Literal Babylon was the “great city” of ancient times (see Additional Note on Dan. 4). From the days of Babel the city of Babylon has been representative of organized opposition to the purposes of God on earth (see on Gen. 11:4-6; Rev. 14:8). A city is a highly organized and integrated association of human beings. Hence, how appropriate is “Babylon the great” as a prophetic symbol for the organized, universal, apostate religious organization.