Alas Babylon- What does Brin mean when he calls Alas, Babylon an example of a self-preventing prophecy?

The idea that Earth becomes a metaphor for the fall of Babylon in the Old Testament makes the title a self-fulfilling prophecy,

And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning. Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

Earth has become a type of sinful Babylon that God has judged to be punished. The book has biblical allusions to it but the apocalypse and dystopian aftermath is clearly humanity’s own doing.