Unleashing the Beast

T HE B EAST K NOWN AS THE A NTICHRIST / 23

Antichrist are called "the son of perdition" in the Bible (John 17:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:3), some commentators believe that Judas will once again come back from hell in the form of the Antichrist. The thought that since Judas "went to his own place" at his death (Acts 1:25), he is being preserved and will later arise as the Antichrist. This idea is against both logic and sound Scriptural interpretation. The fact is, there is a spirit that will come from the underground abyss and take possession of the Antichrist, but no departed man will come forth from hell and be reincarnated as this future deceiver. However, a powerful evil spirit now confined under the earth in a chamber called the abyss will be released in the future. This spirit will possess the Antichrist, giving him great power over the world. 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 17:8). Other statements are made about the Antichrist in early church writings: When the close of time draws near, a great prophet shall be sent from God to turn men to the knowledge of God, and he shall receive power of doing wonderful things....