Babylon was an ancient city built on the Euphrates river in what is now southern Iraq. It once was the capital of a great empire which at one point conquered the land of Judah as mentioned in the second book of Kings and in Daniel. But the river changed its course and the city was abandoned long ago. Both the historic city in Mesopotamia and the parable city with its tower, mentioned in Genesis, represent the same thing, a worship that appears holy in externals, while the internals are profane. This representation expands to mean a church whose leaders use this kind of worship to gain dominion over others for their own gain and for the gain and power of the church. The city itself is the doctrinal structure that supports this kind of worship and dominion.

(References: Apocalypse Explained 1029; Arcana Coelestia 1283, 1302, 1304, 1310, 1311)

Zion, in 1 Kings 8:1 and Revelation 14:1, signifies heaven and the church where the Lord alone is worshipped. (Apocalypse Revealed 612). Zion, in the highest sense, represents the Divine Good of the Lord's Divine Love, and then the divine celestial and the divine spiritual in His kingdom. (Arcana Coelestia 6435).

In Isaiah 51:3, and 66:8, Zion signifies a new church among the gentiles which should acknowledge the Lord. (Apocalypse Explained 721, and 730).

In Zechariah 9:9, Zion symbolizes the advent of the Lord, and His establishment of the church among people who are in a state of good the comes from love. (Apocalypse Explained 433).

In Lamentations 2:10, Zion signifies wise and intelligent people in the church. (Apocalypse Explained 637).

(References: Apocalypse Explained 14)