell. If he were in Purgatory, he would have expected to get out. Instead, he asked,for Lazarus to cross over because he knew he could not cross over because of the chasm in between them!

Now the problem of Purgatory's definition is also this that we must pay for our sins little as we committed. But wait... did not Christ pay it all? I could remember how song "Jesus Paid it All" sang it this way, "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin has left a crimson stain, He washes it white as snow." I have my full confidence that Jesus paid it all not by that Hymn but by the Scriptures. Jesus paid it all and the Scripture is clear, He paid it all! He did it 100%.

Looking at it, I do find it strange how Roman Catholics celebrate the Lent, they remember the death of Jesus on the cross but they always fail to see, "It is finished!". What did Jesus mean it is finished when he was crucified? John 19:30 is clear that after Jesus took the drink from that sponge (which by the way was a dirty sponge) which He took all the sins of mankind, it was not a partial payment but a very complete payment. Hebrews 10:12 as some Catholics say they believe it but quite historically, it was never read to them. The statement is clear, only one sacrifice. The Masses cannot take away sins. Forgiveness of sins as far as salvation is concerned is not by merit. Certainly we need to labor good works to make up for our sins... however we do not labor to obtain forgiveness of sins, all we need to do is to humble ourselves, repent of our sins lest the unrepentant heart refuses to savingly believe. If Jesus said it is finished, all sins were paid for 100%!

Now how does Purgatory deny Hebrews 9:27? I remembered several obituaries as I open my daily newspaper. Some were even ridiculously long. Just made me think... masses for 36 years, for 72 years and even one obituary, had masses for 92 YEARS and higher! if they do believe in Hebrews 9:27, should not the dead be left alone already? It's an extreme contraction to believe that you believe once a man dies that they are passed unto judgment... at the same time pray for the souls of the departed so they may enter into Heaven. Both ends cannot agree!

Also the Bible says in Psalm 49:6-7 saying, "They that trust in their wealth and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches, None of them can by any means redeem his brother nor give to GOd a ransom for him." The truth of the matter is Purgatory is dishonest money. I have never heard a priest say, "Well your loved is now in eternal bliss." Instead it is always, "They must continue to burn. Pay more money for more masses!" That is a true insult! Salvation is a free gift and it can only be received if you are alive. You cannot deny this that salvation indeed is a free gift, a gift that is rejected because men do not repent. The problem of the unrepentant heart includes pride. Pride says, "I will do it MY WAY!" Well sorry, you must go it God's Way but man always refuses to surrender and repent because of pride. Pride hardens the heart from savingly believing because they reject the Gospel that grants the free gift of salvation and it also makes them worry that they can lose should they get saved.

As I love to say, "After how many Masses or the dead, what time is it?" The answer is this, for anybody who dies without believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, there is not one single glimpse of hope that any lost sinner will escape Hell.... such a person must remain there FOREVER! The flames will go on forever, the memories will go on forever. And the reason why the person's soul is suffering is not because of Purgatory but because of Hell. Hell is forever, it is eternity and one day, Hell will be moved into the Lake of Fire! These people have no hope, only the Great White Throne Judgment. Just think of all the memories they will face on Judgment Day!

For those of you who have heard the message. may I really say this... your loved ones in Hell do not want you there. There will be no happy reunions in Hell, friendships do not exist. Right now, the choice is yours... will you cease your own way to salvation? Will you humble yourself, acknowledge yourself as a sinner only worthy of eternal Hell or will you continue in your pride? Remember Christ had died for your sins, you cannot deny this... salvation is never for sale but you must receive it! Receive Jesus Christ right now as your Lord and Savior for as said, "Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation!"