It’s curious to me that Jesus’ death on the Cross - which was for the remission of sin (TO ALL THOSE WHO ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOR), is not relevant to those who are dead.
Unless a human makes the choice to serve/worship Jesus prior to death; they have no remission of sins available after death.
Remember, “Paradise” was the waiting place for all those who had believed on Jesus (or God accounted their belief unto them as righteousness); UNTIL that day when Jesus entered into the holding place and gathered them all together and walked with them into Heaven. I have often wondered how Joseph (Jesus earthly father) reacted when he saw Jesus walk into paradise.
I was taught that Pergatory was actually HELL .. the place where your soul would stay if you had never received Jesus as your Savior. Receiving Jesus had to occur PRIOR TO PHYSICAL DEATH. Praying for a deceased person who you may believe was in purgatory .. would be useless .. because there was no entrance for them into Heaven without the blood of Jesus, right ..??
Though it is sad to think about, some people will never reach Heaven; even though they have been given ample opportunity to accept Jesus as their Savior while they were alive on the earth.
I know my views may not agree with yours, but I believe the Bible agrees with me.
The way to clarify the issues is to look at the gathering for the wedding in Heaven, at the groups that will be there, not just The Bride and The Savior. BUT there will be on one there without the ‘garment, which is interpreted the Grace of God in Christ. So, of the Wedding gathering how many groups do we identify, besides the Bride (the Church, the ekklesia growing since the end of Daniel’s 69th week,taken out before the seventieth week gets going)?
When a person dies, the physical body dies. But the soul is judged instantly by Christ as your life flashes in front of you.
The soul is very much alive. If Jesus sends the soul to heaven, that person has eternal life.
If Jesus sends that soul to hell, that person has eternal damnation and fire.
If Jesus sends that soul to Purgatory, it is so that the soul can be purified by suffering and penance it did not do while on earth.
Remember that all souls must be perfect before entering heaven.