How To Refine Silver
Learn more about How To Refine Silver at the website RouhNeckChronicles.com.
Q: How do I melt and refine silver, is there a precise formula?
I have some silver I want to melt down and purify, but I’m not sure what I need and what amounts!
A: m.p. of silver is nearly 1000 deg C, wouldnt it be a whole lot easier to consider an aqueous solution electrolytic refinement method instead?
Q: What do you think about this Bible verse?: Malachi 3:3 “He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver”.
The verse puzzled a church group, they wondered what it said of God’s character and nature. A women offered to find out the process of refining silver and tell them at the next study. She called a silversmith and asked to see him work. She mentioned no reason of interest beyond curiosity. As she watched, he held a piece of silver over the fire to heat up. He said “To refine silver, you need to hold it in the middle where the flame is hottest, to burn away all the impurities.” She thought of God holding us in such a spot, then again about the verse. She asked if he had to sit in front of the fire the whole time. He said “Yes, not only sit here holding the silver but also watch, if it’s left a moment too long in the fire, it will be destroyed.” She was quiet for a moment. Then asked how he knew when the silver was fully refined. He smiled, “Easy: when I see my image in it” If you feel the heat of the fire, know God has His eye on you and will keep watching until He sees His image in you.
I realize that this verse comes from the old testament, but what some of you are not acknowledging is that in the new testament God is no longer the vengeful angry God that He was in the old testament. Trish: the whole verse is this: “He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.” and Hellboy: the point of this whole thing was not the burning, but the love of God shown in the care it takes for the refining process. the Bible tells us that we will have troubles and imperfections, but we aren’t expected to be perfect. that’s why Jesus was sent: to save us from our imperfections. All you really have to do is accept God as the Creator, Jesus as the Savior and the Holy Spirit sort of as your guide to life. Life is too short to waste on thoughts of how horrible it is when it’s so easy to get right with God and live well. I hope you change your mind.
TeryakiBoy: I hope this means you might take a look at a Bible or maybe check out a church service. Glad you read it all before answering.
NerdF: I’m sorry that that is what you took from the passage in Psalms that you quoted. The point of that one was just as the Malachi 2:3 that Gruz quoted and as I said: in the old testament God was vengeful and angry. Psalms wasn’t saying that God is a filthy drunk, it was using the anger associated with alcoholism as a description of how angry God could be when that was written. Thankfully God changed His mind and sent Jesus as our Savior because He didn’t want to be angry with us anymore. I hope you change your mind as well.
For those of you whose responses obviously showed that I made you think or open your Bible, THANK YOU. That makes me feel the same way I did when I read the story I shared in the question: God is real and at work in our everyday lives, even in places we wouldn’t really expect it, but especially when we are looking for Him
A: I like Malachi 2:3 better.
“Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces” Malachi 2:3.
Q: How do you refine scrap sterling silver to pure silver?
A: Scrap is just melted into a bigger lump of sterling silver for reuse.
Separating the other alloys from the silver is a much more complicated job.
Q: are you good at this?
1. Where did most Muslims in the Arab Empire live?
in cities
near Makkah
in apartment buildings
in villages
2. Muslim scholars
preserved ancient learning.
did not do original work.
misunderstood math.
were greatly persecuted.
3. How did Arab merchants transport goods across the desert?
by train
by boat
by horse
in caravans
4. Muslims must
pray eight times a day.
save all their money.
fulfill the Five Pillars of Islam.
live in Makkah.
5. What belief do Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have in common?
A prophet is the son of God.
There is one God.
Lying is sometimes justifiable.
Stealing is sometimes allowed.
6. What country today has the largest Muslim population?
Iraq
Indonesia
Iran
the United States
Use the following chart to answer questions 7–8.
English term Arabic term Definition
Alcohol Al-Kuhl any highly refined or distilled substance
Algebra Al-Jabr the binding together of disorganized parts
Alkali Al-Qili ashes used in making lye and soap
Amalgam Al-Malgham mercury alloys used to refine silver and gold
Azimuth Al-Sumut the arc of the horizon, used to determine position
7.
Which Arabic word is defined as the ashes used in making soap?
Al-Qili
Al-Sumut
Al-Malgham
Al-Jabr
8. How is algebra defined?
a highly refined substance
the arc of the horizon
a mercury alloy
the joining of disorganized parts
Use the following map to answer questions 9–11.
