[bearbear]

Originally Posted by Augustine

It is not incredible that something like this should occur after this life, whether or not it is a matter for fruitful inquiry. It may be discovered or remain hidden whether some of the faithful are sooner or later to be saved by a sort of purgatorial fire, in proportion as they have loved the goods that perish, and in proportion to their attachment to them. However, this does not apply to those of whom it was said, "They shall not possess the Kingdom of God," unless their crimes are remitted through due repentance. I say "due repentance" to signify that they must not be barren of almsgiving, on which divine Scripture lays so much stress that our Lord tells us in advance that, on the bare basis of fruitfulness in alms, he will impute merit to those on his right hand; and, on the same basis of unfruitfulness, demerit to those on his left--when he shall say to the former, "Come, blessed of my Father, receive the Kingdom," but to the latter, "Depart into everlasting fire."

This is an interesting take on the purgatory concept from Augustine and maybe as far as you can take it without violating what is clearly shown in scripture. Augustine's writings reflect the early church's understanding of warnings concerning the kingdom of God as being eternal and not temporary in nature. The early church fathers were commanded by the original Apostles to carefully follow their teaching and not to deviate from it for fear that leaven would creep into the church. Because of this, it is nearly impossible for any of the Apostles to have held to the millennial kingdom exclusion idea as described by Govett, Lang and Panton, so this doctrine would be more akin to the leaven that the Apostles warned against.

Titus 1:9
He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Galatians 5:9
A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough