St. Dismas and why he didn't go to Purgatory

Hi Lutero,

You said:
As Christians, when we die, our physical body dies, but our spirit goes to be with Jesus.

Scripture says:
Revelation 2:10
King James Version (KJV)
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Are these Christians who shall receive a crown of life, AFTER they go to a spiritual prison cast into it by the devil? What do Protestants call this temporary stop before going to heaven?

Remember what Jesus said to the thief on the cross, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” There’s no waiting.

For some, there is no waiting. That is why we believe in the Assumption of Mary. She went straight to heaven. However, as seen in Rev 2:10, above, some faithful Christians will make a pitstop in Purgatory before they go to heaven.


But, you might ask, what about St. Dismas (i.e. the Good Thief) then? Why didn’t he go to Purgatory? Several reasons:

1st. Jesus is sovereign God. His Word is law. So, therefore St. Dismas went straight to heaven after he died, according to Christ’s word. HOWEVER, note that St. Dismas didn’t die immediately upon Christ’s word. But continued to suffer even after Christ died. Why? I’ll list the reasons below:

2. Christ does not contradict His own Word. Scripture says:

1 Peter 4:1

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

Therefore, St. Dismas had to expiate his sin before he went to heaven. Jesus knew this, therefore He did not permit St. Dismas to die before he suffered sufficiently upon his cross (John 19:31-33).

3. Scripture also says:

Romans 8:17

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Note that St. Dismas died in union with Christ. Compare him to the other thief who died in disunion with Christ.

4. Scripture continues:

Matthew 10:32

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

Note that St. Dismas also confessed Jesus before men (Luke 23:39-41).

5. Note also, that St. Dismas did a work of gold (1 Cor 3:10-15). His confession is memorialized in Scripture for eternity and has converted many men to the Faith of our Lord, Jesus Christ (James 5:19-20).

And St. Dismas went straight to heaven, in accordance with all the Teachings of the Catholic Church.

Unfortunately, when non-Christians die, they go to hell. There is no in-between, for if a person doesn’t receive Jesus while he is alive, then neither will they receive Him after death. Remember what Abraham said to the rich man in hell, “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.” (Luke 16:31) That rich man went into hell and torment, not purgatory. (Luke 16:22-23)

The word, hell, in Scripture, means the place of the dead. Not the place of the damned. Now, Dives, the Rich Man, was not in the hell of the damned, because if he had been in the hell of the damned, and this is Protestant doctrine, he would not have been concerned about the spiritual condition of his brothers. Therefore, since he showed care and concern for them, Dives must have been in Purgatory.

Unless you can show from your own doctrine, that people in hell care about each other and wish to prevent each other injury and harm.

At the last trumpet, is when we will be given an immortal body, when our spirit, who has been with Jesus, will unite with our given immortal body. (1 Cor. 15:52) –”the truth is still the truth, even if a billion people votes 1+1=3.”

That is true. And the Catholic Church continues to preach that truth (1 Tim 3:15; Eph 3:10).

Sincerely,

De Maria