Examining the Son of Perdition – Part 2
The Shinar Directive Continues Series | Michael K. Lake, Th.D.
Featured in the June Edition of SkyWatch TV Magazine
Since the publishing of The Shinar Directive, I have been immersed into what seems to be a new world of podcasts and writings on speculative eschatology. It would be difficult to calculate the many hours I have spent reading and listening to this younger generation of believers tackle the tough issues: from the overwhelming developments in technology to negotiating geopolitical changes in our world that seem to possess the fluidity of the most challenging rapids. This new generation of end-time researchers has heeded the admonition of the apostle Paul:
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21
The Greek word that Paul uses for prove is dokimazo (dok-im-ad’-zo). This word means “to test, examine, prove, scrutinize (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals.” [i]
I am encouraged by the diligent research of many in this new generation. However, before I continue, let me stress that I am referring to true believers and not those of the Emergent Church or other movements that question the integrity of the Word of God or the basic orthodoxy of the faith. What this new breed of Bereans is questioning is various interpretations or positions of speculative eschatology that were formulated in past generations that were not able to benefit from the knowledge of current technological breakthroughs or even recent discoveries of the agendas or belief systems of esoteric societies that dominated the cultures in the times in which the Word of God was being penned.
Let me share several reasons why I believe this out-of-the-box thinking and results are a good thing:
- Moving Beyond Sound Bites. Over the past two decades, I have become quite concerned at the propensity of the modern believer to offer theological sound bites to virtually every theological discussion. Let me give you an illustration of what I am talking about and its dangers within the Body of Christ.
This event happened back in the mid 90’s. I had traveled out of state to conduct a seminar at a large Evangelical church. I had arrived the day before to unwind before a full day of lecturing. The pastor was kind enough to invite me to participate that evening in group bible study at his church. The room was set up with the chairs in a semi-circle that would allow for group participation. During the conversation, one young man asked a rather deep and insightful question that deserved an appropriate answer. Perhaps it was a little deeper than the study leader wanted to go. In retrospect, I believe it was beyond what the facilitator was prepared to answer. What was given to the group as an answer was a quick and easy theological sound bite. Everyone in the group shook their heads in agreement, as if something profound had been said. The only reason I said anything was that the sound bite did not serve as an answer. In fact, it did not even come close. My questioning this nugget of prepackaged truth seemed to frustrate the leader. Upon further questioning, I discovered that no one in the study (to include the leader) could provide a proper definition of what that sound bite meant. Over the years, I have seen this play out again and again. Today’s believers are far too quick to offer impressive sound bites when they are challenged in the least regarding what they believe. When you question the validity of the phrase or ask for a proper definition, they either get angry or look like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming truck! No wonder we are losing in the cultural battle that is being waged for the minds and souls of men today.
These shallow, pat answers are exactly the opposite of the instruction given to us in the New Testament.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 1 Peter 3:15
We need to be ready to give an answer not only for the hope of our salvation, but the hope that is generated in our hearts from the proper understanding of both what we believe and why. The Word tells us that “deep calls to deep” (Psalms 42:7). Instead of answering the needs of humanity with the extreme depth of God’s waterfalls of truth, we are only offering them mud puddles from the nurseries of the Kingdom.
- Truth Loves Examination. Isn’t that what the apostle Paul was saying in 1 Thessalonians or even 2 Timothy 2:15?
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
The word that Paul uses for study in not one of leisure or to give half-hearted effort. Paul uses the Greek word spoudazo (spoo-dad’-zo). This word denotes “to hasten, to exert one’s self, endeavor, give diligence.” [ii] For far too many today, diligence is not a word to describe their efforts to “rightly divide the Word of Truth.”
I believe the Holy Spirit encourages questions and the desire to really dive into the Word of God and discover the power of His truth for ourselves. On the other hand, error absolutely hates the light of thorough examination. Error will scream:
- How dare you question!
- Who do you think you are?
- Just accept what I say!
We have forgotten in our Western culture that the basis for understanding truth, within the Hebraic backdrop in which the Word was written, is learning to ask the right questions. When a father would sit with his family every year at the Passover, it was the job of the children to ask, “What does this mean?” I have seen Jesus in the Gospels answer a question with a question. The reason for this was to get them to ask the right question! Until you ask the right question, you are never ready for the answer (truth). I have personally witnessed the Holy Spirit lead me on a particular spiritual journey just to get me to ask the question that set me up for the truth He was wanting to reveal. In the process of proving all things, this endeavor leads us to ask the right questions that provide the fertile ground for God to reveal His truth.
