Ten Purgatory Proofs: “Fiery Cleansing” In The Bible

**Photo credit**: cover of our book, published by Bridge Builders Press, 2024.

This is the transcript of the video short of the same name (1-23-26).

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The word purgatory comes from the Latin, purgare, which means “purge” or “cleanse.” This sort of theme is prominently present throughout the Bible. Since it’s a common process during our earthly life, it stands to reason that it will continue in the same way after we die, for some length of time determined by God, since, after all, no sin is allowed in heaven (2 Peter 3:13: “new heavens … in which righteousness dwells”; Revelation 21:27: “nothing unclean shall enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood”). Here are some of the key related passages:

Psalm 51:2, 7, 9-10 (RSV) Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! … [7] Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. … [9] Blot out all my iniquities. [10] Create in me a clean heart, O God, … (cf. Ezek 36:25, 33; 37:23)

Psalm 66:10, 12 For thou, O God, hast tested us; thou hast tried us as silver is tried. … [12] … we went through fire and through water; yet thou hast brought us forth to a spacious place.

Isaiah 1:25 I will … smelt away your dross as with lye and remove all your alloy.

Isaiah 4:4 … the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion … by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning.

Isaiah 48:10 Behold, I have refined you, … I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. (cf. Proverbs 17:3; Jeremiah 9:7)

Zechariah 13:1 On that day there shall be a fountain opened … to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness. … [9] And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested.

Malachi 3:2-3 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. [3] … he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, …

1 Corinthians 3:15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

1 Peter 1:7 … your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, … (cf. Luke 3:16)

1 John 1:7, 9 the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. … [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (cf. 2 Corinthians 7:1)

Related Book

God of Love, Fire & Light: A Biblical Defense of Purgatory (co-authored with Kenny Burchard, November 2024, 137 pages)

Related Web Page

Saints, Purgatory, and Penance

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Photo credit: cover of our book, published by Bridge Builders Press, 2024.

Summary: I provide ten biblical passages regarding a “fiery cleansing” or divine purging of sin, cleansing, refining, purification: processes that are essential components of purgatory.