The Daily Christian - Son of Perdition
Recently, I announced the release of my second book False Beliefs: The Serpent Seed Doctrine & Kenite Myth. A couple of areas did not make it into the book because they weren’t exactly apart of the main themes of the work. Below is one of those “deleted scenes.”
Son of Perdition
Some believe in the faulty concept that angels have the ability to transform into true physical men. Due to this, they contend that Satan will turn into a man and become the antichrist during the end times. There are variations to this belief such as Satan becoming a real flesh and blood human being by which a human son will be born. It is this son, not Satan, who will become the antichrist. This is basically the Hollywood version where a sinister-looking yet alluring male actor is typically cast as Satan. Another theory is that the supposed lineage of Cain (Satan’s supposed physical son) will eventually produce the antichrist. Others take a different route all together, skipping the transformation from angel to man by asserting that because angels basically look like men already, Satan will be able to fool everyone into thinking that this powerful spiritual being is simply a man. This understanding is more biblical in how it understands the nature of angels, but unfortunately, it still misses the mark.
Let us begin by examining the notion that Satan can change into a man. In Luke 22:3, we are told that “Then entered Satan into Judas...” This is all Satan really needs to do. Even if the devil possessed the ability to turn into a human being, which there is no biblical evidence that Lucifer holds that talent, there is no motivation for the devil to do so. Satan uses our sin nature, our flesh to carry out evil. All the devil requires is unsuspecting and impressionable human beings. This is what occurred with Judas. Satan did not need to turn into a man to carry out the intended task.
When we claim that Satan will be the antichrist in human form we are ascribing a power to the devil that God alone possesses. Only God can make human beings. This is the core problem with this belief and other similar angelic hybrid theories.
The idea that Satan will come to earth as the antichrist in the form of a man or even as a spiritual being is based on a false premise of the phrase “son of perdition” found in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and John 17:12. Supporters of this notion contend that the expression “son of perdition” can only refer to Satan. The problem with this is that the “son of perdition” does not reference Satan exclusively in the Bible. John 17:12 actually references Judas, a human being not the devil. Let us read John 17:12 where Christ is speaking:
“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.”
Supporters believe that the phrase “son of perdition” found in John 17:12 can not be Judas, which is how most view this expression in this particular context, because according to supporters, Judas was saved due to the fact that he repented by realizing he’d killed an innocent man.(1) Therefore, Christ would not have called Judas the “son of perdition” in John 17:12.
The difficulty with this is that Judas kills himself as recorded in Matthew 27:5 and in Acts 1:16-19. His body is then said to have decayed and split open. The question that follows is: Why would Acts 1:16-19 describe Judas’ body in such a disgraceful manner if he really was a saint saved? The account is very similar in tone in how Jezebel’s dead body is described in 2 Kings 9:30-37.
Furthermore, Judas might have realized that he’d sent innocent blood to its death but this does not necessarily mean that he believed Christ to be his Savior. It would seem that Judas only saw Christ as just a man who he condemned, which no doubt led him to kill himself. The point here is that a person can come to see that they have done wrong in a certain circumstance and yet still not believe that Christ is their Savior. The two need not go hand in hand.
We see no evidence of Judas’ faith. In fact, John 6:60-71 tells us quite plainly that Christ did not view Judas as one of the faithful twelve. Again, it is true that we see Judas repenting of betraying a friend, but there is no indication that he was one of the faithful. Perhaps if Judas had not killed himself, a faith would have developed within him. But because of a guilt that he obviously could not shake, he did something that erased that possibility. However, Christ refers to Judas as the “son of perdition” in John 17:12 not only because of his betrayal but because Christ knew the reason behind why Judas was willing to betray Him. The explanation was that Judas had no faith in Christ.
In returning to John 17:12, supporters want us to think that Christ is saying, “I saved everyone that you gave me except Satan.” However, understanding this verse in this way contradicts the biblical text overall. God’s mercy is great, but we see no evidence of an attempt to save Satan anywhere within the Bible. This is why we must view John 17:12 as Christ speaking about his apostles.(2) Out of these, Christ saved all but Judas. Due to this, the expression, “son of perdition” found in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 does not need to mean Satan but can refer to a human being greatly under Satan’s influence, just as Judas was. Furthermore, if you read beyond verse three in 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul clearly tells us that this “son of perdition” will be using Satan’s power:
“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.”(3)
Another reason why it is erroneous to believe that Satan will be the antichrist is because in the Bible, the “son of perdition” and Satan are shown to be two separate individuals. The “son of perdition” (another title for the antichrist) will no doubt have Satan’s helping hand, but he will not actually be Satan. Revelations 20:10 shows that Satan, the beast (antichrist) and the false prophet are separate identities not simply roles being played out by the devil.
“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.”(4)
This idea of Satan playing different roles unfortunately is based on an erroneous view of the Godhead which is that God plays the roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and is not three distinct persons in one. Supporters of this flawed concept project this perspective of God onto their view of Satan claiming that the devil, like God, will also play different roles during the end times.
Satan will have a role to play in the end times, but it will not be as the antichrist. To come to such a conclusion, one must ignore explicit biblical passages and have an error-filled concept of the Godhead.
1.) Matt. 27:1-5.
2.) In John 17:6-19, Christ is praying specifically for the apostles. At vs. 20, He prays for all believers.
