Why does God punish some men immediately for their sins and not others?

this work is in progress, these are my initial thoughts only

The charge against God is that he killed some people for their sins immediately on whim, he is capricious, that is impulsive, unpredictable, and inconsistent.

We know that God usually does not kill each of us when we sin, and even when we persist in our sin. Some of the world's greatest mass murders have lived long lives and we know of some good people who have died young. The general biblical truth is that God does not treat us as our sins deserve, but he is patient with us so that we can come to repentance. It is also true that he judges his people first so that we do not perish with the wicked. The reason for some people dying young and some old is not known to us, it is not usually a function of how good we are. Frankly the notion of God acting on whim, is rather ridiculous, since we do not know the mind or wisdom of God, and God does not have to give us any reason whatsoever. He may appear to act on whim but that is another matter. My only reason for raising the issue is that some skeptics have raised it with me, and the question is of some interest to me and worth some consideration.

First we need some biblical instances (i.e. data):

  1. Adam and Eve, Gen 2:16-17
  2. The great flood, Gen 6:11-13
  3. Sodom and Gomorrah, Gen 19:24-25
  4. Er and Onan, Gen 38:7-10
  5. Golden Calf incident, Exo 32:25-28
  6. Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, Lev 10:1-3
  7. Complaining at Taberah, Num 11:1-3
  8. Spies bring back a bad report, Num 14:36-37
  9. Korah's rebellion, Num 16:28-35
  10. Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron, because of Korah, Num 16:41-50
  11. Venomous snakes, Num 21:4-9.
  12. Worshiping the Baal of Peor, Num 25:5-9.
  13. Hophni and Phinehas, 1 Sam 2:34.
  14. Nabal husband to Abigail, 1 Sam 25:36-38
  15. David's census of Israel and Judah.2 Sam 24:1
  16. Ahaziah consults Baal-Zebub, 2 Ki 1:16-17
  17. Jeroboam, 2 Chr 13:20
  18. Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels, 2 Chr 21:5-19
  19. Uzzah touching the ark and died, 1 Chr 13:7-10
  20. Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, Dan 5:22-30
  21. Ananias and Sapphira, Acts 5:1-11
  22. Herod eaten by worms, Acts 12:20-23

This list is no doubt incomplete. Other instances such as the Midianite's, Amalekites, Egyptians have already been analysed. If we examine the list we find the following general observations:

  • In some instances great patience has been exercised before judgement falls (Adam and Eve, Great flood).
  • In most cases a reason is given for judgement.
  • It is frequently judicial and on God's own people.
  • It is rarely on the wicked who do not know God (Flood, Sodom, Belshazzar, Herod)
  • All these events occured while God was active in the lives of men and woman so that these events are recorded for us in scripture
  • If God consistently punished everyone, immediately they sinned, then life would be impossible or unbearable, especially if the punishment was death.
  • As I have pointed out elsewhere if God zapped everyone when they sinned we would not really have free-will and would be more like Pavlov's dogs.
  • God sometimes carries out a judicial sentence himself, although in general he gives this duty to mankind.
  • In later biblical history God sent his prophets to his people to warn them of the consequence of their sin, usually God's prophecy is is conditional. If you persist in doing this, then I will bring judgement upon you.
  • Whenever God is involved with his people in a very tangible/close/dramatic way as during the wilderness or the early church, or present day revivals there is also a greater chance of dramatic judgements.

If we group the judicial judgements on God's own people then we get the following list:

  1. Golden Calf incident, Exo 32:25-28
  2. Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, Lev 10:1-3
  3. Complaining at Taberah, Num 11:1-3
  4. Spies bring back a bad report, Num 14:36-37
  5. Korah's rebellion, Num 16:28-35
  6. Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron, because of Korah, Num 16:41-50
  7. Venomous snakes, Num 21:4-9.
  8. Worshiping the Baal of Peor, Num 25:5-9.
  9. Hophni and Phinehas, 1 Sam 2:34.
  10. David's census of Israel and Judah.2 Sam 24:1
  11. Ahaziah consults Baal-Zebub, 2 Ki 1:16-17
  12. Jeroboam, 2 Chr 13:20
  13. Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels, 2 Chr 21:5-19
  14. Uzzah touching the ark and died, 1 Chr 13:7-10
  15. Ananias and Sapphira, Acts 5:1-11

As far as the children of Israel are concerned, God was intimately involved with his people through Moses, and the punishments were for sin and were mostly for the purpose of preventing rebellion against Moses/God and subsequent anarchy and the disintegration of the nation in its formative years. With Ananias and Sapphira the formation of the church is involved, and the judgement on them resulted in "Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events", but the church continued to grow (Acts 5:14).

