CG. I can prove by the BIBLE that on Judgment Day all mankind, “the dead”, will be judged according to the deeds they did before they died, because:
1) To start with, let’s read Rev. 20:7, 9-10, 11-15.
Though Rev. 20:11-15 could be a distinct vision, and not a continuation of the vision in Rev. 20:7-10, it seems that Rev. 20:11-15 is, indeed, a continuation of the vision in Rev. 20:7-10, for they both talk about “the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:10, 15). But since Rev. 20:11-15 mentions some events (the destruction of the heaven and the Earth, and the resurrection) which will not take place after the 1,000 years, as far as I understand, therefore, I see the text in Rev. 20:7, 9-10, 11-15 as follows:
As soon as the 1,000 years have ended… [TIME: after the 1,000 years]
…Fire came down out of heaven and consumed them. And the Devil who was misleading them was hurled into the lake of fire. [TIME: after the 1,000 years]
And I saw a great white throne [which is on Earth: Rev. 22:3; Rev. 21:10, not in heaven: Rev. 4:2-6] and the One seated [who is Jesus: Matt. 25:31; John 5:22; Acts 10:42] on it. [TIME: after the 1,000 years]
From before him the earth and the heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. [TIME: in the beginning of the 1,000 years, that is, this is A LOOK BACK; 2 Pet. 3:7, 10-13; Rev. 21:1]
And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. But another scroll was opened; it is the scroll of life. The dead were judged from the things written in the scrolls, according to their deeds. [TIME: after the 1,000 years]
And the sea gave the dead in it, and death and Hades gave the dead in them, and they were judged individually according to their deeds. [TIME: in the beginning of the 1,000 years, that is, this is A LOOK BACK]
And death and Hades were hurled into the lake of fire. This means the second death, the lake of fire. And if someone was not found written in the book of life, he was hurled into the lake of fire. [TIME: after the 1,000 years]
THAT IS:
Rev. 20:7, 11-15 tells what happens after the 1,000 years, but as a look back it mentions two events that happen 1,000 years earlier.
One look back is in Rev. 20:13. Why, the event in Rev. 20:13 certainly takes place before the event in Rev. 20:12, for the dead cannot be standing before the throne (Rev. 20:12) before they are resurrected (Rev. 20:13). So, the event in Rev. 20:13 certainly takes place before the event in Rev. 20:12, either 5 minutes earlier, or 1,000 years earlier, in any case, earlier, but since Rev. 20:7, 10, 15 talks about the time after the 1,000 years, it is logical to think that the event in Rev. 20:13 does not take place just 5 minutes but 1,000 years before the event in Rev. 20:12.
And since, without the shadow of a doubt, there is one look back in Rev. 20:11-15, there can, logically, be another one too. Therefore, it seems that the latter part of Rev. 20:11 is also a look back.
THEREFORE:
The 1,000 years are called the Judgment Day, so it will be judging for 1,000 years. At first there is the judgment on Jehovah’s Day (Rev. 14:9-11; Rev. 13:7-8; Rev. 19:19-21; Rev. 20:10), and after that the judging climaxes two more times: in the beginning of those 1,000 years when mankind is brought back to life (Rev. 20:13) and after those 1,000 years when all people are either judged righteous for life or destroyed (Rev. 20:9, 12, 15). Therefore, Rev. 20:12-15 tells about the judging that begins after the resurrection (Rev. 20:13) and ends after the 1,000 years (Rev. 20:7, 9-10, 12, 15; Rev. 20:5).
Rev. 20:13 talks about the judgment immediately after the resurrection, immediately after the death is over, for the Bible says: “The death and Hades gave the dead in them, and they were judged.” So, it is clear that the dead will be judged immediately after the resurrection.
Rev. 20:9, 12, 15 talks about the judgment 1,000 years after the resurrection, when people have lived for 1,000 years.
When the Bible says: “The dead were judged from the things written in the scrolls, according to their deeds”, it is clear that their deeds have been written in those scrolls.
When the Bible says: “The death and Hades gave the dead in them, and THEY WERE JUDGED individually ACCORDING TO THEIR DEEDS“, it is clear that immediately after the resurrection people will be judged according to the deeds they did before they died.
