Bab'ylon. Babylon, in the Apocalypse, is the symbolical name by which Rome is
denoted. Rev_14:8; Rev_17:18. The power of Rome was regarded by the
later Jews as was that of Babylon by their forefathers. Compare Jer_51:7 with Rev_14:8.
The occurrence of this name in 1Pe_5:13
has given rise to a variety of conjectures, many giving it the same meaning as
in the Apocalypse; others refer it to Babylon in Asia, and others still to
Babylon in Egypt. The most natural supposition of all is that by Babylon is intended
the old Babylon of Assyria, which was largely inhabited by Jews at the time in
question.
Source:
Smith’s Bible Dictionary
Babylon in the New
Testament:
Babylon Βαβυλῶν,
Babulō̇n, is used in New Testament in at least two different
senses:
1. Mesopotamian Babylon
In Mat_1:11, Mat_1:12, Mat_1:17;
Act_7:43 the old Mesop city is plainly
meant. These all refer to the captivity in Babylon and do not demand any
further discussion.
2. Symbolic Sense
All the references to Babylon in Rev are evidently symbolic. Some of the
most important passages are Rev_14:8; Rev_16:19; Rev_17:5;
Rev_18:2, Rev_18:10,
Rev_18:21. In Rev_17:5 Babylon is designated as mustḗrioň.
This undoubtedly in dicates that the name is to be under stood figuratively. A
few interpreters have believed that Jerusalem was the city that was designated
as Babylon, but most scholars hold that Rome was the city that was meant. That
interpretation goes back at least to the time of Tertullian (Adv. Marc.,
iii. 13). This interpretation was adopted by Jerome and Augustine and has been
commonly accepted by the church. There are some striking facts which point to
Rome as the city that is designated as Babylon.
(1) The characteristics ascribed to this Babylon apply to Rome rather
than to any other city of that age: (a) as ruling over the kings of the earth (Rev_17:18); (b) as sitting on seven mountains (Rev_17:9); (c) as the center of the world's
merchandise (Rev_18:3, Rev_18:11-13); (d) as the corrupter of the
nations (Rev_17:2; Rev_18:3; Rev_19:2);
(e) as the persecutor of the saints (Rev_17:6).
(2) Rome is designated as Babylon in the Sibylline Oracles (5 143), and
this is perhaps an early Jewish portion of the book. The comparison of Rome to
Babylon is common in Jewish apocalyptic literature (see 2 Esdras and the
Apocrypha Baruch).
(3) Rome was regarded by both Jews and Christians as being antagonistic
to the kingdom of God, and its downfall was confidently expected, This
conception is in accord with the predicted downfall of Babylon (Rev_14:8; Rev_18:2,
Rev_18:10-21). As Babylon had been the
oppressor of Israel, it was natural that this new power, which was oppressing
the people of God, should be designated as Babylon.
3. In 1 Peter
In 1Pe_5:13 Babylon is
designated as the place from which 1 Pet was written. Down to the time of the
Reformation this was generally under stood to mean Rome, and two cursives added
“en Roma.” Since the Reformation, many scholars have followed Erasmus and
Calvin and have urged that the Mesopotamian Babylon is meant. Three theories
should be noted:
(1) That the Egyptian Babylon, or Old Cairo; is meant. Strabo (XVII,
807) who wrote as late as 18 ad, says the Egyptian Babylon was a strong
fortress founded by certain refugees from the Mesop Babylon. But during the 1st
century this was not much more than a military station, and it is quite
improbable that Peter would have gone there. There is no tradition that
connects Peter' in any way with Egypt.
(2) That the statement is to be taken literally and that the Mesop
Babylon is meant. Many good scholars hold to this view, and among these are Weiss
and Thayer, but there is no evidence that Peter was ever in Babylon, or that
there was even a church there during the 1st century. Mark and Silvanus are
associated with Peter in the letter and there is no tradition that connects
either of them with Babylon. According to Josephus (Ant, XVIII, ix,
5-9), the Jews at this time had largely been driven out of Babylon and were
confined to neighboring towns, and it seems improbable that Peter would have
made that his missionary field.
