The term "prophecy" in today's culture comes with many assumptions. Most assume that a prophecy is a foretelling of what is to come, it's preordained and will come to pass eventually one way or another.
Such a view of prophecy is what currently drives most interpretations of books such as Revelation as well. But is this the point of prophecy? Or does prophecy serve another purpose?
Old Testament Calls for Change
Most prophets in the Old Testament were raised up as prophets to speak God's word (since the word "propheseo" in Greek simply means to "speak the word of God.") The prophets that most think of when they think of "prophets" (Hosea, Amos, Ezekiel, Isaiah, etc) were raised up in reaction to something that was going on within the Israelite culture at the time.
These prophets called upon Israel to change its ways, to live the way in which God had commanded them to live - with justice, mercy and humbleness. They were advocates for the poor and the oppressed, seeking justice in the midst of injustice. The warning was if they were going to persist in their "ungodly" ways of oppression and unfaithfulness, destruction would surely come upon them.
The destructive warnings that are given are given for a purpose - not that the destruction can't be averted, but is telling people that if they continue on their current path, destruction will be the result. Yet hope still remains that repentance will occur and judgment will be averted.
A "Failed" Prophecy
In fact - the Book of Jonah is a shining example of how a prophecy did not come to fruition because the warning was heeded. God warned he would destroy Ninevah unless the people repented. When Jonah reluctantly delivered his prophecy of warning to the Ninevites, they repented and God stayed his hand of judgment (much to Jonah's dismay).
The Promise
As gloom and doom as the prophets may have been, with the exception of Nahum who prophesied destruction against the Assyrians and offered up no redemptive word, all other prophets follow up their dire predictions with words of promise.
Despite the coming destruction, God will not abandon his beloved people. Remnants will be saved, a messiah shall come and deliver them. Relationship will be restored. These words of promise are always delivered alongside the harsh words of warning and judgment. The warnings and promises in Revelation are no different.
Prophecy in Revelation
Many today view the prophetic words in Revelation as a "road map" for what is to come. But, given the understanding of what the point of prophecy is about, is this really the best way to view the prophetic nature of this book?
Or rather, is Revelation following the same pattern/style of the prophets of old? Words of warning for people to change their path so that destruction might actually be averted?
Strangely, God's ultimate way of dealing with the world is not by destroying it. Rather, God destroys "those who destroy the earth," (11:18) and those who make war with Christ and his followers. (19:18) While the earth itself undergoes affliction, ultimately, God recognizes that destruction is not how repentance will be brought about. Destruction is not what brings people to faith.
Repentance only comes after people encounter the good news in Christ through his witnesses. (10:1 - 11:19) In an odd reversal from 1 Kings 19, rather than only seven thousand remaining faithful, it is only seven thousand that are killed in the great earthquake during the seventh trumpet. The destruction is in fact muted.
A Self-fulfilling Prophecy?
Unfortunately, by misunderstanding the purpose of prophecy, people may bring about the destruction in the very manner that is described in Revelation. People choose to further ideas of war and violence and use the destruction inherent in its pages as their justification. That the destruction is somehow "God's will" for the future.
Yet, the battle that Christ engages in at Armageddon is not a physical battle. He rides into the battle with his own blood already staining his robes, and the only weapon he carries is the "sword of his mouth." The Word of God is the triumphant weapon - not bombs and missiles.
In the face of affliction people are given the promise of Christ, who triumphs over the oppressors of this world, of the evil and the wicked.
Thus prophecy, even prophecy in Revelation, serves not as a set-in-stone road map to destruction, but serves as a warning to people that living in rebellion to God leads to conquest, war, strife, economic upheaval, suffering, oppression and death.
In the face of that destruction, however, stands God's ultimate promise of Christ, of redemption and triumph of God's word over the destructive forces in the world. Readers discover promises of God's kingdom coming to earth and dwelling on earth (Revelation 21); life together in a renewed world, not a destroyed world.
As with the prophets of the Old Testament, ultimately God's promises in the Messiah/Christ are what prevail, not terror and destruction.
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