2) Many Bible verses prove that “the dead” will be judged according to the deeds they did before they died:
A) 2 Pet. 2:9 says: “Jehovah knows how to… reserve unrighteous people to be PUNISHED on JUDGMENT DAY.” Unrighteous people, that is, all mankind (Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 6:9-10), will be PUNISHED on Judgment Day for what they did before they died.
The Greek verb 2849 kolazó “TO PUNISH” in 2 Pet. 2:9 occurs two times in the Greek Scriptures, in the following verses: Acts 4:21; 2 Pet. 2:9.
The Greek expression “JUDGMENT DAY” (2250 hémera “DAY” + 2920 krisis “JUDGMENT”) in 2 Pet. 2:9 occurs 7 times in the Greek Scriptures, in the following verses: Matt. 10:15; Matt. 11:22; Matt. 11:24; Matt. 12:36; 2 Pet. 2:9; 2 Pet. 3:7; 1 John 4:17.
B) Rev. 11:18 says: “The appointed time came for THE DEAD TO BE JUDGED.” In addition to the judging of the dead, this verse mentions the following events:
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“the nations became wrathful”
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“your own wrath came”
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“the appointed time came… to give the reward to your slaves, to the prophets and to the holy ones”
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“the appointed time came… to bring to ruin those ruining the earth”
None of these events takes place after the 1,000 years, but, instead, all these events take place at the end of this world. Since “the appointed time… for the dead to be judged” is mentioned among these events, that event must take place close to these other events, not 1,000 years later.
C) Hebr. 9:27 says: “It is reserved for men to DIE once, and AFTER THIS TO RECEIVE A JUDGMENT.” It is clear that this judgment comes immediately after the resurrection, immediately after the death is over (Rev. 20:13), since the Bible says: “To DIE… AFTER THIS to receive a judgment.” If there is nothing else but the judgment 1,000 years after the resurrection (Rev. 20:15), when people have lived for 1,000 years, yes, when people have lived 10 lives, so to speak (10 x 100 years), it is: ‘To LIVE for 1,000 years… AFTER THIS to receive a judgment‘, but Hebrews 9:27 talks about judgment AFTER DEATH, saying: “To DIE… AFTER THIS to receive a judgment.” Therefore, it is clear that there will be judgment also immediately after the resurrection, immediately after the death is over (Rev. 20:13), and it is clear that this judgment AFTER DEATH results from the deeds that people did before they died, whereas the judgment 1,000 years after the resurrection (Rev. 20:15), that is, the judgment AFTER NEW LONG LIFE, results from the deeds that people did, or did not do, during those 1,000 years.
D) Rom. 2:12-16 says: “ON THE DAY WHEN GOD JUDGES the secret things of mankind through Christ Jesus, according to the good news I declare”, that is, on Judgment Day, “all those who sinned without Law” will be judged without Law, and “all those who SINNED UNDER LAW will be JUDGED BY LAW“
On Judgment Day no one can SIN UNDER THE MOSAIC LAW, thus “all those who sinned under Law” will be judged according to the deeds they did BEFORE THEY DIED, when they were under the Mosaic Law. And “all those who sinned without Law” will be judged according to the deeds they did BEFORE THEY DIED; ‘their conscience will bear witness with them, and by their own thoughts they will be accused or even excused’ (Rom. 2:15-16 compare Rom. 14:11).
HOLY ONES OF ISRAEL will judge BY THE MOSAIC LAW all those who sinned under Law, and HOLY ONES OF THE NATIONS will judge WITHOUT THE MOSAIC LAW all those who sinned without Law (Rom. 2:12). See AC.
E) Rom. 2:1-10 says: “We know that God’s judgment is in harmony with truth, against those who practice such things. But do you suppose, O man, that while you judge those who practice such things and yet you do them, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, because you do not know that God in his kindness is trying to lead you to repentance? But according to your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, YOU ARE STORING UP WRATH FOR YOURSELF on the day of wrath and of the revealing of God’s righteous judgment. And he will pay back to each one according to his works.”
