How should Ezekiel 12:22 influence our response to modern-day prophetic teachings? “Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by, and every vision fails’?” Setting the Scene • Israel had heard many warnings, yet judgment had not fallen—so scoffers concluded the visions were empty. • God confronts that mindset, promising the word He speaks will be fulfilled without delay (vv. 23-25). What the Verse Teaches • Complacent skepticism is dangerous; God’s word does not “fail.” • Delayed fulfillment is not denial; timing belongs to the Lord. • Prophetic messages must be taken seriously because God backs His own words with His character (Numbers 23:19). Lessons for Responding to Modern-Day Prophetic Teachings 1. Expectation without Cynicism – Avoid the attitude of “every vision fails.” – Remember 2 Peter 3:3-4—mockers will say, “Where is the promise of His coming?” yet the promise stands. 2. Discernment without Gullibility – 1 John 4:1: “Test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” – 1 Corinthians 14:29: “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.” 3. Submission to Scripture – Isaiah 8:20: “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.” – Revelation 22:18-19 warns against adding to God’s revealed word. 4. Accountability for Accuracy – Deuteronomy 18:22: if a prophecy does not come to pass, it was not from the Lord. – Jeremiah 23:16 cautions against those who “speak visions from their own minds.” Practical Steps for Discernment • Compare every prophetic claim with the clear teaching of Scripture. • Look for Christ-centeredness; the Spirit glorifies Jesus (John 16:14). • Examine the fruit in the messenger’s life (Matthew 7:15-20). • Wait for confirmation—time is a friend of truth. • Hold to what is good, reject what is false (1 Thessalonians 5:20-22). Encouragement for Today Ezekiel 12:22 reminds us that God’s word never fails, even when fulfillment tarries. Stay alert, honor prophetic gifting, yet anchor every expectation to the unchanging authority of Scripture. |
    |