9. Which city was under the rule of the first four caliphs?
Tours
Córdoba
Damascus
Constantinople
10. Which sea bordered Arabia to the west?
Red Sea
Arabian Sea
Mediterranean Sea
Black Sea
11. What was the farthest east that Islam reached under the first four caliphs?
Iraq
Arabia
Persia
India
12. Explain the split between the Shiites and the Sunnis.
A: 1. Where did most Muslims in the Arab Empire live?
in cities, villages, apartment buildings and many where
2. Muslim scholars
preserved ancient learning.
3. How did Arab merchants transport goods across the desert?
trucks, lorries, boats
4. Muslims must
fulfill the Five Pillars of Islam.
5. What belief do Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have in common?
There is one God.
6. What country today has the largest Muslim population?
Indonesia
7. Which Arabic word is defined as the ashes used in making soap?
Al-Qili
8. How is algebra defined?
the joining of disorganized parts
10. Which sea bordered Arabia to the west?
Red Sea
12. Explain the split between the Shiites and the Sunnis, it need along time and effort to explain it and i dnt have the time right now bt i can help u later, u can contact me on my yahoo user if u really need it; safooya83@yahoo.com
good luck
Q: How to refine a ruined polished silver pot?
i accidently put my mum’s silver pot into the dishwasher and when it came out it was all smokey and the shine dissapeared.its silver and use to be polished it was bought in England,,some where like
Upon-Avon..?
any one know how to get the shine back and get rid of the smokeyness? Thanks!
A: try tooth paste it works really well on silver and makes it come up shiny i have a really old frame, i actually thought it was like a bronze colour so i cleaned it with toothpaste and found it was silver underneath the dirt. hope this helps make sure you give it a try! 
Q: Malachi 3:3 What does this verse mean to you?
Refiner of Silver!!
Subject: Malachi 3:3
Malachi 3:3 says: “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study And they wondered what
this statement meant About the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the Process of refining silver and
get back to the Group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and Made an appointment to
watch him at work. She didn’t Mention anything about the reason for her
interest Beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a Piece of silver over the fire
and Let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, One needed to
hold the silver in the middle of the Fire where the flames were hottest
as! to burn away all The impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in Such a hot spot; then she
thought again About the verse that says:
“He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.”
She asked the silversmith if it was true that He had to sit there in
front of the fire the Whole time the silver was being refined. The man
Answered that yes, he not only had to sit there Holding the silver, but
he had to keep his eyes on the Silver the entire time it was in the
fire. If the Silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it Would
be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the Silversmith, “How
do you know when the silver is fully refined?”
He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy — when I see my image
in it”
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, Re! member that God has
his eye on you and will keep Watching you until He sees His image in
you.
Pass this on right now. This very moment, someone Needs to know that God
is watching over them.
And, whatever they’re going through, They’ll be a better person in the
end.
“Life is a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish, but You can only
spend it once.”
I asked what does it mean to you?? God Bless!!
GodShew
Sorry i offended you in anyway God Bless!!
A: All I can say is: THANK YOU for the inspiration! I need to be reminded that life is not meant to be a picnic. It is for the purpose of testing and trial, to grow towards the “be ye therefore perfect” that comes so slowly. You can’t sympathize with others’ trials if you’ve never suffered yourself.
Q: Christians who believe in only the word of God please?
Malachi 3:3…”He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver…”
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what
this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the
women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to
the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to
watch him at work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her
interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire
and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to
hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest
as to burn away all the impurities.
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in
front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.
The man answered yes – he not only had to sit there holding the silver,
but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the
fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would
be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, “How
do you know when the silver is fully refined?”
He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy…when I see my image
in it.”
I wanted to get everyone elses intake on this verse and story. I got it from Mikey’s Funnies, which is awesome and if you haven’t got it you need to. It’s free. Just search Mikey’s funnies on google. You should be able to find it.
I noticed someone said that not sure if this should go under funnies. Mikey sends out all kinds of things. This one was actually a “funny” with quotes meaning it had spiritual or emotional meaning to it.
A: Isn’t that awesome! Going through the fires is never painless or easy. But God never looks away. His eye is always on the sparrow. He knows how much each person can handle and if we trust Him and stand steadfast we will come forth in His righteousness, fit for the potter’s use in this life. Tribulations do indeed icrease our faith and teaches us to cling tight to our anchor, Jesus, who will never let us drown!
Q: Does this example of Malachi 3:3 Touch your Heart? I Pray that You receive the Truth from the Holy Ghost that?
There seems to a lot of refining going on these days..we will reflect His image someday so hold fast.
