Intro: The term “Great Reset” is not a biblical term. Rather, it’s used to describe the concept, some would say agenda, for a better world. You can find the endorsement of the ideology on the World Economic Forum’s website. Regardless of whether or not the WEF achieves its goal or not, elements of this ideology have appeared in the past and humanity will most certainly see some of the aspects it proposes before Christ’s return.
What is the Great Reset?
So, let me explain the Great Reset by first explaining a micro-reset.
In the 20th century we’ve had numerous examples of micro-resets. Here's a couple:
MICRO-RESETS
1-The 1929 Stock Market Crash & The New Deal
There are a number of factors that led up to the stock market crash, but there’s a general consensus that the primary factors were overconfidence in the economy, and inflation which subsequently contributed towards a panic resulting in hordes of people rushing to banks to withdraw their funds.
Remember how everyone was stocking up on toilet paper in late Spring 2020? The same thing happened in 1929 except they were withdrawing their cash. Or I should say they were trying to withdraw their cash.
ILLUS: It’s a Wonderful Life “bank run” scene. “You’re thinking of this place all wrong as if the money is here in a safe. It’s not here it’s invested in Joe’s house…”
In addition to the general public, investors were unable to withdraw their money because bank officials had invested the money in the market; a market that had subsequently crashed. Four years later FDR introduced the New Deal.
FDR & The New Deal. The New Deal included a monetary reform in which the U.S. Dollar was moved off the gold standard and the US Government even mandated that people exchange their gold for currency at a fixed rate. Failure to do so resulted in fines and incarceration.
2-The Marshall Plan. Following World War 2, the Marshall plan rebuilt Germany with a new government, currency, laws, and borders.
These are just a few 20th century examples of micro-resets.
The Great Reset has a Global Agenda
The proposal for a great rest is put forth by the World Economic Forum that can be found on their website, thus just to be clear, it’s not a conspiracy theory.
The WEF is not a governmental organization without the power to implement or enforce their ideals but they are very influential and they work with governments all over the world regarding finances. On their website they describe the core components as the following:
SLIDE 1
Core components:
1-Recreate society into a stakeholder economy.
2-Build a more resilient way of govt. for the world
3-Harnass the innovations and developments of the 4th industrial revolution for the good of humanity.
Here’s another way of looking at it.
(Note: info in parentheses are my descriptions, not theirs)
1-(global socialism)
2-(globalism/anti-national sovereignty)
3-(i.e., controlled, but not completely free enterprise, e.g. China)
The goal is to shape, reset, national agendas into one global agenda.
This “Great Reset” will require the deconstruction of the existing national agendas and push the “reset” button for a global agenda.
There seems to be an understanding among many world leaders that the world needs a Reset.
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"I hope you will join me to drive a new Marshall-like plan for nature, people; and the planet. We need a shift in our economic model that places nature and the world's transition to net-zero at the heart of how we operate, prioritizing the pursuit of sustainable inclusive growth in the decades to come.” - Prince Charles
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“This is the time for a Great Reset” – Al Gore (The Today Show, Dec. 1, 2020)
“This is a big moment. The World Economic Forum … is really going to have to play a front and center role in refining the Great Reset to deal with climate change and inequity—all of which is being laid bare as a consequence of COVID-19.” – John Kerry
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“Canada believes that a strong, coordinated response across the world and across sectors is essential. This pandemic has provided an opportunity for a reset.” – Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada.
"The COVID-19 crisis has shown us that our old systems are not fit any more for the 21st century. In short, we need a great reset." - Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab World Economic Forum.
Academia & The Media
In academia, many students go into state universities loving God and America but graduate hating both. Thus, there’s a bit of the frog in the kettle phenomenon at play that warms people up to the ideals.
-The Lesson of Brexit. The ideals of the Great Reset sound very noble but when the reality that British fisherman would be related and limited in their fishing access off their own coasts resulted in the U.K. hitting the brakes on the European Union.
