When God Presses the Global Reset Button

Among the popular conspiracy theories currently circulating is the idea that elite political forces will use this virus pandemic to demolish current economic order with the purpose of rebuilding an entirely new model. Some put a religious end-times spin on this, perceiving that behind this great ‘reset’ is a satanic design to create a single, global Anti-Christ government.

The Bible leaves little doubt that human leaders, in their pride and lust for power, have often tried to dominate the world by remodelling it to their own preference and advantage. It also leaves little doubt that such exercises are doomed to failure. The kings of the world might try to wrestle free of God’s superior reign, but God is sitting in heaven laughing at the futility of their efforts (Psalm 2).

The Bible is clear that Satan is real and personal, a murderer and thief who delights to destroy and insight violence and suffering. He has often done this through those same political leaders who, in rebelling against God’s commands, unconsciously align themselves with the purposes of evil. There are examples of this in Bible times and, from a Christian point of view, in modern times too if you look at the legacy of various dictators and tyrannical governments. In a sense, the fall of Adam and Eve in Paradise is the story of Satan’s first great attempt to ‘press the reset button’ and create a new world order, in rebellion against God. This had devastating consequences but it was ultimately unsuccessful: God permitted only a degree of disfunction but refused to yield His place on the Highest Throne. Contrary to the conspiracy theory, Satan has not and will never manage to impose a complete reset on God’s world.

God, on the other hand, can ‘push the reset button’ any time that He likes. He pressed it in the days of Noah, when rebellion seemed to be growing unchecked. God started from scratch. He offered to press the reset button and start again with Moses after Israel’s idolatrous rebellion in the wilderness. In one of the greatest human examples of faith, humility, and compassion in history, Moses declined the honoured position and successfully pleaded with God to show mercy. God pressed the reset button when King Saul showed himself to be a rebellious tyrant and exalted the gracious and godly David to the throne. Several centuries later, when religion in Israel and Judah had declined to the point that it was an outright offence to God, He pressed the reset button again, sending His people into exile for several decades and then bringing them back to start rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple from the foundations up.

God’s ultimate reset occurred when He sent Jesus into the world, His Divine Son united with human flesh and blood. Where Adam failed, Jesus resisted the temptation to come under Satan’s usurped authority (Matthew 4:8-10). When Jesus was lifted up to die as a sacrifice for sin, Satan was removed as the pretender to the throne (John 12:31-32). Jesus is the beginning of a New Creation and a New Humanity in which God’s order is completely restored (Revelation 21-22). One day everything that has been broken by sin will be done away with and there will be a completely new heavens and earth. We know that will happen because it has already begun: three days after his death, God ‘pressed the reset button’ on Jesus’ lifeless flesh and blood! He is Risen! And all who trust and follow Him are heading towards the same destiny!

Proud governments and satanic hostility are real but there is no room for fear-mongering conspiracy theory in the Christian faith. God is still in heaven and Jesus Christ is seated next to Him, in resurrected, glorified human flesh and blood, laughing at their pathetic efforts to overthrow His rule. The Christian message is not that we should fear anti-Christian forces but that they should fear God:

“Now therefore, O kings, be wise;

Be warned, O rulers of the earth.

Serve the Lord with fear,

And rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry,

and you perish in the way,

for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

Psalm 2:10-12