Comments?
As death finds you so shall the judgement.
I do not believe purgatory is biblical, I find no example of it in the bible, therefore it causes greater anguish to pray for those who have lost all hope.
As to the poem ...
1) I do not agree with the theology it expresses. If I did agree with it, I would be protestant, because it expressed Protestant theology. I have no doubt that protestants will come along on this thread to inform us that they're right and we're wrong ... in pre-emption: Hey Protestants! We're right and you're wrong.
2) Even if I did agree with the theology in the poem, I would still dislike it ... it's really syrupy. Bleh!
Oh, if you want to get people angry, tell them their pets are not in Heaven. They’ll fuss at that more than if you tell them Grampa isn’t in Heaven.
There’s nothing in Scripture that indicates our animals will meet us in Heaven but you’ll be taking your life in your hands if you tell most people that.
The mistake is in assuming that there is time in Purgatory and Heaven. The dead are not in Purgatory for a certain number of days, hours, and minutes that corresponds to time here on earth, so we can’t say “It’s been twenty years since Jerry died, he must have been purified and been received into heaven by this time.” The dead must perceive these things in a very different way than we do.
This is a long-used familiar POEM intended to convey comfort to the family and friends of the departed....
It's doubtful the poet intended to make a doctrinal treatise of any sort.
Such offerings of printed literature in the Order of Service ... or special music... are usually the wishes of the deceased-- or the preference of the family.
...and therefore not intended to serve as religious instruction for the congregation.
“Safely Home” has been been much comfort to me since July 1970 at my mothers death.
The Apostle Paul wrote:”If there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort (and there is in our Lord Jesus Christ) Philippians 2:1a
On that tract the verse: “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His Saints.” (Psalms 116:15) I found another verse:”.....as I live saith the LORD God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked,....” (Ezekiel 33:11c)
All can have confidence in Our God and Saviour’s words.
Again the Apostle letters “to the Saints” in the Churches: In Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi etc.
We can confidently claim: “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good word in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)
Adding mortal man’s approval is vain, mortal men die.
We have a Saviour that had no sin but died for sinners. And He is sitting at the right hand of God, “everliving to make intercession for us.” (Hebrews 7:23-28)
Catholic Ping!
My mother passed in 1985
My father passed in 1995
I don’t care who says what or how they say it or what they are thinking... that simple little prayer on the cards gives comfort to lots of people who are grieving. It’s a NICE thing. However, I pray for the souls of my parents every single day. I will pray for them as long as I have breath left in my own body. So, some simple, little comforting prayer that helps people along isn’t hurting anything and for Heaven’s sakes... to go into such detail over such a pretty sentiment is simply amazing to me. Keep praying for ALL the souls. THAT is what is important. To disect such a comforting poem to the degree this was disected is outrageously ridiculous.
Where exactly did Jesus mention purgatory?
Here is what it says on Gene Krupa’s prayer card. [Yes, THAT Gene Krupa.]
In Loving Memory of
Gene B. Krupa
Born January 15, 1909
At Rest, October 16, 1973
Services Saturday Oct. 20, 1973
Immaculate Conception Church
Mass at 9:30 A.M.
Internment Holy Cross Cemetary
Section Immaculate-Lot 22
LET US PRAY:
O GENTLEST Heart of Jesus, ever present in the Blessed Sacrament, ever consumed with burning love for the poor captive souls in Purgatory have mercy on the soul of Thy departed servant. Be not severe in Thy judgment but let some drops of Thy Precious Blood fall upon the devouring flames, and do Thou O merciful Savior send Thy angels to conduct Thy departed servant to a place of refreshment, light and peace. Amen.
May the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
President Kennedy’s prayer card:
‘We have loved him during life, let us not abandon him, until we have conducted him by our prayers into the house of the Lord.’—St. Ambrose
My Jesus have mercy on the Soul of
JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY
PRAYER
Incline Thine ear, O Lord unto our prayers, wherein we humbly pray Thee to show Thy mercy upon the soul of Thy servant JOHN, whom Thou hast commanded to pass out of this world, that Thou wouldst place him in the region of peace and light, and bid him be a partaker with Thy Saints, Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
[Indulgence 500 days-Raccotta 600]
2 Corinthians 12 1This boasting is all so foolish, but let me go on. Let me tell about the visions and revelations I received from the Lord. 2I£ was caught up into the third heaven fourteen years ago. 3Whether my body was there or just my spirit, I don’t know; only God knows. 4But I do know that I£ was caught up into paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be told.
