Genesis 13
13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
Isn't it interesting that there are only 2 verses in the Bible that are located in a chapter 13, Verse 13, and contain 13 words and this is one of them?
Isaiah 14
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Ezekiel 28
2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
3 Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:
4 With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:
5 By thy great wisdom and by thy traffic hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:
6 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God;
7 Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.
8 They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas.
9 Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee.
10 Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
11 ¶ Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.
Revelation 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that
fast which thou hast,
that no man take thy crown.
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then
look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
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John 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.
Consider the use of the definite article "the" which indicates there is only one son of perdition. It should be obvious Jesus is speaking of Judas Iscariot (John 6:71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.). Judas was chosen. (John 6:70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?)
It is instructive that Judas was not only "chosen" as an apostle, he was given "power and authority" to work miracles, cast out devils, cure diseases, preach the kingdom of God, and heal the sick just like the other 11 apostles.
I have to assume he did most of these things, though he probably did not really cast out devils (I say probably because he is said to be a devil, but not the devil); Jesus explicitly stated that Satan cannot cast out Satan in Matthew 12:26 and Mark 3:23. However, it is clear in those contexts that devils have been cast out. Judas Iscariot was chosen as an apostle (John 6:70), anointed (Luke 9:1-2), and then was lost (John 17:12)
So did Judas also cast out devils? Maybe. To reiterate, I must assume he did use most of the powers Jesus anointed him with; after all, his mission was deception. However, I also assume that if Judas commanded devils to leave it would be in the sense described in Matthew 12:43-45 and Luke 11:24-26, i.e. to temporarily leave only to return taking 7 other devils more wicked than themselves making the last state of that man worse than the first. Leaving temporarily would give the appearance that the exorcism was successful.
The bottom line is Judas Iscariot was chosen as an apostle (John 6:70), anointed (Luke 9:1-2; Mark 6:7-13), and then was lost (John 17:12).
Luke 9
1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
II Thessalonians 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;
I have always marvelled at the way II Thessalonians 2:3 is wrested by II Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you,...unsaved, liberal theologians and those who follow their pernicious ways. A simple prayer for understanding will reveal these pertinent facts: the day of the Lord is a future event which will be preceded by a "a falling away" (within the body of Christ) and "that man of sin will be revealed".
If you think about it, the abominations accepted within so many churches today are symptomatic of "a falling away". When Christians abandon the Bible as their final authority, the churches become hot beds of the blind leading the blind.
Sola Scriptura
(Latin - by Scripture Alone)
A preamble is in order to establish some introductory facts before delving into a study of the most evil person in Scripture; to a Bible believer these points may be boring, but the days have come that Bible ignorance is so pervasive (especially in America) that the majority of the population "cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand (Jonah 4:11)."
Phase 1, the Spiritual Battle
For those of you who may not have noticed, (or simply don't want to admit it) there are 2 forces at work in todays world: good and evil. II Timothy 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. Now that may seem like a truism in the sense that it is too obvious to mention, but I assure you it has become a necessary point to make in the USA.
I have met several people who say they believe in God, but that they do not believe in the Devil. Is it any wonder that these naive souls are "are taken captive by him at his will (II Timothy 2:26)?"
I have sometimes made the statement jokingly that if I may have the luxury of choosing my enemies, the first attribute I prefer is that they do not believe I am there.
The Devil finds this character flaw useful too; it makes his job so much easier (I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:...). Think about it.
Phase 2, the Satanic Deception
Revelation chapters 13 and 17 are worthy of careful, prayerful study. First let us look at chapter 13; in these 18 (6+6+6) verses are contained an overview of the Devil's power structure in the great tribulation.
Three personages Satan assumes a counterfeit and imperfect imitation of everything Holy; the Resurrected Christ included... are mentioned in this chapter; i.e. the dragon (verse 4), the 1st beast (verses 12, 1-3), and the 2nd beast (verses 11, 12, 13-17). The 2nd beast is a miracle worker who is revealed to be "the false prophet" (Revelation 19:20).
