1 Peter 5:13
She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.
Revelation 18
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
“‘Come out of her, my people,’[
b]
so that you will not share in her sins,
so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
9 “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry:
“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,
you mighty city of Babylon!
In one hour your doom has come!’
Once again then in your view how could the church be in Babylon? These verses proves that it is a literal city.
Jesus told us exactly who Babylon is
For what it is worth....
Revelation 14:8
8 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.”
This verse reveals the ultimate collapse of spiritual Babylon, a system of false religion and corruption that has led countless people away from the truth of God. The repeated phrase “is fallen, is fallen” emphasizes the certainty and completeness of Babylon’s downfall. It echoes similar language found in Isaiah 21:9, where the fall of literal Babylon was foretold:
“Babylon is fallen, is fallen! And all the carved images of her gods He has broken to the ground.” Just as the ancient city of Babylon fell under God’s judgment for its pride, idolatry, and rebellion, spiritual Babylon—representing false systems of worship—will also collapse under divine judgment.
Here, Babylon is not a literal city but a symbol of spiritual confusion, corruption, and apostasy. The name itself means "confusion" (Genesis 11:9), stemming from the Tower of Babel, where God confused the languages of humanity for their rebellion. In Revelation, Babylon symbolizes a counterfeit religious system that has corrupted God’s truth, blending paganism with Christianity and deceiving the nations into false worship. This ties directly to the papal system and its influence throughout history, which introduced unbiblical traditions, altered God’s commandments, and led people into spiritual “fornication”—a term used to describe idolatry and unfaithfulness to God (Jeremiah 3:6-9).
The angel declares that “she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” This imagery is significant:
The “wine” symbolizes the intoxicating influence of false teachings, doctrines, and practices that Babylon has spread throughout the world. Like wine that clouds judgment, these teachings have spiritually intoxicated and confused people, leading them into rebellion against God.
“Fornication” refers to the unholy alliance between the false church system and worldly powers. This spiritual adultery has compromised God’s truth, replacing it with human traditions and false doctrines. The result is a system that misrepresents God and distorts the Gospel.
By stating that “all nations” have been made to drink this wine, the verse highlights the global reach of Babylon’s influence. No corner of the earth has been untouched by its corruption. From the Middle Ages to the present day, Babylon’s doctrines have infiltrated cultures, nations, and even churches, creating a counterfeit version of Christianity that obscures God’s Word and truth. The announcement of Babylon’s fall serves as both a warning and a declaration of hope:
A Warning: For those who continue to align with Babylon and its false system, this message is a clear call to come out of her before it is too late (Revelation 18:4). God is revealing that Babylon’s power is temporary, and its judgment is certain.
A Hopeful Declaration: For the faithful, this message is a promise that the system that has oppressed God’s people and corrupted His truth will not endure forever. God will bring justice, and Babylon will be fully and finally destroyed.
This second angel’s message stands as a powerful indictment against spiritual Babylon and all it represents. It reminds us that false systems of worship, no matter how powerful they appear, cannot stand against God’s truth and righteousness. Babylon’s fall is both a judgment on rebellion and a call to those still within its grasp to turn back to God.