"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness." (Romans 1:18)

At selected times in human history, God has burst forth in judgment on men in order to show His extreme displeasure at certain sins they have committed. Obviously He does not strike men dead every time these sins are committed. If He did, the population of the world would be drastically reduced. But He has gone on record on isolated occasions to warn mankind that such ungodliness and unrighteousness will not go unpunished. If He does not deal with it in time, He most surely will in eternity.

When God looked down and saw that the earth was corrupt and filled with violence, He sent a cataclysmic flood, destroying the world (Genesis 6:13). Only eight people escaped with their lives.

Later the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah became centers of homosexuality (Genesis 19:1-13). Sodom was also guilty of pride, fulness of bread, and prosperous ease (Ezekiel 16:49). God revealed His wrath from heaven by raining fire and brimstone on these cities, consigning them to perpetual extinction.

"Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord, when they offered strange fire" (Numbers 3:4). They should have used fire from the altar (Leviticus 16:12), but they decided to approach God in some other way. By smiting them with instant death, the Lord warned future generations against attempts to approach Him in any way other than the way He has appointed.

Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, failed to acknowledge the Most High who rules in the affairs of men. Instead he claimed full credit for all the glory of Babylon. God punished him with madness. The king was driven away from men to live like an animal in the field. He ate grass like oxen, his body was wet with the dew of heaven, his hair grew like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws (Daniel 4:33).

Ananias and Sapphira pretended to make a total sacrifice of their property to the Lord, but they secretly held back part for themselves (Acts 5:1-11). They both died suddenly as a warning against insincerity in worship and in service.

Some time later Herod accepted worship instead of giving God the glory. He was consumed by worms and died (Acts 12:22-23).

Sinful men should not presume on the seeming silence and inaction of God. Just because He doesn't always punish sin instantly doesn't mean that He won't punish it ultimately. In isolated instances down through the years, He has given His verdict and revealed the penalties that follow.