Malachi 3:3 says “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to
hold the the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought agathe silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as
to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she
thought again about the verse that says: “He sits as a refiner and
purifier of silver.” She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had
to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being
refined.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the
silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was
in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it
would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, “How do
you know when the silver is fully refined?” He smiled at her and answered,
“Oh, that’s easy — when I see my image in it.”
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his
eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
A: “Purify my heart! Make me pure as Gold! And precious silver! Purify my heart, make me pure as gold! Pure gold!
Refiner’s fire! My heart’s one desire! Is to be Holy! Set apart for you Lord! I choose to be Holy! Set apart for you my Master, ready to do your will!”
-Love that song–
Good scripture too! And good lesson! I love that story.
Q: Do you know what god wants for you?
There was a group of women in a Bible study on the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three which says:
He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study.
That week this woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot — then she thought again about the verse, that he sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, how do you know when the silver is fully refined? He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy–when I see my image in it.”
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
A: That’s like asking what the meaning of life was im sure if everyone knew Benny Hinny and pork eating TD 12 pack jakes and Creflo give me a dollar would be out of a job. Seems to me that all your saying is that Yahweh God wants all to be perfect.
Q: who feel sad in these days?read this story.what is your opinion????
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: “He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.” She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?”
He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy — when I see my image in it”
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
A: its really beautiful.thank you for posting it.it’ll be of great help to all the people facing troubles in thier lives.yes God never leaves us nor forsakes us but HE keeps refining us by allowing us to face trials and tribulations.
Q: how do i melt silver powder at home.?
i will be refineing silver using the acid method. what i am left with is a finished product of silver power(.999 fine silver). now i want to melt it using old style method. no torches or ovens. i want to use the open fire method, such at a very hot bon fire type method. i can get hold of coal if i need it, but what will i need to use to contain the silver in that i can make at home. i also have excess to refractory cement(kind used in fire places to hold high temp brick in place). if i used this could i form a crucible with it? also i want to use the melted silver to pour into a mold to form a 100oz. silver bar. yes i do have that much silver to refine. also can i make an impression in the ground(red clay soil) in the form of a silver bar shape and just pour the silver in it to cool? any home style help would be great..thanks..tom if i can do it, i will post some pictures for all to see.
A: I have heard of people welding a cast iron mold together and using that in a hot fire to form bars/bricks. I have also heard of people doing it wrong so that they couldn’t get the brick out. If you try this, taper the sides of the box so that the lid/door is the largest surface.
bottom
——–
/xxxxxx
/xxxxxxx
————–
lid.
That’s supposed to be a diagram. I don’t know if you can see it or not. Be sure to use at least 1/4 thick plate.
If your fire is not hot enough, just blow compressed air into it.
It might be worth using some wax or oil to allow “easy” release of the brick.
Q: Brothers and sisters in Christ, just one more…?
question now. This is from the KJV. I know several of you (at least) only like this version. I am not exactly sure how to interpret this, but I know it means the Jews. However, the modern day Christians are also God’s chosen people now, and considered spiritual descendants of Abraham. So, here it is:
And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried; they shall call on my name, and I will hear them; I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, The Lord is my God.
Zechariah 13:8-9
So what is your take on this? Could this mean the judgment in the end times or is this individual refining? What about Peter being sifted as wheat? Does this fall into this category? Thanks.
Marcia
A: Israel scattered, smitten, refined, and saved.
“And it shall come to pass in all the land,” says the Lord, “That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, but one- third shall be left in it: I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; and each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ”
a. I will bring the one-third through the fire: After the dispersion of Israel there will come a time of devastation and purification through fiery trials. Two-thirds will be destroyed and the remaining third will be put into the fire but preserved.
i. This seems to suggest that only one-third of the Jewish people will survive the Great Tribulation. If this is the case, no wonder these years are called the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7), and why Jesus said the Great Tribulation will be the most horrific time in human history (Matthew 24:21). Indeed, the Book of Revelation suggests that only one
b. They will call on My name, and I will answer them: This prophetically refers to the Jewish people who survive the Great Tribulation, come to salvation in the second half of that final period and welcome Jesus in the name of the Lord. This group – which includes the 144,000 of Revelation 7 and 14, but is not limited to that number – will make up the core of a restored Israel as Jesus establishes His millennial rule over the earth.
Q: Spiritually discerning, Is this a Love / Hate Relationship?
Job 9:21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
(( Job the Patriarch )) (( Please Remember that God actually was bragging to satan about how “Perfect and Upright” Job was….Before He even allowed him to be tried like Gold in the fire….))
Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
John 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. (( Jesus the Christ of God ))
Are these passages melding together as One Truth?….(( I really hope so, because I sincerly beleieve that the more “error” (dross) is removed from our souls, the more we also will come forth as “Gold tried in the fire”…Though we have to hate (…..which we are counselled now to “BUY” from Him…that we might be “Eternally RICH”…which to be perfectly honest is better than all the riches of this present age… *smiles*
Zechariah 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
1Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.
What are your thoughts Beloved…on how we may complete this trans~action to “BUY of ME Gold tried in the Fire….that we may be Rich” in God;s Eyes?…which, of course is the Eternal Perpective of his Righteous Judgements, and mercy that endures forever upon those that revere Him?
lastly….
Psalms 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, SO GREAT is HIS MERCY toward them that fear him.
How GREAT is THAT?
Thanks All….Grace and Peace, Mercy and Truth unto you all
Alien Jesus…funny….It is also the name for the one that God gave to Eve in place of Abel whom Cain slew…
Genesis 4:25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bore a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she , hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
I dont mean to get on this topic, but since you brought it up….Satan, that “Old Serpent”….who deceived Eve….was given a prophesy by God in the beginning….Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee (the Serpent’s Seed) and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
(( So you see that HER seed…was the continued though Seth….Enoch was the Seventh….and on down the line to Jesus…The Promised Seed…Which Crushed the Head of the Serpent!))
Genesis 4:26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.
Paul also speaks of this Prophecy : )
Romans 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Chihuahua: You always bless and help me, thank you dear sister {{{Chi}}}
God bless you : )
A: Discernment doesn’t necessitate emotionalism.
Q: Any insight into Zechariah 13:7-9?
7 “ Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd,
Against the Man who is My Companion,”
Says the LORD of hosts.
“ Strike the Shepherd,
And the sheep will be scattered;
Then I will turn My hand against the little ones.
8 And it shall come to pass in all the land,”
Says the LORD,
“ That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die,
But one-third shall be left in it:
9 I will bring the one-third through the fire,
Will refine them as silver is refined,
And test them as gold is tested.
They will call on My name,
And I will answer them.
I will say, ‘This is My people’;
And each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”
The first verse seems to be clearly a prophecy about Judas who betrays Jesus and how the disciples all were scattered when Jesus was arrested. But the remaining verses seem very separate. Does anyone feel they have any insight into these verses? Thank you.
MULDAH: Thank you, where in Revelations?
ERNEST: Thank you. You are right about the Holy Spirit being our teacher. That does not mean I cannot ever learn anything from others, including you (which I do!). But sometimes I do not even ask questions with the true intent of learning (but ALWAYS opened to it), but just to put God’s word forth with the intention of causing others (myself included) to examine it.
A: Don’t forget that prophets did more than tell the future when they delivered the word of God. They also interpreted the past and present circumstances.
That the shepherd is mentioned as being struck twice means that this passage has a double fulfillment. You are correct that Jesus was the second shepherd (though mentioned first because He is the greater of the two). The first was a man you might not have heard of, but you can read about in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles.
Josiah was the last good king of Judah, a righteous man and godly ruler who made one mistake: he led a foolish campaign in 609 BC against Pharaoh Neco (an ally of the Assyrians).
Josiah was killed in battle against Neco at Har Megiddo (yes, “Armageddon”!) and Judah fell under that king’s power for several decades. Because of the demands of Neco, they were too weak to withstand the later Babylonian invasion, at which time the Judaeans were dispersed.
(It was at this time they became known as Jews. The people who the Babylonians moved in in their place would become known as Samaritans.)
In time, Babylon fell and Cyrus king of Persia allowed the Jews to return to their land. (See book of Ezra). It is these people, the returned captives, to whom Zechariah is prophecying. He is putting their history in perspective by interpreting their place in God’s plan. At the same time he is exhorting them to holiness, he hints at the future Shepherd who would also be struck some 500 years later.
Oh what a prophet! Oh what a God!
Q: Purgatory? The Protestant Reformers denied the idea of a final purgation before seeing the face of God.?
Purgatory is simply the place where already saved souls are cleansed of the temporal effects of sin before they are allowed to see the holy face of Almighty God.
Revelation 21:27 tells us that “…nothing unclean will enter [Heaven].”
That there are temporal effects of sin is obvious when one considers that even those who have been baptized, who have a deep and intimate relationshp with Jesus, who are the “elect” or “the saved/being saved,” or what have you, are subject to pain, work, death and sickness.
Purgatory is His way of ensuring that Revelation 21:27 is true and that nothing unclean will see Heaven. It is only through Christ’s sacrifice that we are shown this mercy! It is Christ and Christ alone Who allows us access to the Father.
