The way I understand the Book of the Revelation is as a book particular to an entire genre, known generally as apocalyptic writings. There are a number of these writings and they are similar in form and content. The Book of Revelation has caught the eye of many Christians and non-Christians alike, but few seem to realize it's roots outside of the New Testament. The book contains a large number of references to Old testament imagery, including the dragon, the figures of Christ and angels, the four horsemen, etc... I also think that it's original intent has been lost. Mainly because we no longer share the culture and icons from which the book was written.
There is a list of apocalyptic writings from about the same time, both Jewish and Christian, that might help shed light on the interpretation of the book, but apart from that I don't think people today are going to do much else with it than pass a lot of guesses and be mostly wrong. Which is very offensive to many Christian denominations who have already "figured it out" and incorporated their pet doctrines about it into their gospel message.
Interestingly (and unapologetically), the book uses the same reference point, in terms of cosmology, as the Old Testament. It describes the earth as below and God above it all, in the sky, above the dome that was placed over the earth in the creation (the sun, moon and stars below the dome). The waters above form a crystal pavement in heaven on which the throne of God sits. The water below is rough, the water above is "like a sea of glass" on which people stand around the throne. This cosmology is very common in books of that era. I think the book needs to be researched as literature (a book of symbols) specific to a genre, specific to a time and place in order to be understood. Unfortunately, I don't think much of that culture exists anymore. A few writings here and there.
