Hi Rick, well though God takes responsibility for making us with inherit weaknesses, every single individual will be held accountable/liable for the choices we make. I do feel that somehow as those in the world are resurrected from the dead, they will actual stand before God and receive condemnation and 'sentenced' to physical life again (that will be their lake of fire). Upon repentance they will be forgiven, but I think they must make recompense through the fire of judgment. I believe the accountability to be a process, now maybe there will be a certain degree of confessions, but I would think firstly the process is to come to be made aware of one sin and then they must be brought to repentance through retribution.
Deu 32:35 Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them.'
I believe there are so many 'sins' that are committed with actual denial of wrong doing... one example is throughout history the strong people have descended upon the weaker nations and conquered them. They killed any that resisted and took many captive that became their slaves... the world did not view this as wrong. These slaves became their property and was thought of as little more than beasts of burden, and treated much like animals... the world did not view that as wrong. Many slaves have suffered incredibly at the hands of their 'master,' many were killed with no regret. And so many have committed other kinds of awful sins in the name of a twisted sense of justice, with no remorse. And many terrible sins are committed and the perpetrated never even found out and known, much less penalized. People cannot give account or own up to acts of sin they are not aware of as sin, some sins are quite obvious, but others are not, some have religions totally contrary to Christians... they will have to come to realize many truths first.
1Cor 4:5 So you should not pass judgment on anyone before the right time comes. Final judgment must wait until the Lord comes; He will bring to light the dark secrets and expose the hidden purposes of people's minds. And then all will receive from God the praise they deserve. (GNB)
2Cor 5:10 For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of the Messiah, so that each of us may receive what he deserves for what he has done in his body, whether good or worthless. (ISV)
Part of the process of giving account after being made aware of ones sins, would need to be their held liable, "receive what he deserves." So thinking of a slave that was brutally killed by their 'owner,' what could be more just than turning that around and now the master is the salve and the slave the master, "the first will be last, and the last first." Of course it would not be the same for the slave as it is in this age, but God's justice is not the same as man's, He would not be seeking to physically harm/injure as man does, but the torment of that reverse situation would be quite real and bring humility. Remember the parable of Lazarus and the rich man and how Jesus said how tormented the rich man was in his fiery judgment. There was a lifetime of learning evil for many people and I guess it will take quite some time for them to learn to live in righteousness... but there will be a whole age to do so.
So I guess I'm saying that I think accountability is much more than just speaking a confession, it would involve many steps, probably over many years at least for some in being brought to righteousness. Anyway that's just my thoughts.
Matt 25:41 "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting (eonian) fire prepared for the devil and his angels G32 (aggelos - a messenger; especially an “angel”; by implication a pastor: - angel, messenger.):
Matt 25:46 And these will go away into everlasting (eonian) punishment, but the righteous into eternal (eonian) life."
mercy, peace and love
Kat