Hans K. LaRondelle . Popular among both Roman Catholic and Protestant scholars is the view that the Babylonian harlot (Rev 17) symbolizes the ancient city of Rome, situated on seven literal hills and ruled by seven selected dynasties of Roman emperors from Augustus to Domitian. Some have attempted to combine this preterist position with a futurist fulfillment, so that the Babylonian harlot/beast may have both a first-century and an end-time