Judgment in Daniel 7

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Judgment in Daniel 7in this book of life. This motif of the book thus forms an envelope or inclusioaround the prophecies of the last half of the book of Daniel. Thebooks are examined in the heavenly judgment in the first ofthese prophecies,and thebookoflife where the saints are registered appears at theendof the last ofthese prophecies. It seems reasonable, therefore, to see thelatter book (Dan 12) as related to the former books (Dan 7); both arebound up with the judgment described in Daniel 7.The final note involves the distinction to be made between the twoclasses of those who are to be resurrected. To make such a distinction betweenthese two classes means that a judgment has taken place. This judgmentevidently involved investigating cases and deciding upon respectiverewards. Regardless how one applies this passage (whether it denotes ageneral or a special resurrection), it implies an antecedent investigationinto the cases of the people of God before it occurs.The best context in which to find such an investigation in the book ofDaniel is the heavenly court scene ofchapter 7. The details added by thisparallel passage in Daniel 12 supply further support for identifying thatjudgment as investigative in character with reference to the professedpeople of God. Thus the people who are delivered and resurrected afterMichael stands up have been adjudged worthy by that heavenly court toenter into everlasting life and to possess the eternal kingdom of the Sonof man.Summary on the Nature ofthe Judgment in Daniel 7Six reasons have been presented above as to why the judgment describedin Daniel 7 involves an examination of the cases of the professedpeople of God. While it also involves a decision in the case of the littlehorn, theevil characterofthat figure is already evident from the prophecy.Thus the investigation described here must transcend a mere examinationof the self-evident nature of the activities of the little horn.Those who would limit this judgment to a consideration of the littlehorn (suggesting thereby that the people of God are not investigated inthis judgment) have not come fully to grips with the historicist interpretationofthe little horn. According to that interpretation the little horn representsa religious communion, especially its leadership, that professes tobe Christian in nature. Thus it is only natural that the cases of theseprofessed people of God, both leaders and followers represented by thiscorporate symbol, will be investigated in any judgment of the little horn.It is evident, therefore, that this is a religious judgment, a judgment deal-152
Judgment in Daniel 7ing with religious issues and human relationships to these matters.Furthermore, inasmuch as a judgmentis rendered in favor ofthesaintsand they receive the kingdom as a result ofthis judgment, it is only naturalto expect such to be examined in this judgment to determine whetherthrough Christ they are worthy to enter into that kingdom. Parallels withjudgment passages elsewhere in the 01; especially those connected withthe sanctuary, make it likely that this judgment in the heavenly sanctuaryalso involves the people ofGod.The reference to an examination ofbooks in thejudgment points in thesame direction since, according to both OT and NT references to suchbooks, they areespecially kept for the peopleofGod-notfor His enemies.Parallels between Daniel 8 and 7 bring out another dimension of thisjudgment: that the contest between the Prince of the host and the littlehorn, over the plan ofsalvation, will be resolved by this judgment.Finally, parallels with Daniel 12 suggest that the deliverance thatcomes to those whose names are written in the book should be seen as aresult of the judgment of Daniel 7 in which the books of record wereopened. That this involves an investigation into the cases ofthe professedpeople of God is supported by the division made between the two classesof those who are resurrected as referred to in Daniel 12.These lines ofevidence indicate that the judgment ofDaniel 7:9-10 inheaven is investigative in nature, and that the cases of the people ofGodare examined during thecourse ofthat investigation. Theglorious decisionrendered by the high court gives dominion, glory, and the kingdom to theSon of man, and His saints will share that kingdom with Him for ever andever. On the basis ofevidence from Daniel 7, this investigative judgmenthas been dated as beginning sometime after AD. 1798. The date is establishedmore precisely in the prophecies recorded in Daniel 8 and 9.153
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Judgment in Daniel 7

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