In my article Refuting Jeff Durbin on “Mormonism” I discuss Daniel 2 and how it is not evidence against LDS claims of a Great Apostasy and need for a Restoration (contra the post-millennial hermeneutic of Durbin). I recently read the following from a Protestant who also acknowledges that Daniel 2 is something that is yet to be fulfilled:
HAS DANIEL BEEN FULFILLED YET?
There is a lot of historical evidence that lines up nicely with Daniel’s
prophecies. However, there are two major events that Daniel speaks of that have
not happened yet. The first is that Daniel speaks of the resurrection of the
dead and the final judgment.
“2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to
everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are
wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness,
like the stars for ever and ever.” (Dan 12:2-3, NIV)
Clearly the multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth have not
awoken to everlasting life or shame. The time of judgment where the dead rise to
either everlasting life for ever and ever, or to shame and everlasting contempt
has not happened yet. As Christians we believe that Christ will return to judge
the living and the dead. And Christ has not returned yet. We await his Second Coming
and the resurrection of the body to everlasting life.
The second reason Daniel has not been fulfilled yet is because God has
not yet completely established his Eternal Messianic Kingdom which destroys all
other kingdoms.
“44 In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom
that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will
crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure
forever. 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a
mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the
clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. The great God has shown the king what
will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is
trustworthy.” (Dan 2:44-45, NIV)
How do we know this hasn’t happened yet? How do we know this isn’t a reference
to Christ reigning in Heaven today, with his Kingdom already established after
his Crucifixion and Resurrection? Because he sits at the right hand of the
Father while his enemies are being made a footstool (Ps 110:1, Matt 22:44, 26:54,
Acts 2:34-35, 1 Cor 15:25, Heb 10:13). Jesus taught us to pray for the coming of
the Kingdom, “Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom
come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” It is not here yet, at
least not completely. And lastly, other kingdoms clearly exist today. All other
kingdoms have not been destroyed yet. They have not come to an end like Daniel
predicted. And many kingdoms on Earth today are clearly not trying to follow
Christ.
Because we have not had the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment
to everlasting life or contempt, and because all kingdoms opposed to Christ
have not yet been destroyed, we can say with certainty that Daniel has not been
completely fulfilled yet.
Because we have not had the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment
to everlasting life or contempt, and because all kingdoms opposed to Christ
have not yet been destroyed, we can say with certainty that Daniel has not been
completely fulfiled yet. Moreover, we see that references to Daniel in the New
Testament are seen as a future (not past fulfilment . . . (Brian E. Barnes, Understanding Revelation:
The Sola Scriptura Challenge [Eugene, Oreg.: Wipf and Stock, 2022], 64-65)
