Why are the kingdoms in Daniel's prophecy the ones that appear in Scripture?
They appear because each was centered on and intricately involved with the nation of Israel. Empires not directly engaged with the Jew, such as Russia, Germany, or Great Britain, are not given prophetic prominence in Daniel, while these kingdoms come into prophecy through that involvement.
Les explains that Scripture’s prophecy focuses on Gentile kingdoms that were directly connected to Israel. That is why there is no great Russian emperor, German emperor, or kingdom of Great Britain in the prophetic line—they were not centered with the nation of Israel. The kingdoms that do come on the scene in Daniel were all intricately involved with the Jew, so they come into prophecy. Daniel 1 gives the example: Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against Jerusalem and besieged it; the Lord gave Jehiakim into his hand, and he carried the vessels of God’s house to Shinar, to Babylon, to the house of his god.