King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon beheld a striking image in a dream, a vision that carries profound significance. Under his reign from 605 to 562 BC, Babylon reached the zenith of its power, as he conquered vast territories from Persia to Egypt, surpassing the declining Assyrian empire. During this era, he captured Judah, leading its people into captivity in Babylon. His rapid ascent to world dominance was matched by his efforts to beautify and fortify Babylon, transforming it into the largest and most magnificent city of the ancient world. In the vision of Daniel 2:32-35, the image symbolizes a succession of empires, beginning with Babylon itself. This prophecy finds a parallel in Daniel 7, where four beasts emerge, the first—a lion—representing Babylon. The lion, king of beasts, embodies both ferocity and swiftness with its wings, reflecting the early years of Nebuchadnezzar's reign filled with war and destruction. As his enemies were subdued, his focus shifted to cultural and architectural endeavors, and later, he acknowledged the sovereignty of God after being humbled. Subsequent Babylonian kings pursued peaceful affairs until the empire fell to Cyrus the Persian in 539 BC. The imagery of the lion extends beyond Babylon, as qualities of this empire are prophesied to appear in the end-time Beast power, indicating a continuity of characteristics contrary to the way of God across all symbolized empires.

Nebuchadnezzar's vision, as detailed in Daniel 2, vividly portrays the fourth world empire through the image of a colossal statue. Its legs were of iron, and its feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, symbolizing a kingdom of immense strength yet inherent weakness. The iron legs indicate a power far superior to preceding empires, just as iron surpasses bronze in durability, though it reflects a decline in cultural quality. The mixture of clay with iron in the feet suggests a further erosion of strength, rendering the empire partly strong and partly fragile, unable to bond cohesively. This instability is emphasized in verse 43, where the mingling with the seed of men points to a lack of unity, portraying a diverse and fragmented empire in its final form, struggling to maintain internal cohesion despite retaining some degree of toughness. The vision further unfolds with the feet and toes representing a progression of this empire, divided into ten toes, signifying a separation of powers into ten distinct parts. These elements suggest a continuous dominance on the world scene, marked by successive kingdoms and empires. The imagery of the two legs and two feet reflects a historical division within this empire, evident in its earlier and later phases, split between western and eastern regions. The ten toes, anticipated as the final resurrection of this empire, are yet to emerge as a terrifying and brutal power. This last revival, composed of ten kings who surrender their authority to a central dictator, will be brief and marked by intense conflict, ultimately facing destruction at the hands of the Lamb at His return.

In the succession of world-ruling empires envisioned by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the second empire is depicted as a chest and arms of silver. This imagery represents the Medo-Persian Empire, which arose after Babylon and is described as inferior to it. Despite controlling a larger territory than Babylon, nearly double in size at its height, Medo-Persia faced challenges with internal unity due to its dual nature, symbolized by the two arms of the image. The empire was marked by struggles over succession upon the death of each emperor, though strong rulers often emerged to maintain its integrity for over two hundred years until its defeat by Alexander's Macedonian army. The inferiority of Medo-Persia is also reflected in the character of its rulers compared to Nebuchadnezzar. Cyrus, a key figure in the empire's formation, did not acknowledge God's sovereignty in the same manner as his predecessor, and his aims, along with those of subsequent kings, were considered more earthly or worldly. Despite this, Cyrus was instrumental in reestablishing the Temple in Jerusalem, following a Persian policy of honoring the gods of defeated enemies to maintain smooth relations with vassals. In other prophetic visions, Medo-Persia is symbolized by a ram with sharp horns and a bear, powerful creatures reflecting the empire's strength. The ram's horns of differing heights signify the Persian dominance that emerged later than the Median influence. The ram's westward, northward, and southward conquests highlight the empire's significant expansions in those directions, while its eastern campaigns were less consequential. Ultimately, the empire could not withstand the onslaught of Alexander, represented as a he-goat, and collapsed swiftly under his relentless attacks, being cast down and trampled. The enduring traits of Medo-Persia are also suggested in later prophecies, where the end-time power exhibits characteristics akin to this second empire, symbolized by the feet of a bear.