Revised Standard Version prints this verse as part of the angel’s statement (also New International Version, Translator’s New Testament, New American Bible, Revised, An American Translation, Moffatt, Barclay). This may well be correct despite the change from the second person of address in verses 22-23 to the third person here in verse 24; verse 21 also has the third person. Good News Translation (and Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Phillips, Revised English Bible) attributes this verse to the writer. No one can be dogmatic. However, it is probably best to interpret this as a statement by the writer.

In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints: this is a vivid way of saying “she is guilty of killing the prophets and God’s people” (see 16.6; 17.6).

All who have been slain on earth: the speaker includes others, as well as Christians, who have been slaughtered in Rome and elsewhere. This is like Jesus’ words about Jerusalem in Matt 23.35-36. For slain see 5.6; 6.9.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• God punished Babylon because she (or, it [the city]) was guilty of killing the people who proclaimed God’s message, and all the other people who belong to God. Yes, Babylon is guilty of killing people all over the world.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Revelation to John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .