Israel falls under the power of Antiochus Epiphanes. The reign of this ruler over Israel is the punishment of God because the sins in the church, which are crying out for judgment, have reached a full measure. When Antiochus comes it is terrible for the people of Israel. He tramples upon the people of God. The host of heaven, the army of the starry firmament, represents God’s faithful people – those who are guided by heaven, by God, by his heavenly revelation. Antiochus’s attack is directed specifically at them. The stars that he throws down and tramples are the leaders of the faithful remnant of God’s people. We also read in Revelation 1:1–20 of the seven stars that Christ holds in his hand. In Revelation they are the ministers of the seven churches to whom Christ writes the Book of Revelation. Satan, along with his helpers, continually turns against the faithful leaders of God’s people.
10 It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them.