Revelation 22 / How to Overcome
The River of Life
The book of Revelation ends with a breathtaking vision: a river of life flowing from God’s throne, nourishing trees whose leaves bring healing to the nations, and a promise that “they will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:5). But tucked into this hopeful conclusion is a deeply practical message for believers, one that speaks directly to our times of political division and relational upheaval.
John’s Revelation isn’t a secret message decoding a vision of the future—it’s a call to live a countercultural life in the now, in any nation, and in any situation. It’s a manual for how we, as followers of Jesus, overcome the powers of Babylon, not through force or political maneuvering, but through the quiet power of Christlike love.
Overcoming Babylon in Every Season
In Revelation 22, we’re shown a river that flows endlessly, bringing life and healing to all it touches. Beside it stands the tree of life, bearing fruit in every season. This image paints a picture of what the church is meant to be: a people who bear the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—even in times of turmoil.
The temptation, especially in seasons of political or cultural conflict, is to let go of Christlikeness in favor of winning or defeating and banishing the enemy. Revelation reminds us that the fruit of the Spirit is not seasonal. It doesn’t disappear in times of conflict or persecution. If anything, those are the moments when it’s most needed. God’s power doesn’t look like the roaring lion John expected to see; it looks like the slain Lamb—vulnerable, self-giving, and full of grace. That’s the disruptive, dissident power we’re called to embody, even when it feels counterintuitive.
The Challenge of Reconciliation
This vision speaks directly to the tension many of us feel, especially around the dinner table during holidays or in ongoing conversations with loved ones caught in the grip of political idolatry. It’s hard work to sit across from someone whose beliefs seem to oppose everything you hold dear. And yet, of such a thing is the kingdom of God established and sustained. Revelation teaches us that the enemy isn’t people—it’s the spirit of Babylon, the systems of this world that confuse power with truth, domination with justice. The call isn’t to conquer others ideologically or to cut them off entirely but to show them Jesus through grace, patience, and truth. That doesn’t mean we’re pushovers or that we ignore harmfull ideologies. But it does mean we refuse to meet division with more division, bitterness with more bitterness. We disrupt Babylon by embodying the Lamb.
Living as a Dissident
This dissident life is deeply countercultural. The world around us prizes winning at all costs, often through deception, mockery, or force. But Revelation calls us to a different standard. We don’t lie or manipulate in order to win, and faced with a choice to do so, we choose to lose. We don’t mock or belittle. We bear fruit in season and out of season because we trust that God’s way—the Lamb’s way—is the only path to true victory.
As we head into Advent, let’s commit to asking not, “How can I win this conversation?” but “How can I show them Jesus?” What will disrupt their anger? What will invite healing and restoration?
Discussion Questions
The tree of life bears fruit in every season, even in times of hardship. What specific “fruit” (love, joy, peace, etc.) do you struggle to embody in difficult relationships, and why might that be?
Imagine you are the river of life flowing through your community. What would it look like for you to bring healing to the “nations” (your family, friends, workplace, or even strangers)?
John expected a roaring lion but found a slain Lamb instead. When have you been surprised by God showing up in unexpected ways, and how might that shape your approach to others?
Babylon tempts us to adopt its tools—fear, control, power—but Revelation invites us to disrupt it with love and grace. What would it look like to disrupt division and hostility in your current context?
The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations, even those who were once enemes of God. How does this challenge the way you see people you might label as “too far gone”? What practical steps can you take to embody God’s restorative heart toward them?