- Our Hubris in Speculative Eschatology. There are many things in the field of eschatology that are concrete: Jesus is coming back (our blessed hope), the Son of Perdition will eventually come onto the world scene, etc. However, within the framework of eschatology are many subjects that are indeed merely speculative. Regarding these speculative matters, we are truly looking through a dark glass (1 Corinthians 13:12). Throughout Church history, there have been examples of speculative eschatological predictions or positions that were quite popular in their day that were later proven incorrect. Even in modern times, our propensity for missing the mark is no different. There have been leading prophecy teachers that have had to trash entire warehouses of books because a conclusion or statement they had made proved incorrect. (Of course, their predictions or conclusions were properly edited in the “new and expanded” edition of their works.)
Please hear my heart. I am not making allegations against anyone teaching bible prophecy. I know full well that there are some conclusions that I made in my book that may prove to be off the mark somewhat. I was writing in the light of my research as an attempt to piece together an intelligence briefing of possible scenarios. The danger that all of us have is allowing our unique slant on speculative eschatology to become our brand in the Kingdom. The temptation to do so is a powerful one, both for the writer and the reader. We are only human, and our understanding is quite limited.
We must always remain cognizant of the fact that truth thrives in the light of day. Honest examination that allows for new information or ideas that were not previously available is very important in the quest for understanding the unfolding of end-time prophecy.
With this understanding of our quest fresh in our minds now, I want to continue in my examination of the Son of Perdition, the force that empowers him, and the agent or force that is restraining him.
Keeping 2 Thessalonians in Context
As we examine 2 Thessalonians, we must strive to keep all of our conclusions within the context of the scripture. Extracting sound bites and extrapolating findings that are not in harmony with the whole is a temptation that many of us have fallen for over the years (to include yours truly). Therefore, I want to lay a little ground work to ensure we remain within the stream of truth as established by the apostle Paul.
The greater content of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 is a force that empowers this figure called the Son of Perdition. In fact, the apostle is attempting to reveal to them a mystery. This mystery has been hidden in the mists of time that extend back to the plains of Shinar or perhaps even to the Tree of the Knowledge of God and Evil itself. So the two main subjects in this mini-discourse by Paul include:
- The Son of Perdition
- The Mystery of Iniquity
Everything else within the framework of verses 1-12 are expressions of either the Son of Perdition, the Mystery of Iniquity, or their efforts in concert with one another.
The Iniquity Force
As I explained in The Shinar Directive, I believe that when Lucifer uttered his five “I wills” of Isaiah 14, he was attempting to create a false grace that would empower his ascension into godhood (five is the biblical number for grace). Instead of the power to ascend, he transmuted the anointing within him into a perverted force – iniquity. Biblically, this Iniquity Force is against everything in the Kingdom of God: from God’s Law to God’s rule. When Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they were infused with this satanic force, were separated from the life and nature of God, took on this sinful nature, and everything that they had been given authority over had now succumbed to this foreign force. (Now we are going beyond the information in the Shinar Directive to its logical conclusion.) At that moment, Lucifer became the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4), and he also became a type of unwanted father to humanity that shared his tainted spiritual DNA (John 8:44).
The mystery (or that which is hidden) is how from that moment on, everything in this planet drew its being from this injected alien power. Only those that followed God’s instruction, beginning with how to offer the proper sacrifice to curtail its influence, could be separated from its overpowering influence. Consider Cain and Abel at this point. By Cain rejecting God’s prescribed sacrifice, not only did he remain under the influence of the Iniquity Force, but it was knocking at the door of his life to expand its control of him. The end result was that this expanded control caused Cain to kill the one who had been obedient and defused its influence. Believer, this is the very essence of the coming Christian vs. Christian war that was detailed in the best-selling book, Blood on the Altar. The Iniquity Force in ascension in the hearts of men is a sign of the approaching revealing of the Son of Perdition!
Through my studies, I have come to believe that this Iniquity Force was known by another name to the ancient mystics that established the Mystery Religions – Gaia.
