What Does “Babylon” Mean in End-time Prophecy?

Bible prophecy about the End Times ultimately leads up to a central call to action—to worship God (Revelation 14:7) and come out of Babylon (Revelation 18:4-8).

So what does it mean to “come out of” Babylon? Since the literal nation of Babylon is long gone, how do we know what Babylon is symbolizing here?

When it’s spoken of in the Old Testament, it mostly describes the literal, ancient nation of Babylon.

When it’s spoken of in the New Testament, it’s used as a symbol for a system of spiritual confusion that seeks to influence humanity. And this corrupt system will oppose God and His followers in the last days, before the Second Coming of Christ.

But what these two descriptions of Babylon have in common is that they both refer to a state of spiritual confusion, and many people of the world are under this influence.

So if we want a better idea of what makes up this state of spiritual confusion and how we can “come out of” it, let’s look more closely at:

• The origins of “Babylon”—what does the word mean?
• What are the characteristics of Babylon?
• How Babylon relates to the end times
• Why this message matters for us today

Let’s start by looking back at the beginning of “Babylon” and its defining characteristics.

What are the origins of “Babylon”?

The literal nation of Babylon was one of the most powerful ancient civilizations. It was located in present-day Iraq and was once a part of southern Mesopotamia.¹

Today, the Babylonian empire is well-remembered by records of its riches and architecture. Its hanging gardens were known as one of the wonders of the ancient world.

However, long before this nation existed, the concept of Babylon and some of its defining characteristics are found in the story of the Tower of Babel, after the flood, when the family of Noah spread out to repopulate the earth.

Upon exiting the ark, God commanded everyone to scatter and fill the earth, to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 8:17, CSB). But then we read of one group of people who gathered together with the intention to “make a name” for themselves, resisting God’s command to spread out (Genesis 11:1-4).

Because they were unified in purpose and language, they could accomplish a significant amount of work (Genesis 11:1-2).

So this group of people decided they would build a tall tower “with its top in the sky” (Genesis 11:4, CSB), showing that they were investing in their own power, rather than leaning on God and following His direction.

It may also have been an attempt to avoid being washed away in another flood.²

If this was the case, the fact that they believed another flood would happen shows that they either forgot or disregarded the promise God made to never again send another flood like that on the earth (Genesis 9:11).

Of course, their entire plan ended up backfiring as God scattered them by confusing their languages (Genesis 11:6-9).

So at that moment, the city received its name:

“So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth” (Genesis 11: 8-9, NKJV).

Being scattered stopped the people of Babel from finishing the tower. But this certainly wouldn’t be the last time a group of people would turn against God and try to become great and powerful on their own.

Further down the line of ancient civilizations, a nation called Babylon rose to power.

Now the interesting thing is that in its own language, Babylon was Bab-ilu, which meant “Gate of God.” There is also the Akkadian babili, meaning “gate to the gods.” The Hebrew word balal, which means “to confuse,” was used as a play on words in Genesis 11:9 to make Babel, referring to when God confused the languages of those rebelling against Him.³

Babylon has been described as “confusion” for the way its culture, and those that succeeded it, distorted religious beliefs and practices. This included syncretism, or the mixing of different religious traditions and beliefs.

And the influences of these varieties of idol worship and spiritual confusion spread (2 Kings 17:24, 27-39).

The Babylonians would go on to profane the holy articles of God’s temple by using them in a feast they used to honor their own gods (Daniel 5:1-4, 22-30).

The act of dishonoring God’s temple was the final catalyst in sealing Babylon’s fall to King Cyrus of the Medo-Persian empire (Daniel 5:22-30).

In this way, creating spiritual confusion and promoting idolatry— defining characteristics of Babylon—became its own downfall.

So the Bible uses Babylon as a symbol for the many forms of spiritual corruption, deception, and chaos that God’s people faced throughout history. The ancient nation provided a historical example of these detrimental key characteristics.

In the case of Bible prophecy, Scripture uses Babylon to describe a major power or influence, a corrupt religious system, that will distort God’s truth in the last days. It could take many forms, but the elements that make it “Babylon” will ultimately give it away.

What are the characteristics of Babylon?

With the nation of Babylon set up as a primary example, we can observe the characteristics of this nation’s collective behavior to understand what end-time Babylon will be like.

