Is there any thing in Revelation that isn’t metaphor, or allegory, but will literally occur, in your view?
Do demons exist today, or did they go on permanent vacation when the original apostles died?
And to add to that...
Was there ever a time when warnings in God's Word about a coming event - could be "safely ignored"?
Notice what we find in
2 Thess 2.
8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9
that is, the one whose coming is
in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish,
because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them
a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false
How successful?
Rev 13
3
I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed.
And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; 4 they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?”
...
12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence.
And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He performs
great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 14 And
he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life.
Matt 24
24 For
false Christs and false prophets will arise and will
show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 25 Behold, I have told you in advance.
1 Thess 5
3
While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6
so then let us not sleep as others do