It should be obvious to anyone who puts an ounce of critical analysis into the book of Revelation that it's nothing more than a thinly disguised, semi-psychotic rant against the Roman Empire.
Despite the fact that the writer cleverly hides the true nature of this work (because wishing death and destruction of the Empire could get you crucified) there are parts that show the true intention of the writing, most notably the 17th chapter, which describes the "whore of Babylon" as seated on seven mountains (v9) an obvious reference to the seven hills of Rome:
If you need further evidence the author provides it in verse 18:
"The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth."
What other city could this be but Rome? In the first century Rome ruled over the vast majority of the Western world. But why is this city called Babylon? Because Babylon was a traditional enemy of the Jews and subsequently, Rome became the great enemy of the Christians. In Revelation, "Babylon" becomes a code name for the city that John saw as opposed to God and his people- i.e. Rome. (The real city of Babylon, by the way, was just a crumbling virtual ghost town by the time John wrote Revelation). And just like Babylon of old, Rome too was going to suffer destruction, and quickly, according to John.
The fact that it didn't happen that way probably led later readers to try to interpret the book to their own time, a practice that obviously continues to our day. But if you see the book not as a mystical prophesy, but as it really is, the product of a first century mind with a bone to pick with an oppressive empire, it becomes clear what the book is and what it meant to those it was addressed to.