It’s isn’t in the Bible, but neither are the words “Trinity,” “abortion,” “lesbianism,” and “cloning” (or “Rapture,” for that matter), and it doesn’t matter whether you call the process of purgation “purgatory” or the “Final Theosis”: the concept of a “final cleansing” or “purgation” for those who require it is very evident in the Bible, in the writings of the early Church Fathers, and in the Old Testament religion whence Christianity sprang.
Daniel 12:2, Matthew 12:32, 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, 2 Timothy 1:16-18, Hebrews 12:14, Hebrews 12:22-23, 1 Peter 4:6 and Revelation 21:10, 27 all speak of Purgatory in their telling of the need for purification, prayers for the dead, Christ’s preaching to the dead, or how nothing unclean will see God.
Archaeology also indicates the antiquity of the Christian belief in Purgatory/the Final Theosis: the tombs of the ancient Christians were inscribed with words of petition for peace and for rest, and at the anniversaries of deaths, the faithful gathered at the graves of the departed to make intercession for those who’d gone before.
Orthodox Jewish practices, which branched off from the Old Testament religion, to this day reflect belief in this “place” of final purification which they call Gehenom: when an Orthodox Jewish person dies, a ritual called the taharah is performed by the “Chevra kaddisha — gmilat khessed shel emet,” the “Holy Society” or “Burial Society” of Jews knowledgeable in these traditional duties. They cleanse and prepare the physical body and recite the required prayers (Chevra Kadisha) which ask God for forgiveness for any sins the departed may have committed, and beg Him to guard and grant eternal peace to the departed. For eleven months after the death of a loved one certain members of the family pray a prayer called the Mourner’s Qaddish (or Kaddish) for their loved one’s purification.
Even the The Talmud1 speaks of Purgatory:
Sabbath 33b:
“The judgment of the wicked in purgatory is twelve months.”
Rosh HaShanah 16b-17a:
“It has been taught that the school of Shammai says: “There will be three groups on Judgment Day (yom haDin):
(1) one that is completely righteous,
(2) one that is completely wicked,
(3) and one that is in between.”
The completely righteous will be recorded and sealed at once for eternal life. The completely wicked will be recorded and doomed at once to Gehinnom, as it says: “And many who sleep in the dust of the earth shall rise up, some to eternal life and some to shame and eternal rejection” [Daniel 12:2]. Those in between will go down to Gehinnom and cry out and rise up, as it says: “And I will bring the third part through the fire and refine them as silver is refined and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name and I will answer them” [Zechariah 13:9]
Jews, Catholics, and Eastern Orthodox have always proclaimed the reality of the final purification for those who need it. It was not until the Protestant Reformers came in the 1500s that any Christians denied the idea of a final purgation before seeing the face of God.
A: Purgatory is real, thanks be to God. It is God’s intensive care unit, where desperately weak Christians who die in a state of grace can be nursed into holiness.
Here’s what Jesus taught:
Matt. 5:26,18:34; Luke 12:58-59. Jesus teaches us, “Come to terms with your opponent or you will be handed over to the judge and thrown into prison. You will not get out until you have paid the last penny.” The word “opponent” (antidiko) refers to Satan (the same word is used for Satan in 1 Pet. 5:8), and God is the judge. If we have not fully rejected sin in this life, we will be held in a temporary state after death (a “prison”), and we won’t get out until we have satisfied our entire debt to God–until the last penny is paid.
Matt. 5:48. Jesus says, “Be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect.” We are only made perfect through purification, and this purification, if not completed on earth, is continued in a transitional state Catholics call purgatory.
Matt. 12:32. Jesus says, “And anyone who says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but no one who speaks against the Holy Spirit will be forgiven either in this world or in the next.” Jesus thus clearly teaches that there is forgiveness after death. The phrase “in the next” (from the Greek “en to mellonti”) refers to the afterlife (see Mark 10.30; Luke 18.30; 20.34-35; and Eph. 1.21 for similar language). Forgiveness is not necessary in heaven, and there is no forgiveness in hell. This proves that there is another state after death, and the Church for 2,000 years has called this state purgatory.
Luke 12:47-48. When the Master comes (at the end of time), some will receive light or heavy beatings but will live. This state is not heaven or hell, because in heaven there are no beatings, and in hell we will no longer live with the Master.
Jesus taught the reality of purgatory, the Church gave it a name, and I thank God for his heavenly ICU.
Cheers,
Bruce
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