So the actual answer is that apocalyptic imagery is coded and not meant to be taken literally. It's the failing of modern Christians to understand this and correctly parse what's being discussed.
For instance, 666 is a reference to Nero, not some mythological figure at the end of human history.
Nearly everything evangelicals believe about "end times" is a failure to parse and understand their own texts.
To be fair, not just a problem with modern Christians, if you read 'Daemonology' by James the 1st (of England, 6th of Scotland and the one who wrote/edited the King James bible version) he took it quite literally too.
I'm still not sure if it's a case of 'wilful ignorance' of the bits they don't like, or a 'Forest Gump' "stupid is as stupid does" - probably both, with a sprinkling of grifters thrown in.
it's available at Gutenberg.org if you're interested; it's, um, an interesting take...
He wrote it as a response to the "proliferation" of witches in England - so with no agenda at all! /s