Charles Ellicott Commentary Ezekiel 12:21-28

"And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Son of man, what is this proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the fulfilment of every vision. For there shall be no more any false vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am Jehovah; I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall be performed; it shall be no more deferred: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I speak the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord Jehovah. Again the word of Jehovah came to me, saying, Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many day to come, and he prophesieth of times that are far off. Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: There shall none of my words be deferred any more, but the word which I shall speak shall be performed, saith the Lord Jehovah." — Ezekiel 12:21-28 (ASV)

These verses contain two distinct messages from the Lord (Ezekiel 12:21–28), both designed to meet the objection that warning prophecies had been uttered now for a long time, and as they had not come to pass, there was no reason to expect their fulfillment, at least until some far distant future.

It is always the tendency of sinful people to adopt this stance while experiencing the long-suffering and forbearance of God (Amos 6:3; Matthew 24:43; 1 Thessalonians 5:3), and the scoff, “Where is the promise of His coming?” will still continue to the end of time (2 Peter 3:4).

In this case, the objection was evidently encouraged by false prophets (Ezekiel 12:24), and accordingly the following chapter is devoted to them.