Antiochus therefore rewards people who worship Zeus. We see this in the second part of this verse: Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price.
It is attractive to worship Zeus in the temple. This will bring a lot of benefits on earth. You will receive the desires of your own heart. How many people have allowed themselves to be drawn into the devil’s ways on account of that line! When the true personal relationship with Christ, with God who became man, is lacking, we have no strength to resist such temptation. Then we allow ourselves to be drawn toward the splendour of the world, into all the propaganda of the great city of Babylon. In this regard, see also Revelation 17:1–18.
39 He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price.