If people will not be judged according to the deeds they did before they died, how did people in the first century ‘STORE UP WRATH FOR THEMSELVES on the day of the revealing of God’s righteous judgment’? It is clear that every human will be judged according to the deeds he did before he died. No one “will escape the judgment of God” (Rom. 2:3).
F) Eccl. 8:11 says: “Because judicial sentence against a bad deed has not been executed quickly, that is why the heart of the sons of Adam is filled with doing bad.” Since judicial sentence against a bad deed will be executed AFTER DEATH (Hebr. 9:27), when a person is resurrected (Rev. 20:13), judicial sentence truly has not been executed quickly. Some people who lived for hundreds of years were able to do bad even for hundreds of years without punishment, and generation after generation has been able to do more and more bad without punishment; this has continued for thousands of years (2 Pet. 3:4; 2 Tim. 3:13). “Judicial sentence against a bad deed has not been executed quickly”, but it will be executed (Acts 17:31; Acts 10:42; Acts 24:25).
G) Eccl. 11:9-10 says: “Walk in the ways of your heart and in the things seen by your eyes. But know that ACCORDING TO ALL THESE the true God will bring you into JUDGMENT.” It is clear that every human will be judged according to the deeds he did before he died. All who are in Hades will be brought back to life (Rev. 20:13), and God will bring them into judgment according to “ALL” the deeds they have done (Eccl. 11:9-10; Hebr. 9:27).
H) Eccl. 12:13-14 says: “The true God will bring EVERY DEED INTO JUDGMENT, with every hidden thing, whether it is good or bad.” It is clear that every human will be judged according to the deeds he did before he died; “EVERY DEED” will be judged.
I) 1 Tim. 5:24 says: “The sins of some men are known to all, leading the way into judgment, but other men are following after.” It is clear that every human will be judged according to the deeds he did before he died.
J) Jude 14-15 says: “The seventh one from Adam, Enoch, also prophesied about them when he said: “Look! Jehovah came with his holy myriads to execute judgment against ALL, and to reprove ALL the ungodly concerning ALL their ungodly deeds that they did in an ungodly way, and concerning ALL the shocking things that ungodly sinners spoke against him.”” It is clear that ALL will be judged according to the deeds they did before they died. Jehovah will “execute judgment against ALL”, against ALL MANKIND that has ever lived, Jehovah will “reprove ALL”, ALL MANKIND that has ever lived (see also Rom. 3:19 “all the world may become accountable to God for punishment”; Isa. 26:9).
K) Matt.12:36 says: “Every useless saying that men will speak, THEY WILL RENDER AN ACCOUNT concerning it ON JUDGMENT DAY.” It is clear that every human will be judged on Judgment Day according to the deeds he did before he died, and according to the words he spoke. Why, Jesus specifically said that people “WILL RENDER AN ACCOUNT ON JUDGMENT DAY” for everything.
L) Mark 12:38-40 says: “They devour the houses of the widows… THESE WILL RECEIVE A MORE SEVERE JUDGMENT.” It is clear that every human will be judged according to the deeds he did before he died. All people will receive judgment after death (Hebr. 9:27), on Judgment Day (Matt.12:36; Rom. 2:16), for all who are in Hades will be brought back to life (Rev. 20:13) and God will judge them according to “EVERY DEED” they did before they died (Eccl. 11:9; Eccl. 12:14), and some people “WILL RECEIVE A MORE SEVERE JUDGMENT” for the deeds they did before they died (Mark 12:40; Jam. 2:13).
M) Matt. 12:41-42 says: “Men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, because they repented at what Jonah preached. But look! something more than Jonah is here. The queen of the south will be raised up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. But look! something more than Solomon is here.” It is clear that every human will be judged according to the deeds he did before he died.
N) Acts 24:25 says: “As Paul talked about righteousness and self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened.” Why did Felix become frightened? Felix heard about “the judgment to come”, that God will judge every human according to the deeds the person did before he died (Rev. 20:13), that is why Felix “became frightened”.
O) Hebr. 4:13 says: “There is NOT A CREATION that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and openly exposed to the eyes of the one to whom WE MUST RENDER AN ACCOUNT.” It is clear that every human will be judged according to the deeds he did before he died.
