Also posting this here for this crowd:
1/2
Christian denominations see the nation of Israel as being integral to Jesus returning because the Israelite temple has to be rebuilt in Jerusalem. They also believe that Damascus must be destroyed before Jesus comes back based on a prophesy that was originally not fulfilled in Isiah 17:1.
2/2
This is their logic using the example of Damascus:
P0: The Word of God is true.
P1: The Bible is the Word of God.
P2: The Bible says, "Damascus will cease to be a city and will become a heap of ruins." ESV
P3: Damascus has not yet ceased to been destroyed.
C1: Damascus will be destroyed before the end of the world.
Because they think the nation of Israel is the Biblical "Israel", if the nation is ever destroyed, then Premise 1 is false, and their religious identity collapses.
