The goat represents the King of Greece (v21) and the great horn must represent Alexander the Great. The goat not touching the ground (v5) speaks of the speed with which Alexander would conquer the world. Alexander at the age of 20 becomes King and at the age of 26 had conquered the Persian kingdom. In one of these battles at the Granicus River it is reported that Alexander with just 35,000 men defeated a Persian army with 110,000 men, killing 20,000 Persians with only a loss of 100 Greek troops.

By the age of 30 Alexander wept because he had conquered the known world and had no more Kingdoms to conquer. Yet we see here that the great horn is suddenly broken. Alexander at the age of just 32 would die from fever.

This reminds us just how fragile we are as human beings (see Psalm 103 v15-16). Life is like a vapour here one moment then suddenly gone (James 4 v14).

Psalm 103 after speaking of the fragility of life then speaks of hope in the steadfast love of God which is everlasting to those who fear Him (v17). We all must accept how fragile we are and trust fully in Christ for everything.