Dutch Catholic Theologian Estius (16th Century): Babylon In The Apocalypse Is Rome

Fr. Willem Hessels van Est (1542-1613), In Omnes Canonicas Apostolorum Epistolas, Vol. 3 (On 1 Peter 5:13), 1858, p. 581: “It is asked which Babylon he refers to here [in 1 Peter 5:13]. Certainly the ancients – as Papius, Bishop of Hierapolis, and from him Eusebius (Book 2, Ecclesiastical History, Chap. 15), Jerome on Mark and in Epistle 17, likewise Bede and Oecumenicus in their commentaries, and finally all the more recent orthodox commentators – interpret Babylon as Rome. By that name even in Apocalypse Chapters 17 and 18 Rome has been signified, especially on account of the confusion of idolatry which then was thriving in it… Nevertheless, afterward by apostolic preaching and establishment it finally was accomplished that it was converted from Babylon into a holy Jerusalem and a new Zion… It follows from this commentary that Peter was present and sat in Rome, which is impudently denied by certain sectarians... they deny that Peter was in Rome, which all of antiquity testifies to...”