Well, no, Babylon was not deserted; of course not. The empire was destroyed, though. I've read Josephus before.
But, to take Scripture as our guide, one must go to Revelation to find out what Babylon actually is. Babylon is a city built on seven hills. There is only one ancient city that is rather famously known as the city on seven hills: Rome. Babylon certainly wasn't.
It was John's Book of Revelation that led later writers to associate the word "Babylon" with "the city of seven hills", and that didn't begin to circulate until 100 AD.
Peter was writing to Jews in 67 AD, and the Jews knew where Babylon was --- it was on the Euphrates.
**There is only one ancient city that is rather famously known as the city on seven hills: Rome. Babylon certainly wasn't.**
You are correct.. The Book of Revelation was written by John for the Christians of that day who were being persecuted. It is written with a lot of code in it. Things that the Christians would have understood. I have posted a couple other posts with the parallels.
Babylon meant Rome.
The Beast = Nero and then Domitian
You and I have put forth the information that Babylon was the code word for Rome in Revelation how many times now?
Don't understand why it isn't understood?