3.) 2 Thess. 2:9. (KJV)
4.) Rev. 20:10. (KJV)
Son of Perdition
Some believe in the faulty concept that angels have the ability to transform into true physical men. Due to this, they contend that Satan will turn into a man and become the antichrist during the end times. There are variations to this belief such as Satan becoming a real flesh and blood human being by which a human son will be born. It is this son, not Satan, who will become the antichrist. This is basically the Hollywood version where a sinister-looking yet alluring male actor is typically cast as Satan. Another theory is that the supposed lineage of Cain (Satan’s supposed physical son) will eventually produce the antichrist. Others take a different route all together, skipping the transformation from angel to man by asserting that because angels basically look like men already, Satan will be able to fool everyone into thinking that this powerful spiritual being is simply a man. This understanding is more biblical in how it understands the nature of angels, but unfortunately, it still misses the mark.
Let us begin by examining the notion that Satan can change into a man. In Luke 22:3, we are told that “Then entered Satan into Judas...” This is all Satan really needs to do. Even if the devil possessed the ability to turn into a human being, which there is no biblical evidence that Lucifer holds that talent, there is no motivation for the devil to do so. Satan uses our sin nature, our flesh to carry out evil. All the devil requires is unsuspecting and impressionable human beings. This is what occurred with Judas. Satan did not need to turn into a man to carry out the intended task.
When we claim that Satan will be the antichrist in human form we are ascribing a power to the devil that God alone possesses. Only God can make human beings. This is the core problem with this belief and other similar angelic hybrid theories.
The idea that Satan will come to earth as the antichrist in the form of a man or even as a spiritual being is based on a false premise of the phrase “son of perdition” found in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and John 17:12. Supporters of this notion contend that the expression “son of perdition” can only refer to Satan. The problem with this is that the “son of perdition” does not reference Satan exclusively in the Bible. John 17:12 actually references Judas, a human being not the devil. Let us read John 17:12 where Christ is speaking:
“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.”
Supporters believe that the phrase “son of perdition” found in John 17:12 can not be Judas, which is how most view this expression in this particular context, because according to supporters, Judas was saved due to the fact that he repented by realizing he’d killed an innocent man.(1) Therefore, Christ would not have called Judas the “son of perdition” in John 17:12.
The difficulty with this is that Judas kills himself as recorded in Matthew 27:5 and in Acts 1:16-19. His body is then said to have decayed and split open. The question that follows is: Why would Acts 1:16-19 describe Judas’ body in such a disgraceful manner if he really was a saint saved? The account is very similar in tone in how Jezebel’s dead body is described in 2 Kings 9:30-37.
Furthermore, Judas might have realized that he’d sent innocent blood to its death but this does not necessarily mean that he believed Christ to be his Savior. It would seem that Judas only saw Christ as just a man who he condemned, which no doubt led him to kill himself. The point here is that a person can come to see that they have done wrong in a certain circumstance and yet still not believe that Christ is their Savior. The two need not go hand in hand.
We see no evidence of Judas’ faith. In fact, John 6:60-71 tells us quite plainly that Christ did not view Judas as one of the faithful twelve. Again, it is true that we see Judas repenting of betraying a friend, but there is no indication that he was one of the faithful. Perhaps if Judas had not killed himself, a faith would have developed within him. But because of a guilt that he obviously could not shake, he did something that erased that possibility. However, Christ refers to Judas as the “son of perdition” in John 17:12 not only because of his betrayal but because Christ knew the reason behind why Judas was willing to betray Him. The explanation was that Judas had no faith in Christ.
In returning to John 17:12, supporters want us to think that Christ is saying, “I saved everyone that you gave me except Satan.” However, understanding this verse in this way contradicts the biblical text overall. God’s mercy is great, but we see no evidence of an attempt to save Satan anywhere within the Bible. This is why we must view John 17:12 as Christ speaking about his apostles.(2) Out of these, Christ saved all but Judas. Due to this, the expression, “son of perdition” found in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 does not need to mean Satan but can refer to a human being greatly under Satan’s influence, just as Judas was. Furthermore, if you read beyond verse three in 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul clearly tells us that this “son of perdition” will be using Satan’s power:
“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.”(3)
Another reason why it is erroneous to believe that Satan will be the antichrist is because in the Bible, the “son of perdition” and Satan are shown to be two separate individuals. The “son of perdition” (another title for the antichrist) will no doubt have Satan’s helping hand, but he will not actually be Satan. Revelations 20:10 shows that Satan, the beast (antichrist) and the false prophet are separate identities not simply roles being played out by the devil.
“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.”(4)
This idea of Satan playing different roles unfortunately is based on an erroneous view of the Godhead which is that God plays the roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and is not three distinct persons in one. Supporters of this flawed concept project this perspective of God onto their view of Satan claiming that the devil, like God, will also play different roles during the end times.
Satan will have a role to play in the end times, but it will not be as the antichrist. To come to such a conclusion, one must ignore explicit biblical passages and have an error-filled concept of the Godhead.
1.) Matt. 27:1-5.
2.) In John 17:6-19, Christ is praying specifically for the apostles. At vs. 20, He prays for all believers.
3.) 2 Thess. 2:9. (KJV)
4.) Rev. 20:10. (KJV)
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