S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The title "son of perdition" is used twice in the New Testament, first in John 17:12 and again in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. The phrase simply means "man doomed to destruction" and is not reserved for an...

Login or Sign Up to view the rest of this answer.

July 01 2013 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

John 17:12 Grk “the son of destruction” (a Semitic idiom for one appointed for destruction; here it is a reference to Judas).

The one destined to destruction refers to Judas. Clearly in John’s Gospel Judas is portrayed as a tool of Satan. He is described as “the devil” in John 6:70. Satan put into Judas’ heart the idea of betraying Jesus (John 13:2), and John 13:27 Satan himself entered Judas. Immediately after this Judas left the company of Jesus and the other disciples and went out into the realm of darkness (John 13:30). Cf. 2 Thess 2:3, where this same Greek phrase (“the son of destruction”; see above) is used to describe the man through whom Satan acts to rebel against God in the last days.

John 17:12 -- Judas’s life is a warning to those who pretend to serve Christ but whose hearts are far from God. He is also a warning to those who waste their opportunities and their lives. “Why this waste?” asked Judas when he saw that expensive ointment poured out on Jesus by Mary.--. Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; Luke 7:36-50; John 12:1-8 Yet Judas wasted his opportunities, his life, and his soul! Jesus called him “son of perdition” (John 17:12) which literally means “son of waste.” 

The Son of Perdition is a name given to Judas (Jn 17:12) and to the Antichrist (2 Thess 2:3). This is the well-known Hebrew idiom by which a person typically embodying a certain trait or character or destiny is called the son of that thing. The name, therefore, represents Judas and the Antichrist (see MAN OF SIN @ bible.org) as most irrecoverably and completely devoted to the final apoleia. --(denotes the final state of ruin and punishment which forms the opposite to salvation.)

This 2nd and last reference besides John 17:12 to “the son of perdition” may be seen in the scripture outline in bold:

Characteristics of the Last Days
1 Morally—Lowering of ethical standards—vice and violence (Perilous time—fierce seasons) 2 Tim. 2:1,3,6
2 Spiritually—No fear of God and no time for God—so many will follow Antichrist 2 Thess. 2:3,4,9

This, “the son of perdition,” is the name
we use to identify the last
great world dictator whom Paul designated as “that man of sin,” “the son of
perdition”(2 Thess. 2:3), and
“that lawless one” (2 Thess. 2:8, literal translation).

3 Intellectually—Men of conceited demean-our, communistic ideals, and corrupt minds 2 Tim. 3:2-8.

July 09 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

Who is the son of perdition?

An American Translation reads: “For that is not until the rebellion takes place and the embodiment of disobedience makes his appearance​—he who is doomed to destruction.”... The Revised Standard Version reads: “For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition.”

John 17.12 ESV: "While I was with them, I kept them in thy name which thou hast given me: and I guarded them, and not one of them perished, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled."

The Bible indicates that a number of things, individuals, and organizations are to be everlastingly destroyed. Jesus referred to Judas as “the son of destruction.” (Joh 17:12) Judas’ deliberate betrayal of the Son of God made him subject to eternal destruction. The same is true of those who blaspheme the holy spirit. They are guilty of “everlasting sin” and are forgiven neither “in this system of things nor in that to come.”

The course that Judas chose was a deliberate one, involving malice, greed, pride, hypocrisy, and scheming. He afterward felt remorse under the burden of guilt, as a willful murderer might at the result of his crime. Yet Judas had, of his own volition, made a bargain with those who Jesus said made proselytes that were subjects of Gehenna twice as much as themselves, who were also liable to “the judgment of Gehenna.” (Mt 23:15, 33) On the final night of his earthly life, Jesus himself said, actually about Judas: “It would have been finer for that man if he had not been born.” Later Christ called him “the son of destruction.”

Sin against the holy spirit. Jesus Christ said that one who sinned against the holy spirit would not be forgiven in the present system of things, nor in that to come. (Mt 12:31, 32) A person whom God judged as having sinned against the holy spirit in the present system of things would therefore not profit by a resurrection, since his sins would never be forgiven, making resurrection useless for him. Jesus uttered judgment against Judas Iscariot in calling him “the son of destruction.” The ransom would not apply to him, and his destruction already being a judicially established judgment, he would not receive a resurrection.​—Joh 17:12.

The sin of Judas Iscariot was also unforgivable. His betrayal of Jesus was the willful, deliberate culmination of a course of hypocrisy and dishonesty. For instance, when Judas saw Mary anoint Jesus with costly oil, he asked: “Why was it this perfumed oil was not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor people?” The apostle John added: “[Judas] said this, though, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief and had the money box and used to carry off the monies put in it.” Soon thereafter, Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. (John 12:1-6; Matthew 26:6-16) True, Judas felt remorse and committed suicide. But he was not forgiven, since his deliberate, persistently selfish course and his treacherous act reflected his sin against the holy spirit. How appropriate that Jesus should call Judas “the son of destruction”!​—John 17:12; Mark 3:29; 14:21.

7 hours ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report