Son of Destruction

The Antichrist is referred to as the "son of destruction" in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. The New King James translation is "son of perdition." It is interesting to note that perdition is closely related to destruction. “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28, NKJ).

Hell is a place of continual destruction. As Jesus said in Mark 9:43-44, “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-- where 'Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'”

It is also interesting to note the linkage between the love of money and destruction. 1 Timothy 6:9 says, “those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.” We expect the temptations of wealth to grow as we get closer to the return of the Lord because the Antichrist will use it to destroy many people. Daniel 8:25 says, “he shall destroy many in their prosperity.”

People will follow the Antichrist because they think he will lead them to prosperity. The Antichrist himself “shall prosper and thrive” (Daniel 8:24) so people will think that some of his success will rub off on them by following him. Indeed, some will appear to benefit for a while by following the deceitful ways of the Antichrist; “through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule” (Daniel 8:25). Like Obama, the Antichrist will help some people prosper by “spreading the wealth around” (socialism). Daniel 11:24 says, “he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches.”

I am convinced that the growing Spirit of Antichrist is why we are seeing an increasing frequency of economic bubbles growing and bursting today. These regular economic failures only foreshadow the big crash that will happen during the Tribulation as described in Revelation 18.

People look to the government to help them have the wealth they think they need but all the government does is steal from one group (increasingly the middle class despite the propaganda) and give to certain favored groups. Such spreading the wealth around will be rampant under the Antichrist when “no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:17).

As materialism becomes more pervasive in this world, followers of Jesus need to be careful we too do not fall into to the trap of Satan. “You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).