P) Rom. 14:10-12 says: “We will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says Jehovah, ‘to me EVERY knee will bend, and EVERY tongue will make open acknowledgment to God.’” So, then, each of us WILL RENDER AN ACCOUNT for himself to God.” It is clear that “EVERY” human will be judged according to the deeds he did before he died. “EVERY” human “WILL RENDER AN ACCOUNT for himself to God”, “EVERY” human “will make open acknowledgment to God” before the judgment seat of God.
Q) 1 Pet. 4:2-5 says: “They are puzzled that you do not continue running with them in the same decadent course of debauchery, so they speak abusively of you. But THESE PEOPLE WILL RENDER AN ACCOUNT to the one who is ready to judge those LIVING and those DEAD.” Every human will be judged according to the deeds he did before he died.
R) 1 Cor. 4:5 says: “Therefore, do not judge anything before THE APPOINTED TIME, until THE LORD COMES, who will both BRING THE HIDDEN THINGS OF DARKNESS TO LIGHT and MAKE MANIFEST THE INTENSIONS OF THE HEARTS, and then each one will receive his praise from God.” It is clear that every human will be judged according to the deeds he did before he died. At “the appointed time”, on Judgment Day, the hidden things of every person will be brought to light, the intensions of the heart of every person will be made manifest.
S) Jam. 2:13 says: “THE ONE WHO DOES NOT PRACTICE MERCY WILL HAVE HIS JUDGMENT WITHOUT MERCY.” It is clear that every human will be judged according to the deeds he did before he died. All people will receive judgment after death (Hebr. 9:27), on Judgment Day (Matt.12:36; Rom. 2:16), for all who are in Hades will be brought back to life (Rev. 20:13) and God will judge them (Rom. 14:10-12; 1 Pet. 4:4-5) according to “EVERY DEED” they did before they died (Eccl. 11:9; Eccl. 12:14), the hidden things of every person will be brought to light, the intensions of the heart of every person will be made manifest (1 Cor. 4:5; Rom. 2:15-16; Lu. 8:17), and ‘those who did not practice mercy’ before they died, ‘will receive their judgment without mercy’ (Jam. 2:13), they “will receive a more severe judgment” for the deeds they did before they died (Mark 12:40).
T) Col. 3:25: “Certainly the one who does wrong will receive back the wrong he has done.” It is clear that every human will be judged according to the deeds he did before he died. On Judgment Day every human “will receive back the wrong he has done”. The Bible says this over and over again, saying: “As you have done, so it will be done to you. The way you treated others will come back on your own head” (Isa. 3:10-11, 13; Ob. 15; Ex. 21:24-25; Lev. 24:19-20).
U) Gal. 6:7: “God is not one to be mocked. For whatever a person is SOWING, this he will also REAP.” It is clear that every human will be judged according to the deeds he did before he died. On Judgment Day everyone will REAP what he SOWED during his life.
V) Num. 32:23 says: “Your sin will catch up with you.” It is clear that every human will be judged according to the deeds he did before he died. The Bible says this over and over again, endlessly.
W) Jer. 32:19: “Whose eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men, in order to give to each one according to his ways and according to the fruitage of his actions.” It is clear that every human will be judged according to the deeds he did before he died. On Judgment Day each one will receive according to his ways, according to his actions.
X) Isa. 3:10-11, 13 says: “Tell the righteous one that it will go well for him, for they will eat the fruitage of their actions. Woe to the wicked one, it will be affliction, for WHAT HIS HANDS HAVE DONE WILL BE DONE TO HIM! Jehovah will take his position to conduct a legal case and he will stand up to judge peoples.” It is clear that every human will be judged according to the deeds he did before he died. On Judgment Day every human “will receive back the wrong he has done” (Col. 3:25). The Bible says this over and over again, saying: “As you have done, so it will be done to you. The way you treated others will come back on your own head” (Ob. 15; Ex. 21:24-25; Lev. 24:19-20). Yes, “WHAT HIS HANDS HAVE DONE WILL BE DONE TO HIM!” (Isa. 3:10-11, 13).
