Are the ram and goat in Daniel 8 literal animals fighting?
No. Daniel's ram and goat are not literal animals in a wild fight; they symbolize two empires. The ram's two horns are the kings of Mede and Persia, while the rough goat is the king of Grecia. The great horn between his eyes is the first king, Alexander the Great. Scripture interprets them.
Les explains that people read Daniel 8 and picture a couple animals in a wild animal fight, but all it is is two empires. Verse 20 identifies the ram with two horns as the kings of Mede and Persia, and the rough goat as the king of Grecia. The great horn between his eyes is the first king, Alexander the Great. The goat's running pictures Alexander's swiftness and speed; he moved armies with speed the known world had not seen, took chances, was almost reckless, yet never really lost an army. After Alexander died at the young age of 33, his empire was divided between four of his generals into four kingdoms.
The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.