“And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment”
Hebrews 9:27
In other words, the Judgement is immediate, less than a second. Ask anybody who’s had a real near death experience and they’ll say the “changeover” was instantaneous.
So you are correct, praying for souls in “purgatory” is about as fruitful as hoping Antarctica will have sunny skies and 80 degree temps in July.
Well according to the tree huggers it cud happen..look at those poor polar bears..