According to Wikipedia, the mythology of Gaia is:
In Greek mythology, Gaia, (gay-ə or gah-yə;[note 1] from Ancient Greek Γαῖα, a poetical form of Γῆ Gē, Ge, “land” or “earth”;) also spelled Gaea, was the personification of the Earth and one of the Greek primordial deities. Gaia was the great mother of all: the primal Greek Mother Goddess; creator and giver of birth to the Earth and all the Universe; the heavenly gods, the Titans, and the Giants were born to her. The gods reigning over their classical pantheon were born from her union with Uranus (the sky), while the sea-gods were born from her union with Pontus (the sea). Her equivalent in the Roman pantheon was Terra.[iii]
Now let’s stop and examine the concept of Gaia for a moment. This spiritual perverted force was birthed in the heart of Lucifer when he fell. It was imparted to the other heavenly beings that Cris Putnam and Dr. Thomas Horn rightly classify as “Immortals” in On the Path of the Immortals. This new definition is far more functional than the term angels, since many of them (as Putnam notes) are not messengers.[iv] From the Watchers of Genesis 6 to the members of the Divine Council that fell in Psalms 82, they were all infused with this force. In fact, this female Gaia force enabled the Watchers and the wombs of human women to give birth to the Nephilim of old. In this paradigm, Lucifer became the father and Planet Earth became the host for the Gaia Force, thus the ancients calling it Mother Earth.
This understanding brings the old religions into a great level of clarity, especially since it appears that the current Pope and the Catholic Church have begun to publicly declare Gaia worship. Here is an example in an announcement from the Newsletter of the Archdiocese of Toronto in 2013:
Apr 3 & Apr 5: Missa Gaia Earth Mass. Holy Name Catholic Church, 71 Gough Avenue, Toronto. 7:30 p.m. The school’s 140-voice choir, musicians and dancers will perform this joyous rhythmic, contemporary work inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology. It is a musical/spiritual celebration of God’s creation that includes the human voice alongside that of the wolf, whale and loon. An instrumental ensemble featuring present students and alumnae provide an eclectic canvas of traditional, gospel, new age and world music. [v]
The Mystery of Iniquity or Iniquity Force is in ascension in our world today. Although the deceived masses do not understand, they are led into worshipping iniquity itself! It has corrupted our pulpits, poisoned our pews, turned politicians into puppets for the Luciferian Elite, and caused the streets of our world to flow in the blood of the innocent! The great falling away has certainly begun.
Who or What is Restraining in 2 Thessalonians 2:7?
Over the years I have heard many theories on what is restraining the revealing of the Son of Perdition. If we take our theological sound bite generator and extract the last half of verse 7 from its proper setting, then wild and powerful speculations can run amok. Here are some of the proposed restrainers I have heard over the years:
- The Holy Spirit
- The Proper Preaching of the Gospel (as Paul did)
- The Archangel Michael
- Just to Name a Few.
However, when you place the restrainer back into the contextual setting of Scripture, none of these are even hinted at as part of the discourse by the apostle Paul. Although these possibilities seem plausible, they do not fit within the framework presented in the text.
When I look at the original Greek text, in my own limited way. I do not want to be tedious here, but I do want to give this portion of Scripture the proper attention it deserves.
The next word we are going to examine is letteth, which actually means to restrain.
Letteth: Strongs #G2722 katecho {kat-ekh’-o}. Meaning: 1) to hold back, detain, retain 1a) from going away 1b) to restrain, hinder (the course or progress of) 1b1) that which hinders, Antichrist from making his appearance 1b2) to check a ship’s headway i.e. to hold or head the ship 1c) to hold fast, keep secure, keep firm possession of 2) to get possession of, take 2b) to possess. [vi]
So, there is a force that is restraining and is also keeping the Son of Perdition secure and firm in place until the time is right. The phrase, he is taken out of, comes from another single Greek word.
Strongs #G1096 ginomai {ghin’-om-ahee}
Meaning: 1) to become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being 2) to become, i.e. to come to pass, happen 2a) of events 3) to arise, appear in history, come upon the stage 3a) of men appearing in public 4) to be made, finished 4a) of miracles, to be performed, wrought 5) to become, be made.[vii]
Again, we have a force that is holding the Son of Perdition in place until the conditions are right for him to become, be brought into public . . . as if by a performed miracle. This is actually describing a womb. The function of a womb is to nourish and hold the baby safely hidden away until the conditions are right and the child is ready to emerge into the world.
Just as a women’s body goes through all sorts of changes during a pregnancy, so the Mystery of Iniquity will cause all kinds of changes in Gaia (or Mother Earth). These changes include many of the world events we are witnessing today. The strength of the manifestation of the Iniquity Force must increase to prepare for the occult birthing of the Son of Perdition on the stage of human history. In fact, the last thing that a womb does is to release and allow the child to be revealed!
