As you have requested I shall attempt to do.
Problem is that most people take these Scriptures out of context. If Armaggedon does indeed take place before the second coming then you would be 100% right.
However, Revelation is quite clear.
Revelation 21:2 (KJV) - And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
It has been quite some time since this event took place.
Revelation 20:4-5 (KJV) - And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
In fact, it has been 1000 years until the New Jerusalem comes to earth.
This event has yet to take place.
Revelation 20:6 (KJV) - Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
But wait.
Isn’t there only one death?
Hebrews 9:27 (KJV) - And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Sadly, no.
Not if we are not wearing the robe of Christ’s righteousness.
Romans 6:7-11 (KJV) - For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Hebrews 2:14 (KJV) - Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
If Christ, the Son of God, died the first death then that is the death that He has saved us from.
If instead, He died the second death then that.
What happens in this second death?
Before we find that out we must understand the second life or the resurrection of the wicked.
Revelation 20:7 (KJV) - And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
How was Satan let out of his prison?
Revelation 6:15-17 (KJV) - And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
The wicked have been dead.
But when they are raised in their resurrection Satan has the ability to once again take up and deceive humanity.
Revelation 20:8 (KJV) - And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
It is within this context that the earth is cleansed by fire.
Revelation 20:9 (KJV) - And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
It should be noted that God is within the New Jerusalem which has taken its place on earth thus He is not actually in Heaven. At least not God the Father or His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
There is another “god” that is.
Ephesians 2:2 (KJV) - Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
The heart of this “god” is interested in only one thing.
1 Peter 5:8 (KJV) - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Yes, this is the “god” that devours and not God the Father nor His Son.
It is at this point that the Devil finally comes to the fullness of his heart.
Revelation 20:10 (KJV) - And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
We assume that when we see the word “cast” it must be an action taken by our agape loving Father and His only begotten Son but I see no reference to either in the above verse. It is within that scope that we can understand this event.
Philippians 2:10-11 (KJV) - That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
And yet because this acknowledgment never became a life-transforming force within the character of those that embrace Satan the events we have looked at in Revelation 20 do sadly and unnecessarily take place.
In closing, a word about this hellfire is now necessary as many have entirely misunderstood what takes place for the wicked after their second death.
These are my favorite verses to turn to as it relates to this topic.
Malachi 4:3 (KJV) - And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.
How is it that the wicked are burning eternally in torment if there is a “YE” that walks upon their ashes?
To be clear as to who this “YE” is.
Malachi 4:2 (KJV) - But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and YE shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
This prior verse clearly speaks of those who are redeemed.
Shall they spend their eternity in hell walking upon the ashes of the wicked?
If that doesn’t shatter the concept of the wicked living eternally in torment then I would present verse 1.
Malachi 4:1 (KJV) - For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
But drawing back to the verse that brought us here it clearly says:
Revelation 20:10 (KJV) - And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
They are tormented simply because they refused to enter into their rest.
Hebrews 4:2–3 (KJV) -
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
It did not profit them because they refused to enter into their rest as established by God in the first week of creation.
Hebrews 4:4 (KJV) - For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
And Jesus, the Son of God, further established at his resurrection.
Hebrews 4:8 (KJV) - For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
David said it well.
Hebrews 4:7 (KJV) - Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.