Wow, this subject keeps coming up!
The attached article provides a very good argument that the book of revelations applied to the time period it was written, and the anti-christ/666, was none other than Nero Caesar. Don (Berserk) is a biblical scholar, and he pretty much agrees with the article I attached. The Christians that lived during the time period John (the author of revelations) lived, were going through a lot of difficulty. Therefore it makes sense that he would write a letter that was applicable to the time period. It also makes sense that he would write a "very" symbolic letter, so his enemies wouldn't be able to easily figure out what the letter is about.
Not to say that things aren't in store for the future, but I don't believe the book of revelations provides a guide. Look what has taken place because people believe the book of revelations applies to the future. Many people believe it is okay to demonize other people, because they are in cahoots with the Anti Christ. One of the reasons some people support George W. Bush's war in Iraq, is because they believe Iraq is Babylonia, and they need to make certain that the head of the United Nations doesn't get control of Iraq, because he is believed to be the anti christ. The Christians who believe in this way of thinking (mostly Evangelicals, but not all of them), look forward to the day when they are supposedly brought to heaven, while the rest of us are left behind to fight it out. In the end billions of God's children will end up in hell for all of eternity. What a ghastly and selfish thing to believe in. So much for love your neighbor as yourself.
Christians who believe in the rapture and a futuristic interpretation of the book of revelations don't tend to be concerned about the environment and energy crisis, because the need for such concerns will be negated when the rapture takes place in the near future. The same is true for the U.S. national budget. Is it just a coincidence that both Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, both Evangelicals, aren't/weren't concerned about incurring huge budget deficits? How many needy causes will have to pay the price?
Does such a way of viewing things make sense? If not, one might consider the Kenneth Gentry article I've attached. He doesn't stand alone.
Another factor to consider is that the rapture viewpoint didn't come to be until about the 1830s. Why did it take so long, if it's true?
http://www.iei.net/~doghouse/beast_id.htm