One of the common arguments used in discussing the book of Revelation is that they describe events that are too vast and broad to possibly have their fulfillment in history. There are certain things contained within the prophecy of Revelation which, on approaching them from a traditional interpretation, would seem to indicate that they could not possibly have happened yet. Commonly pointed to events include the drying up of the Euphrates river, several large earthquakes, all living things in the sea dying, not to mention masses of humanity dying.
The question, here, is scope. Is the interpretation of the book of Revelation to be applied world-wide, or locally? Is it describing events that happen across the entire world, or merely in a certain region or city? The question is pertinent, even if someone with a futurist interpretation says it is not. Assumptions in prophecy can only lead you into trouble later on. If the Scripture does not specify, everything else is interpretation.
Obviously, if one looks at certain events and will only take a literal, global-scale event for them, certain things do not seem to be fulfilled in the historical record. But, as one looks at the evidence, we must as whether the expectation we have of the fulfillment is truly the requirement of the text, or merely our preconceived ideas.
As we look through the text of Revelation, we must divide the true Word, the inspired, Holy writing, from that which is interpretation, and always keep them separate. Some understandings of the text will prove right, and some may prove falible, but, always, the Word, as interpreted by its Author, is correct.