The Place of Perdition

The tragedy of the Twelfth Disciple should touch our hearts. Judas Iscariot, the Son of Perdition (), the one who betrayed Jesus Christ (Matthew 27:3), was not an outsider. Judas was one of the Twelve Disciples (Matthew 10:1-8, John 12:4, John 12;6), he was called by Christ to be one of his intimate followers (), was keeper of the treasury (John 13:29), and was endowed with the same powers as the other disciples to heal, drive out demons, and do miracles, "Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness," (Matthew 10:1), and "When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases," (Luke 9:1). Notice it says He called the Twelve, whom Judas was (see Matthew 10:4), it does not read, "When Jesus called the Eleven together, excluding Judas." So why did our Lord Jesus let Judas wield supernatural power and do wonders? Speculators, particularly Catholic commentaries claim Judas was a Zealot and wanted Jesus to lead the revolution against Rome, and expected during the arrest at Gethsemane to rouse the Son of God to become angry as He did at the Temple (John 2:13-15) and lead the Jews to triumph. There is no evidence of this inclination and reasoning for Judas' betrayal in the Bible.

There has to be another reason then that Jesus Christ had Judas Iscariot, Son of Perdiiton in his retinue, his pack of intimate followers. Was it to keep close watch on him? Was it that Jesus believed even Judas had a chance, an opportunity, to be redeemed and not follow the path of Perdition? There isn't any evidence of that, for it says, "While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished (been lost) but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled." (John 17:12, NASB). Was it then that the Word of God who is God (John 1:1) wanted the traitor to be in His midst so that He would be betrayed, fulfill prophecy, and save all mankind from sin? This seems plausible, but then it demotes God to human politics and intrigues, making it appear that the Almighty had to manipulate Judas into being near his person to fulfill prophecy. I believe the Son of Perdition serves another purpose in our Savior's plan. He stands as a tragedy to remind us that even the taladim (disciple) of the Truth can fall away and become the sworn enemy of the Savior.

I believe Judas Iscariot was first to commit what is written in the Book of Hebrews and the Second Letter of Peter, "It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened (known the deep mysteries of God), who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, ⁵ who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age  and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace," (Hebrews 6:4-7), and, "For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them." (2 Peter 2: 20-21). Judas Iscariot clearly fulfilled this, He knew and walked with the deep mysteries of God which are found in Christ (Colossians 2:2-3). I believe Judas Son of Perdition is a sermon for us saints and serious beleivers to ponder, to recognize that even those endowed with power of God, trained by Him, and followed Him are not secure, they can still be a son of perdition. In words of Jesus Christ himself, there will be those who had supernatural power but will not be saved, "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS." (Matthew 7:22-23).

Having supernatural power does not guarantee salvation. Knowing Christ, which means to be intimate or close like the Apostles John and Peter were, is the answer. There are people in Church who flaunt their miraculous feats and who deceive many doctrinally but seem to command the demons and the dead to rise. Why?  The answer, "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable (never withdrawn)," (Romans 11:29), "For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect," (Matthew 24:24), and "At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people." (Matthew 24:10-11). Either the true believer who has gone astray is still using the gifts and callings they have been given or they are false prophets, miracle workers, and even false christs; for while they heal, they preach another spirit and twist the doctrine of the Bible, thus making a aberration and corrupted gospel (see 2 Corinthians 3:16). This is why the Apostle John urges us, "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1). Every minister has the potential of becoming a son of perdition, it merely takes not holding fast to printed words of the Bible. Anyone who preaches another gospel or heals but makes sons of hell (Matthew 23:15) is a Judas Iscariot for they betray Christ and the True Gospel as laid out in the Holy Scriptures.