Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold. There is no way to tell if this image was one of many pagan gods worshiped in Babylon, or if it was the king himself.

Nebuchadnezzar wanted to have absolute control over all the people in his provinces.

The best way to do this was by influencing them through the cult practice of idolatry. Worshiping that image meant complete submission to a diabolical system of manipulation and slavery.

The king knew that if the most important and influential people of this kingdom would bow down before the golden image, the other people would follow. Throughout history, many kings and tyrants used this tactic to dominate people, and it will always be like this, mostly at the end of times, with the manifestation of the antichrist, who will have as his greatest ally religious power.