Chapters 17–18 elaborate the fall of Babylon, introduced in 14:8 and reintroduced at the pouring out of the seventh bowl of God’s rage (16:17–21 [see the comments on 14:8 for Babylon as a code name for Rome]). Chapter 17 describes Babylon as a whore and relates her to the first beast of chapter 13. Chapter 18 describes God’s judgment on her and quotes the laments of those who’ve pleasured themselves with her. Since at the pouring out of the seventh bowl Babylon