I believe this is one of the reasons the subject of verse 7 is the Mystery of Iniquity. It is already working in the Earth, and it is holding back the Son of Perdition until everything is in place for his appearing. The Earth itself has become a satanic incubator that will one day produce the Son of Perdition.
These concepts flow very well with the missing Masonic symbols revealed in the previous writings of Dr. Thomas Horn, in regard to the ever-pregnant womb of Isis and the male counterpart of Osiris in Washington DC in the form of the Washington Monument and the Dome of the Capital. It’s the same concept, except now with the understanding that the phallic symbol of the Washington Monument represents Lucifer and the Dome represents Mother Earth or Gaia. The power that flows from the phallic to the womb is the Iniquity Force. (No wonder corruption has always seemed to flow from Washington DC, as well as the city that sits on seven hills.)
On a side topic, this may also explain why phallic monuments are always erected around centers of power for the Elite. These Luciferian artifacts serve as a type of spiritual antenna to radiate the Iniquity Force into their earthly strongholds.
This new interpretation of verse 7 does a powerful job of helping us to understand the connection to all the secrets of the enemy that God is revealing in our day through dedicated researchers in the Kingdom of God. As we discover significant intelligence from the enemy’s camp and can connect the esoteric dots, it enables us to properly pray against those activities and positions us to withstand its advances. I believe this understanding has strategic significance in end-time spiritual warfare.
Reality Check with My Peers
Although I do not believe we are going to find the understanding of the esoteric concepts I just revealed in any bible commentary, I do want to check to see if others laboring before me have seen the connection of the “restrainer” with the Kingdom of Darkness rather than the Holy Spirit or some manifestation of the Kingdom of God.
First regarding the Mystery of Iniquity, we find in the Pillar New Testament Commentary the following:
7 Paul now explains how this power that “seizes” operates: For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work. Previously the author noted that the Thessalonians knew of the existence of a power that was “seized” or “possessed” (v. 6). Now he moves on to observe that this power, here described as the secret power of lawlessness, is not simply a future threat but a present reality. The verb at work (energeitai) is the same one that is found in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 and implies some kind of supernatural activity, whether it be divine (Matt. 14:2; Mark 6:14; 1 Cor. 12:6, 11; Gal. 2:8; 3:5; Eph. 1:11, 20; 3:20; Phil. 2:13; Col. 1:29) or evil (Eph. 2:2; 2 Thess. 2:9). Paul does not suggest that this secret power is divine but only that it is supernatural, and, according to the context, malignant and satanic (v. 9). For this reason, the apostle calls this power the secret power of lawlessness. This secret power aligns itself with “the man of lawlessness” (v. 3) and represents his power in the world before the time of his revelation (cf. 1 John 2:18, which speaks of the antichrists who prefigure the antichrist).[viii]
This same commentary now continues with the challenge of identifying the restrainer.
Before the revelation of “the lawless one” (v. 8) one more event must take place: but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. Here the power that “seizes” (to katechon of v. 6) is presented as a person, “the one who seizes” or “the one who is possessed” (ho katechōn—masculine), the reference being to the one demonically possessed or the one who possesses, that being Satan himself (v. 9). This figure does not “hold it back” but rather prefigures and anticipates the revelation of “the lawless one.” The apostle underlines the limited nature of the work of the “one who seizes” by stating that he will be taken out of the way. The NIV implies that some other power will take him out of the way (passive voice). There is no indication within the immediate context that tells them or us the identity of the agent that undertakes his removal. What person or power are the apostles talking about? Since no agent is indicated, it may be just as possible that we should understand the expression as active and not passive. The same expression is found in Plutarch in his life of Timoleon (5.4), who “made up his mind to live by himself, apart from the world (ek mesou genomenos).” If the sense in the present verse is active, “the one who seizes” retires from the scene of his own will in order to permit the revelation of the more terrifying figure of “the lawless one.” The text in no way indicates where “the one who seizes” retires to but only emphasizes that he will give way to “the lawless one.” Whatever the sense, this observation would signal to the Thessalonians that the end was not immediately on them (v. 2) because “the one who seizes” was still active, as they themselves could witness. That which prefigured the coming of “the lawless one” was still present. Whether we understand the final clause of v. 7 as active or passive, the verse in no way indicates that the Holy Spirit or the church will in some way be taken out of the world. This is hardly an adequate foundation for the commonly held teaching that the rapture of the church will happen sometime before the antichrist is revealed![ix] (Emphasis Added)
Within the context of our discussion, would not a satanic Gaia womb first possess the Son of Perdition, nurture him to maturation, and then give way to his birth at his time of revealing? This may have been the plan of the enemy from Genesis 3 forward. Could this also mean that Nimrod was a premature birth of the Son of Perdition (from the perspective of the Kingdom of Darkness) and, thus, explain his failure to succeed at the original Tower of Babel? Now this Iniquity Force is more cautious and will ensure this time around that its satanic seed is fully matured and the world stage is perfectly set before his revealing.
