Introduction: Apocalypse as Awakening
The Book of Revelation is often misread as a prophecy of destruction, but its true meaning lies in its name: *apokalypsis*—an unveiling. It reveals the inner workings of empire and calls humanity to a radical transformation. This essay seeks to reinterpret Revelation in light of metamodernism and nonduality, offering a vision for a world that moves beyond domination, fear, and fragmentation into a conscious, interconnected future.
We are living through a moment of global crisis—ecological, political, economic, and spiritual. Many see collapse, but we might see unveiling. The challenge before us is not merely to resist empire, but to transform the way we see and organize reality. Revelation’s vision of the New Jerusalem offers an archetype for a civilization beyond empire—one based on relational responsibility, planetary consciousness, and the co-creation of meaning.
1. The Nature of Empire: Babylon Then and Now
In Revelation, Babylon symbolizes empire—a system of extraction, exploitation, and domination. It is upheld by economic injustice, ideological control, and the illusion of separation. In John’s time, Babylon was Rome; today, empire manifests through global capitalism, techno-authoritarianism, and the relentless commodification of life.
Link to a series of studies that explore the meaning of the Book of Revelation in its context.
Babylon is not merely a political entity but a *way of being*—a worldview that sees the world in terms of power and competition, reducing life to a resource to be controlled. Its logic shapes modern governance, economics, and even spirituality. The call to “come out of Babylon” (Rev 18:4) is not just a call for political resistance but for a transformation in consciousness.
2. Apocalypse as Unveiling: The Shift in Consciousness
A metamodern reading of Revelation understands apocalypse not as destruction but as revelation—the unveiling of a deeper, more integrated reality. The New Jerusalem does not come by force but by a radical reimagining of how we relate to each other, the Earth, and the divine.
In nonduality, the fundamental error of Babylon is *separation*—the belief that we are isolated selves competing in a world of scarcity. This illusion fuels empire’s need for control. The New Jerusalem, by contrast, represents a world where relationality is primary, where governance aligns with the organic logic of living systems rather than the mechanistic drive for domination.
Revelation’s vision invites us to see that empire is already falling. The task before us is not to save the old world but to midwife the new one.
3. Beyond Babylon: A New Model for Governance and Society
If Babylon is the world of separation, what does the New Jerusalem look like in practice? How do we build a society that reflects the principles of interconnectedness, justice, and regenerative leadership?
A. Governance Beyond Empire: Relational Responsibility
Instead of hierarchical, power-based governance structures, we need models that reflect relational responsibility—the idea that leadership is not about control but about fostering conditions for collective flourishing. This means:
- Decentralized, participatory governance grounded in subsidiarity.
- Decision-making processes informed by ecological and ethical wisdom.
- A shift from sovereignty as domination to governance as stewardship.
Link to the Relational Responsibility Manifesto.
B. Economic Structures for the New Jerusalem
The economy of Babylon thrives on extraction; the economy of the New Jerusalem must be regenerative. This means:
- Moving beyond GDP as a measure of success to metrics that reflect well-being, planetary health, and collective meaning.
- Redefining wealth as relational, not merely material.
- Localized economies that prioritize sustainability over efficiency.
C. Spiritual Awakening and Cultural Transformation
The New Jerusalem is not just a political shift but a spiritual one. Awakening from the dream of empire requires a cultural transformation:
- Integrating scientific and spiritual worldviews to foster a planetary ethic.
- Emphasizing education systems that cultivate wisdom, not just knowledge.
- Creating rituals, art, and storytelling that inspire new narratives of human purpose.
4. The Role of Witness: Building Ecologies of Hope
Revelation presents an alternative to empire not just through critique but through witness—those who live in the world but refuse to be shaped by it. The call to “come out of Babylon” is not a call to retreat but to model an alternative way of being.
This means:
- Cultivating small-scale, experimental communities that embody post-Babylonian values.
- Creating platforms for knowledge-sharing between spiritual traditions, ecological movements, and social innovators.
- Recognizing that transition is an ongoing process—what Thomas Berry called “the Great Work.”
5. The New Jerusalem as Process, Not Utopia
The final vision of Revelation is not a utopia imposed from above but an emergent reality—a city descending, always in the process of becoming. This aligns with metamodernism’s understanding that meaning is not fixed but co-created.
The New Jerusalem is a pattern—a way of being in the world that sees reality as inherently relational. It is a city whose gates are never shut (Rev 21:25), a world where no one is excluded, and where the river of life flows freely for the healing of the nations (Rev 22:2).
To live in the New Jerusalem is to live as if the transformation has already begun—because, in a very real sense, it has.
Link to Breaking the Cycle
Reimagining Apocalypse for the 21st Century
Revelation’s vision is not one of destruction but of awakening. The challenge before us is not to passively await the collapse of empire but to actively participate in the birth of something new.
The New Jerusalem is not a distant future—it is a way of seeing, a way of acting, a way of being. The task before us is to step into that vision, to become witnesses to a deeper reality, and to build the structures—political, economic, spiritual—that reflect a world where empire is no longer necessary.
Babylon is falling. The question is: will we be ready to build what comes next?
Profound thanks to ChatGPT(4o) from OpenAI for assistance with this article.
