Hello Darren
I'm sure I dont know any more about this than you do. But here's how I try to understand spiritual principles in the physical world. I could be wrong but I hope I'm not deceiving you. Please also bear in mind that the whole of Revelations is a symbol, or rather symbols are used
The more we learn the truths of God, I believe the more we realize how much we need to repent. Let's take lust as an example. We both know about this weakness and there must have been plenty times when we justified it. But there always comes a time when we cannot look away but face the reality of the 'problem'. We get to a place I like to call 'The Crossroad'. It's either we stop lusting, or we lust willingly. It's not easy to just stop lusting after women, but stopping is part of being renewed. And we genuinely want to be renewed. So there's a war between good and evil going on during the time when His Judgements are upon the House of God. In the physical, you somehow know about this war going on as you 'battle' with the 'problem'. And if you make it, you may be part of the saints who follow Jesus in the war, or you will be part of the Lake of Fire.
Revelation 12
9 And the great dragon was cast out -- that serpent of old called the Devil and Satan, who deceiveth the whole world. He was cast out onto the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, "Now have come salvation and strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ; for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony , and they loved not their lives unto the death.[intersting how they overcame]
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! For the devil has come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."
At this point, the devil is right there in the world, with the false prophet, the beast/dragon etc. With the short time he has, he does what he does best. Then later...
Revelation 19
11 And I saw Heaven opened, and behold, a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written that no man knew, but He Himself.
13 And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, and His name is called, The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in Heaven, clothed in fine linen white and clean, followed Him upon white horses.
15 And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword with which He shall smite the nations, and He shall rule them with a rod of iron; and He treadeth the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who wrought miracles in his presence, by which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire, burning with brimstone.
I didnt see where the war here would be like war as we know it. It was Jesus coming with the saints to win. This could be when the world is learning righteousness (see verse 11). I dont fully understand what is going on here but I know a little about the war. Verses 19 and 20 say all there will be about the war. Later on, more happens which I'm not sure I even want to pretend I have a clue about. All I can say for now about the war is, He comes to judge and to make war (verse 11). This is now when the 'problem' must go away fully, since it didnt go away at first.
I hope I dont sound like a heretic. Forgive me if I've misrepresented anything in any instance.
All Glory to Him
PS: It's definitely a symbol