2:1
2:31-45
The dream outlines four successive empires. Since Babylon is the first one, the ones who followed, according to history, are Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome.
The last empire is still with us, as the ruling nations on the planet today all incorporate Roman attributes as in democracy and law. Even Western war science is highly organised and carries a Roman legacy.
The final part of the Roman Empire is stated as being fragmented yet having the strength of the iron.
This describes in particular the European nations over the past 1900 or so years. They took on Roman ways and technology and yet battled each other. The United States has incorporated and perfected all of the main parts of Roman strength.
The precision crushing and breaking power of Rome could be
likened to a modern monster car crushing and separation system: