Pope St. John Paul II in three addresses on Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory explained how the essence of these realities is not a “place,” such as exists in space and time, but the relationship of the soul to God, Who is Love. On His part He is always offering it. On our part, we choose to accept it perfectly, or, we choose to accept it though imperfectly. We can also choose to reject God’s offer of Love. Our choice, whichever it is, becomes fixed at death when the possibility of moral choice ends. This determines our eternal relationship with God. The love of God in the blessed soul is experienced as joy, and in the longing of the soul being purified as fire, mitigated by the knowledge that it will one day be with God, and, by the comfort of the angels, saints and souls on earth praying for it. St. Paul speaks of the fate of the Just when he speaks of the Last Day of human history. 1 Cor. 3:12-15 Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. For most of the human race, their “Day” of judgment will be the last day of their life, not the Last Day of history. What Christ has reserved to purify the Just who survive to the End, will purify the Just who die before it, as well; as it will punish the unjust, also by fire. READ MORE   2 Maccabees 12:41-45 (representing 2nd Century B.C. Judaism) So they all blessed the ways of the Lord, the righteous Judge, who reveals the things that are hidden; and they turned to prayer, beseeching that the sin which had been committed might be wholly blotted out. And the noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sin of those who had fallen. He also took up a collection, man by man, to the amount of two thousand drachmas of silver, and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering. In doing this he acted very well and honorably, taking account of the resurrection. For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin. Matthew 5:25-26 (Christ on Himself as Judge and His standard of Justice) Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny. Matthew 12:32 (Christ on forgiveness in the age to come) And whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. Matthew 5:48 (Christ on the Holiness of the Father) You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Rev. 21:26 (St. John on the holiness of the Heavenly Jerusalem) [T]hey shall bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean shall enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 (St. Paul on Purification of our acts by God) Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Scripture uses the expression “falling asleep” for death in Christ (1 Cor. 15:20). Thus, repose of the soul means its resting in God until the day of the General Resurrection