John,

I think you might find a good explanation of this in the Heidelberg Catechism, "Lord's Day 22 which is in the Devotions Forum. In particular, there is this section that might be most helpful.

II. Where and in what state does the soul remain when separated from the body?

"The Papists imagine that the souls of men, at the time they are separated from their bodies, pass into the fire of purgatory, that they may there be purified from sin, some sooner, and others later, according as they, during the period of life, loved to a greater or less extent, the perishing things of this world as Lombard says. The Scriptures teach, on the contrary, that no fire after death, but that the blood of Christ, purifies our souls in this life from all sin. They also teach that the souls of the faithful when they die, are not cast into the place of torments, there to be purified by fire but, that they are gathered to Christ in Abraham’s bosom, whilst the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, from which there is no way of escape, and where they are now tormented with hellish agonies, being at the same time reserved for the more intolerable torments of that eternal fire which the wrath of God will kindle in the judgment, which Christ will execute at the end of the world.

The Scriptures in many places speak of the state and condition of the souls of the faithful after death in the following manner: “Father into thy hands I commend my spirit.” “Lord Jesus receive my spirit.” And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by the angel into Abraham’s bosom.” (Luke 23:46. Acts 7:59. Luke 16:22.) From what is here said, it is plain that the souls of the pious dead are not in purgatory. Paul says, (Phil. 1:23) “I have a desire to depart, and be with Christ.” He did not therefore, have any fears of purgatory.  The godly are “willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Cor. 5:8.) They do not therefore, pass through purgatory before they come into the presence of the Lord.

The following passages of the word of God speak of the condition of the wicked after death. “The wages of sin is death.” “Fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Rom. 6:23. Matt. 10:28.) The rich man, immediately after his burial, was in hell in torments, and exclaimed: “I am tormented in this flame.” (Luke 16:23.) A deliverance thence will for ever be denied him. He also feared, lest his five brethren would soon come to the same place of torment. The souls of the wicked therefore, when leaving their bodies, are not carried into purgatory, where a way of escape may open itself to them, but they are cast into the unquenchable fire of hell."


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