Reply to "James 2:26"

Show us how Luke 16:19-31 proves purgatory.  It is my understanding that purgatory is a place where Roman Catholics go to finish cleaning up their act -- before going to heaven.  That is not true of the Hades of today shown in Luke 16.

Jesus Christ tells us, in John 14:6, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; NO ONE comes to the Father but through Me."   Before His death and resurrection, everyone went to Hades.  The non-believers to Hades/Torment (Luke 16:23).  And, the believers to the Bosom of Abraham, Hades/Paradise (Luke 16:22).

Luke 16:23, "In Hades he (the rich man non-believer) lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom."

Luke 16:22, "Now the poor man (Lazarus) died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried."

Luke 23:43, "And He (Jesus) said to him (the repentant thief on the cross), 'Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.' "

Where did Jesus go when He died on the cross?  He went into Hades for three days.  What happened when He left Hades/Paradise?  He led the captives free, i.e., those Old Testament saints and the thief on the cross.  He led them from Hades/Paradise -- into Heaven/Paradise (Ephesians 4:8).  Hades/Paradise was permanently put out of business that day.  Since then, ALL believers go directly into the presence of God, Jesus Christ, at the moment of death.  No purgatory!

2 Corinthians 5:6-8, "Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord -- for we walk by faith, not by sight -- we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord."

However, Hades/Torment is still open and doing a landslide business.  It will not be closed until after the 1000 year Millennial Reign of Christ on earth.  Then, He will resurrect all those non-believers who have been waiting in Hades/Torment.  They will stand before Him at the Great White Throne Judgment, a judgment of punishment, and then will go into eternal hell (Revelation 20:11-15).

So, Nathan, my Friend -- if any of your Roman Catholic folks are in Hades (or what you are calling purgatory) today -- they are in deep trouble.   For, if they are in Hades today -- they are headed straight to hell -- and not waiting on a bus to take them into heaven.  NO ONE in Hades today will EVER see heaven, the kingdom of God.

If that is your purgatory as described in Luke 16:19-31 -- then, it is too late, the train has already left the station.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill