THE THOUSAND-YEAR JUDGMENT

Under Jesus Christ and his 144,000 associate heavenly judges the princes will function. They will have a thousand years to assist the human race to learn obedience to God’s laws and to achieve life. With sparkling, invigorating life, there will be no sickness requiring doctors and hospitals, as are now necessary to alleviate, to some extent, the terrible suffering it causes. God gave the apostle John a vision that provides a fine picture of this judgment day. John writes:

“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. And the dead were judged out of those things written in the scrolls according to their deeds.

Rev. 20:12, 13.

This vision clearly depicts the resurrection of the dead, whether from an earthly grave or a watery one​—all the redeemed ones, for whom God accepts the propitiatory sacrifice of Christ. This will constitute the majority of mankind who have ever lived.

In addition to the resurrected ones there will be the survivors of the “great tribulation” that destroys this wicked earthly system of things. (Matt. 24:21; Rev. 7:9-17) These will need the help of the heavenly judges and priests in order to be lifted up to perfection, even though some may serve as “princes.” Likewise, the resurrected men appointed as “princes” will need such heavenly help.

All of these must stand before Jehovah’s judgment throne. God has delegated judgment authority during the thousand years to Jesus Christ. (John 5:22) Is the judgment based on the past record of those being judged? No. The judgment is not based on whether their name is in the book of life when they come before the throne. The vision shows that other scrolls were opened and that “the dead were judged out of those things written in the scrolls according to their deeds.” Thus, determination is made as to whether they get the opportunity to have their names in the book of life or not.

The scrolls set forth Jehovah’s laws for living and working in the “new earth.”