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Elsie, you wrote…

—> there is no evidence he was NOT ever saved.

I find significant evidence.

… The treachery of Judas was prophesied:

“ While I was with them, I was keeping 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. (NASB) John 17:12

There was never a time Judas was ever going to be saved… and yet within God’s sovereignty Judas chose his destiny.

The only other use of the term “son of perdition” is of the antichrist

The Greek word for “perdition” is apoleia which means “destruction, waste, loss, ruin, or perishing.” Jesus is saying that one His twelve disciples was eternally lost. He was not saved. This was a fulfillment of the prophecy found in Psalm 41:9.

…Jesus knew Judas was His betrayer was *from the start* of His ministry.

“ Jesus answered them, “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?” Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him. (NASB) John 6:70-71

“ I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.’ (NASB) John 13:18

….

“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:22–23).

As an endnote… I don’t find anything about this shocking accept that the disciple didn’t recognize that Judas was never a true believer. He went through the motions like they did and they assumed.

Endnote 2… before Pentecost there was no sealing by the Spirit, baptism by the Spirit into the Body of Christ, no immediate positional seating in the heavenlies with Christ, etc.

Those things that make saved believers saved didn’t come until later.

Best