Why does God often wait to judge the wicked, vs. judging them now as they live on Earth?

For example, God utterly destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. He struck Nabal down dead. Why doesn't he just destroy wicked cities, or kill wicked people,   on Earth? Why, in most cases, is their judgement given only after they die?

Clarify • Share • Report • Asked February 16 2015 • Gary Creel