"G897 Thayer Definition:
Babylon = “confusion”
1) a very large and famous city, the residence of the Babylonian kings, situated on both banks of the Euphrates. Cyrus had formerly captured it, but Darius Hystaspis threw down its gates and walls, and Xerxes destroyed the temple of Belis. At length the city was reduced to almost solitude, the population having been drawn off by the neighbouring Seleucia, built on the Tigris by Seleucus Nicanor.
2) of the territory of Babylonia
3) allegorically, of Rome as the most corrupt seat of idolatry and the enemy of Christianity "
In the New Testament times Babylon was a code name for Rome. 1 Peter 5:13 could not be refering to ancient Babylon because that city was destroyed and God declared it would remain desolate. Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues. Jeremiah 50:13 KJV
And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. Revelation 18:21 KJV Thus the Bible declares that Babylon of prophecy is a great city like Babylon of history.
Desription of Prophetic Babylon
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.... And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. Revelation 17:1-6, 15 KJV
What does a woman symbolize in Bible prophecy?
I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman. Jeremiah 6:2 KJV
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2 KJV
In the both the Old and New Testament God's people or you may say the church was represented by a pure and lovely women. An impure and adulterous women would then represent a corrupt church. Therefore the women who is riding the beast is the church who is took control of Pagan Rome.
What church took control of ancient Pagan Rome?
Note the church at Babylon (Rome) was originally pure (1 Peter 5:13) but according to Rev. 14:8 it was to fall spiritually, become corrupted, and ultimately become a stronghold for Satan himself. Rev. 18:2; 17:5.
Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. Daniel 7:23 KJV