The general resurrection of the dead
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
, the future resurrection, is to take place at the end of this visible world, which will be transformed by means of fire. It will consist in this, that the souls of the dead will again be united with their former bodies and will be spiritual and immortal. Until the general resurrection, the souls of the righteous are in a state of rest and a foretaste of eternal blessedness, while the souls of sinners are in a foretaste of eternal torment. However, the souls of those who died in the faith, but who did not bring forth fruits worthy of repentance, may be helped by the prayers and almsgiving offered for them by the living, and above all by the offering for them of the bloodless sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ.