What do previous empires contribute to the final empire?
Previous empires contribute banking and interest, Greek culture, and the Roman system of law to the final empire. Greek philosophy, architecture, and literature also remain influential. All these elements are incorporated into the final empire, which later is destroyed by Christ at His Second Coming.
Les teaches that the previous empires leave behind key elements that continue today. Greek philosophy, architecture, and literature are still with us, while Rome contributed the whole system of courts and law and was the first empire to declare a man innocent until proven guilty. Paul appealed to Rome, or Caesar, knowing he could be proven innocent there. Earlier empires also brought banking and interest. All of this—banking and interest, Greek culture, and Roman law—is incorporated into the final empire. When Christ comes, the iron, clay, brass, silver, and gold are broken to pieces and become like chaff, totally annihilated. The stone, Christ at His Second Coming, smites the image, destroys the world system, and becomes a great mountain, a kingdom that fills the whole earth.