Before I say what I believe I just want to say I believe what I believe after much studying and this isn't just something that has popped into my head. I. I believe Revelation is a book of symbols
a. Rev. 1:1 ...and SIGNIFIED it... look in the dictionary - signified means put into symbols. So I believe that whether or not those things have already happened, or will happen, or perhaps both, it isn't literal - it all symbolizes something.
II. This one will make a few ppl mad - I think it was symbolic of the Roman persecution of the church. There are so many things that are parallel with it and Revelation. I'm not dogmatic about this, however, because I, like all of you, am just a human and I make mistakes. I will keep this in mind, however - Revelation MIGHT be a double prophecy with double fulfillment, like many prophecies in the Old Testament.
III. At the beginning, it also says that these things will shortly come to pass. I know someone will whip out the scripture about the thousand years as a day thing and here is my answer - Was God deceiving his people when he gave this Revelation to John? I would say that would be downright deceptive and confusing if God told John to tell the people that these things were going to happen shortly, but then for Him to have in the back of His mind that He REALLY meant a long time. Besides, that scripture had nothing to do with Revelation. Peter was just proving the point that there is no time with God.
I think we can all agree that the theme of Revelation is how God's people are persecuted, but they always overcome because God is on their side. The theme is that of complete victory! The scholars all say that the main purpose of this book was to encourage the Christians in thei time of trouble. No one here can deny that Revelation does a fine job of doing that. God be praised that He will deliver us from all of our persecutors.