In regards to America we’re already seeing a slow and gradual acceptance of socialism, a one-party system, as well as a mostly state-run media. The constitutional freedoms of speech and religion are slowly being chipped away at and has already happened on social media-the world’s preferred news source. Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are actually global platforms that exceed the boundaries of the U.S.
One of the biggest obstacles to the Great Reset is prosperity.
What would anyone surrender their rights to a global leader and system?
-Presently, the three superpowers, China, Russia, and the United States, or at least vintage USA are keeping the Great Reset at arm's length.vUnless these three are on board what can you really accomplish? This would be especially the case for, let’s call it Vintage America, where free market capitalism and democracy are practiced. Why would anyone want to surrender their sovereignty? Unless they’re in charge it’s even a tough sell for China and Russia.
The Answer is Desperation
There’s a saying, “desperate times call for desperate measures.”
As referenced earlier, normally a crisis of drastic proportions is the catalyst for a micro-reset, and so another reason Americans, and other super powers, may buy into a great reset could be due to desperation.
For example, nations that voluntarily accept communism generally do so out of desperation. There’s no other solution. A communist leader offers hope, a game plan, and practical amenities (i.e., water). You surrender private property but you’re promised a roof over your head. The people accept the authoritarian rule because they’re desperate.
Imagine…
-A pandemic with a high mortality rate,
-a natural disaster on a nationwide scale (e.g., a super volcano in Yellowstone or an asteroid hit, drought i.e., a nationwide dustbowl).
-a war in which we have a stale mate or worse.
-a financial collapse like the stock market crash of 1929.
Any of these on a grand scale could all result in a reset for any nation, even the USA. Likewise, on-going global peer pressure and/or possibly sanctions from other nations could also potentially serve as catalysts for a great reset of some form in America.
The Bible reveals that in the End Times there will be a global government with a global leader known as the antichrist and we’re told in Revelation 13 that no one will be able to make war against him nor will anyone be able to buy or sell without allegiance to him.
We can only speculate, but it’s possible that he could unify the world around a particular desperate cause.
For starters,
-The Rapture. If there is a pre-tribulation rapture, which is the view I happen to hold to and prefer I might add, the sudden disappearance of a billion people would create a chaos of epic proportions.
Regardless, of a pre, mid, or post tribulation rapture, we’re told that end time conditions will be chaotic and in need of leadership. For example:
-PEACE TREATY/RED HORSE. “He will confirm a covenant for many for one week” (Dan. 9:27). Rev. 6:4 tells us that one of the 4 horsemen will be the Red Horse who is permitted to take peace from the earth. Perhaps Negotiation of a Treaty between two superpowers and/or in the Mid-East will push him to the forefront of global leadership.
-A GLOBAL NEW DEAL/BLACK HORSE. (Rev. 6:5-6) The rider of the black horse suggests hyper-inflation on a global scale. Perhaps, like the New Deal of the 20th century, this could result in people being more open to a global solution.
-REBUILDING FROM A GLOBAL ECOLOGICAL DISASTER/PALE HORSE. (Super volcano, asteroid, poisoned waters, etc., c.f. Rev. 8:11).
-SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGH. There could be some Copernicus-like breakthrough in AI, Transhumanism, Nano-technology, a pandemic cure (e.g. The Pale Horse Rev. 6:8).
-COSMOLOGICAL. And/or perhaps he could rally the world around some perceived cosmological threat that he’s able to gain the world’s support for.
Addressing the UN in 1988, Ronald Reagan said,
SLIDE 5
"I occasionally think how quickly our differences, worldwide, would vanish if we were facing an alien threat from outside this world" – Ronald Reagan, U.N. address 1988.
Whatever it is, it will be global in scope, i.e., the whole world will come together to achieve some seemingly noble goal under his leadership and it will also be an opportunity for him to make a name for himself, not God.
Whereas John the Baptist prepared people for the arrival of Jesus, a great reset could possibly aid in preparing the world for a global system which of course will be in need of a global leader-the antichrist.
