Where In The Bible Will I Find:

That One Gets A Second Chance After Death?

John F. Whealon, Archbishop of Hartfort, wrote in a pamphlet titled Purgatory, Doctrine of Comfort and Hope: "According to the teaching of the Church,…Purgatory is that intermediary state or condition in the next world where the souls of those who die but are not yet free of all imperfection, are purified before they enter heaven" (Emphasis mine, JC).

Whealon also stated: "Obviously we are asked to believe something whose existence cannot be proven by reason, any more than can the doctrines of Heaven or Hell…'Nothing defiled can enter Heaven,' we are told, and during this period Of purgation, all the dross is burned away until the moment when, in the judgment of God, the soul is ready for entrance into the presence-chamber of God" (Emphasis mine, JC).

Whealon admits, "Obviously we are asked to believe something whose existence cannot be proven by reason..." Next he argues that the doctrine of Purgatory is as reasonable or provable as the doctrine of Heaven or Hell. God has reasoned with mankind, "Come now, and let us reason together..." Isa. 1:18). The doctrines of Heaven and Hell are part of God's reasonable plan, but Purgatory is against all reasoning of God. God's Word is clear concerning Heaven and Hell but speaks nothing concerning Purgatory.

God said, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Heb. 9:27). This verse tells us that there is no intermediate period between death and the Judgment Day where our "dross is burned away until the moment when,...the soul is ready for entrance into the presence-chamber of God," because the judgment comes after death with only a period of waiting between the two.

Man's opportunity to please God comes in this life, in this body: "Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work" (Psm. 62:122). The apostle Paul said, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (II Cor. 5:10).

God is concerned with the here and now. The apostle Peter said, "The Lord is not stack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (II Peter 3:9). Repentance of men must come in this life. The doctrine of Purgatory is Satan's doctrine that damns the souls of men.