The somewhat recent book called Revelations by Princeton theologian Elaine Pagels puts the book in the context of the history and culture of the early Church.  She puts John of Patmos in the Judaizer camp and even a facile knowledge of Revelation shows how this is possible.  Prophets always look toward some kind of restoration, whether it be godly charity or the national of Israel (which had already been destroyed when John was writing, while Pauline Christianity (John's Harlot) was going strong.