First we’ll look at how Babylon blasphemes against God in an effort to cause spiritual confusion.

Revelation 17:3 tells us that Babylon sits on a beast “which was full of names of blasphemy” (NKJV).

Blasphemy is often called out in the Bible when human beings dare to assume to role or authority of God. Especially when it came to passing judgment, forgiving sins, or altering God’s law (Daniel 7:25; Luke 5:21).

In this way, we can see how the Bible describes Babylon’s blasphemous attempts to assume the authority of God in promoting spiritual confusion and denying God’s power.

Babylon:

• Acts in defiance of God’s authority, or claims it has authority equal to God (Genesis 11:4; Daniel 3:1-6, 15; Revelation 13:3-8; 17:3; John 10:33;): Like the builders of the Tower of Babel, end-time Babylon will seek to build a name for itself. It will do this by convincing people to worship the beast and its image instead of God.
• Acts like it’s possible to escape or side-step consequences for defying God (Genesis 11:4; Daniel 4:26-33; Revelation 18:3, 7; Isaiah 47:10-11): Just as the builders of the tower of Babel believed they could avoid the judgment of God, so will end-time Babylon convince people that God’s laws don’t really apply, so they don’t have to worry about the consequences of living for themselves or following the crowd.
• Promotes false religion and worship (Daniel 3:8-11, 12, 14; Daniel 7:25, Jeremiah 51:47; Isaiah 46:1-2; Revelation 18:23): Just as the nation of Babylon encouraged the worship of false gods, or to worship their leaders as divine, so will end-time Babylon encourage such devotion.
• Persecutes God’s people (Revelation 13:17; Revelation 17:6; Revelation 18:24): Just as rulers of ancient Babylon persecuted the captive Jews (Daniel 3:5-16; 6:3-12) end-time Babylon will persecute anyone that doesn’t obey the Antichrist.

Overall, these parallels teach us that end-time Babylon will be a power in the last days with the agenda to draw people away from God and His Word, by whatever deceptive or forceful means are necessary.

Fortunately, just like ancient Babylon, end-time Babylon won’t last (Jeremiah 25:12; Revelation 14:8; Revelation 18:10,19; Isaiah 13:19).

What is the role of Babylon in end-time prophecy?

Since “Babylon” refers to a state of religious confusion, it also fits to describe a power, system, or entity that maintains and promotes this state.

Adventist pastor and evangelist Chris Holland, DMin, describes it this way:

“Babylon signifies religious confusion that rebels against the very laws of God. While Babylon will take on a much more specific role a later on, it can represent any religious entity, any religious worldview, any religious practice that makes void the law of God, makes void the principle of God’s Word, and is ‘drunk with the wine of false teaching,’ or false doctrine.”

And part of the three angel’s message of Revelation 14 explains what will become of Babylon:

“And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” (Revelation 14:8, NKJV).

But what does that mean exactly? Let’s break it down, since there’s a lot packed into this one verse.

• In many places in the Bible, the church (community of believers) is represented by the idea of a bride, with Jesus being the groom (Isaiah 62:5; Matthew 9:15; Revelation 19:7-8). The pure woman of Revelation 12 is the true and faithful bride (church) of God, and Babylon is the opposite—an unfaithful partner. A prostitute.
• And Babylon is said to be, “fallen,” because it will meet its end when Jesus returns. Like ancient Babylon, its persistence in its destructive ways will become its downfall.
• The “wine” Babylon gives to the nations represents the false teachings of spiritual confusion that corrupt those who consume it.
• Lastly, “fornication” represents the consistent unfaithfulness of Babylon. Just like unfaithfulness in a marriage harms the relationship, in the same way, Babylon has harmed its relationship with Jesus, even to the point of rejection.

Babylon depicted as a prostitute shows up again in Revelation 17, but this time she is depicted as riding a beast. Here we see the same symbols as in Revelation 14. She is said to commit adultery against God and intoxicate the world with the wine of her false teachings. She is even said to fall for her own corrupt ways (Revelation 17:16).

