And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Revelation 18:24
What does Revelation 18:24 mean?
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Revelation 18:24
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This verse isn't just listing victims; it's showing how the system itself is saturated with the guilt of every prophet and saint who ever suffered for truth, implying that its very foundation is built on the suppression and destruction of God's faithful. It's a chilling indictment, suggesting that even if a specific act wasn't directly committed by "her," the principles she embodies lead inevitably to such bloodshed.
And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse comes at the end of a dramatic description of the fall of a powerful, oppressive entity referred to as "Babylon." After the angel announces her judgment and the reasons for it, this final statement summarizes her ultimate guilt by pointing to the immense amount of innocent blood found within her history – the blood of God's faithful messengers and followers throughout all time. This reveals her destructive nature, which culminates in her own judgment.
This verse paints a stark picture of judgment. It's not just about one act, but a historical accumulation of violence. What does it mean for a city, or a system, to be 'found' to have this blood on its hands?
Revelation 18:24 declares that within the judgment of Babylon, 'the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth' was discovered. This signifies that the destruction of this symbolic city isn't merely about its current sins, but the totality of its history of violence against God's faithful.
A History of Persecution
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This isn't just about bricks and mortar; it’s about a system, a spirit that fuels violence. What does it mean that a symbolic city holds such literal, devastating guilt?
Revelation 18 presents Babylon as a powerful symbol, often interpreted as representing oppressive, anti-God systems throughout history, particularly those that persecute believers. The blood found 'in her' speaks to the real, tangible consequences of such systems.
The Spirit of Violence
Understand the original words
prophētēs · Greek Noun
Those who bring God's message to His people, often suffering persecution or death for their faithfulness to the divine commission.
hagios · Greek Noun/Adjective
A person who is set apart for God, recognized for their holiness and faithful adherence to Christ, often used in the New Testament to describe all believers.
This verse speaks to the accumulated guilt of bloodshed throughout history, particularly implicating the power symbolized by 'Babylon' (often interpreted as Rome or its spiritual counterpart) for the persecution of prophets and saints.
c. 1st century AD
Early Church Persecutions
Following Jesus' ascension, the early Christian church faced intermittent but intense persecution from both Jewish authorities and the Roman Empire. Many early believers, including apostles like Peter and Paul, were martyred for their faith.
c. 313 AD
Edict of Milan
Emperor Constantine's Edict of Milan granted religious tolerance throughout the Roman Empire, significantly easing official persecution of Christians. However, internal church conflicts and the rise of new power structures began to emerge.
c. 606 AD
Papal Power Solidified
The bishop of Rome, the Pope, began to consolidate significant religious and political power, marking a new era. This period is seen by some as the beginning of what critics would later identify as the 'Antichristian' system described in Revelation.
c. 1517 AD
The Protestant Reformation Begins
Martin Luther's challenge to papal authority and doctrines ignited the Protestant Reformation. This movement led to widespread religious upheaval, conflict, and the persecution of reformers and their followers by established Catholic powers.
1545–1563 AD— this verse
Council of Trent
The Catholic Church's Counter-Reformation council reaffirmed its doctrines and condemned Protestantism. This intensified religious divisions and led to further persecution and wars across Europe.
16th - 17th centuries AD
Intensified Religious Wars
Across Europe, conflicts such as the French Wars of Religion and the Thirty Years' War saw massive bloodshed, often fueled by the religious divisions solidified during the Reformation and Counter-Reformation.
This passage echoes the sentiment, stating 'The slain of all the earth shall fall by them,' directly linking the destruction of Babylon with widespread slaughter.
Matthew 23:35Jesus speaks of the guilt of the generation for 'all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah,' showing a precedent for holding a collective entity accountable for all blood shed.
Luke 11:49-51Jesus states that the wisdom of God sent prophets and apostles, and that 'the blood of all the prophets, since the foundation of the world, may be charged to this generation,' drawing a parallel to the spiritual leaders whose blood is found in the symbolic 'her'.
Revelation 6:10The cry of 'O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell in the earth?' is answered in Revelation 18:24, indicating that the judgment described there is a response to this ancient plea for justice.
barnesRevelation 18:24: "And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth."
And in her - When she came to be destroyed, and her real character was seen. Was found the blood of prophets - Of the public teachers of the true religion. On the word "prophets" see the notes on Revelation 18:20. And of saints - Of the holy. See the notes on Revelation 18:20. And of all that were slain upon the earth - So numerous have been the slain, so constant and bloody…
cambridgeRevelation 18:24: "And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth."
24 . And in her ] St John passes from recording the angel’s denunciation to the impression made on his own mind by the judgement he witnessed. of all that were slain upon the earth ] Cf. Jeremiah 51:49 , where however, if the A. V. be right, the sense is rather different. “The slain of all the earth” here seem to mean “the slain of (the spiritual) Israel,” there , the allies…
This verse isn't just listing victims; it's showing how the system itself is saturated with the guilt of every prophet and saint who ever suffered for truth, implying that its very foundation is built on the suppression and destruction of God's faithful. It's a chilling indictment, suggesting that even if a specific act wasn't directly committed by "her," the principles she embodies lead inevitably to such bloodshed.
This verse comes at the end of a dramatic description of the fall of a powerful, oppressive entity referred to as "Babylon." After the angel announces her judgment and the reasons for it, this final statement summarizes her ultimate guilt by pointing to the immense amount of innocent blood found within her history – the blood of God's faithful messengers and followers throughout all time. This reveals her destructive nature, which culminates in her own judgment.
This verse comes at the end of a dramatic description of the fall of a powerful, oppressive entity referred to as "Babylon." After the angel announces her judgment and the reasons for it, this final statement summarizes her ultimate guilt by pointing to the immense amount of innocent blood found within her history – the blood of God's faithful messengers and followers throughout all time. This reveals her destructive nature, which culminates in her own judgment.
"And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.”" — This verse isn't just listing victims; it's showing how the system itself is saturated with the guilt of every prophet and saint who ever suffered for truth, implying that its very foundation is bu…
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Last reviewed October 2026