Does the Antichrist know that he is the son of perdition?

By Craig C. White

This commentary was written to answer a “High Time to Awake” reader’s questions. The reader asks, what is preventing the revealing the Antichrist? Does he know this is his destiny? Will he be able to say no? And finally, why do so many believe that the Antichrist is Satan incarnate?

2Th 2:3  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;

In the verse above, the Antichrist is called the son of perdition. The word perdition means destruction. The word translated as son is the Greek word uihos (hwee-os’) meaning heir. So the Antichrist is the inheritor of destruction. Does he know this? Like every unbeliever who shares his fate he does not believe God. So I doubt that he believes that he is doomed for destruction. Apoleia is the Greek word translated as perdition. Here is the definition of Apoleia (perdition) from the Strong Greek Dictionary.

apoleia, ap-o’-li-a
ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal): – damnable (-nation), destruction, die, perdition, X perish, pernicious ways, waste.

One of Jesus’ disciples was also called the son of perdition. Judas Iscariot gave Jesus to the Romans to be killed. His inheritance was death and hell.

Joh 17:12  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.

Joh 6:70-71  Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?  71  He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

Satan on the other hand has a notion that his time is short and that his fate is sure.

Rev 12:12  Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

What is preventing the revealing of the Antichrist? The Antichrist is only a man who is empowered by Satan. Satan has had access to God’s heavenly thrown for a long time. He accuses believers in the God of being unfaithful (Rev 12:10). At some point soon Satan will be cast out of heaven for good.

Rev 12:8-9  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.  9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Look back up at 2Th 2:3. The phrase “a falling away” refers to Satan’s fall from heaven to earth. After Satan is cast out of heaven by God he will be available to empower the man called the son of perdition. His main goal will be the subjection of the world to himself and also the destruction of the nation of Israel. So the fall of Satan precedes the revealing of the Antichrist on earth. Also the revealing of the Antichrist precedes the Rapture of the Church!

2Th 2:8-9  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:  9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

After Satan falls and then empowers this man he will be revealed on earth. The revealing of the Antichrist may occur by way of false miracles or by his sitting in the new temple in Jerusalem showing himself that he is god.

2Th 2:3-4  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;  4  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.

In Isaiah chapter 10 the future Antichrist is compared to the ancient Assyrian kings. Isaiah describes the invasion of Israel. I think that like the Assyrian kings he will invade Syria and destroy Damascus. He will then lead an invasion into Israel. I think that we are about to see this happen. The following verses describe the Assyrian kings as well as the future Antichrist. Look at verse 7. This person doesn’t realize that he will destroy Israel and also destroy many other nations as well.

Isa 10:5-7  O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.  6  I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.  7  Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.

In Isaiah below, Satan is pictured in his judgment. He has been cast into hell. I think that this may refer to his 1000 year exile into hell after the second coming of Jesus Christ. Isaiah may also refer to the man known as the Antichrist in his judgment. I think that verse 16 is saying that the other occupants of hell will down look on him and think, “Did this mere man cause so much destruction?” In verses 18-20 the man called the Antichrist will become king of a world empire but he will not receive the dignity of burial at a grave site.

Isa 14:15-20  Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.  16  They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;  17  That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?  18  All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house.  19  But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.  20  Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.

The son of perdition will seek his own personal glory but he will inherit destruction. At Christ’s second coming Jesus will toss the Antichrist into a lake of fire ALIVE body and soul.

Rev 19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

The Antichrist is only a man who is empowered by Satan after he is cast out of heaven forever.

Read about the fall of Satan and the sign of the Rapture in my eBook The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist

facebook      YouTube