Posted on 05/29/2021 10:33:28 AM PDT by Roman_War_Criminal
My just-released novel, MICHAEL: Last-Days Lightning, which all too briefly, but nonetheless, thankfully, went to number one in Christian fiction on Amazon, has sparked the beginning of a follow-up novel. I’ve tentatively given the next novel the title MESSIAH: The Prince That Shall Come.
The story will build on the protagonist’s experiencing Bible prophecy fulfillment while in a state of having dreams and visions as the result of a serpent bite he received while he was on the Island of Patmos. MESSIAH will deal with Antichrist coming to power as the world’s greatest deceiver. This understanding is based upon Jesus’ words:
I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. (John 5:43)
Lord willing, the novel will be the third of the books that began with REVELATIONS: The Rapture Generation, in which Tyce Grayson received that snake bite.
The purpose of mentioning all of that—along with, of course, admittedly hoping to promote the novels—is that while researching for writing the third novel, I cogitated on some things about the Antichrist I’ve often wondered about over the years.
One of the primary things that has piqued my thinking—and imagination—is that there are two people in God’s Word who are given the title “son of perdition.”
British theologian Arthur W. Pink (1886–1952) more or less framed the idea that provided impetus for my thinking.
As we have seen, in John 17:12 Christ termed Judas “the Son of Perdition,” and 2 Thess.2:3 we find that the Antichrist is similarly designated—“That Man of Sin be revealed, the Son of Perdition.” These are the only two places in all the Bible where his name occurs, and the fact that Judas was termed by Christ not a “son of perdition,” but “the Son of Perdition,” and the fact that the Man of Sin is so named prove that they are one and the same person. What other conclusion can a simple and unprejudiced reader of the Bible come to? (from The Antichrist, by A. W. Pink, https://www.ccel.org/ccel/p/pink/antichrist/cache/antichrist.pdf)
Pink went on to write that he believed Antichrist, the son of perdition, will be a reincarnated individual. There isn’t sufficient space in this commentary to totally explain his thinking, but I recommend that you read at the link given above if you’re interested in why he believed this.
I can’t fully embrace this notion because of my bias against the belief in reincarnation by those held by Hindus in India and other places, and the fact that God’s Word says it is appointed unto man once to die, then comes the judgment.
That steels the notion against reincarnation in my mind, but leaves open the possibility for a return from the dead in the case of this one man—Judas Iscariot, who was apparently lost from the beginning, according to Jesus Himself in His prayer as recorded by John:
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. (John 17: 12)
I, nor anyone, can fully explain to my satisfaction why Judas went to “his own place” upon death, or why he was apparently instructed by Jesus to do what he was supposed to do at the Last Supper—i.e., go betray the Lord to the Judaizers and the Romans. We see these strange things in the following verses:
And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. (John 13: 27)
After Judas committed suicide, the disciples sought to replace him as the twelfth member of their group with one of two other men. They wanted the now resurrected and ascended Jesus to tell them what to do.
And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. (Acts 1:24–25)
We come then back to Arthur Pink’s statement that both Judas Iscariot and the one who will be Antichrist are called not “a” son of perdition, but “the” son of perdition. These are the only two who are so-designated as this evil individual.
Pink goes on, in depth, to point out that Judas was called by Jesus “devil.”
Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. (John 6: 70–71)
This, Pink believed, meant that Judas was so possessed by a supernatural evil spirit–by Satan himself—that he was lost without chance of redemption. This certainly seems to be the case, considering the total context of what we know about Judas Iscariot and about salvation as given in God’s Word.
The key word in the matter seems to me to be the word “men.” Was Judas a “man” at the time of his accepting the sop given by Jesus,? Or was he something other?
We look again at the Scripture verse about death and judgment:
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. (Hebrews 9: 27)
Yet Judas Iscariot died, by his own hand, and went to “his own place.” Still, he is “the son of perdition”—same as Antichrist’s designation. Not “a” son of perdition, but “the” son of perdition.
Further, Pink writes the following.
It is hardly necessary to say that in the Greek there are two different words for “Devil” and “demon.” There are many demons, but only one Devil. Further, in no other passage is the word “devil” applied to any one but to Satan himself. Judas then was the Devil incarnate, just as the Lord Jesus was God incarnate. Christ Himself said so, [as recorded in John 6:70–71] and we dare not doubt His word. (Ibid.)
Pink then refers to the following Scripture to round out his thinking on the matter of Judas Iscariot being one and the same as the future Antichrist—a reincarnation, of sorts.
The Beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the Bottomless Pit, and go into perdition. (Revelation 17:8)
He points out that most expositors of his time held that Revelation 17:11 referred to the final form of Rome as the last world empire over which Antichrist will rule. But his implication was that they denied that an actual being will come from the bottomless pit as that Antichrist character (verse 8). Pink maintains that it is Judas Iscariot in a reincarnation. But it is a supernatural man, indwelt by an evil spirit like no other.
He writes:
In Matt.12:43 the Antichrist is called “The Unclean Spirit,” not merely an unclean spirit, but “the Unclean Spirit.”…
[In] the writer’s mind there is no doubt whatever that none other than the Beast is here in view. If this be the case, then we have further evidence that the coming One will be no mere man indwelt by Satan, but a fallen angel, an evil spirit, the incarnation of the Devil. (Ibid.)
