the difference between prophecy and a plan is participation.

reading the book of revelations again makes it sound more like a roadmap for would be god-kings. got your technology all wrapped up? extended your life? got a getaway bunker all ready? time to kill off most of the populace using the four obvious paths and rescue just enough of the populace to keep you comfy. divide your new populace into 12 professions/groups so no one can get enough power to rebel and start the whole ball of crap over again.

oh, and let's all act like this "rules for radicals" style guide hasn't been used before.