[DittoJed2]

Babylon may actually be Iraq. The old city has been rebuilt, and the nations seem about ready to converge upon it to help Iraq be rebuilt as a country. Could be it could become a center of commerce (or at least a free-flowing center of oil for all the world). I'm inclined to believe something has happened with America that makes her not such a major figure. Of course, that could be a rapture (with the number of Christians around, such an event would certainly cripple the economy and our ability to respond). Or maybe America is Babylon of Revelation 18. Don't know. She doesn't have to be though.

[null and void]

I don't know either. I recall, but haven't been able to relocate, a reference to something like lands not yet known joining the final fray.

In any event, the Bible was written from (or for) a middle eastern bronze to iron age audience. Trying to explain the New World, XIXth century weapons, radio, etc. would have really clouded the message...