I have been asked why some religions say not everyone goes to heaven after death. In my belief I never speak of death. That word has no meaning to me. I speak only of a person Journeying On. The Lord has provided me with witness to our life after this journey is completed. Two times I have witnessed people from the other side of life come back to visit a person. I saw nothing but the room walls but witnessed the presence of others who had journeyed on well before.  A conversation was completed while I heard only one side. The first time was when, on my lunch hour, I went to visit in the hospital my best friend’s wife who was dying. I was 30 years old at the time. I spoke to her and assured her we would take care of her husband and the children. Like a good Christian I assured her Jesus would receive her, thinking, a good believer should say that at the end of my visit. This woman had no strength left in her body just waiting for the end to come. She said oh HE comes all the time. Suddenly she said “oh there you are thank you for coming”. She raised her arm and in thin air rested it on something I could not see. I saw only the wall. My visit was over, due to time, and as I was leaving the hospital, I realized I had been kicked in the butt since I really did not think HE would come, but it was a nice thing to say. HE must have been laughing at my required humility. The second time was when I visited my sister as she was dying from diabetes in the 

hospital. I had become a monk and flew to Florida from Buffalo to pray for my sister. While in her room with her suddenly she said “Mom, Dad why have you come?” A conversation happened, I heard only one side, and then she said, “Grandma and Grandpa why have you come”. When the conversations were over, and sometime had passed, she suddenly raised her hand and reached out over her body to something. I asked, “what did you reach for” and she said Jesus came but he did not take my hand. All I could say was I guess it is not time yet. Her son flew in from Spain that night where he was living, went straight to the hospital, and visited his mom. Very shortly after his visit I was notified she had passed. HE took her hand. I then understood why HE did not take her hand earlier.
The Lord was teaching me that death does not exist, only JOURNING ON. When we do pass, I believe there is a level we must pass through. That is when we are accounted for our sins. How long we stay there I do not know, but I know my sins are many and it will take time. At the end of that time the LORD will FORGIVE me, and I will enter heaven. The lord’s forgiveness is huge and there is no sin he will not forgive. The worst things we know about are forgiven. Heinous crimes can be accounted for as HIS forgiveness is beyond our understanding. We leave the shell we have known, and our souls exist in heaven. I tell all I visit for condolence, when this journey ends to pray for the person and they will visit you when you need them. We 

will all go, but how long it takes to enter it may depend on our humility. 
This is my belief, and others may believe differently, and that is okay. I have been extremely fortunate for his teaching and can only say thank you for your mercy. You may have experience that gives you different conclusions and that is fine. GOD loves us all and visits us all.