Ezekiel's urgent warning in chapter 7 contains very little in the way of new information about the judgment coming upon Judah. We hear again that people will be struck down by sword, pestilence, and famine. We are told once more that God's punishment of His people will be severe and complete.
What is new, however, is the revelation of the timing. Judgment is finally here. It is at hand. The die has been cast.
In the NRSV, we hear the word "come" at least eleven times in this chapter in such ways as "the end has come" (vs. 2) and "your doom has come to you" (vs. 7) and "See the day! See, it comes!" (vs. 10) You get the sense that Judah stands on the brink of disaster, and that the forces which will lead to her destruction have already been set into motion and are clearly visible.
It's far too late to do anything to prevent what's coming. Jerusalem's fate is sealed. What is this like? I imagine tornadoes headed for a warning area as the sirens blare. An incoming missile has been spotted on radar, and there is no defense. The bullet has been fired from the gun and is speeding toward its target. Like Jeff Goldblum's character ominously says aboard Air Force One in "Independence Day": Time's up.
It is too late to do anything else now but hunker down and prepare to endure what's coming.
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