What is Babylon refering to in the New Testament?

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In the New Testament the city of Babylon is mentioned a few times. Notably in the book of Revelation:

⁶Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the
eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every
nation, tribe, language and people. ⁷ He said in a loud
voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment
has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the
springs of water.” ⁸ A second angel followed and said,
“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations
drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” ⁹ A third
angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the
beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on
their hand, ¹⁰ they, too, will drink the wine of God’s
fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.
They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy
angels and of the Lamb. ¹¹ And the smoke of their torment
will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for
those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives
the mark of its name.” ¹² This calls for patient endurance
on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain
faithful to Jesus. (Revelation 14:6-12, NIV, emphasize mine)

See also 14:8, 16:19, 17:5, 18:2, 18:10, 18:21.

What does Babylon refer to? If there are diversity among scholars I love to hear about different opinions. But I only want answers that argue from the text itself and it’s historical situation.

^{There is another question that touches on the subject. But I want this to be more specific and go deeper.}