(3) That Rome was the city that was designated as Babylon. The
Apocalypse would indicate that the churches would understand the symbolic
reference, and it seems to have been so understood until the time of the
Reformation. The denial of this position was in line with the effort to refute
Peter's supposed connection with the Roman church. Ancient tradition, however,
makes it seem quite probable that Peter did make a visit to Rome (see
Lightfoot, Clement, II, 493ff).
Internal evidence helps to substantiate theory that Rome was the place
from which the letter was written. Mark sends greetings (1 Pet Mar_15:13), and we know he had been summoned to
Rome by the apostle Paul (2Ti_4:11).
The whole passage, “She that is in Babylon, elect together with you, saluteth
you,” seems to be figurative, and that being true, it is natural that Babylon
should have been used instead of Rome. The character of the letter as a whole
would point to Rome as the place of writing. Ramsay thinks this book is
impregnated with Roman thought beyond any other book in the Bible (see The
Church in the Roman Empire, 286).
Source:
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Babylon
The Greek form of BABEL; Semitic form Babilu, meaning “The Gate of God.”
In the Assyrian tablets it means “The city of the dispersion of the tribes.”
The monumental list of its kings reaches back to 2300 B.C., and includes
Khammu-rabi, or Amraphel(q.v.), the contemporary of Abraham.
See map, of Babylonia
It stood on the Euphrates, about 200 miles above its junction with the
Tigris, which flowed through its midst and divided it into two almost equal
parts. The Elamites invaded Chaldea (i.e., Lower Mesopotamia, or Shinar, and
Upper Mesopotamia, or Accad, now combined into one) and held it in subjection.
At length Khammu-rabi delivered it from the foreign yoke, and founded the new
empire of Chaldea (q.v.), making Babylon the capital of the united kingdom.
This city gradually grew in extent and grandeur, but in process of time it
became subject to Assyria. On the fall of Nineveh (606 B.C.) it threw off the
Assyrian yoke, and became the capital of the growing Babylonian empire. Under
Nebuchadnezzar it became one of the most splendid cities of the ancient world.
After passing through various vicissitudes the city was occupied by
Cyrus, “king of Elam,” 538 B.C., who issued a decree permitting the Jews to
return to their own land (Ezr_1:1-11).
It then ceased to be the capital of an empire. It was again and again visited
by hostile armies, till its inhabitants were all driven from their homes, and
the city became a complete desolation, its very site being forgotten from among
men.
On the west bank of the Euphrates, about 50 miles south of Bagdad, there
is found a series of artificial mounds of vast extent. These are the ruins of
this once famous proud city. These ruins are principally
(1.) the great
mound called Babil by the Arabs. This was probably the noted Temple of Belus,
which was a pyramid about 480 feet high.
(2.) The Kasr
(i.e., “the palace”). This was the great palace of Nebuchadnezzar. It is almost
a square, each side of which is about 700 feet long. The little town of Hillah,
near the site of Babylon, is built almost wholly of bricks taken from this
single mound.
(3.) A lofty
mound, on the summit of which stands a modern tomb called Amran ibn-Ali. This
is probably the most ancient portion of the remains of the city, and represents
the ruins of the famous hanging-gardens, or perhaps of some royal palace. The
utter desolation of the city once called “The glory of kingdoms” (Isa_13:19) was foretold by the prophets (Isa.
13:4-22; Jer_25:12; Jer_50:2, Jer_50:3;
Dan_2:31-38).
The Babylon mentioned in 1Pe_5:13
was not Rome, as some have thought, but the literal city of Babylon, which was
inhabited by many Jews at the time Peter wrote.
In Rev_14:8; Rev_16:19; Rev_17:5;
Rev_18:2, “Babylon” is supposed to mean
Rome, not considered as pagan, but as the prolongation of the ancient power in
the papal form. Rome, pagan and papal, is regarded as one power. “The literal
Babylon was the beginner and supporter of tyranny and idolatry... This city and
its whole empire were taken by the Persians under Cyrus; the Persians were
subdued by the Macedonians, and the Macedonians by the Romans; so that Rome
succeeded to the power of old Babylon. And it was her method to adopt the
worship of the false deities she had conquered; so that by her own act she
became the heiress and successor of all the Babylonian idolatry, and of all
that was introduced into it by the immediate successors of Babylon, and
consequently of all the idolatry of the earth.” Rome, or “mystical Babylon,” is
“that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth” (Rev_17:18).
Source:
Easton’s Bible Dictionary