Ezekiel 12:21

“And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying.] After he had been a sign unto the people, in the two instances above mentioned; and they had hardened themselves against the belief of the things signified by them, because the time of their accomplishment was not yet.”

“As in Ezekiel 7:0, the nearness of the judgment is foretold. Ezekiel 12:22 The land of Israel - is put generally for the land where the children of Israel dwelt, whether at home, or in exile. There was prevalent a disregard for the true prophets, which is ever followed by a recognition of the false. First, the true prophet is rejected because it is thought that his prophecies fail. Then men persuade themselves that if the prophecy be true it respects some distant time, and that the men of the present generation need not disturb themselves about it. Compare Jeremiah 1:11; Amos 6:3; Matthew 24:43; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:4. Against both these delusions Ezekiel is commissioned to…”

“12:21–14:11 The messages in this section address the issue of true and false prophecy.”

“Declarations to Remove all Doubt as to the Truth of the Threat The scepticism of the people as to the fulfilment of these threatening prophecies, which had been made still more emphatic by signs, manifested itself in two different ways. Some altogether denied that the prophecies would ever be fulfilled ( Eze 12:22); others, who did not go so far as this, thought that it would be a long time before they came to pass ( Eze 12:27). These doubts were fed by the lying statements of false prophets. For this reason the refutation of these sceptical opinions ( Eze 12:21-28) is followed in the next chapter by a stern reproof of the false prophets and prophetesses who led the people astray. - Eze…”