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?
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Asked February 16 2015
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Gary Creel
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Dorothy Mathieson
My opinion is, in these times, The Holy Spirit is more available than during the Old Testament times, thank You Jesus. Is is also my opinion that people are already destroying this earth as well as the people, so why should He? We are all capable of making choices, so I believe God still gives us to our very last breath that moment of choice. He is an awesome and very loving God.
Steve VanDyke
Somtimes judgment does come to the wicked in the form of consequences to their evil actions. However, the story Jesus tells about Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16:19-31 gives us an image of how this is played out. The rich man, who is now suffering in Hell and Lazarus, the poor man who suffered on earth is now in paradise with God. Jesus tells the rich man, that while he was on earth, he received his reward, and now, Lazarus is receiving his reward- good things in paradise, since he suffered with bad things during his life on earth. The rich man is talking to Abraham, as most Jews at the time refer to Abraham as their father, and one who they would meet in heaven- so, Jesus used this in the story to help the Jews he was speaking to understand better. This is an image that the wicked will receive their reward in heaven if they choose to deny Christ on earth. Their reward has been received on earth, as they live separated from Christ and do wicked things. Their eternal reward will be to face judgment and be cast into the lake of fire and eternal suffering. Eternal suffering is the reward for the wickedness of a short life denying Jesus and doing evil on the earth. We suffer on earth as believers, and build up treasures in heaven, receiving the eternal reward of life without suffering.
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