Revelation 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
You seem to be hung up on the word "perdition" as if it's a place or a person when it's only an archaic word that means "destruction" or "ruin" or "loss".
I see that saying "son of perdition" is kind of like saying he's a "son of a bitch." It's a figurative way to say what his character is like. He's about nothing but destruction and waste, he's a "son of destruction." Like a "son of a bitch" isn't really the son of a bitch but acts like a dog, a son of destruction's character is summed up in that their character is wanting to destroy.
I am hung up on the word Douglas. To me, it is like a name, a title....The Son of Perdition, as in The President of Iran. (I wonder what brought that to mind?)
All I can suggest is that you continue to study and use all the resources you can. Often when starting off studying people will want to hold on to their own ideas instead of believing what scripture actually says.
That is true...and very true about me. I'll keep studying and try to do so with a more open mind but it sure doesn't come easy.
........Ping
I would no more recommend a certain translation to anyone no more than I would recommend a vote for a democrat......but, I have found that "Young's Literal Translation" helps me to understand the context of the Greek.......sometimes. LOL
Let's look at John 17:12
On the right hand side you will see various translations of this verse....a central verse to this question. Young's is the last translation on the right hand side of the page. It doesn't even use the word "Perdition"!
Let's look at verses (6-9): I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
There can be no doubt that Our Lord is speaking of the disciples here....and in verse (12): 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.
There is no doubt that the subject of verse...12....that was lost is none other than Judas.....according to the KJV.
Three entities in scripture are identified as "Sons" of perdition....Judas, The Beast and the False Prophet of [Revelation 17:3-14]. The False Prophet is a leader of the false church and the Beast will be a great political leader. It is true that all three have been influenced by Satan. We know that Satan entered the body of Judas [Luke 22:3][John 13:2] and it is quite certain that the False Prophet and the Beast will also be Satanic in their natures.
As Douglas said earlier....there will be many sons of perdition that will go down to destruction. You can say that perdition/destruction is the opposite of salvation/eternal life. None will be in the Kingdom of God who did not specifically choose to be there....by their righteousness! On the other hand....none will be in the lake of fire except those who specifically chose to be there by their wickedness!
[Philippians 1:27-28] Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
[Hebrews 10:37-39] For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
[2 Peter 3:5-7] For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition (destruction) of ungodly men.
[2 Thessalonians 2:1-4] Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Do these verses all speak of Satan? Or do they speak of others with Satan's influence?
You seem to be hung up on the word "perdition" as if it's a place or a person when it's only an archaic word that means "destruction" or "ruin" or "loss".
I would agree with this statement.