Prosperity.
Note that “prosperity” “often” comes as a “sign” for those who do “great wickedness” as these verses describe:
(Note the phrase “his (wicked) ways are always prosperous” below):
“In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises.
He boasts about the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord.
In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
His ways are always prosperous;
your laws are rejected by him;
he sneers at all his enemies.
He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.”
He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.”
His mouth is full of lies and threats;
trouble and evil are under his tongue.
He lies in wait near the villages;
from ambush he murders the innocent.
His eyes watch in secret for his victims;
like a lion in cover he lies in wait.
He lies in wait to catch the helpless;
he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
His victims are crushed, they collapse;
they fall under his strength.
He says to himself, “God will never notice;
He covers His Face and never sees.” (Psalm 10:2 – 11)
It’s even recorded here (the ‘prosperity’ of the wicked):
“For I was envious of the arrogant. As I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pains in their death. And their body is fat.” (Psalm 73:3 – 4)
So how is it fair that the wicked are allowed thus?
The ‘answer’ lies in the “wicked’s end”.
It’s awful.
These verses reveal this horrific ‘end’:
“Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their (the wicked’s) end.
Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.
How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!
Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when aroused, You will despise their form.” (Psalm 73:17 – 20)
P/S:
‘Welcome to Hell. All your wickedness will be paid back to you in full.’
There is “no” escape for ‘what you have done’ (e.g. the “pain” you caused toward others), it will be done back to you as this verse describes this Principle of Judgment:
“Woe to the wicked–it will go badly for them, for what they have done will be done to them.” (Isaiah 3:11)
Can you handle the “pain” now?
It’s your turn.