Question--Afterlife

I received a question from Steve. Here's the gist: "I was looking at the Catholic channel and they were talking about Purgatory. I've never heard non-Catholics talk about Purgatory. Anyway, the Catholic bishop was saying (I thought) St. Paul talked about it...that through Purgatory a person can go to heaven and have not accepted Jesus Christ while on earth....that believers can pray for the soul in Pergatory to be accepted? into heaven."

First, know that Purgatory is not a Bible word or Bible concept. It cannot be found in the Bible. The Catholics have their own Bible and set of beliefs that have evolved over centuries. And frankly, if it isn't in the Bible, I don't want it. But, for what it is worth, my understanding of the doctrine is that if a believer dies and has unforgiven sins (not of a major type, such as murder) then Purgatory is where the dead person's sins are removed through the prayers of the living. As for Paul referring to or inferring anything regarding Purgatory, he didn't. Here are a few pertinent Bible teachings.

About the after life:
Jesus' story about Lazarus--(Luke 16:23)--'Rich man in torments in Hades'--'Great gulf between the rich man and Lazarus.'
Jesus on the cross said (Luke 23:46) to the thief, "today you will be with me in Paradise"
1 Thes. 4:13-18 tells us that "God will bring with Him those who sleep (dead) in Jesus." Chapter 5 continues with how Jesus is coming back on the "day of the Lord."
We really don't know a lot about the after life though we read a lot about Heaven, particularly at the end of the book of Revelation. But Purgatory, praying for the removal of other people's sins after they have died? No!

About straying from the Bible:
2 Timothy 3:16-17--"All scripture is given by inspiration of God....that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
2 John 9--"Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God."
Revelation 22:18-19--"If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

So, the answer is for us all to just follow the teachings of Jesus and His followers in the Bible.
Thank you for reading! Written with love.