The second beast is a subordinate of the first beast: he is said to "exercise all the power of the first beast" to work great wonders and miracles (verses 12-14) to deceive those that dwell on the earth.
The miracles worked by the 2nd beast are his signs of confirmation, and those deceived by them are commanded to worship the image of the first beast... and they will (Revelation 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?). An evil generation seeketh a sign...are you sure you want one?
The 2nd beast is not just any false prophet; he is the false prophet who is empowered to work miracles to deceive the world into worshipping the 1st beast. What better miracle can their be than raising the dead? Revelation 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. Whether this "resurrection" is a complete sham or a manifestation of just how much power Satan has is irrelevant. It is enough to align "all the world" behind the antichrist Enter the Satanic trinity: Satan, the beast, and the false prophet.
Phase 3, "...and they worshipped the Dragon."
Revelation 17
8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
It has never been a secret among Bible believers that Satan aspires to be worshipped. Consider the following verses: I Thessalonians 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. In Revelation chapter 13, the first beast is a world leader up to verse 11; he is a world leader with answers to problems.
The antichrist will be the first world leader to negotiate (temporary) peace between the Palestinians and the Jews. The Jewish temple will be rebuilt, probably in close proximity to the Dome of the Rock. These are well documented facts by Bible believing prophetic expositors for many years now. I first began listening to preaching in my 20's and the first person I heard expound this teaching was Jack Hyles; since then I have heard many pre-millenial teachers and preachers advance these principles. This doctrine fits the Scriptures and the Bible is always right.
In the middle of the tribulation (recorded as after 42 months, 3-1/2 years, one thousand two hundred and threescore days, and time times and half a time) the beast will violate his treaty with the Jews and enter the Temple declaring himself to be God (II Thessalonians 2:4 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, showing himself that he is God). He will set up the abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15, Mark 13:14). The world system will spiral into global warfare (Revelation 6:4) and judgments that will result in a death toll of one third of the worlds population (well over 2 billion 3 hundred million predicated on a total population of 7 billion).
Summary
The judgements of God after over 20 centuries of longsuffering will finally fall during the reign of the man of sin.
If you haven't noticed, let me point out that the devil has an ultimate goal. He wants to replace God the Father. He is now and has always been an emulator. Remember his five "I wills" from Isaiah 14? Notice especially the last goal; I will be like the most high. Anyone with an open mind can surely see that this is the reason he disguises himself as an angel of light (II Corinthians 11:13-15). I urge you to read these verses and ponder them.
Now consider Revelation 17:8 - "The beast that was, and is not, ... and yet is" is certainly connected with the man of sin, the son of perdition. Only a rank heretic would deny that. Jesus Christ called Judas the son of perdition in his prayer to God the Father; at that moment, "he was" and then he hanged himself and then "he was not". What do you think will be his next change of state?
Escaping the Certain, Coming Judgement
The specific phrase "book of life" occurs in 8 verses in the Bible; they are listed in the right column. Do you suppose it is coincidental that in the study of Biblical numerology eight is the number whose patterns align to the dawn of a new creation? Be that as it may, if you want to escape the coming judgement on this earth, you must have your name in the Lamb's book of life. The alternative is eternal separation from God in the lake of fire.
So how do you get your name in that book? God has made it simple and easy to be saved; your Christian walk will be challenging, but you will be saved if you submit to the Lord's plan. Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. The road to Hell is paved with the bones of skeptics.
Romans 10
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Jeremiah 26
2 Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:
3 If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.
Revelation 13
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 13
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
Revelation 17
8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Locations of the phrase "book of life"
Philippians 4
3 And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
Revelation 3
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Revelation 13
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 17
8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Revelation 20
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 21
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Revelation 22
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Lamentations 3
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 ¶ It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
Hebrews 2
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;