Daniel 8:1

Daniel 8:1 says, In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.  The book of Daniel is not chronological, and this vision, like the one in the last chapter, occurred during the reign of Belshazzar.  When this vision occurred, Daniel seemed to be awake and the vision did not come in a dream.  God does indeed speak to us in many different ways.  Matthew Henry says it was most likely during the last year of his reign.  Matthew Henry also says that these events will also occur soon, affecting only the kingdoms of Persia and Greece.  We know that some of God's prophecies are fulfilled quickly, while others are yet to be fulfilled.  Verse two adds, And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.  Daniel states that he saw a vision and that when he saw the vision he was at Shusan palace in the province of Elam, but in the vision he was by the river of Ulai.  This was one of the palaces of Persia, and Daniel was still in Babylon, so he was there spiritually and not physically.  We as followers of Christ are already spiritually in the kingdom of God, but we may never be there physically in this lifetime.  Yet, just as the fulfillment of Daniel's prophecies was or is certain, so is the coming of God's kingdom.  Verse three continues, Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.  Daniel begins to relate his vision.  He saw a ram with two horns, one of which was higher than the other.  This was really nothing all that unusual.  Sometimes God speaks to us through ordinary things, if we are listening to Him.  Verse four states, I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.  Daniel said the ram became great and none could stand against him.  Matthew Henry says this represented the Medes and the Persians, of which the Persians were greater.  Verse five adds, And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.  There is still nothing truly extraordinary about what Daniel saw, other than maybe the fact that the goat didn't touch the ground and had a notable horn.  Matthew Henry says this refers to Alexander the Great and the Grecian empire, which defeated the Persians.  Verse six continues, And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.  Matthew Henry says this refers to the Medes and Persians, who had greater numbers in battle, but were no match for Alexander's army.  Sometimes, victory does not come to the army with the largest number.  Verse seven says, And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.  This is still a reference to Alexander's defeating the Medes and Persians.  Verse eight adds, Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.  Like all the others, Alexander's kingdom, again which Matthew Henry says this refers to, came to an end and was divided into four parts.  He said these were Syria, Egypt, Asia and Greece.  The one message that I am sure that we can get from this is that no earthly kingdom, no matter how powerful, will never last forever.