Skip to content
The Historic Faith
Scripture Topic Guide

Bible Verses 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.

Study This Topic Next

Open the best tools and THF resources before the full reference list.

Key Passages

Jump into the first references before scanning the full Scripture map.

How to Study Babylon The Great

A tighter path from the primary text into context and application.

Start with the clearest command or anchor text Read the primary passage in context before building doctrine from supporting references.
Trace the apostolic pattern Compare how the apostles preached, practiced, warned, and applied this topic in the churches.
Connect to witness and formation Use early Christian sources, courses, lessons, and discussion questions only after the Bible map is clear.
Continue with connected study Use the attached Bible reader, cross-reference, original-language, and THF resource links to keep studying the topic in context.

Scripture Map

Grouped passages make the topic easier to scan, compare, and teach.

17 references

Foundation Texts

And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Direct title of Babylon the Great with mother of harlots wording.

And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

Direct Babylon judgment passage from Revelation 16.

And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

Direct fall of Babylon passage.

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.

Direct millstone judgment on Babylon.

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.

Direct lament over Babylon's judgment.

And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

Direct Revelation description of the great prostitute.

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.

Direct judgment of the great whore and vindication for the saints.

And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

Direct blood of the saints line.

Supporting Passages

And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

Parallel fall of Babylon wording

And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Describes the woman as a great ruling city, which early Christians connect to Rome.

And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

Describes the woman’s dress and cup imagery.

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.

Shows fornication and luxury language tied to Babylon.

Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD's hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.

Uses harlot and sorcery language in a related prophetic image.

With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.