Yea, from that perspective, yes--they would get saved and become strong Christians. I just question how quickly Christian maturity can take place in this regard? You probably have a 7 year Tribulation Period, and I have only a 3.5 year Tribulation Period--hardly enough time to convert, grow strong as a Christian, and then resist the Beast!
Yeah, well you may remember my pointing out the studies (way back, can't find them now) of how "Paul" is a "TYPE" of the future "144,000" (those studies showed the numerous correlations between them), and CONSIDER how "suddenly" HE/PAUL went from being totally opposed to the believers and Christ, to IMMEDIATELY "preaching Christ" (and how WEIRD that was, for those who'd known him previously)... we see in these passages:
Galatians 1:15-19 -
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen;
immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
17
Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
18
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
Acts 9 -
16 For I will show to him how much it behooves him to suffer for My name.”
17 And Ananias went away and entered into the house; and having laid the hands upon him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, the One having appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me that you may see again and be filled of the Holy Spirit.”
18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. And having risen up, he was baptized, 19 and having taken food, he was strengthened. And he was some days with the disciples in Damascus.
Saul Preaches at Damascus
20 And immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
21 And all those hearing were amazed and were saying, “Is this not the one having ravaged those in Jerusalem calling on this name? And he had come here for this, that he might bring them, having been bound, to the chief priests.”
22 But Saul
was empowered all the more and kept confounding the Jews dwelling in Damascus,
proving that this is the Christ.
The Escape from Damascus
23 Now when many days had passed, the Jews plotted together to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. And now they were closely watching the gates day and also night, so that they might kill him. 25 But having taken him by night, his disciples let him down through the wall, having lowered him in a basket.
Saul in Jerusalem
26 And having arrived in Jerusalem, he was attempting to join the disciples, and all were afraid of him, not believing that he is a disciple. 27 But Barnabas having taken him, brought him to the apostles and related to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him,
and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.
28 And he was coming in and going out with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of Lord. 29 And he was speaking and was debating with the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. 30 But the brothers having known it, brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
Acts 22 -
10 Then I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’
And the Lord said to me, ‘Having risen up, go to Damascus, and there it will be told you concerning all things that it has been appointed you to do.’
11 And while I could not see from the brightness of that light, I came to Damascus, being led by the hand by those being with me. 12 And a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the Law, borne witness to by all the Jews dwelling there, 13 having come to me and having stood by me, said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And the same hour I looked up at him.
14 Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear the voice out of His mouth. 15 For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you delay? Having arisen, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’
17 And it happened to me, having returned to Jerusalem and of my praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and go away with speed out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony about Me.’
19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in each of those synagogues I was imprisoning and beating those believing on You. 20 And when the blood of Your witness of Stephen was poured out, I myself also was standing by and consenting and watching over the garments of those killing him.’
21 And He said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
Acts 26 -
11 And in all the synagogues, punishing them often, I was compelling them to blaspheme. And being exceedingly furious against them, I kept persecuting them even as far as to foreign cities, 12 during which, journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, 13 at midday on the road, O king, I saw, a light from heaven above, the brightness of the sun, having shone around me and those journeying with me. 14 And of all of us having fallen down to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15 Then I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’
And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you a servant and a witness both of that which you have seen of Me, and of the things in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you out from the people and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you, 18 to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those having been sanctified by faith in Me.’
19 So then, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but both first to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, and all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, I kept declaring to repent and to turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance. 21 On account of these things the Jews, having seized me being in the temple, were attempting to kill me.
22 Therefore having obtained help from God unto this day, I have stood bearing witness both to small and to great, saying nothing other than what both the prophets and Moses said was about to [/sure to] happen: 23 that Christ would suffer. As first through resurrection from the dead, He is about to [/sure to] preach light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
Festus Interrupts Paul's Defense
24 Now of him saying these things in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! The great learning turns you to insanity!”
25 But Paul says, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus, but I speak words of truth and sobriety. 26 For the king understands concerning these things, to whom also I speak using boldness. For I am persuaded none of these things are hidden from him, for none of these things is done in a corner. 27
Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa? I know that you believe.”
I do agree that the "Tribulation Period" is an impetus to Israel's ultimate conversion, as a nation, to Christ. We're probably in agreement on this single issue. Thanks.
One main *difference* between your view and mine, is that I see
their [
starts of] "conversion" pretty much immediately
FOLLOWING "our Rapture," and then it is
THEY who
GO ON to convey the "
INVITATION TO" the promised and prophesied EARTHLY Millennial Kingdom... (aka "the wedding
FEAST/SUPPER," aka "the MEAL [
G347; Matt8:
11, Matt22:9-13,
via [the msg of] Matt
24:14/26:13, Rev7[1:
1,7:
3], Matt25:
40,45 [
not the ones
BEING "separated / judged" in *
that* passage], Rev19:
9 ["those having been invited to"...
distinct from 19:7], etc etc... Passages that ppl commonly attribute to "US" [/'the Church which is His body'] as doing/being spoken of...).
IOW, they'll be like a bunch of "Pauls" once the "blindness" is LIFTED (and I believe "our Rapture" event is a primary impetus that God uses to aid that in coming about... not to mention Hosea 5:14-15's saying
explicitly, "
IN their [Israel's] AFFLICTION,
they WILL seek Me
EARLY"... I believe that means, "EARLY" in the Trib yrs, not at its CONCLUSION... and that Matthew 24:9 is speaking of those very ones... not to mention that they will come to know, at a certain point, TO "FLEE"... and that's because they will, at that point, HAVE HEEDED JESUS' WORDS to do so... the words recorded there in Matt24... about "they which be in Judaea" at that certain point in the chronology...which parallels Dan12:11's use of the SAME word ALSO in the "singular," which is how Jesus phrased it [re: the AOD - singular]).
____________
Thanks for the info on that "new" site. Much appreciated. I think I'll stick to only this [CC] site, for now... but thanks for sharing!
1
