Purgatory

====Methodism====
{{further|Last Judgment}}
[[Methodism|Methodist churches]], in keeping with Article XIV - Of Purgatory in the [[Articles of Religion (Methodist)|Articles of Religion]], hold that "the Romish doctrine concerning purgatory ... is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no warrant of [[Scripture]], but repugnant to the Word of God."<ref name="CRI-Article 14—Of Purgatory">{{cite web|url = http://www.crivoice.org/creed25.html|title = The Twenty-Five Articles of Religion (Methodist)|publisher = CRI / Voice, Institute|access-date = 2009-04-11|archive-date = 2017-12-18|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171218211716/http://www.crivoice.org/creed25.html|url-status = live}}</ref> However, in traditional Methodism, there is a belief in Hades, "the intermediate state of souls between death and the [[general resurrection]]," which is divided into Paradise (for the righteous) and Gehenna (for the wicked).<ref>{{cite book|quote=The country is called Hades. That portion of it which is occupied by the good is called Paradise, and that province which is occupied by the wicked is called Gehenna.|last=Withington |first=John Swann |title=The United Methodist Free Churches' Magazine |year=1878|publisher=Thomas Newton |location=London |page=685}}</ref><ref name="Smithson1859">{{cite book|last=Smithson|first=William T.|title=The Methodist Pulpit|url=https://archive.org/details/methodistpulpit00unkngoog|year=1859|publisher=H. Polkinhornprinter|page=[https://archive.org/details/methodistpulpit00unkngoog/page/n459 363]|quote=Besides, continues our critical authority, we have another clear proof from the New Testament, that ''hades'' denotes the intermediate state of souls between death and the general resurrection. In Revelations (xx, 14) we read that ''death'' and ''hades''-by our translators rendered ''hell'', as usual-shall, immediately after the general judgment, "be cast into the lake of fire: this is the second death." In other words, the death which consists in the separation of soul and body, and the receptacle of disembodied spirits shall be no more. ''Hades'' shall be emptied, death abolished.}}</ref> After the [[general judgment]], Hades will be abolished.<ref name="Smithson1859"/> [[John Wesley]], the founder of Methodism, "made a distinction between [[Christian views on hell|hell]] (the receptacle of the damned) and Hades (the receptacle of all separate spirits), and also between paradise (the antechamber of heaven) and [[Heaven (Christianity)|heaven]] itself."<ref name="Jr.Warrick2005">{{cite book|last1=Yrigoyen|first1=Charles Jr.|last2=Warrick|first2=Susan E.|title=Historical Dictionary of Methodism|date=16 March 2005|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=9780810865464|page=107|quote=Considering the question of death and the intermediate state, John Wesley affirmed the immortality of the soul (as well as the future resurrection of the body), denied the reality of purgatory, and made a distinction between hell (the receptacle of the damned) and hades (the receptacle of all separate spirits), and also between paradise (the antechamber of heaven) and heaven itself.}}</ref><ref name="University2001">{{cite book|title=American Methodist Worship|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I1TDD5-CLlEC|access-date=10 April 2014|date=8 March 2001|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780198029267|page=202|author=Karen B. Westerfield Tucker|quote=Decisions made during life were therefore inseparably connected to what came after life. Upon death, according to Wesley, the souls of the deceased would enter an intermediate, penultimate state in which they would remain until reunited with the body at the resurrection of the dead. In that state variously identified as "the ante-chamber of heaven," "Abraham's bosom," and "paradise".|archive-date=4 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704174315/http://books.google.com/books?id=I1TDD5-CLlEC|url-status=live}}</ref> The dead will remain in Hades "until the [[Day of Judgment]] when we will all be bodily resurrected and stand before Christ as our Judge. After the Judgment, the Righteous will go to their eternal reward in Heaven and the Accursed will depart to Hell (see {{Bibleverse|Matthew|25|KJV}})."<ref>{{cite book|last=Swartz|first=Alan|title=United Methodists and the Last Days|url=http://hermeneutic.org/2009/04/united-methodists-and-last-days.html|date=20 April 2009|publisher=Hermeneutic|quote=Wesley believed that when we die we will go to an Intermediate State (Paradise for the Righteous and Hades for the Accursed). We will remain there until the Day of Judgment when we will all be bodily resurrected and stand before Christ as our Judge. After the Judgment, the Righteous will go to their eternal reward in Heaven and the Accursed will depart to Hell (see Matthew 25).|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120411115342/http://hermeneutic.org/2009/04/united-methodists-and-last-days.html|archive-date=11 April 2012}}</ref>