Topical Bible: Babylon: Figurative

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In the Bible, Babylon is not only a historical city but also a powerful symbol representing various spiritual and moral themes. The figurative use of Babylon is prevalent in both the Old and New Testaments, where it often signifies rebellion against God, idolatry, and moral corruption.

Old Testament Symbolism

In the Old Testament, Babylon is frequently depicted as a symbol of human pride and defiance against God. The Tower of Babel narrative in Genesis 11:1-9 is foundational in establishing this symbolism. The people of Babel sought to build a tower reaching the heavens, symbolizing humanity's attempt to usurp divine authority and achieve self-sufficiency apart from God. The Lord's response was to confuse their language and scatter them across the earth, demonstrating His sovereignty over human endeavors.

The prophets also use Babylon as a metaphor for oppressive empires and the consequences of turning away from God. In Isaiah 13-14 and Jeremiah 50-51, Babylon is portrayed as a proud and arrogant nation destined for divine judgment. These passages highlight the futility of human arrogance and the ultimate triumph of God's justice.

New Testament Symbolism

In the New Testament, Babylon takes on an even more pronounced figurative role, particularly in the Book of Revelation. Here, Babylon is depicted as a harlot and a great city that embodies the world's system of opposition to God. Revelation 17:5 refers to her as "Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth." This imagery conveys the pervasive influence of spiritual adultery and moral corruption that characterizes the world system in rebellion against God.

Revelation 18 further elaborates on the fall of Babylon, symbolizing the ultimate defeat of worldly powers and the vindication of God's righteousness. The lament over Babylon's destruction in Revelation 18:10-11 underscores the transient nature of earthly wealth and power: "Woe, woe, the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come."

Spiritual and Moral Implications

The figurative use of Babylon in Scripture serves as a warning against the seductions of worldly power, wealth, and idolatry. It calls believers to remain faithful to God and resist the allure of a world that stands in opposition to His kingdom. The apostle Peter, writing to the early church, uses Babylon as a code name for Rome, a city emblematic of persecution and moral decay (1 Peter 5:13). This further illustrates the enduring relevance of Babylon as a symbol of spiritual conflict.

In summary, Babylon, as a figurative concept in the Bible, represents the perennial struggle between God's kingdom and the kingdoms of this world. It serves as a reminder of the ultimate victory of God's purposes and the call for His people to live in holiness and faithfulness amidst a fallen world.

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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.
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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 to her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
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Revelation 17:1
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying to me, Come here; I will show to you the judgment of the great whore that sits on many waters:
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Revelation 18:1
And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
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Strong's Hebrew

1121. ben -- son
... name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including ... ite,
(anoint-)ed one, appointed to, (+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec ...
/hebrew/1121.htm - 8k

Library

Figurative Senses have their Foundation in Literal Fact Besides ...
... the verities would not have been declared, out of which the figurative language
is ... the downfall of nations and cities, of Tyre and Egypt, and Babylon and Edom ...
/.../on the resurrection of the flesh/chapter xx figurative senses have their.htm

The Figurative Language of Scripture.
... class of expositors, the maiming of the body is figurative language, and ... branch of
the cedar [Jehoiachin, whom Nebuchadnezzar dethroned and carried to Babylon. ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxv the figurative language.htm

The First General Epistle of Peter
... and several later commentators and writers on Introduction (Bigg, Hart, Salmon,
Holtzmann, Zahn, Chase) regard the name Babylon as a figurative designation of ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the first general epistle of.htm

In the Last Chapter we Confined Ourself to the Old Testament, in ...
... Babylon, must therefore be understood literally, otherwise we should have the anomaly
of ... represents the City, we learn that she is not literal, but figurative. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/in the last chapter we.htm

The Seventh Rule of Tichonius.
... the context which, under the figure of the king of Babylon, are made ... understood where
another is expressed, which is the peculiarity of figurative diction; and ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 37 the seventh rule of.htm

Of the Reason Why Forty Generations (Not Including Christ Himself) ...
... to the uncircumcision, or, so to speak, from Jerusalem to Babylon, and to ... Thus was
God making preparations then in a figurative manner for things which were to ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter iv of the reason why.htm

A Paradox of Selling and Buying
... As in the Exodus from Egypt, so in that from Babylon, no ransom was paid ... But whatever
figurative elements may enter into it, its core is the ethical truth that ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/a paradox of selling and.htm

Phial the First. On the Earth, the Universe Connected with the ...
... of the beast, crying out, that Rome was the apocalyptical Babylon, and that ... mystically,
and by analogy, and this likewise in the figurative representation of ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/phial the first on the.htm

The First Epistle General of Peter
... that "sojourners of the Dispersion" must be taken in a figurative sense, meaning ...
phrase "elect of the Dispersion" must be compared with "in Babylon, elect" (v ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter xxi the first epistle.htm

The Catholic Epistles.
... of this kind, should have used the word "sojourners" in a simply figurative sense,
to ... to chap.5:13 the place from which this epistle was written was Babylon. ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxi the catholic epistles.htm