The beast carrying her was described with seven heads and ten horns (Revelation 17:3). This is also the description of the beast of Revelation 13:1-8, coming out of the sea, at the time of the healing of its wound. The fact that the woman is riding it suggests a partnership between Babylon and the beast, which represents another branch of the end-time system of power that will oppose God’s church in the last days.⁴

To sum up, Bible prophecy tells us that Babylon:

• Is unfaithful (Isaiah 47; Revelation 17:5): It has broken away from God’s word and God’s commandments. What might have been a true church of God is now a church that denies His authority, character, and law. Instead, this power prioritizes human tradition and the worship of man-made ideals.
• Is associated with the beast (Revelation 17): It is said to ride the beast of the Antichrist, demonstrating the way the beast and Babylon are intricately connected, working together to deceive the world.

• Has material wealth (Revelation 17:4): Ancient Babylon was prosperous and considered a great city before it fell. In the same way, end-time Babylon will be admired for its wealth and prosperity, which it will use to gain followers—especially among the kings of the earth (17:1), or world leaders.
• Deceives the world (Revelation 17:2): Like the Antichrist, Babylon will work to deceive the whole Earth. It will do this by suppressing the truth of the Scripture and commandments while it supports a counterfeit religious system that promotes enticing but false teachings.
• Persecutes the saints (Revelation 17:6): Babylon has had a history of persecuting those who follow God and resist the empty temptations of the world. It will only continue to persecute and oppose God’s people as we get closer to the last days.
• Will present itself as indestructible (Revelation 18:7-8): This power will flaunt its perceived self-sufficiency. Its prosperity and riches will have blinded it to the fact that only the sacrifice of Christ can bring salvation. It downplays the importance of what Jesus Christ did for us and encourages people to earn their own salvation, or even to simply settle for earthly prosperity.

When the end-time events of Revelation are upon us, that’s when it will become clear who has truly chosen God’s side and who refuses to let go of the deceptions of Babylon.

That’s why it’s so important that we understand what Babylon really is—so we can recognize its influence whenever and wherever it might show up.

Why is Babylon relevant to us today?

Even before the exposure and downfall of Babylon in the last days, we have to be aware that this system of spiritual confusion exists here and now, all around us. And it’s “dressed up” to look enticing, pleasing, and prosperous.

Its influence can show up anywhere—in anything that Satan can use to lead us to discount or distort the teachings of God’s Word.

That means the spirit of Babylon could be anything from a false teaching to a false mindset. So we have to keep an eye out for anything that could cause us to stray from the character of Jesus Christ, who is supposed to be our ultimate example.

Revelation 18 again urges us to leave Babylon so we won’t end up in the wake of its ultimate fate:

“And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” (Revelation 18:4-5, NKJV).

It is important that we choose to follow Christ now because the choices we make today will inform the choices we make in the last days. And truthfully, the most important choice we make is the choice we make now because the present moment is the only moment we’re guaranteed to have.

This means sincerely acknowledging Jesus through prayer, choosing to uphold the Ten Commandments, being open to His Holy Spirit, and deciding to maintain our faith day by day. This will prepare us to follow Him in the end times.

On the flipside, failing to prioritize a relationship with Jesus today trains us to do the same in the future.

That’s why the book of Revelation tells us to make a decision now (Revelation 14:7).

God doesn’t give us this warning to scare us, but because He doesn’t want us to share in the fall of Babylon. He warns us of what’s coming because He wants to ensure we have every opportunity to choose salvation.

It is never His will for us to be lost—that’s why He sent His Son to save us from our sins (John 3:16).

God wants us to understand what’s at stake so we can make an informed decision. He wants us to know how to recognize and reject false teachings and teachers. He also wants us to understand what it means to follow Him.

We don’t have to be afraid of resisting Babylon. As long as we invite God into our lives, the Holy Spirit will teach us how to surrender to Him and live by faith, claiming the many beautiful promises of God throughout Scripture. He will gives us guidance and discernment so we can avoid Babylon and the fate reserved for it.

Instead, we can embrace the future He invites us to—an eternity with Him in a restored, perfect world.

1. Saggs, W.F., Henry, “Babylon.” Brittanica.com, https://www.britannica.com/place/Babylon-ancient-city-Mesopotamia-Asia. [↩]
2. White, Ellen G., Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 119, https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/84.454#467. [↩]
3. “Tower of Babel,” Brittanica, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tower-of-Babel; “Babylon,” Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/place/Babylon-ancient-city-Mesopotamia-Asia [↩]
4.  Andrews Bible Commentary, New Testament, p. 1990; “The Book of Revelation,” Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide, 1Q 2019, p. 95 [↩]