Y) 2 Tim. 4:14 says: “Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. JEHOVAH WILL REPAY HIM ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.” It is clear that every human will be judged according to the deeds he did before he died.
Z) Ps. 62:12 says: “YOU REPAY EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.” It is clear that every human will be judged according to the deeds he did before he died.
Ä) Eccl. 3:17 says: “The true God will judge both the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time there for EVERY DESIRE and EVERY DEED.” It is clear that every human will be judged according to the deeds he did before he died. All people will receive judgment after death (Hebr. 9:27), on Judgment Day (Matt.12:36; Rom. 2:16), for all who are in Hades will be brought back to life (Rev. 20:13) and God will judge them (Rom. 14:10-12; 1 Pet. 4:4-5) according to “EVERY DEED” they did before they died (Eccl. 11:9; Eccl. 12:14), according to “EVERY DESIRE and EVERY DEED” (Eccl. 3:17), the hidden things of every person will be brought to light, the intensions of the heart of every person will be made manifest (1 Cor. 4:5; Rom. 2:15-16; Lu. 8:17), and ‘those who did not practice mercy’ before they died, ‘will receive their judgment without mercy’ (Jam. 2:13), they “will receive a more severe judgment” for the deeds they did before they died (Mark 12:40), every human “will receive back the wrong he has done” (Col. 3:25), yes, “what his hands have done will be done to him” (Isa. 3:10-11, 13; Ob. 15; Ex. 21:24-25; Lev. 24:19-20).
3) People will not be sentenced to DEATH in judging after the resurrection, no, people will be PUNISHED and they have to CORRECT MATTERS. Jehovah will “execute judgment against all” and Jehovah will “REPROVE all”, yes, “REPROVE”, Jehovah will reprove ALL MANKIND that has ever lived (Jude 15; Rom. 3:19 “all the world may become accountable to God for PUNISHMENT”; Isa. 26:9). Unrighteous people, that is, all mankind (Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 6:9-10), will be “PUNISHED” on Judgment Day for what they did before they died, as 2 Pet. 2:9 says: “Jehovah knows how to… reserve unrighteous people to be PUNISHED on JUDGMENT DAY“ (Greek verb 2849 kolazó “to punish”, compare, same Greek verb, Acts 4:21).
Angels have written down the deeds of humans, good deeds and bad deeds (John 5:30; Rev. 20:12; Dan. 7:10; Job 33:23 “a spokesman… to tell to man his uprightness”; Matt. 18:10; Eccl. 10:20; Mal. 3:16; Ps. 56:8; Ps. 139:16; Neh. 5:19; 13:14, 22, 30-31).
Job knew that Jehovah ‘sees his ways and counts all his steps’ (Job 31:4), and ‘weighs him with accurate scales’ (Job 31:6), and “calls for an accounting” for everything Job has done during his life (Job 31:14). That applies to every human (Ps. 139:1-7; Hebr. 4:13). That is why Felix “became frightened” when he heard about this “judgment to come”, the Judgment Day to come (Acts 24:25).
Will people be brought back to life just to be punished and that’s it? No. One of the purposes of the punishment is to cause people to REPENT for what they have done, for Jehovah “does not desire anyone to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9; Eze. 18:21-23, 27-28, 32). Yes, “to REPENTANCE” (see CH. ).
4) JUDGMENT DAY is Jehovah’s “DAY OF VENGEANCE”, the day when matters of every INDIVIDUAL and of every NATION will be corrected, yes, also matters of every NATION, as the Bible says: “He will judge between the nations”, he will “reprove many peoples”, he will “reprove mighty nations” (Isa. 2:4; Micah 4:3-4). Everyone will receive justice, as Jehovah says: “VENGEANCE is mine; I will REPAY“, “VENGEANCE is mine, and REPAYMENT“. For “it is righteous on God’s part to repay TRIBULATION to those who make TRIBULATION for you” (Isa. 3:10-11, 13; Ob. 15; Ex. 21:24-25; Lev. 24:19-20; Rom. 12:19-20; Rev. 6:10; Ps. 94:1-2; Isa. 35:4; 2 Thess. 1:6; Nah. 1:2; Deut. 32:35, Micah 5:15; Isa. 61:1-2).