Regarding the judicial warnings/punishments to the children of Israel in the desert the NT makes the following comment.

(1 Cor 10:5-11 NIV) Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. {6} Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. {7} Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry." {8} We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did--and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. {9} We should not test the Lord, as some of them did--and were killed by snakes. {10} And do not grumble, as some of them did--and were killed by the destroying angel. {11} These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

The remaining incidents on people other than God's people are:

  1. Adam and Eve, Gen 2:16-17
  2. The great flood, Gen 6:11-13
  3. Sodom and Gomorrah, Gen 19:24-25
  4. Er and Onan, Gen 38:7-10
  5. Nabal husband to Abigail, 1 Sam 25:36-38
  6. Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, Dan 5:22-30
  7. Herod eaten by worms, Acts 12:20-23

I have included Er and Onan in this list because they are a difficult case, and need to be examined separately.

The NT gives the following commentary on some OT events:

(1 Pet 3:20 NIV) who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,

(2 Pet 2:4-9 NIV) For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; {5} if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; {6} if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; {7} and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men {8} (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)-- {9} if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.

(Jude 1:7 NIV) In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

Paul makes a general comment thus:

(1 Tim 5:24 NIV) The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them.

Regarding the specific events which do not pertain to God's people:

Adam and Eve

Had God imposed an immediate death penalty upon them then 'life' would be impossible, however their spiritual relationship with God suffered as soon as they disobeyed him. They were cut off from the tree of life and eventually died.

Great flood

God exercised great patience before the flood, which only came when the oldest man ever to live, Methusela, died.

Sodom and Gomorrah

Had there been as few as ten righteous people there, then God would not have destroyed it.

(Gen 18:32 NIV) Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?" He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it."

Er and Onan:

The Roman Catholic church has made a great case about Onan regarding the sin of masturbation. In fact he was not doing his Levirite duty, to prolong his dead brothers offspring. This was his persistent practise, for whenever he lay with his brother's wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from producing offspring for his brother.

(Gen 38:8-10 NIV) Then Judah said to Onan, "Lie with your brother's wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to produce offspring for your brother." {9} But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so whenever he lay with his brother's wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from producing offspring for his brother. {10} What he did was wicked in the Lord's sight; so he put him to death also.

The Levirite marriage law is mentioned in Deu 25:5-10, is used in Ruth 4, Mat 22:24 Mark 12:19 Luke 20:28

(Deu 25:5-10 NIV) If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband's brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. {6} The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel. {7} However, if a man does not want to marry his brother's wife, she shall go to the elders at the town gate and say, "My husband's brother refuses to carry on his brother's name in Israel. He will not fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to me." {8} Then the elders of his town shall summon him and talk to him. If he persists in saying, "I do not want to marry her," {9} his brother's widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, take off one of his sandals, spit in his face and say, "This is what is done to the man who will not build up his brother's family line." {10} That man's line shall be known in Israel as The Family of the Unsandaled.

See Tekton's comments on Onan

Nabal husband to Abigail, 1 Sam 25:1-38

The man Nabal was rich (v2) and a fool (v25) and despite the good intentions of David and his men (6-8), he rebuffed David's request for provisions (10-11) and hurled insults at David's men (14). David had been watching over Nabal's goats and sheep in the desert so that none of it would go missing, but Nabal had paid him evil for good (21). David now plans to avenge himself by killing all the men belonging to Nabal. But Nabal's wife, Abigail who is was an intelligent and beautiful woman (3) sees the danger and steps in by giving David a gift of two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs (18). Her quick actions avert David's revenge. Meanwhile Nabal is holding a banquet like a king (he could easily afford to have given David some provisions) he gets very drunk (36). When he has sobered up his wife tells him everything

(1 Sam 25:37-38 NASB) But it came about in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, that his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him so that he became as a stone. {38} And about ten days later, it happened that the LORD struck Nabal, and he died.

