“If, now, God, although having the will to demonstrate his wrath and to make his power known, tolerated with much long-suffering vessels of wrath made fit for destruction,

Rom. 9:14-24.

9. (a) Who are the “vessels of wrath made fit for destruction”? (b) Why has Jehovah shown great long-suffering in the face of their hostility, and how will the final outcome be for the good of those who love him?

⁹ Ever since Jehovah made the prophetic statement recorded at Genesis 3:15, Satan and his seed have been “vessels of wrath made fit for destruction.” During all that time Jehovah has exercised long-suffering. The wicked have ridiculed his ways; they have persecuted his servants, even killed his Son. But Jehovah has shown great restraint, with lasting benefit to his servants. All creation has had opportunity to see the disastrous results of rebellion against God. At the same time, Jesus’ death provided the means for delivering obedient mankind and for ‘breaking up the works of the Devil.’​—1 John 3:8; Heb. 2:14, 15.

10. Why has Jehovah continued to tolerate the wicked during the past 1,900 years?

¹⁰ During the more than 1,900 years since Jesus’ resurrection Jehovah has tolerated further the “vessels of wrath,” holding off their destruction.