Who Is Babylon?

Revelation 18

Therefore these plagues will overtake her in a single day--death and mourning and famine. She will be completely consumed by fire. ... And the kings of the world will ... mourn as they see the smoke rising from her charred remains. They will stand at a distance, terrified. ... The merchants of the world will weep and mourn for her, for there is no one left to buy their goods ... will stand at a distance, terrified. ... And all the captains of the merchant ships and all their passengers and sailors and crews will stand at a distance ... as they watch the smoke ascend, and they will say, "Where is there another city as great as this?"

And all three groups of rulers and businessmen cry out, "How terrible, how terrible!"

So this city, this harlot that rides on the Beast (in Chapter 17), this center of the whole world's economies, will be completely consumed by fire all at once, and they will all stand at a distance watching the smoke ascend (like mushroom clouds?) and be terrified!

What Nation among the Nations, what group of powerful people, have so much influence that they affect all the other World's Nations' economies? 

We need to recognize where this is, because God calls us to:

Come out of her, My people,
  so that you will not share in her sins, 
  so that you will not receive any of her plagues (v. 4).

This is a group of arrogant people who never think anything disastrously bad will ever happen to them (see v. 7). 

This will be such a complete destruction that no society will ever be able to occupy this land again (see vs. 21-24). That's why God wants His people to leave before this happens.

So there are also God's people there. God has called to Himself people from every Nation, every tribe, every language, all over the World. So we need to pay attention to the political machinations in every Nation, and be discerning as to recognizing what our leaders are doing, in both politics and economics, and in their religions, too, as this Nation has persecuted, tortured, imprisoned and martyred God's children.

The merchants of this "city" were the World's great men.
  By their "magic spell" or "trance" all the Nations were led astray (v. 23).

This is economic "Armageddon."

In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints,
  And of all who have been killed on the Earth" (v. 24).

This is the "World religion" that will dominate in the "one-World government."

Let's all, all of God's people, who know and worship our Creator, Owner, King and Lord, pay attention to what is going on in the World, and continue to grow closer to our dear Father to follow His direction each day of our lives. 

Look, He is coming with the clouds,
  and every eye will see Him,
even those who pierced Him;
 and all the peoples of the Earth will mourn because of Him.
So shall it be! Amen. (Chapter 1:7).

"Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God forever. Amen." (7:12).

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!