What was Babylon's part in Daniel 2's image prophecy?
In Daniel 2's image prophecy, Babylon was the first great Gentile empire, pictured by the head of fine gold. It destroyed Jerusalem and took the Jews captive. The Medes and Persians then rose as the next empire with a direct relationship to Israel.
Les explains that the great image in Daniel 2 was a preview of the coming Gentile empires that had a direct relationship with Israel. Babylon was the first of these empires, represented by the head of fine gold. Babylon destroyed the city of Jerusalem and took the Jews captive. While Daniel and Ezekiel served in the Babylonian government, the next empire, the Medes and Persians, came up and also held sway over Israel, which is why they are in prophecy. The image continues with the chest of silver, belly of brass, legs of iron, and feet of iron mixed with clay, but Babylon's part is the head of gold.