Although many Christians believe that people will be judged based on whether they accepted Christ before they died, the Bible actually teaches that people will be judged based on their behavior, progress and decisions during the Millennium.
Revelation 20:12, "And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books." NKJV
Compare the following scriptures:
Matthew 8:21-22, "Then another of His disciples said to Him, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.' But Jesus said to him, 'Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.' " NKJV
Those awakened from the dead in the kingdom are still dead in the same sense as Lazarus who was awakened by Jesus. They will not be fully alive, fully resurrected, until they progress to both moral and physical perfection and are judged as loyal and obedient to the LORD.
John 12:47-48, "And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him — the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day." NKJV
This is basically saying the same thing as Revelation 20:12, “the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” The “books” are the books of the Bible and in the kingdom, mankind will be judged from the standards written in the Bible and spoken by Jesus.
Matthew 12:32, "Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come." NKJV
Personal judgment is in two ages & two classes: first on those who have the Holy Spirit during the Gospel Age, then later on Paradise Earth when Jehovah pours his spirit on ALL flesh.
Some would speak against the holy spirit in the next age. Who are these? Not the Church in heaven.
Revelation 22:14,15, "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie." NKJV
This is not talking about those who did His commandments before the judgment time, but during the judgment time. Notice that at the very same time there are those outside the city who are sinners (those not cooperating with and entering into God’s kingdom). Certainly no one is eating of the Tree of Life today. This opportunity is for mankind in the kingdom.
Isaiah 26:9, "For when Your judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness." NKJV
Psalm 96:10-13, "Say among the nations, 'The LORD reigns; The world also is firmly established, It shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the LORD. For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.' " NKJV
Psalm 67:1-4, "God be merciful to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us, Selah. That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously, And govern the nations on earth."
The time of Jehovah’s judgments are not a time of fear and dread, but a time of praise and gladness.
Psalm 9:8, "He shall judge the world in righteousness, And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness." NKJV
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