What Does the Future Hold?
I believe we can expect two things in the days ahead:
- Darkness or the Iniquity Force will seek every opportunity to increase its influence on planet Earth.
- The Holy Spirit will work to awaken the Remnant (those saints that the Iniquity Force has put to sleep), will nurture them, and will empower them for end-time ministry.
My friends, this is not a time to cower in fear; rather, it is a time to shake off spiritual slumber and press into God with a fervor that can very well define this generation.
1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. Isaiah 60:1-2
Heaven is waiting for those that will disconnect from the Iniquity Force, through the proper application of the blood of Jesus, and press into a higher manifestation of the Kingdom of God, until a new level of God’s glory is released in their lives. May each one of us find the grace of God to press through!
About the Author
Dr. Michael K. Lake is the Chancellor and Founder of Biblical Life College and Seminary (http://www.biblical-life.com), the Host of the Kingdom Intelligence Briefing Podcast (http://www.kingdomintelligencebriefing.com), and the author of the best-selling book, The Shinar Directive: Preparing the Way for the Son of Perdition.
Endnotes
[i] Strongs #G1831. Strong’s Enhanced Lexicon. BibleWorks for Windows 10.0. BibleWorks, LLC, Norfolk, VA. Copyright © 2015.
[ii] Ibid. Strongs #G4704.
[iii] Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_(mythology)
[iv] Thomas Horn and Cris Putnam. On the Path of the Immortals. Defender Publishing, Crane, MO. Copyright 2015. Page 7.
[v] Article: Gaia Worship Mass to be Held in Toronto. http://voxcantor.blogspot.com/2013/03/gaia-earth-worship-mass-to-be-held-in.html
[vi] Strong’s Enhanced Lexicon. BibleWorks for Windows 10.0. BibleWorks, LLC, Norfolk, VA. Copyright © 2015.
[vii] Ibid.
[viii] Gene L. Green, The Letters to the Thessalonians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos, 2002), 317.
[ix] Ibid, 318–319.
On visiting the National Memorial Arboretum, commemorating the War dead of 20th Century and more recent war casualties, we were deeply distressed to see how the Memorial centre piece was a mound with semi-circular walls upon it with the names of the dead and a very tall obelisk with a gold tip, similar to the one opposite the domes of the White House and Rome. All around this site were pyramidal shapes, some flat on top. There was no Cross in sight, only the obelisks. Having already learnt about the spiritual symbolism of these entities, it appeared to me that the souls of our dead warriors were being offered up to Satan. Even the split walls were strategically placed so that the sun passed through the gap and onto a stone slab shaped like an altar within the semi-circle, at the time of the summer solstice, reminiscent of Stonehenge.
The Duke of Kent, Grand Master of the Freemasons, is also President of the War Graves Commission and was and is closely involved in this Memorial. As the British Legion are also closely involved in its running, I contacted them to bring the matter to their attention, as well as informing the site organisers. Since then, our soldiers returned from Afghanistan bringing with them their Cross from Camp Bastion to place on the Memorial at the site where their dead comrades in arms, and their contributions to the war effort in Afghanistan, are recognised.
Google posted a comment that I made on YouTube about this and other relevant matters, with a call to prayer, following our visit the Memorial site.
Then Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge were involved in a ceremony arranged by the Belgian King for a visit to their War cemetery, to lay a wreath at the base of the Memorial to the British War dead. Again, an obelisk on top of the hill, sited above the Cross on a lower level, was chosen for the Duke and the King to lay their tributes. The Duchess, however, laid a bouquet of flowers on the steps surrounding the Cross on her way up the hill. This was yet another very distressing sign of usurpation by the powers at work in the Royal households of Europe.
Thank you for the article it gave me more understanding of the scriptures which I greatly appreciate. I also enjoyed reading Elaine Charnley’s note. I also want to thank you for standing in the gap for our Father..
Great study