Early Christian Beliefs About Babylon the Great
Early Christian writers often read Babylon the Great as a symbol of Rome, the proud city that opposed the saints. Hippolytus and Tertullian are the clearest early witnesses, and they tied Babylon to Revelation’s harlot and great city imagery. Some writers also used Babylon more broadly for pride, idolatry, and judgment. The strongest evidence comes from third-century Christian comments on Revelation.
124 early-church witnesses · 193 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about babylon the Great?
Early Christian writers often read Babylon the Great in Revelation as a symbol of Rome, especially Tertullian and Hippolytus, who linked the great city and the harlot imagery to the empire that opposed the saints. They also tied Babylon to the fall and judgment language in Revelation, showing that Babylon meant a real end-time enemy in their reading, not just the old city in Mesopotamia.
At the same time, some writers used Babylon more generally as a picture of pride, idolatry, and persecution, so the teaching is broad but not perfectly uniform. The evidence is strongest for a Roman interpretation in the third century, while some Bible passages and early Christian comments stay more general or symbolic. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Hippolytus and Tertullian most clearly identify Babylon the Great with Rome.
- Early Christians linked Babylon to Revelation’s harlot, the great city, and persecution of the saints.
- Some passages use Babylon more generally as a picture of pride, idolatry, and judgment.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians think Babylon the Great was Rome?
Yes. Tertullian says Babylon in John is a figure of the city of Rome, and Hippolytus says the woman is that great city that rules the kings of the earth. This is the clearest early Christian reading in the set and it is repeated in more than one writer.
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching
By a similar usage Babylon also in our (St.) John is a figure of the city of Rome, as being like (Babylon) great and proud in royal power, and warring down the saints of God.
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Tertullian, An Answer to the Jews Direct teaching
So, again, Babylon, in our own John, is a figure of the city Rome, as being equally great and proud of her sway, and triumphant over the saints.
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Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist Direct teaching
...heir kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman that you saw is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth."
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Victorinus, Connection to Revelation 17:1 Supporting witness
"There came one of the seven angels, which have the seven bowls, and spake with me, saying, Come, I will show thee the judgment of that great whore who sitteth upon many waters. And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs." The decrees of that senate are always accomplished against all, contrary to the preaching of the true faith; and now already mercy being cast aside, itself here gave the decree among all nations.
More related quotations from this section 1 shown
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Revelation 17:18 Supporting witness
And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
What did early Christians say Babylon the Great would face?
They said Babylon would fall under God’s judgment and be thrown down. Hippolytus quotes the fall of Babylon and the millstone image, and Tertullian connects great Babylon with the blood of the saints. The Bible passages in Revelation also describe her as judged, destroyed, and found no more.
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Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist Direct teaching
And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
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Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist Direct teaching
for God has avenged you on her. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
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Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist Direct teaching
That great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour is your judgment come.
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Revelation 16:19 Direct teaching
The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath.
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Revelation 18:2 Direct teaching
And he called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
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Revelation 18:21 Direct teaching
Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore.
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Revelation 18:10 Direct teaching
Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
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Revelation 19:2 Direct teaching
For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
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Revelation 17:6 Direct teaching
And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly.
More related quotations from this section 5 shown
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Tertullian, Scorpiace Supporting witness
Isaiah 1:18 When great Babylon likewise is represented as drunk with the blood of the saints, Revelation 17:6 doubtless the supplies needful for her drunkenness are furnished by the cups of martyrdoms;
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Commodianus, Writings Supporting witness
...remble for seven years. But Elias will occupy half of the time, and Nero will occupy half. Then the whore Babylon, having been reduced to ashes, will send its embers from there to Jerusalem. And the Latin conqueror will then say, "I am Christ, whom you always pray to." And indeed, the original ones who were deceived will unite to praise him. He does many wonders, since his is the false prophet. Especially so that they may believe him, his image will speak. The Almighty has given it power to appear so. The Jews, repeating the Scriptures from him, cry out at the same time to the Highest that they have been deceived.
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Commodianus, Writings Supporting witness
Then the whore Babylon, being reduced to ashes, its embers shall thence advance to Jerusalem;
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Irenaeus, Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenæus Supporting witness
Behold that [city] Babylon, haughty in the flower and pride of impiousness, and its inhabitants completely given over to sin of every description.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Supporting witness
And they shall lay Babylon waste, and burn her with fire, and shall give their kingdom to the beast, and put the Church to flight.
How did early Christians understand the harlot in Revelation?
Early Christians often treated the harlot as the same figure as Babylon the Great. Cyprian, Hippolytus, and Tertullian all use the woman, the great whore, and the city language together, and Revelation describes her as dressed in purple and scarlet with a golden cup. The main idea is shame, false power, and corruption.
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Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist Direct teaching
Upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth.
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Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching
...had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, 'Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great whore who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication.' And he carried me away in the Spirit; and I saw a woman sitting on a beast, and that woman was clothed in a purple and scarlet mantle, and was adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand, full of curses, and filthiness, and the fornication of the whole earth." Revelation 17:1. Let chaste and modest virgins avoid the dress of the unchaste, the behavior of the immodest, the marks of brothels, and the ornaments of harlots.
