The Mystery of Babylon the Great
In Revelation 17, the apostle John is shown a vision of a woman sitting on a scarlet beast. On her forehead is written a name that has fascinated and puzzled readers for nearly two thousand years.
The Key Passage: Revelation 17:5-7
"And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: 'Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations.' When I saw her, I marveled greatly. But the angel said to me, 'Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.'"— Revelation 17:5-7 (ESV)
The word "mystery" appears twice here. First, the name itself is a "name of mystery" — meaning it is symbolic or requires interpretation, not a literal label. Second, the angel promises to explain "the mystery of the woman and of the beast," which he does in the following verses.
Who Is Babylon?
The identity of "Babylon the great" has been debated throughout church history. The most common proposals include:
- Rome — the dominant city of John's day, known for its persecution of Christians and its idolatry. Early Christians widely used "Babylon" as a code name for Rome (see also 1 Peter 5:13). The "seven mountains" of Revelation 17:9 are often linked to Rome's famous seven hills.
- A future world system — many interpreters see Babylon as representing not just one city but any civilization that opposes God, concentrates wealth and power, and persecutes the faithful.
- Apostate religion — some read the "prostitution" language as a reference to false or corrupt religion that seduces people away from true worship.
- Jerusalem — a minority view that identifies the "great city" with Jerusalem, based on Revelation 11:8 ("the great city... where their Lord was crucified").
The text itself does not settle the question definitively, which is perhaps fitting for a passage that begins with the word "mystery."
The Beast
The beast that carries the woman has "seven heads and ten horns" (17:7). The angel explains that the seven heads represent both seven mountains and seven kings, and the ten horns represent ten kings who will receive authority for a brief time (17:9-12). This imagery draws on Daniel 7, where beasts with horns represent successive world empires. The connection between Revelation's mysteries and Daniel's is significant — see Mystery in the Old Testament for the Daniel background.
The Fall of Babylon
Revelation 17-18 form a pair. Chapter 17 reveals the mystery of Babylon's identity; chapter 18 describes her dramatic fall. The voice from heaven says, "Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins" (18:4). The destruction of Babylon is portrayed as the culmination of God's judgment against a world system that was drunk on the blood of the saints (17:6).
Connection to the Mystery of Lawlessness
Babylon in Revelation is the fullest expression of what Paul calls the mystery of lawlessness in 2 Thessalonians 2:7. Both describe a hidden evil that operates within human civilization and reaches a climax before being destroyed by God. The "man of lawlessness" in Paul and the "beast" in Revelation may be related figures, though the relationship between the two texts is complex.
Connection to the Mystery of God Finished
The fall of Babylon is closely linked to the completion of God's mystery in Revelation 10:7. When the seventh trumpet sounds, both God's plan of salvation and His judgment against evil reach their consummation. The mystery of Babylon and the mystery of God are resolved together.