Yes, that has been considered and it's a reasonable hypothesis. Satan has often tried to build his one world government and God has dashed his plans to pieces. This may just be another attempt, not the final attempt that God lets him finally get away with.
God has an interest in the affairs of earth because he created us humans uniquely, in some way, in His own image.
Satan, because has an interest in the affairs of earth because he hates God and hates us because we are uniquely, in some way, like God.
The Pharaohs believed that they could take all their wealth with them in the after life. It may have been nothing more significant than that.