@dan-fefferman & @dottard Thank you for your response answer postings.
Here is what I concluded. In regard to trying to understand Ezekiel 11:3, I was contextualizing said verse with Jeremiah 29 which was the Wrong intertextual cross-reference in this case. Instead, one needs to interpret Ezekiel 11:3 within the context of 2 Kings 24-25.
To elaborate, Some Jews (which probably included Jerusalem's city's upper class) were forced into exile by the Babylonians which is mentioned in 2 Kings 24-25. Therefore, there were houses that were abandoned by said exiles. Hence, the Jewish leaders would say (Ezekiel 11:3) ... ‘The time is Not near to build houses.....' to the Remaining Jews of Jerusalem which suggested that said remaining Jews can occupy the aforementioned abandoned houses. The 1st part of Ezekiel 11:3(a) where the Jewish leaders were telling the people to occupy said abandoned houses may be true. However, the 2nd part of Ezekiel 11:3(b) where the Jewish leaders were telling the people "This city is the pot and we are the flesh" gives them a false sense of security, safety & peace.
