In the Bible, only two were ever referred to as the son of perdition…Judas and Satan.  We read of Judas in John 17:12, and we read of Satan in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 which says, “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.” 

Let’s concentrate on Judas as the son of perdition.  John 17:12 are the words of the Lord Jesus to His Father saying, “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.” Those whom the Father gave, the Lord Jesus kept, or guarded.  It is not implied here that the son of perdition was one of those whom the Father had given to the Son as a faithful follower, but rather the contrary.  The Lord knew from the outset that Judas was not a believer when He chose him to be with Him during His years of public ministry. 

A few verses that tell us that the Lord knew the heart of Judas are:

  • John 6:70-71, “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 13:18, “I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.”
  • John 13:21, “When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.”

So, what is a son of perdition?  The simplest way to understand it is to consider the son of perdition as one who is doomed to destruction.  The word ‘perdition’ is translated several ways in the New Testament.

  • In Matthew 7:13 it is translated as ‘destruction’.
  • In Mark 14:4 it is translated as ‘waste’.
  • In Acts 8:20 it is translated as ‘perish’.
  • In Acts 15:16 it is translated as ‘die’.
  • In 2 Peter 2:1 it is translated as ‘damnable’.

Because of Judas’ unbelief (he NEVER believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior), he was called the son of perdition.  Let me ask you, dear reader, are you in the same condition as Judas?  Are you a rejecter of the Lord Jesus and His saving grace?  Have you refused to bow your knee to the Lord Jesus?  There will come a day when you will bow to the Lord.  We read in Romans 14:11-12, “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS TO GOD.  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”  I urge you to bow your knee to the Lord Jesus today and accept Him as your savior and Lord.  If not, one day you will bow to Him as your judge, and He will judge without mercy those who have refused Him and His offer of eternal life through faith in Christ.  (CC)  (587.6)