Revelation 20:13
“The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works.”
What does Revelation 20:13 mean?
At the end of all things, John envisions a moment when death itself releases everyone it has held—from the ocean depths to the grave to the realm of the dead. This is God's way of saying that no one escapes His presence or the accountability that comes with how we've lived. The emphasis on being "judged according to works" isn't about earning salvation through performance, but about each person's life mattering and being seen clearly by God, which should comfort those who've suffered injustice and challenge those who've lived carelessly.