And John perhaps?
1Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me with the sound of a mighty trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things.” 2And instantly I was in the Spirit,£ and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it!
They both were called up in Spirit just as when we die our bodies die and our spirit lives. But wait let's go back a long ways before to the Prophet Elijah
2 Kings Ch 2 11As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between them, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. 12Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his robe in two.
Enoch perhaps? Genesis ch 5 21When Enoch was 65 years old, his son Methuselah was born. 22After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived another 300 years in close fellowship with God, and he had other sons and daughters. 23Enoch lived 365 years in all. 24He enjoyed a close relationship with God throughout his life. Then suddenly, he disappeared because God took him.
Evidence in The Bible doesn't point to purgatory. Obviously Paul and John saw Heaven while they were alive as did Stephen as he died.
My wife many years ago used to be a nurses aid in a nursing home. Usually when one of the residents on her shift was fixing to pass they called on her to sit with them. Some who were conscious and well aware of their surroundings would talk to her as their final breaths were drawn. They would say things like look isn't it wonderful come with me.
One day while at work she got a call to the building her beloved grandmother who raised her was in. The supervisor said get down there fast. My wife {this was before we had met} went in to see her grandmother. She was responsive but weak and knew of my wifes presence. My wife interacted with her. The woman had been a choir director, piano teacher, and voice instructor. In her final minutes her hands were making movements my wife recognized as her method of directing music. Not the arms waving but small hand movement type. This was within a few moments of her passing.
A year and a half later on a day off she too would have her encounter with crossing over and had begun the initial journey. She had suffered an extreme for lack of a better term Spinal Infarction. She was conscious and we were driving police escorted to the nearest ER. She was describing to me what she was seeing as I was driving. I was screaming hang on don't leave me. She was my girlfriend then and this was on a date. We made it to the ER and she lived and is now my wife.
When on the cross Christ said "It is finished" it was completed. ALL Righteousness was fulfilled for you, me, and salvation for many was accomplished. We are made righteous by Him alone and cleansed by Him alone. His Blood, His Grace, and through that our debt paid.
Christ did not tell the thief today after purgatory you will be with me in paradise.
39One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” 40But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you are dying? 41We deserve to die for our evil deeds, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
What is our punishment for our sins then? The Bible is quite clear on that.
Romans ch 6 15So since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does this mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 16Don’t you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval. 17Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you have obeyed with all your heart the new teaching God has given you. 18Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness. 19I speak this way, using the illustration of slaves and masters, because it is easy to understand. Before, you let yourselves be slaves of impurity and lawlessness. Now you must choose to be slaves of righteousness so that you will become holy. 20In those days, when you were slaves of sin, you weren’t concerned with doing what was right. 21And what was the result? It was not good, since now you are ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. 22But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Death of the body is our punishment for our sins on earth for the believers and unbelievers alike. Our bodies have the curse of sin but not our spirit if we accept Christ as Lord and Savior. Thus we are reborn. For those who believe yet shall we live.
The Bible teaches us believers are in heaven even as we are alive today. The Bible teaches us there are ones in hell today.
Luke ch 16 19Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed and who lived each day in luxury. 20At his door lay a diseased beggar named Lazarus. 21As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. 22Finally, the beggar died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham.£ The rich man also died and was buried, 23and his soul went to the place of the dead.£ There, in torment, he saw Lazarus in the far distance with Abraham. 24“The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish in these flames.’ 25“But Abraham said to him, ‘son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. 26And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. Anyone who wanted to cross over to you from here is stopped at its edge, and no one there can cross over to us.’ 27“Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, send him to my father’s home. 28For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them about this place of torment so they won’t have to come here when they die.’ 29“But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read their writings anytime they want to.’ 30“The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will turn from their sins.’ 31“But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.’”
I told my pastor that, unless something changes radically between now and my demise, if ANYONE preaches about my being in heaven at my funeral I will stand up in my coffin and preach purgation and the healing love of God.
Well people have gotten conforted by their dear ones being at peace, via having dreams in their sleep.
Well there are those folks who would believe that this it is just one man’s opinion.
I like the poem myself.
A very beautiful book, this is the kids edition with picutres in it.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/heaven-is-for-real-for-kids-todd-burpo/1110768200?ean=9781400318704
Having had a near death experience where spirits told me “You’ve done enough, you can come home” I will say, they did say “home.” I was given the choice and I stayed here, although some days I wish I hadn’t.