John 17:1-12
"These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that your Son also may glorify you: As you had given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have glorified you on the earth: I have finished the work which you gave me to do. And now, O Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world was. I have manifested your name unto the men which you gave me out of the world: yours they were, and you gave them me; and they have kept your word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever you have given me are of you. For I have given unto them the words which you gave me; and they have received and have known surely that I came out from you, and they have believed that you did send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which you have given me; for they are yours. And all mine are yours and yours are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep through your own name those whom you have given me, that they may be one, as we. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name: those that you gave me I have kept, and none of them is lost, except the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled"
This story is so simple and perfectly understood by the majority of Christendom: Jesus is praying to God in relation to those the Father had given him and mentions that he has kept all but the son of perdition which is a clear reference to Judas Iscariot who had betrayed Jesus to the chief priest’s.
The phrase son of perdition only appears as such twice; and while this first reference is clear to the majority of Christendom, it is the 2nd time this phrase appears that much contention is brought about.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That you be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 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; Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God"
This is held in traditional teachings as a future specific singular event in time, where the antichrist is going to set himself up in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, and proclaim that he is God; but does the context allow for this?
There is another phrase (temple of God) in this section that caught my attention some years back, which I believe deserves a 2nd look. Paul states that this son of perdition sets himself up in the temple of God, and as stated; Christian tradition holds that this temple of God Paul refers to, is supposed to be a physical building (temple) that is to be built in Jerusalem. I began searching for any/all other references that Paul makes to this temple of God; what I discovered was an eye opener to be sure.
Paul mentions a temple of God 5 times: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 2nd Corinthians 6:16 (twice) and the afore mentioned 2nd Thessalonians 2:4; let’s look at these verses.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
“Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are”
2nd Corinthians 6:16
“And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people”
For some reason, we’re supposed to believe that Paul wrote to the Corinthians and told them that they are the temple of God, but then writes to the Thessalonians and refers to a supposed future physical building when he says temple of God? What would of happened if people from both cities got together and discussed the respective messages they received from Paul; dissention, strife, argument and/or debate? Can’t you just imagine the conversation? Now what would happen if we synchronize these 2 letters, while applying consistency?
As with all scripture, the surrounding and/or corroborating (context) scripture allows for consistency & continuity. When Paul refers to this son of perdition, setting himself up in the temple of God, he also states that this son of perdition’s coming is after (according to) the working of Satan; and Satan is given throughout the scriptures as the perfect example of the adversary of God. An interesting note here is that the Greek word antikeimai that is translated as opposes is also translated as adversaries in other New Testament scriptures; wouldn’t this be consistent and keeping in context?
Matthew 16:21-23 - (cf. Mark 8:31-33)
“From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, be it far from you, Lord: this shall not be unto you. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get you behind me, Satan: you are an offence unto me: because you savor not the things that be of God, but those that are of men”
How many of us are not familiar with this story? Rather than accepting the plainly written meaning; which shows that Peter had placed himself in an adversarial role/position to what Christ had just said would happen; Christianity has consistently taught that at that moment, Peter had been seized upon & possessed by Satan. This same sentiment is echoed through our earlier example of Judas Iscariot betraying Jesus (Luke 22:3 cf. John 13:27) as Satan enters Judas, which again simply shows that it was at this moment, that Judas reacted from his carnal mind, and not that he was possessed by some ethereal being.
If humans are the temple of God, and this son of perdition sets himself up in this temple; wouldn’t that indicate this son of perdition is within us as well? Do the scriptures indicate that there is something within us that is in opposition to God?
Romans 8:6-7
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be”
Enmity is another word that is used and defined as hatred, and comes from a root word which defines itself as an enemy or foe; which would clearly indicate an adversary or one who works in opposition. It is also important to note the verse even states that this enmity is against God, is not subject to his law; and indeed, cannot be.
The carnal mind is this enemy/antichrist/devil/satan/adversary/opposer/enmity & son of perdition that sits himself up in the temple of God, and is what works in opposition to God.
Ironically, this was also the thorn in Paul's flesh!
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