Judgment after Death

Is there really a "waiting room" for the dead, or does judgment come on each person immediately after death?

Since time does not exist outside of this existence, how can we spend "time" in a place where there is no "time"?


This topic has been brought up to me quite a bit lately by preachers and other Christians. When we die, are we immediately judged, or are we just basically spiritually unconscious for hundreds or thousands of years until Christ comes again?

If you believe we go to a spiritual "waiting room" (most who hold this point to the rich man and Lazarus for proof), exactly how much time do we spend there when there is no "time" outside of this physical existence? How much time do you spend in a place where there is no time?

The rich man and Lazarus were obviously both judged (one was in torment, the other in paradise). If there is a "waiting room" (this is how many describe the idea of Hades), are people punished there and then moved to another place of punishment later?

Still trying to wrap my mind around these ideas and understand what seems like contradictions in some of the views.

Hebrews 9:27 says that it is appointed for man once to die and then the judgment. Once we pass from this life judgment has been rendered.

2 Corinthians 5:10 says "that we all must stand before the judgment seat of Christ." Is there a Scripture that says that we must all stand in judgment at the same time? I know in the book of Revelation there is one that alludes to it possibly, but at the present moment my mind cannot bring one to remebrance. It seems to me that once we pass fromt his life we have recieved are jugment and know where we are going (if you will). Paul says in 1 Cor. 15:51ff, that all shall not die but all will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. How fast is that? These are just my thoughts do with them what you will.