Which empire destroyed Jerusalem and took the Jews captive in Les's explanation?
Babylon was the empire that destroyed Jerusalem and took the Jews captive. In the vision of the great image, Babylon is represented by the head of gold, the first of the Gentile empires that had a direct relationship with the nation of Israel.
Les explains that the great image in Daniel's vision previewed the coming great Gentile empires that had a direct relationship with the nation of Israel. Babylon was the first, and they were the ones that came and destroyed the city of Jerusalem and took the Jews captive. While Daniel and Ezekiel were servants of the Babylonian government, the next empire came up, which was the Medes and the Persians. They held sway for a long period of time and were also over the nation of Israel.