Ezekiel 12:27-28
“Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be performed, declares the Lord GOD.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easily missed here is that the Israelites aren't just dismissing Ezekiel's prophecies as false; they're acknowledging them as real but pushing the fulfillment far into the future. This dangerous mindset allows them to live in false security, believing they have plenty of time before any consequences catch up to them. It's a subtle, yet deadly, way of putting off repentance and avoiding the hard truth of God's coming judgment.
Ezekiel has been delivering visions and prophecies about impending judgment, but the people are dismissing them as distant fantasies. They're saying his pronouncements are for some far-off future, not for their present reality. This verse captures their dismissive attitude, setting the stage for God's direct response to correct their dangerous complacency.
Have you ever heard something important, but chose to believe it wasn't that serious or that soon? It’s a common human tendency to downplay difficult truths.
In Ezekiel's time, the people weren't necessarily denying God's power or Ezekiel's role as a prophet. Instead, they used a common tactic to avoid confronting the uncomfortable message: they delayed its relevance.
Spiritualizing the Future
They said, 'The vision... is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.' This wasn't a direct rejection of God's word, but a subtle dismissal. It's like saying, 'Yes, that's a problem, but it's not a problem for me, right now.'
The Danger of 'Later'
This mindset offers a false sense of security. By pushing the perceived consequences into the distant future, people could continue in their ways without immediate repentance or change. It's a way to keep the 'evil day' at arm's length, even while acknowledging its potential existence.
It's easy to think of skepticism as outright rejection. But sometimes, the more insidious approach is simply to say, 'Not yet.' How does this subtle difference impact our response to God's warnings?
The people in Ezekiel's day weren't necessarily outright atheists who denied God's existence or power. They acknowledged Ezekiel saw visions and prophesied.
Acknowledging the Message, Not the Urgency
Their statement, 'The vision... is for many days to come,' implies they believed Ezekiel was a prophet, but they disagreed on the immediacy of his message. This is different from outright denial (like in verse 22, where they question if the word will ever come to pass).
The Trap of Carnal Security
This attitude leads to 'carnal security' – a false peace built on the assumption that disaster is too far off to warrant present concern. It allows people to remain comfortable in their sin, believing they have plenty of time to deal with it later. God, however, wants us to live with an awareness of His timing and the seriousness of His word .
Understand the original words
ben 'adam · Hebrew Noun phrase
The title used by God to address the prophet Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity and frailty in contrast to God's divine transcendence. It highlights the prophet's role as a representative of humanity before God.
chazon · Hebrew Noun
A divine revelation, message, or prophetic insight given by God to His prophets. It often refers to a supernatural sight or communicative encounter with the divine reality.
niba' · Hebrew Verb
To declare a message from God; to speak under divine inspiration regarding future events, present spiritual realities, or moral instruction.
Adonay YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun phrase
The exiles heard Ezekiel's prophecies of judgment but, in their despair and perhaps denial, chose to believe the visions were for a far-off future, a way to cope with their overwhelming circumstances.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports a group of Jewish nobles and skilled workers, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a revolt, Nebuchadnezzar deports more people from Jerusalem, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel himself. This event deeply impacted the exiled community.
c. 587-586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar conquers Jerusalem, destroys the Temple, and deports the majority of the remaining population to Babylon. This is the catastrophic event many prophecies, including Ezekiel's, foretold.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Prophetic Reassurance and Scorn
Ezekiel delivers visions and prophecies, including the message in chapter 12, while in exile. Some in the community dismiss his warnings as distant fantasies, refusing to believe the devastation is imminent.
This passage directly echoes the sentiment in Ezekiel, with the people believing that the 'day of the LORD' is far off, highlighting a dangerous complacency and refusal to acknowledge impending judgment.
Luke 12:45-46Jesus warns about servants who think their master is delaying his return, leading them to behave wickedly; this illustrates the human tendency to rationalize away divine pronouncements by pushing them into the distant future.
2 Peter 3:3-4Peter addresses scoffers who dismiss the promise of Christ's coming by saying, 'All continues just as it did from the beginning of creation,' showing this same denial and disbelief in future judgment is a recurring theme.
Matthew 24:48-51The parable of the wicked servant who believes his master is delayed and begins to mistreat others reveals the severe consequences of assuming that prophetic warnings are for a distant time, rather than for the present moment.
pooleEzekiel 12:27: "Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off."
Some of the less judicious and the more credulous are abused by these sort of men. Say; think, and hope, and so discourse it, that the prophet is a good man and true prophet, but surely his visions look to after-times; we do not think his visions vain, but we hope they are not to come on us, and in our days. Now these God will…
gillEzekiel 12:27: "Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off."
Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say,.... Either they of the ten tribes in Babylon, or the Jews in Judea, who were also Israelites: these the Lord directs the prophet to take notice of, and be a witness of what they said; since he himself, as a prophet, was concerned in it: the vision that he seeth is for many d…
What's easily missed here is that the Israelites aren't just dismissing Ezekiel's prophecies as false; they're acknowledging them as real but pushing the fulfillment far into the future. This dangerous mindset allows them to live in false security, believing they have plenty of time before any consequences catch up to them. It's a subtle, yet deadly, way of putting off repentance and avoiding the hard truth of God's coming judgment.
Ezekiel has been delivering visions and prophecies about impending judgment, but the people are dismissing them as distant fantasies. They're saying his pronouncements are for some far-off future, not for their present reality. This verse captures their dismissive attitude, setting the stage for God's direct response to correct their dangerous complacency.
Ezekiel has been delivering visions and prophecies about impending judgment, but the people are dismissing them as distant fantasies. They're saying his pronouncements are for some far-off future, not for their present reality. This verse captures their dismissive attitude, setting the stage for God's direct response to correct their dangerous complacency.
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The Sovereign LORD; a compound title emphasizing God's absolute authority, lordship, and covenant relationship with His people. It signifies the divine One to whom all honor and obedience are due.
asah · Hebrew Verb
To accomplish, fulfill, or bring to completion what has been spoken or intended. It signifies God's faithfulness in ensuring His promises and threats come to pass in history.
c. 571 BC
Final Prophecies
Ezekiel continues to prophesy, offering messages of hope and future restoration to the exiles, even after the Temple's destruction and the fall of Jerusalem.
"“Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: None of my words will be delayed any longer, but…" — What's easily missed here is that the Israelites aren't just dismissing Ezekiel's prophecies as false; they're acknowledging them as real but pushing the fulfillment far into the future. This dange…
