As TD and Band on the Run indicated, Baylon the Great is Rome-and nothing but Rome. Bethel, Brooklyn, New York, etc. did not exist in the time John wrote Revelation. That John meant Rome is obvious when you read Rev. 17:9 where it says that the woman (Babylon the Great) sits atop the seven mountains--nothing more or less than the seven hills of Rome.
Also, another clincher is 17:18 which calls the woman "the great city that has a kingdom over the kings of the earth." Come on people, what else could John be writing about but Rome-which had this power over the earth at that time?
When you read the Bible you must keep in mind who wrote it, when it was written, and to whom it was intended to be read. The book of Revelation was not intended for us in the 21st century, it was writted by a 1st century author for a 1st century audience. If John knew that his work was still being studied by people in the 21st century he would be dumbfounded. He would probably be amused too that people are still trying to find a modern day application to his 2000 year old text.