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Originally Posted by Raptor
There are many verses that clearly express exclusion, without adding meaning to the verses. "Not everyone saying to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of My Father in the heavens. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’" Matthew 7:21-23.
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We both agree that this verse is talking about exclusion from a kingdom. But we disagree on the length of the kingdom in these warnings. The kingdom of heaven is eternal and there is no indication in scripture that the kingdom of heaven is limited to 1000 years. Jesus also tells these fake believers "
I never knew you; depart from Me" It seems like Jesus wants nothing to do with them and there is no indication that Jesus will give them a second chance to return after 1000 years. Also, if Jesus never knew them, it means they were never born again.
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This is a judgement of works, not if one believed in the Lord or not. These are believers being judged for their works, like in 1 Cor. 3:12. "on that day"...What day is that? This is the Judgement Seat of Christ, these believers are being judged for their works of wood, hay and stubble. Their works were of the flesh, they were never approved of by the Lord. These fleshly workers "will not enter into the kingdom of the heavens."
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During the Bema Seat judgment, we will only be rewarded for works done out of selfless love. Other works done out of other intentions such as the fear of hell which are the wood, hay and stubble will be burned away. There will be saints who enter heaven for eternity as the least of saints without any rewards, perhaps like the thief on the cross who circumcised his heart, repented of his sins and turned to God in the last hour.
Galatians 5:6
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but
only faith working through love."