Kingdom of Daniel
History of the Church 6:364-365; “The ancient prophets declared that in the last days the God of heaven should set up a kingdom which should never be destroyed, nor left to other people; and the very time that was calculated on, this people were struggling to bring it out…365 I calculate to be one of the instruments of setting up the kingdom of Daniel by the word of the Lord, and I intend to lay a foundation that will revolutionize the whole world…” – Joseph Smith, May 12, 1844
While it’s unclear exactly what Joe Smith meant by kingdom of Daniel it’s always important to research to find truth. By his statement we can infer he meant that he is here to establish the kingdom of God.
What does the Bible say?
Throughout Daniel’s life there were four kingdoms or world powers if you will. The word “kingdoms” appears only once in Daniel 8:22, but the descriptions of these kingdoms were written about from Daniel chapters 2-11. In his dream interpretation for the king Daniel correctly tells the king that his kingdom was going to be short lived.
As to the meaning of the fourth kingdom, there’s a different interpretation for everyone you seek an answer from. Preterists and some Jewish groups believe they’re trying to fulfill the fourth kingdom today here on earth.
If you read Daniel’s prophecy with the book of Revelation you might interpret the fourth kingdom to mean Rome, i.e. the 7 cities on the hill, while still other groups and expositors have an entirely different take on the matter.
LDS prophet Spencer Kimball told members in the May 1976 issue of Ensign the Church was the kingdom of God that Daniel saw in his vision and that kingdom was established by none other than Joseph Smith in 1830.
What we do know is that Jesus said the Kingdom of God was at hand! When Jesus arrived He brought with Him the opportunity for each of us to live in that kingdom and even told us the time was being fulfilled – Mark 1:15. As for Daniel’s meaning of the fourth kingdom – well, that’s still to come, but it certainly was not fulfilled in Joseph Smith!
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