What caused his heart to die is unclear, maybe it was all the goods that his wife gave to David, we don't know. Either way it could a merciful act of God to finish him off after ten days.

See Tekton's comments here

Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians

Belshazzar, had the example of his father Nebuchadnezzar who had humbled himself before God, Belshazzar knew this but had not humbled himself before God. He had had prior revelation from God, and because of this, God judged him. The more our revelation, the more our responsibility before God.

(Dan 5:18-23 NIV) "O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor. {19} Because of the high position he gave him, all the peoples and nations and men of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled. {20} But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. {21} He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like cattle; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone he wishes. {22} "But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. {23} Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.

Herod eaten by worms, Acts 12:20-23

From my point of view this is the sovereignty of God at work, rather than just whim.

Flavius Josephus wrote the following account of Herod Agrippa's death which matches the account found in the bible: "After Agrippa had ruled in Judea for three full years, he traveled to the city of Caesarea, which in the past was called Strato's Tower. There he put on an exhibition in honor of Caesar, declaring this to be a festival for the Emperor. And there came a large number of officials and those of a high-ranking status. At sunrise on the following day he put on a robe made of all silver and walked into the theater. Then the silver shown brightly as the sun's first rays fell upon it and he sparkled in the sunlight, dazzling the crowd and causing a sort of fear and trembling in those who were viewing the spectacle. The crowds then began to shout from various parts of the theater, words which in truth were not for his best, addressing him as a god, and crying out, "We have in the past honored you as a man, but now we honor you as one with a nature greater then any mortal being."

"The king did not rebuke, nor disagree with the flattery of the crowd . . . Shortly afterwards he experienced a violent attack with a severe pain in his stomach . . . The king was carried quickly into the palace, and word of this account reached the ears of all his subjects and that it would not be long before he died . . . And when he had suffered for five straight days from the pain in his stomach, he died at the age of fifty-four after ruling for seven years.' The Bible gives an identical account in Acts chapter 12:19-23: (After Herod had the apostle James put to death with the sword, and put Peter in prison. Peter was broken out of jail by an angel of the Lord.) "Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while. He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the support of Blastus,a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king's country for their food. On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of man." Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

Agrippa I's death occurred in A.D. 44, "after the completion of the third year of his reign over the whole of Judea" Jos. Antiq. XIX, 343 [viii.2); War II, 219 [xi.6]) and in the fourth year of the emperor Claudius Jos. Antiq. XIX, 351 [viii.2]). Luke's reference to worms suggests an infection by intestinal roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides), which grow as long as ten to sixteen inches and feed on the nutrient fluids in the intestines. Bunches of roundworms can obstruct the intestines, causing severe pain, copious vomiting of worms, and death. But whatever its physical details, both Luke and Josephus attribute Agrippa's death to the king's impiety and God's judgment. Moreover, Luke sees it as part of God's activity on behalf of the Jerusalem church. [EBC]

The specific events described:

Adam and Eve, Gen 2:16-17

(Gen 2:16-17 NIV) And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; {17} but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

The great flood, Gen 6:11-13

(Gen 6:11-13 NIV) Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence. {12} God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. {13} So God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.

Sodom and Gomorrah, Gen 19:24-25

(Gen 19:24-25 NIV) Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah--from the LORD out of the heavens. {25} Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities--and also the vegetation in the land.

Er and Onan, Gen 38:7-10

(Gen 38:7-10 NIV) But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the Lord's sight; so the LORD put him to death. {8} Then Judah said to Onan, "Lie with your brother's wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to produce offspring for your brother." {9} But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so whenever he lay with his brother's wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from producing offspring for his brother. {10} What he did was wicked in the Lord's sight; so he put him to death also.

See Glenn Miller's answer here

Golden Calf incident, Exo 32:25-28

(Exo 32:25-28 NIV) Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. {26} So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me." And all the Levites rallied to him. {27} Then he said to them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.'" {28} The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died.

Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, Lev 10:1-3

(Lev 10:1-3 NIV) Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. {2} So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. {3} Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said: "'Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.'" Aaron remained silent.

Complaining at Taberah, Num 11:1-3

(Num 11:1-3 NIV) Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. {2} When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the LORD and the fire died down. {3} So that place was called Taberah, because fire from the LORD had burned among them.

