Which empire came after Babylon in the sequence of the image?
The Medes and Persians were the empire that followed Babylon in the prophetic image sequence. While Daniel and Ezekiel served the Babylonian government, this next kingdom arose, held sway for a long period, and also ruled over the nation of Israel.
Les teaches that the great image was a preview of the coming great Gentile empires in ancient times, specifically those that had a direct relationship with the nation of Israel. Babylon was the first, and it destroyed Jerusalem and took the Jews captive. While Daniel and Ezekiel were servants of the Babylonian government, the next empire came up, and it was the Medes and the Persians. The Medes and the Persians held sway for a long period of time, and they were also over the nation of Israel, which is why they are in prophecy. The image itself had a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron, and feet part iron and part clay, with ten toes of iron mixed in clay.