See proofs under CE. that JUDGMENT DAY begins, that is, JUDGING begins, when Jesus comes (Matt. 25:31) and when Jehovah comes (Joel 3:11-12) on Jehovah’s Day, which is “JUDGMENT DAY and [the day] of destruction of the ungodly people” (2 Pet. 3:7), ‘the day of revealing of God’s righteous JUDGMENT’ (Rom. 2:5-11; Rev. 11:18), the day when the Faithful and True “JUDGES” (Rev. 19:11; Isa. 11:4; 2 Thess. 1:7-8; Matt. 16:27). So, the DAY OF VENGEANCE, the JUDGMENT DAY, begins when Jehovah and Jesus come, and continues for 1,000 years.
5) Jehovah will judge the world (Rom. 3:6; Ps. 9:8; Ps. 96:13; Ps. 98:9; Isa. 26:9) by means of Jesus and all holy ones (John 5:22-23; Acts 17:31; John 5:27; Rev. 20:4; 1 Cor. 6:2) in the same manner as human judges judged in Israel (Deut. 16:18; 2 Chron. 19:5-6; 1 Kings 3:9). Human judges in Israel were “a typical representation… of the heavenly things” and “a copy of the reality” and “a shadow of the things to come” (Hebr. 8:5; Hebr. 9:9; Hebr. 9:24; Hebr. 10:1; Col. 2:17).
We holy ones will make ‘judicial decisions’ just as Solomon did (1 Kings 3:16-28). Because of Jehovah’s spirit (Isa. 11:2; Prov. 2:6), and as spirits, holy ones will be more wise than Solomon was, who was “wiser than any other man” (1 Kings 4:29-34; 2 Chron. 9:6-7). Jehovah’s spirit qualified Solomon to judge his people (2 Chron. 1:10; 1 Kings 3:9-12, 28), and it will qualify holy ones to judge all mankind (John 7:46; Matt 12:18; 2 Cor. 3:18), the spirit of that God for whom “all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26; Lu. 1:37; Jer. 32:17).
When the Israelites who had transgressed against God came before Ezra and had to correct their deeds publicly, it was like a small drama which shows what will happen on Judgment Day, giving us a glimpse of what it means that people will be judged (Ezra 10:7-14, 16-19, 44).
The name itself, JUDGMENT DAY, indicates what happens at that time.
6) The less bad a person has done, the “MORE TOLERABLE”, that is, MORE EASY, it will be for him on Judgment Day (Matt. 11:22; Matt. 12:41-42; Isa. 3:10-11; Matt. 7:2; Jam. 2:13).
What about the people of Sodom and Gomorrah? Jude 7 says: “Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them… are set before [us] as an example of those PUT UNDER JUDICIAL PUNISHMENT OF EVERLASTING FIRE” (“put under” = “hypekhousai”, which is the Greek verb 5254 hypekhó, compare, 2 Thess. 1:9 “will suffer” = “tisousin”, which is the Greek verb 5099 tinó). This cannot mean that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah will not be alive on Judgment Day, for Jesus said: “You, Capernaum… if the powerful works that took place in you had taken place in Sodom, it would have remained until this very day. Further, I say to you, it will be MORE TOLERABLE for the land of SODOM on JUDGMENT DAY than for you” (Matt. 11:23-24). So, people of Sodom and Gomorrah will be alive on Judgment Day. In fact, not just Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, but ALL MANKIND is “PUT UNDER JUDICIAL PUNISHMENT OF EVERLASTING FIRE”, for Rev. 20:15 says that after the 1,000 years every human who “was not found written in the book of life was hurled into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:15). Therefore, ALL MANKIND is “PUT UNDER JUDICIAL PUNISHMENT OF EVERLASTING FIRE”.
When the Earth is a Paradise, all will come back to life (Acts 24:15; John 5:28-29; Hebr. 9:27; Rev. 20:13), but after the resurrection the life of one person differs from the life of another person. “An evil person will not go unpunished” (Prov. 11:21). This is Jehovah’s love and wisdom and justice! (Isa. 26:9)