-To some degree we’ve seen elements of this global system before and humanity will see elements of it in the future. There are some insights we can glean from past biblical events in Babel and Babylon that foreshadow global conditions during the End Times.
Babel & Babyon
Tower of Babel
VBS & SS. If you ever went to VBS and/or Sunday School you probably learned that due to the tower of Babel, God multiplied humanity’s language from one to many. The development of the languages is only one of the facets of this account. The tower of Babel serves as a shadow, a precursor, to what humanity will experience in the End Times.
SLIDE 6
1-Organized Rebellion against God.
God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. (Gen. 1:28 NIV, cf. Gen. 9:1-7)
And may the whole earth be filled with His glory (Ps. 72:19b)
Adam and Eve were created in God’s image and it was God intent that those created in His image, i.e., humanity, reflect Him and His ways throughout the earth and to manage it. This plan is interrupted in Genesis 6 but not abandoned. After the waters of the Flood subside, Noah is given the same mandate in Genesis 9. Things are proceeding along seemingly well and we have the Table of Nations in Genesis 10.
But here at the plains of Shinar, Babel, they decide to settle there. At first glance it may not sound like such a big deal, but it’s organized rebellion against God’s directive, but it was rebellion to God's plan.
SLIDE 7
They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” (Gen. 11:4 NASB)
Under the antichrist there will likewise be a system and culture which is organized and opposed to God’s Word.
SLIDE 8
He (the antichrist) will speak out against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time. (Daniel 7:25 Berean Study Bible)
ESV & KJV – wear out
NASB – wear down
NKJV – persecute
You get the idea. He’s opposed to God, God’s ways, and God’s people.
Notice it says that he seeks to change the times and the law.
LAW
-Changing the law also carries the idea of revisionism; to alter and reform what we think is good and what’s evil, what’s legal and what’s not. Knowing that the antichrist is against God; he will support anything (i.e., evolution, same sex lifestyle, etc.) that opposes the bible.
Some even have parades to celebrate their disobedience to God’s ways.
He’s referred to in the bible as the antichrist for good reason; his system is politically and even violently opposed to Christ’s message, Christ-followers, and of course, Christ Himself.
In fact, another synonym for the antichrist is the “man of perdition”, aka, “man of lawlessness” (2 Thess. 2:3)
We live in a culture that has become very adept at doing that which is right in their own eyes. From parents who seek to change the gender of their school age children to those who want to legalize recreational cocaine use, we’re already seeing the precursors of those who want to legally do that which is what is right in their eyes, not God’s.
This is the undercurrent behind criminalizing Christianity all over the world.
“Live your own truth” is the postmodern motto.
It was, of course, the original temptation that Adam & Eve succumbed to, i.e., “you will be like God.”
So, we can expect to see organized rebellion against God and His ways…and people.
Interestingly, Daniel also says that he will also seek to change the times.
TIMES
Daniel 7:25 says that the antichrist will seek to change the times and the laws. What does it mean that he will seek to change the times?
We can only speculate but perhaps the antichrist will mandate this dating terminology and/or to change the calendar from when Jesus was born to when he was, or even the date of a Great Reset. Maybe he will call it a new age.
SLIDE 9
-BC & AD vs. BCE & CE.
Why? The goal is to remove all reference to Jesus.
Regardless, at Babel, they wanted to be independent of God and the goal of the tower was to unify around a great achievement-to make a name for themselves...
SLIDE 10
2-They seek to make a name for themselves, not God
Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves (Gen. 11:4)
In Babel they sought to make a name for themselves through the construction of a great tower and civilization.
In my opinion this is the deeper undercurrent that seeks to remove nativity scenes from Christmas displays in the town square as well as HOAs. This is why evolution is taught as fact rather than theory in most public schools. There was a deeper reason for the removal of public displays of the 10 commandments. Christmas, the Ten Commandments, Creation Science all point to God and that’s something that the antichrist loathes. Thus, he seeks to remove all reference to God. The antichrist wants to make a name for himself, not God.
