Ezekiel 12: Heaven Standard Time

God's people frequently struggle with His sense of timing.  Whether it's the 400 years that the Hebrews travailed in Egypt, or the "How long?" questions in Psalm 13, or the disciples itchy for God's kingdom to come at last, we have a patience problem.  So did the Jews of Ezekiel's era.

Many of us can appreciate the old joke:

A man prayed to God and asked, "Lord, how long is a million years to you?"

God answered, "To me, a million years is like only a minute to you."

"Really?" the man said.  "How much is a million dollars to you?"

"To me, that's but a mere penny," God replied.

"In that case, God," the man said eagerly, "May I please have one of your pennies?"

"Sure," said God.  "Just a minute."

Having figured out that God is on a different time scale than His creation, the Jews apparently believed that the prophecies of Judah's doom rendered by Jeremiah and Ezekiel would not be coming to pass any time soon.  The people had become jaded, and they figured that they had nothing to worry about.  The judgment would be coming on "Heaven Standard Time", which meant it wouldn't be in their lifetimes.

Ezekiel prophesied, "The word of the Lord came to me: 'Mortal, what is this proverb of yours about the land of Israel, which says, “The days are prolonged, and every vision comes to nothing'?  Tell them therefore, “Thus says the Lord God: I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall use it no more as a proverb in Israel.” But say to them, The days are near, and the fulfillment of every vision.  For there shall no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel.  But I the Lord will speak the word that I speak, and it will be fulfilled. It will no longer be delayed; but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and fulfill it, says the Lord God'" (vs 21-25).

Ezekiel goes on to say, "The word of the Lord came to me: 'Mortal, the house of Israel is saying, “The vision that he sees is for many years ahead; he prophesies for distant times.”  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 fulfilled, says the Lord God" (vs. 26-28).

In this way, God's declaration that the time is now without any more hesitation is similar to the sentiment expressed in Revelation 10:5-6, where we read, "Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and the land raised his right hand to heaven and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it: 'There will be no more delay!'"

Peter explains the delay of prophecy as having to do with God's desire that no one should perish, but that all should come to salvation (II Peter 3:9).  As he says, "But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day" II Peter 3:8).  That's Heaven Standard Time for you!