Spies bring back a bad report, Num 14:36-37

(Num 14:36-37 NIV) So the men Moses had sent to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble against him by spreading a bad report about it-- {37} these men responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the LORD.

Korah's rebellion, Num 16:28-35

(Num 16:28-35 NIV) Then Moses said, "This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: {29} If these men die a natural death and experience only what usually happens to men, then the LORD has not sent me. {30} But if the LORD brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt." {31} As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart {32} and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and all Korah's men and all their possessions. {33} They went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. {34} At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, "The earth is going to swallow us too!" {35} And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.

(Num 26:10 NIV) The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire devoured the 250 men. And they served as a warning sign.

Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron, because of Korah, Num 16:41-50

(Num 16:43-50 NIV) Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the Tent of Meeting, {44} and the LORD said to Moses, {45} "Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once." And they fell facedown. {46} Then Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer and put incense in it, along with fire from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has started." {47} So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. {48} He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped. {49} But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah. {50} Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, for the plague had stopped.

Venomous snakes, Num 21:4-9.

(Num 21:4-9 NIV) They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; {5} they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!" {6} Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. {7} The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people. {8} The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." {9} So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.

Worshiping the Baal of Peor, Num 25:5-9.

(Num 25:5-9 NIV) So Moses said to Israel's judges, "Each of you must put to death those of your men who have joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor." {6} Then an Israelite man brought to his family a Midianite woman right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. {7} When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand {8} and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear through both of them--through the Israelite and into the woman's body. Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped; {9} but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000.

Hophni and Phinehas, 1 Sam 2:34.

(1 Sam 2:34 NIV) "'And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you--they will both die on the same day.

Nabal husband to Abigail, 1 Sam 25:36-38

(1 Sam 25:36-38 NIV) When Abigail went to Nabal, he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. He was in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until daybreak. {37} Then in the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him all these things, and his heart failed him and he became like a stone. {38} About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal and he died.

See Tekton's comments here

David's census of Israel and Judah.2 Sam 24:1

(2 Sam 24:12-16 NIV) "Go and tell David, 'This is what the LORD says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.'" {13} So Gad went to David and said to him, "Shall there come upon you three years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me." {14} David said to Gad, "I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men." {15} So the LORD sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. {16} When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD was grieved because of the calamity and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, "Enough! Withdraw your hand." The angel of the LORD was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

Glenn Miller's answer here and here

Ahaziah consults Baal-Zebub, 2 Ki 1:16-17

(2 Ki 1:16-17 NIV) He told the king, "This is what the LORD says: Is it because there is no God in Israel for you to consult that you have sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!" {17} So he died, according to the word of the LORD that Elijah had spoken. Because Ahaziah had no son, Joram succeeded him as king in the second year of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah.

Jeroboam, 2 Chr 13:20

(2 Chr 13:20 NIV) Jeroboam did not regain power during the time of Abijah. And the LORD struck him down and he died.

Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels, 2 Chr 21:5-19

(2 Chr 21:18-19 NIV) After all this, the LORD afflicted Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels. {19} In the course of time, at the end of the second year, his bowels came out because of the disease, and he died in great pain. His people made no fire in his honor, as they had for his fathers.

Uzzah touching the ark and died, 1 Chr 13:7-10

(1 Chr 13:7-10 NIV) They moved the ark of God from Abinadab's house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. {8} David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, cymbals and trumpets. {9} When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. {10} The Lord's anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.

Glenn Miller's answer here

Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, Dan 5:22-30

(Dan 5:22-30 NIV) "But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. {23} Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. {24} Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription. {25} "This is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN {26} "This is what these words mean: Mene : God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. {27} Tekel : You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. {28} Peres : Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians." {29} Then at Belshazzar's command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom. {30} That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain,

Ananias and Sapphira, Acts 5:1-11

(Acts 5:1-11 NIV) Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. {2} With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. {3} Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? {4} Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." {5} When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. {6} Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. {7} About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. {8} Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." {9} Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." {10} At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. {11} Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

Herod eaten by worms, Acts 12:20-23

(Acts 12:20-23 NIV) He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king's country for their food supply. {21} On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. {22} They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." {23} Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

See also Genn Miller Why does judgment lag so far behind?

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