-The removal of God, i.e., Secularism, may serve an interim period but whenever you remove God, sooner or later something evil eventually moves in to fill the vacuum. At some point the antichrist will proclaim himself as a deity and will demand to be worshiped.
WORSHIP WARS
SLIDE 11
And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” (Rev. 13:4)
and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain (Rev. 13:8)
-Thousands of years ago the Bible predicted the rise of a world empire through a Hebrew prophet living in Babylon-Daniel, and through his writings we’re also given some insights as to what to expect and what to do. So, we’ve already been given some idea as to what to expect, i.e. a global system that is opposed to God and that seeks to make a name for itself.
What can we do?
Lessons from Babylon
SLIDE 12
1.Remember Your I.D.
“The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego” (Dan 1:7)
After failing to heed the numerous warnings and exhortations by the prophets to repent, in 586 BC, Jerusalem was invaded, destroyed and occupied by the Babylonians. The temple was destroyed and many of the articles used for worship within the temple were carried off to Babylon. They also exiled the Hebrews to Babylon. Four of which were Daniel and his three friends and some of their experiences in Babylon are recorded for us in the book of Daniel.
One of the first things that happened to Daniel, and the rest, was that the Babylonians sought to conform them into their worldview including changing their names. They changed their names but these particular Hebrews didn’t forget their identities.
“The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego” (Dan 1:7)
It’s an effort to re-identify you.
-Nebuchadnezzar had a statue of himself constructed and an edict was issued stating that “when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.” (Dan. 3:5)
ACTS 19 – The Riot in Ephesus
Socially, the same is happening today. As we discussed last week regarding the riot at Ephesus (Acts 19) it’s currently ok to be a Christian. It’s ok as long as you keep your mouth shut and as long as you conform to their worldview. Failure to do so and you too may very well find yourself in a furnace or lion’s den. The world system wants you to fit into their game plan and to blend you into their worldview and agenda.
However, for Christians our identity comes in Jesus and so, like Daniel and his friends, we’ll need to be very intentional about our calling and remember that our identity is in and through Jesus. Therefore…
SLIDE 13
2-Purpose in your heart to serve God
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself (Dan. 1:8 KJV)
NASB: But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself.
NIV: Daniel resolved not to defile himself.
NLT: Daniel was determined not to defile himself.
Daniel was in a foreign culture that was sexually perverse, pluralistic, with an “anything goes” mentality. We’re all more influenced by our culture than we realize but when you’re in a culture like Daniel you have to be very intentional about living for God. It’s something I would encourage you to determine and purpose today.
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. (Rev. 12:11)
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3-Keep the Final Outcome in Mind
“His (Son of Man, aka Jesus) Kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.” (Dan. 7:27)
HANDWRITING
The Babylonian leader Belshazzar had won some victories. So, he had a celebration. It was a party in one of the best locations, the hanging gardens of Babylon, one of the 7 Wonders of the World. The VIPS of Babylon were invited. They showed up in jeweled chariots. The finest dancers and musicians were there. It included the best of food. They even used the utensils from Solomon’s Temple for the party. Everything was going great. But suddenly, the partying, the dancing, the music, everything comes to a halt. Belshazzar trembles. We’re told that he turned white as a ghost (Dan 5:6). You could hear a pin drop. Why? Because they saw a hand writing a message on the wall. Can you imagine the scene?
SLIDE 15 (with Image of a hand writing on the wall)
Then the king's color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together. (Dan. 5:6)
Belshazzar tried, but he couldn’t read the message. So, he calls the soothsayers, the wise men, the magi, but they couldn’t understand the language or it’s meaning.
They’re unfamiliar with God’s Word.
His mother heard about it and she came in. She said, “I know a man that can read that writing. He’s a prophet of God. A long time ago accurately interpreted some important dreams for your grandfather. He was once a prime minister. He’s gone into semi- retirement but if anyone can read it, he can”. Daniel, now an old man, is summoned.
