I agree, Dennis, the technical definition for merchant that you provided is spot on. However, I hope we can agree that there is also a spiritual definition of merchant.
James puts is this way concerning the judgments of the “merchants of the sea” and their company. The ones that were made rich by selling the damnable God hating lies of Babylon.
Jas 3:1 Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment;
Jas 3:2 for we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body.
Jas 3:3 Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide the whole animal.
Jas 3:4 And consider ships: though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
Jas 3:5 So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things [the king exclaimed, "Is this not Babylon the Great that I have built by my vast power to be a royal residence and to display my majestic glory?".]. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites.
Jas 3:6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies; it pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell [Greek: Gehenna].
There is also this from Ezekiel.
Eze 27:25 Ships of Tarshish were the carriers for your goods. So you became full and heavily loaded in the heart of the sea.
Eze 27:26 Your rowers have brought you onto the high seas, but the east wind has shattered you in the heart of the sea.
Eze 27:27 Your wealth, merchandise, and goods, your sailors and helmsmen, those who repair your leaks, those who barter for your goods, and all the warriors within you, with all the other people on board, sink into the heart of the sea on the day of your downfall.
Eze 27:28 The countryside shakes at the sound of your sailors' cries.
Eze 27:29 All those who handle an oar disembark from their ships. The sailors and all the helmsmen of the sea stand on the shore.
That last bit I bolded sounds familiar, doesn't it?
Rev 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
Sounds like someone's “house” is about to fall down.
Mat 7:26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn't act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
Mat 7:27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!"
It's all one, just as Ray said.
Joh 2:13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
Joh 2:14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
Joh 2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
Joh 2:16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
Here's Peter's take on the merchants and their company.
2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2Pe 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2Pe 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Maybe I'm wrong (wouldn't be the first time), but I have a hard time believing “that great city” is an actual physical place somewhere on earth. Babylon is the Church we were all once a part of, with all its false beliefs and false gods. The merchants, sailors, and traders “make merchandise of you” and me and every believer down through the ages. But we are worth more than their “gold”.
Mat 23:17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
1Co_3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
I'm not saying anything new, as Ray has already told us these things through bible-truths.com. I truly believe that almost everything you ever wanted to know about God and His fellowship with us, and our fellowship with each other, can be found on the main bible truths website.
The keys to understanding are there, but it takes a lot of time. We have to live some of these things in Revelation before we can see them. Nevertheless, Jesus comes to us quickly.
Of course, there are real literal rich nations that give tons of money to Israel, but only because the rich nations believe Israel is the “Holy Land”. The only “rich” Israel is the spiritual one.
Rev 3:17 Because you say, 'I'm rich; I have become wealthy, and need nothing,' and you don't know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked,
Rev 3:18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, and white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see.
The U.S. is probably the most prominent Christian nation, but would they be without Israel?
Again, all this can be found on bible-truths.com. I just wrote it out the way I understand it.