Babylon in Revelation

The word "Babylon" is used in six verses in Revelation.

Revelation describes an end-time scenario about "Babylon" where a world economic leader, and perhaps the world economy, is effectively destroyed in within an hour. Could that actually happen?

No one is quite sure in this context what the name Babylon represents. Some verse parts appear to fit today. Others do not.

What great city would be a candidate for a modern day Babylon?

In Revelation, this great city, whatever it represents, comes to a quick and violent end.

*G897 *12 Βαβυλών (bab-oo-lone') : of Hebrew origin (894); Babylon, the capitol of Chaldaea (literally or figuratively (as a type of tyranny)):-- Babylon.

Usage

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βαβυλων *6

Revelation 14:8 ... another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great ...
Revelation 16:19 ... fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, ...
Revelation 17:5 ... was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS ...
Revelation 18:2 ... a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, ...
Revelation 18:10 ... that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for ...
Revelation 18:21 ... shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found ...

βαβυλωνος *5

Matthew 1:11 ... about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
Matthew 1:12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; ...
Matthew 1:17 ... until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ ...
Acts 7:43 ... you away beyond Babylon.

βαβυλωνι

1 Peter 5:13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; ...

Revelation 14:8 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. [kjv]

και αλλος δευτερος αγγελος ηκολουθησεν λεγων επεσεν επεσεν βαβυλων η μεγαλη η εκ του οινου του θυμου της πορνειας αυτης πεποτικεν παντα τα εθνη [gnt]

Here are some requirements for Babylon.

A great city.
All nations or peoples are made to "drink".
The "drink" is the wine of the wrath of her "fornication".

Revelation 14:8

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KJV: 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.

Greek: και αλλος δευτερος αγγελος ηκολουθησεν λεγων επεσεν επεσεν βαβυλων η πολις η μεγαλη οτι η εκ του οινου του θυμου της πορνειας αυτης πεποτικεν παντα τα εθνη

*G2372 *18 θυμός (thoo-mos') : from G2380; passion (as if breathing hard):--fierceness, indignation, wrath. Compare G5590.

Usage

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θυμου *10

Luke 4:28 ... when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
Acts 19:28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, ...
Revelation 14:8 ... drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Revelation 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out ...
Revelation 14:19 ... it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Revelation 15:7 ... golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ...
Revelation 16:1 ... and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
Revelation 16:19 ... unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
Revelation 18:3 ... have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and ...
Revelation 19:15 ... he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

θυμος *3

Romans 2:8 ... but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and ...
Revelation 15:1 ... in them is filled up the wrath of God.

θυμον *3

Colossians 3:8 ... put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication ...
Hebrews 11:27 ... Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, ...
Revelation 12:12 ... you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath ...

θυμοι *2

2 Corinthians 12:20 ... lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, ...
Galatians 5:20 ... hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

*G4202 *24 πορνεία (por-ni'-ah) : from G4203; harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively, idolatry:--fornication.

Usage

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πορνειας *11

Matthew 5:32 ... wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: ...
Acts 15:20 ... pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
Acts 15:29 ... and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep ...
1 Corinthians 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, ...
1 Thessalonians 4:3 ... ye should abstain from fornication:
Revelation 2:21 ... repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
Revelation 9:21 ... nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
Revelation 14:8 ... the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Revelation 17:2 ... with the wine of her fornication.
Revelation 17:4 ... and filthiness of her fornication:
Revelation 18:3 ... the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth ...

πορνεια *8

Matthew 19:9 ... wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, ...
1 Corinthians 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as ...
1 Corinthians 6:13 ... Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and ...
2 Corinthians 12:21 ... of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
Galatians 5:19 ... which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or ...
Revelation 19:2 ... the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood ...

πορνειαν *3

Acts 21:25 ... and from strangled, and from fornication.
1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man ...
Colossians 3:5 ... which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil ...

πορνειαι *2

Matthew 15:19 ... thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Mark 7:21 ... evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

Revelation 16:19 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. [kjv]

και εγενετο η πολις η μεγαλη εις τρια μερη και αι πολεις των εθνων επεσαν και βαβυλων η μεγαλη εμνησθη ενωπιον του θεου δουναι αυτη το ποτηριον του οινου του θυμου της οργης αυτου [gnt]

More: Revelation 16: A veiled look at the seven vile bowl judgments

The "mystery" is that of "Babylon". The next verse appears to indicate more clearly that the word "Babylon" is a code word for some worldly organization - city, people, nation, etc.

Revelation 17:5

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

Greek: και επι το μετωπον αυτης ονομα γεγραμμενον μυστηριον βαβυλων η μεγαλη η μητηρ των πορνων και των βδελυγματων της γης

Revelation 18:2 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. [kjv]

και εκραξεν εν ισχυρα φωνη λεγων επεσεν επεσεν βαβυλων η μεγαλη και εγενετο κατοικητηριον δαιμονιων και φυλακη παντος πνευματος ακαθαρτου και φυλακη παντος ορνεου ακαθαρτου και μεμισημενου [gnt]

In Revelation 18, "Babylon" the "great" is described as a "hold" or ""cage" or "watch" or "prison" of every "unclean" "spirit" and of every "unclean" and "hateful" type of "bird".
In Matthew 7, the house built on sand will be "cut off" will have a "great" "fall" (same exact Greek words).

fowl

unclean

birds

"cages"

"watched"

"watch"

"prison"

"watched"

fowl

unclean

birds

More: Matthew 6:25-27 The missing part worked out for the birds

More: Matthew 10: 28-31 Taking care of the sparrows

More: Revelation 18:1-24 Cagey birds and the end of Babylon