Some people within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do not believe that Judas Iscariot became a son of perdition when he betrayed the Savior.¹ If that is true, then the disembodied spirit of Judas could not be the False Prophet. The status of Judas as a son of perdition is called into question because he did not possess the Gift of the Holy Ghost and could not, from that standpoint at least, commit the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost.² Despite this reservation, many circumstances confirm that Judas did become a son of perdition and therefore qualified himself to become the False Prophet identified in Revelation 16:13.³ The following circumstances confirm that Judas did become a mortal son of perdition before his death.

First, even though Judas did not receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost before he died,⁴ that is not a disqualifying factor. The Father revealed to Judas that Jesus was the Christ and‒according to Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:43, this was a sufficient spiritual witness for Judas to be in a position to commit the unpardonable sin.⁵ The Father revealed to Judas and all the apostles that Jesus was the Christ.⁶ Having received a witness from the Father, it was not necessary for Judas to also receive a witness from the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Knowing, as he did, that Jesus was the Christ, Judas became a mortal son of perdition when he deceitfully betrayed the Savior to the Jewish leaders who sought the death of Jesus. Judas secured Christ's death with his kiss⁷ of friendship in the garden of Gethsemane.⁸

Second, the betrayal of Judas was also made unpardonable because he met the scriptural requirements to become a son of perdition specified in Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) Section 76:35. According to this verse, mortal persons commit the unpardonable sin when they have "denied the Only Begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto themselves and put him to an open shame."⁹ Judas did exactly this when he became the motivating cause and substantial factor that caused the crucifixion of Christ. Thus, Judas became a son of perdition even if he had never received a witness and his testimony of Christ from the Father. There is no provision in Doctrine and Covenants 76:35, that a person who denies Christ and puts him to an open shame must also first receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost to become a son of perdition.

Third, long before Judas carried out his betrayal, Christ said that Judas was "a devil,"¹⁰ not merely someone possessed of a devil.¹¹ This characterization of Judas by the Savior is sufficient to say that Judas was in fact a son of perdition.

Fourth, the very night that Judas left the upper room to betray the Savior, Jesus specifically identified Judas in John 17:12 as "the son of perdition." These were the unmistakable and recorded words spoken by Christ during his intercessory prayer.¹² Christ also referred to Judas again as the son of perdition during his Nephite ministry in 3 Nephi 27:32.¹³ Again, there cannot be a stronger affirmation that Judas was a son of perdition than the words of Christ himself.

Fifth, since the Savior specifically identified Judas as the son of perdition,¹⁴ Paul may have been speaking of Judas in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, when he said that the Second Coming "shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition."¹⁵ This possibility is consistent with Revelation 16:13, which identifies the disembodied spirit of Judas as the most logical person‒and probably the only possible person‒who could assume the role of the False Prophet and stand spiritually opposite Joseph Smith as the true prophet of the restoration in the latter days.¹⁶

Sixth, as sons of perdition, Cain and Judas will both share the same fate in eternity. John does not identify Cain or Judas by name, but he describes them by their symbolic names of the Beast and the False Prophet when he says that both will be cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.¹⁷ Since they both share the same fate, and Cain is clearly perdition,¹⁸ Judas must also be a son of perdition.¹⁹

Seventh, Judas and Cain share the same evil disposition²⁰ and other likenesses. For example, Cain received and rejected the gospel given to him by the First Adam,²¹ while Judas received and rejected the gospel given to him by the Second Adam (Jesus Christ).²² Judas coveted money and material wealth²³ as did Cain.²⁴ When Judas learned that the Jewish leaders were plotting the death of Christ,²⁵ he conspired with the Jewish leaders to murder the Savior for money²⁶ according to the Mahanic pattern established by Cain.²⁷ Judas had the power of the purse²⁸ among his fellow apostles.²⁹ He stole money from them³⁰ just as Cain stole the flocks of his brother.³¹ Judas also wanted power in an earthly kingdom that he expected Christ to establish,³² just as Cain wanted power over Adam's descendants.³³ When Judas realized that Christ would not establish a political kingdom among the Jews,³⁴ he conspired with the Jewish leaders³⁵ that could give him both money and power.³⁶ Cain and his family became vagabonds in the earth after the death of Abel,³⁷ and this was also true for the family of Judas after Christ died.³⁸

Eighth, Judas exhibited remorse and is said to have repented when Jesus was condemned to death.³⁹ This suggests that Judas was not a son of perdition because repentance is antithetical to, and not possible for, sons of perdition.⁴⁰ However, the remorse or regret of Judas for the outcome of his betrayal was not repentance.⁴¹ It was not accompanied by godly sorrow that worketh repentance.⁴² Luke's account in the Book of Acts gives no indication that Judas repented at all before his death.⁴³ Cain also had remorse when he learned the consequences of his actions and his status as perdition remained unchanged.⁴⁴

Ninth, Judas could not repent for his betrayal of Christ because Christ declared him to be unclean even after Jesus washed his feet.⁴⁵ Jesus said it would have been better for Judas never to have been born in Matthew 26:25-26.⁴⁶ This means that the ultimate fate of Judas will be no better than the unembodied sons of perdition that will never be born.⁴⁷ Their ultimate fate is to remain in outer darkness forever, which is a fate reserved for sons of perdition.⁴⁸ Therefore, Judas went to his own place (hell) when he died and his final place will be outer darkness with all other unembodied and disembodied sons of perdition.⁴⁹ If Judas somehow avoids outer darkness and can still qualify for telestial glory, then the Savior obviously misspoke when he said that it would have been better for Judas never to have been born.

Tenth, Judas died a gruesome death⁵⁰ in a potter's field that no longer produced clay for making and repairing pottery.⁵¹ This evokes an image that Judas was a broken vessel that would never be spiritually rebuilt or repaired.⁵²

Eleventh, at the last supper, Christ gave Judas a sop of unleavened bread dipped in broth⁵³ as a gesture of friendship.⁵⁴ This act was the sign used by Jesus to identify Judas as his betrayer.⁵⁵ At that moment, Judas could have humbled himself and repented.⁵⁶ He could have done so earlier when Jesus washed his feet.⁵⁷ Instead, when Christ presented the sop, Judas was offended.⁵⁸ Satan then entered fully into Judas and controlled him.⁵⁹ Judas quickly left the upper room to carry out his murderous conspiracy with full knowledge of his evil.⁶⁰ The Lord similarly confronted Cain about his unacceptable offering and gave him a chance to repent.⁶¹ Cain rejected that opportunity⁶² and carried out his murderous conspiracy with full knowledge of his evil.⁶³

Twelfth, during his mortal life, Judas was a servant of Satan.⁶⁴ His evil disposition was always known to the Savior,⁶⁵ just as Cain's evil disposition was known since before he was born.⁶⁶

Since Judas was and is a son of perdition‒and only one of three identified in the scriptures‒he must be the False Prophet. In the last days, since the restoration of the gospel, the disembodied spirit of Judas serves the Beast (Cain)⁶⁷ in the image of the False Prophet.⁶⁸