I’m not at all sure about the term reincarnation in this case. There certainly is something profound connecting Judas Iscariot and the one who will be Antichrist, however. This “beast” will be wounded as unto death, then supposedly brought back to life at the midpoint of the Tribulation—another strange element to consider.
My own thinking revolves around the prophecy that foretells the first and second beasts of Revelation being thrown directly in the lake of fire. They apparently get no time of judgment before the Great White Throne as do men of the human sort. These are apparently already judged. This, to me, means they might not be or any longer have human, redeemable traits, so are summarily cast into that final place of the damned. Nephilim? I don’t know, but it’s interesting to contemplate.
Bottom line is that if you don’t know Jesus Christ for salvation of your soul, you will end up in the place where these two beings, the Antichrist and the False Prophet, will spend all of eternity.
Here’s how to avoid their fate as well as the fate of Satan, who will be the third being thrown into that place of eternal punishment.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9–10)
Bflr
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This is a great article on the Antichrist and his possible identity.
It’s been posited before that it could be Judas Iscariot.
He is the only person in the Bible ever given the title “Son of Perdition”, which is also uniquely a title of the Antichrist.
He also “went to his own place” upon death - unlike everybody else.
The Beast of Revelation (A/C) rises out of the abyss (Rev. 17:8).
Take a look at this book written by Arthur Pink for much more on the subject:
https://www.ccel.org/ccel/p/pink/antichrist/cache/antichrist.pdf
Maranatha!
Much more likely a soulless clone who is inhabited by demonic forces.
That’s the reason for the the transhumanism and cloning push.
Interesting. To say the least.
The “Once to die” natural Law of God is a hard one to get around. I think the author repeats too many times the ‘The’ Son of Perdition to hang all his presumptions on. At least he write the article as a theory/guess not “Yes! This is it!”.
Also - he mentions Matthew 12:43 and says ‘THE’ Unclean Spirit - supposedly referring to the devil himself, but then ignores two verses later in Matthew 12:45 where it says “...and he gets 7 more spirits *more wicked than itself* - ummm, I would say there is no spirit *more* wicked than Satan himself - the foolish proud defeated fallen archangel Lucifer - created being - not equal with God, destined for eternal pain, suffering and torment. (Oh I can hardly wait)
Obambi. Ran for the position
The ‘antichrist’ gets tossed out of heaven and deceives all but the elect that he is our Lord and Savior, Christ...
WHO tempted Christ ... That was the first ‘lesson’ given to Christians ... Then read Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28... Revelation 12 ... Christ declared Mark 13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
Do you believe Christ foretold *ALL* things or maybe still out hunting snipes?
Is there anything in any of the teachings of Jesus that comes remotely close to “Though shalt figure out who the Anti-Christ is?” NO! In fact, He specifically told us that, like Peter, we should mind our own business. We are told to watch, pray, keep oil for our lamps, and preach the Gospel.
When Cyrus the Great showed up, those who read Isaiah 45 could say: “Oh that is YHWH’s servent Cyrus! It’s happening just as it was foretold!”
I love reading the Bible that has no chapters or verses; the NT Gospels read like a novel.
Rapturists believe in reincarnation like Hindus?
This proves the pre tribulation rapture philosophy, besides being created in the early 1800s, is not Christian in the least. It is non biblical, none of the early church fathers wrote about it and no Christians believed in that nonsense until Darby in the early 1800s created the false pre tribulation rapture philosophy.
The author appears to lack holy spirit discernment. Judas was the son of perdition because satan entered into him, making him the son of the evil that entered him. The same will be done with the antichrist, satan will enter into that one so that the 'all signs and lying wonders of satan will spring forth from the antichrist. That does not mean judas has been reincarnated, it merely means that satan made each a son of perdition by entering into them.
The error of assuming reincarnation should be a huge clue for a biublical Christian.
Could very well be. There’s a reason for the sinister transhumanism/cloning push - it’s evil to the core.
Note that the only 2 people to be thrown immediately into the Lake of Fire are the A/C and his False Prophet.
Everybody else who’s headed there at least gets a spot at the Great White Throne Judgement.
Very interesting.
I wouldn’t accuse James of lacking Holy Spirit discernment.
He’s a great teacher on End Times topics.
If you read the article he doesn’t state he believe in reincarnation, he actually shuns it.
Revelation 17 states some interesting facts:
*A beast that was
*And now no more
*But is about to come out of the Abyss
*He was
*He is not (dead)
*And is again, and they will marvel at him
Judas could fit that profile. I’m not 100% saying it’s him, but the wording suggests some type of false deceptive act to bring someone back from the dead is involved.
It may be something other than reincarnation. There is also a wound he’s healed from.
what happened to Enoch and Elijah sounds fairly close to rapture to me!
Not to mention John several times as well as Paul.
Jesus’s Ascension is a “Rapture” event.
The Two Witnesses in Revelation get raptured also.
He’s lying about there not being a Rapture when indeed there are multiple.
“I can’t fully embrace this notion because of my bias against the belief in reincarnation “
Not reincarnated, just the same powerful demonic entity that possessed Judas (Lucifer himself?) will possess the Antichrist.
The Bible says “it is appointed for all men to live once and die once.”
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