Will all souls appear in Heaven to wait on judgment day?

Answer 1

Catholic AnswerNo, every soul is judged at the instant of death - this is called the particular judgment. At the particular judgment a soul is either welcomed into heaven or thrown into hell. If the soul has died in a state of grace, but not yet perfect, then that soul undergoes purification so that it may enter heaven, since "nothing imperfect can enter heaven." (Matthew 5:48, Revelation 21:27). Judgment Day refers to The Final Judgment when the world ends: 681 On Judgment Day at the end of the world, Christ will come in glory to achieve the definitive triumph of good over evil which, like the wheat and the tares, have grown up together in the course of history.

In other words, Christ will come to earth and judge the earth on the earth. The dead will be raised, everyone will receive their body, either glorified for those in heaven, or not, for those in hell; and there will be a new earth and a new heaven.