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Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness
And there came, it is said, one of the seven angels, which had the seven phials, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show you the judgment of the great whore, that sits upon many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication.
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Tertullian, On the Apparel of Women Supporting witness
...men that it is hard to distinguish them. And yet even the Scriptures suggest this reflection to us: meretricious attractivenesses of form are always joined with, and appropriate to, bodily prostitution. That mighty state which presides over the seven mountains and many waters has merited from the Lord the appellation of a prostitute. But what kind of garb is the means used in that comparison with that appellation? She sits, to be sure, in purple, scarlet, gold, and precious stone. How accursed are those things without which an accursed prostitute could not have been described! It was the fact that Tamar had painted and adorned herself that led Judah to regard her as a harlot. And so, because she was hidden beneath her veil, the quality of her garb belying her as if she had been a harlot, he judged her to be one, and addressed and bargained with her as such. From this we gather further confirmation of the lesson that provision must be made in every way against all immodest associations and suspicions. For why should the integrity of a chaste mind be defiled by a neighbor's suspicion? Why should something from which I am averse be hoped for in me? Why should my garb not announce m
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Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness
And he carried me away in spirit; and I saw a woman sit upon a beast, and that woman was arrayed in a purple and scarlet mantle, and was adorned with gold, and precious stones, and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand, full of curses, and filthiness, and fornication of the whole earth.
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Revelation 17:5 Direct teaching
And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
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Revelation 17:1 Direct teaching
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters,
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Revelation 17:4 Supporting witness
The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.
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Revelation 18:3 Supporting witness
For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
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Nahum 3:4 Supporting witness
Because of the multitude of harlotries of the seductive harlot, The mistress of sorceries, Who sells nations through her harlotries, And families through her sorceries.
More related quotations from this section 5 shown
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Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist Supporting witness
...to speak about the harlot, be with us, O blessed Isaiah. Let us pay attention to what you say about Babylon. "Come down and sit on the ground, O virgin daughter of Babylon. Sit, O daughter of the Chaldeans. You will no longer be called tender and delicate. Take the millstone and grind meal. Pull back your veil. Shave the gray hairs. Make your legs bare. Pass over the rivers. Your shame will be uncovered, and your reproach will be seen. I will take justice on you. I will no longer give you over to men. As for your Redeemer, he is the Lord of hosts. The Holy One of Israel is his name. Sit in compunction and go into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans, for you will no longer be called the strength of the kingdom."
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Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist Supporting witness
...earth’s sexual immorality. And on her forehead a name was written: ‘Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and of the Abominations of the Earth.’”
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Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist Supporting witness
I will show unto you the judgment of the great whore that sits upon many waters;
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Methodius, From the Discourse on the Resurrection Background
...e resurrection of the dead, and twists it into the return of the Israelites from their captivity in Babylon, the saint, in answering him, says this also after many other remarks: “For they did not gain complete freedom, nor did they defeat their enemies with greater power and live again in Jerusalem. And when they often intended to build the temple, other nations stopped them. Therefore they were hardly able to build in forty-six years what Solomon completed from the foundations in seven years. But what need is there to say more about this? For from the time of Nebuchadnezzar, and those who ruled Babylon after him, until the time of the Persian campaign against the Assyrians, and the empire of Alexander, and the war stirred up by the Romans against the Jews, Jerusalem was overthrown six times by its enemies. And Josephus records this, saying, ‘Jerusalem was taken in the second year of the reign of Vespasian. It had been taken five times before, but now for the second time it was destroyed. For Asochaeus king of Egypt, and after him Antiochus, then Pompey, and after these Sosius with Herod, took the city and burned it; but before these, the king of Babylon conquered and destroyed
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Peter of Alexandria, The Genuine Acts of Peter Background
...esurrection of the dead, and twists it to mean the return of the Israelites from their captivity in Babylon, the saint, while refuting him, says this also after many other remarks: For they did not gain complete freedom, nor did they defeat their enemies by greater power and live again in Jerusalem. And when they often tried to build the temple, other nations stopped them. Therefore they were hardly able to build in forty-six years what Solomon finished from the foundation in seven years. But what more do we need to say about this? For from the time of Nebuchadnezzar, and those who ruled Babylon after him, until the time of the Persian campaign against the Assyrians, and the empire of Alexander, and the war stirred up by the Romans against the Jews, Jerusalem was overthrown by its enemies six times. And Josephus records this, saying, "Jerusalem was taken in the second year of the reign of Vespasian. It had been taken five times before, but now for the second time it was destroyed. For Asochaeus king of Egypt, and after him Antiochus, then Pompey, and after these Sosius with Herod, took the city and burned it; but before these, the king of Babylon conquered and destroyed it."
Common Questions
Did early Christians think Babylon the Great was Rome?
Yes, several early Christian writers, especially Tertullian and Hippolytus, read Babylon the Great as a figure of Rome.
Did early Christians connect Babylon the Great with persecution?
Yes, they linked Babylon with the blood of the saints, the martyrs, and the city that fights against God’s people.
Source Index for Babylon the Great
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 149 ranked source links from 193 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 149 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 124
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 69 included
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.
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Book 80 1:3
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Book 80 1:28
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Book 80 1:23
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Book 80 1:35