Daniel arrives and Belshazzar shows him the writing and says, “Do you see that writing? If you can read it, I’ll make you #3 in the kingdom. I’ll give you royal robes with a gold necklace and lots of bling.”
Daniel looked at the writing and recognized it immediately. That was God’s writing. He’d studied and followed God his whole life. He could read it. He said, “I can read the writing but I don't need any rewards.”
It says (pronounced: mini, tekel youpsarsin)
Mene: God has numbered the days of your kingdom and its coming to an end.
Tekel-you've been weighed and have come up short, and
“Youpharsin” – your kingdom will be divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
Likewise,
The global government of the antichrist will come to an end.
The antichrist’s system will come up short. And,
The earth will be ruled and reigned by Jesus Himself and those who serve and follow Him.
Babylon is a shadow of the global conditions before Christ’s return. It will appear that evil is winning. During the end times there will even be miracle working false prophets endorsing the anti-christ and everyone will be going along with the plan.
When lucifer rebelled, God, had He wanted to, could’ve crushed the rebellion instantaneously.
We don’t know all of the reasons that God didn’t just put an end to things then and there. God is patient and long-suffering. However, one facet for allowing this ongoing rebellion is that it forever serves as a testament that, try as you may, life outside of God eventually self-destructs. Life lived in opposition to God and His ways ultimately leads to disappointment, heartache, and worse.
Allowing this rebellion to run its course will forever serve as a reminder that God is good, God is love, and that His ways, and His ways alone, lead to life, joy, love, fulfillment, and everlasting life. For now, the rebellion is running its course and many will be deceived, but no matter how hard it gets for us remember how it ends.
Eventually there’s a tipping point in which God’s patience is exceeded and Jesus Himself will return to rule and reign, to Reset. The anti-christ, false prophet, and the devil himself will eventually be cast into the lake of fire.
But for now, God is allowing this rebellion to run its course. And we have a role to play.
SLIDE 16
4-God is going to Reset His creation and He’s using You to do it.
Similar to Adam & Eve, and Noah, we’ve been given a mandate as well.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Mt. 28:19-20).
Jesus is already in the process of resetting the world to how it was in the Garden of Eden. In fact, it will be even better. All of His miracles were snapshots of His Great Reset that is coming. He’s going to reset it to the way it was before sin corrupted everything. No hunger, disease, sin, nor death.
Erasmus, the famous Renaissance scholar, once told a classic story which was designed to emphasize how important it is that we take up the baton of Christ’s ministry with great commitment. In the story, Jesus returns to heaven after his time on earth. The angels gather around him to welcome Him back. Jesus fills them in on the details of life on earth, the miracles, and his resurrection.
When he finishes his story, Michael the Archangel asks Jesus, “But what happens now?” Jesus answers, “I have left behind my faithful disciples and a handful of women who have faithfully followed me. They will declare my message and express my love.” “But,” responds Michael, “What if these people fail? What then is your other plan?” And Jesus answers, “there is no other plan. I can count on them. They love me. Besides, they have the Holy Spirit to help them”
-“What does this mean?”
After witnessing the events of Pentecost, the bystanders ask a great question, “What does this mean?” (Acts 2:12).
Peter explains that the countdown towards the Day of the Lord, a day of judgment, has begun, but that by calling on the Lord you can be saved from it. He goes on to say that Jesus is the name of the Lord.
CONCLUSION
Pentecost is Babel reversed and undone. Pentecost was God’s blessing in bringing people together — people from every race, nation and language to live as one under God. Pentecost is God ending the chaos and confusion of Babel and empowering His people with the Holy Spirit to spread the good news that Jesus is the name of the Lord. God has His own reset in mind.
AGE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT and the Church.
May we be purposeful and faithful to our Savior and King.
May you be the Daniel of your world.
PRAYER
