In his article 'The Beast Within' Ray speaks a good bit about "the son of perdition." Here are a few excerpts from that article.
http://bible-truths.com/lake14.html ----------------------
The beast, the man of sin, and the son of perdition are all one and the same:
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We all fit this description of "the man of sin, the son of perdition" of which Paul speaks. And when Paul tells us where this man of sin and son of perdition" resides, he removes all doubt of whom he is speaking.
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Let no man deceive YOU by any means: for that day shall not come [TO YOU…]
except there come a FALLING AWAY FIRST [BY YOU…],
and the man of sin be revealed the son of perdition [IN YOU…TO YOU…];
Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped [IN YOU…];
so that he as God sits in the temple of God [‘which temple YE ARE’ II Cor. 6:16]
showing himself that HE IS [YOU ARE / I AM]
a god. (2Thes. 2:3)
Remember ye not, that when I was yet with YOU, I told YOU these things?
And now ye know what withholds [is restraining, is detaining—‘the falling away FIRST’]
that he [‘the man of sin be revealed, the
son of perdition’—YOU…]
might be revealed in his time [in YOU and TO YOU—individually, not collectively]
in his time. (iiThes. 2:6) [‘his {particular} time’]—FOR YOU and FOR ME and for ALL BELIEVERS IN ALL GENERATIONS UNTIL JESUS COMES TO US ALL, COLLECTIVELY, AS THE MANIFEST SONS OF GOD.
Long before Jesus can have a COMPANY of manifest SONS and DAUGHTERS of God, there has to be individual begettals by the Holy Spirit of God in chosen individuals in every generation leading up to the coming of the Lord at the end of this age.
"For the mystery [secret, hidden truth]
of iniquity [lawlessness]
does already work [‘is inwardly working’ The Emphasized New Testament: A New Translation (J. B. Rotherham)]:
only he who now lets will let [‘only he who restrains will do so’],
until he be taken out of the way.
And then shall that Wicked [Lawless One]
be revealed IN [IN YOU]
and TO YOU, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit [breath] o
f His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming;Even him [not original],
whose coming [the man of sin called son of perdition IN YOU]
is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders" (II Thes. 2:1-9).
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But how many earthlings might be deceived by this man of sin were he to hide in the hearts and minds of men in a way that they themselves would be completely at home with this man of sin, the son of perdition? How many? ALL OF THEM—EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM (including ME)! I have been completely deceived by this man of sin in MY LIFE, for MOST of my life! But NO MORE!
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The man of sin/son of perdition is UNIVERSAL and found in ALL MANKIND. THAT is how Satan deceives THE WHOLE WORLD (Rev. 12:9).
Men are looking for the BEAST (the man of sin/son of perdition) OUT THERE somewhere, when all the while he has been present INSIDE OF US ALL!
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THE PARENTHETICAL STATEMENT IS FOR BELIEVERS ONLY
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whom [the beastly man of sin/son of perdition]
the LORD shall consume with the spirit of His mouth [IN US—WE, believers and lovers of the Truth],
and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming (IIThes. 2:08) [IN US, making His presence known IN US, destroying the beastly man of sin/son of perdition IN US, making the ‘Day of the Lord to be at hand’ FOR US, and IN US] )! Let’s read it:
"But WE [Paul and believers. NOT ‘them’ and ‘they,’ but ‘WE’—‘Lovers of the Truth’]
are bound to give thanks always to God for YOU, brethren beloved in the Lord, because God has from the beginning CHOSEN you [called AND CHOSEN you]
to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth: Whereunto He called you by our gospel, to the OBTAINING of the GLORY [‘That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be GLORIFIED IN YOU’ Chapter 1:12] o
f our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which has loved us, and has given us everlasting [eonian]
consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work" (IIThes. 2:13-17).
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mercy, peace and love
Kat