Java 7, Safari - can't enable Browser in Mavericks

I cannot enable the browser in Java 7u55 or later. Checking the box can't be stored as a valid selection (keeps unchecking). In terminal Java shows as installed. Yet the control panel won't allow the browsers (Safari, nor FF) to be set to accept Java 7. I suppose Java content can be run in Java 6 but is not recognized on Java's web site check page as current. Here is what is returned in Terminal with the command line: "java -version"

java version "1.8.0_20-ea"

Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_20-ea-b22)

Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.20-b21, mixed mode)