Damascus is symbolized as a Chief City of an empire settled in the World. In order to understand the sequence of events that relates the City of Damascus to the Spiritual World from the Past to the Future, it is necessary to read, study and meditate the Word of God in relation to it, written in stages, one by one, throughout the Scripture.
ACTS 9: The Conversion of Paul: Meanwhile Saul (Paul's name before the conversion) was still breathing threats to slaughter the Lord's Disciples. He had gone to the High Priest and asked for letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, that would authorize him to arrest and take to Jerusalem any Followers of The Way, men or women, that he could find. (1-2)
Suddenly, while Saul was traveling to Damascus and just before he reached the City, there came a Light from Heaven all around him. He fell to the ground, and then he heard a Voice saying, "Saul,
Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" (3-4)
"Who are You, Lord?" he asked, and the Voice answered, "I am Jesus, and you are persecuting Me. Get up now and go into the City, and you will be told what you have to do." (5-6)
The men traveling with Saul stood there, before reaching the City of Damascus, speechless, for though the men heard the Voice they could see no one. (7)
Saul got up from the ground, but even with his eyes wide open he could see nothing at all, and the men had to lead him into Damascus by hand. (8)
For Three(3) Days Saul was without his sight, and took neither food nor drink. A disciple called Ananias who lived in Damascus had a Vision in which he heard the Lord say to him, "Ananias!"
When Ananias replied, "Here I am, Lord," the Lord said, "You must go to Straight Street and ask at the House of Judas for someone called Saul, who comes from Tarsus. At this moment he is praying, having had a Vision of a man called Ananias coming in and laying hands on him to give him back his sight."
When Ananias heard that, he said, "Lord, several people have told me about this man and all the harm he has been doing to Your saints in Jerusalem. This man has only come here because he holds a warrant from the chief priests to arrest everybody who Invokes Your Name." (9-14)
The Lord replied, "You must go all the same, because this man is My chosen instrument to bring My Name before pagans and pagan kings and before the people of Israel; I Myself will show him how much he himself must suffer for My Name." (15-16)
Then Ananias went. He entered the House, and at once laid his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, I have been sent by the Lord Jesus Who appeared to you on your way here so that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately it was as though scales fell away from Saul's eyes and he could see again. So he was baptized there and then, after taking some food he regained his strength. (17-19)
After he had spent only a few Days with the Disciples in Damascus, he began preach-ing in the synagogues, "JESUS is the SON of GOD." All his hearers were amazed. "Surely,"they said, "this is the man who organized the attack in Jerusalem against the people who Invoke This Name, and who came here for the sole purpose of arresting them to have them tried by the chief priests?"
Saul's Power increased steadily, and he was able to throw the Jewish colony at Damascus into complete confusion by the way he demonstrated that JESUS was the CHRIST. (20-23)
Some Time passed, and the Jews worked out a plot to kill him, but news of it reached Saul. To make sure of killing him they kept watch on the Gates day and night, but when it was dark the Disciples took him and let him down from the top of the Wall, lowering him in a basket. When he got to Jerusalem he tried to join the Disciples, but they were all afraid of him: they could not believe he was really a disciple. Barnabas, however, took charge of him, introduced him to the Apostles, and explained How the Lord had appeared to Saul and spoken to him on his journey, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus In the Name of Jesus. Saul now started to go around with them in Jerusalem, preaching fearlessly In the Name of the Lord. But after he had spoken to the Hellenists, and argued with them, they became determined to kill him. When the Brothers knew, they took him to Caesarea, and sent him off from there to Tarsus (Saul's birthplace).
The Lord replied, "You must go all the same, because this man is My chosen instrument to bring My Name before pagans and pagan kings and before the people of Israel; I Myself will show him how much he himself must suffer for My Name." (15-16)
Then Ananias went. He entered the House, and at once laid his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, I have been sent by the Lord Jesus Who appeared to you on your way here so that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately it was as though scales fell away from Saul's eyes and he could see again. So he was baptized there and then, after taking some food he regained his strength. (17-19)
After he had spent only a few Days with the Disciples in Damascus, he began preach-ing in the synagogues, "JESUS is the SON of GOD." All his hearers were amazed. "Surely,"they said, "this is the man who organized the attack in Jerusalem against the people who Invoke This Name, and who came here for the sole purpose of arresting them to have them tried by the chief priests?"
Saul's Power increased steadily, and he was able to throw the Jewish colony at Damascus into complete confusion by the way he demonstrated that JESUS was the CHRIST. (20-23)
Some Time passed, and the Jews worked out a plot to kill him, but news of it reached Saul. To make sure of killing him they kept watch on the Gates day and night, but when it was dark the Disciples took him and let him down from the top of the Wall, lowering him in a basket. When he got to Jerusalem he tried to join the Disciples, but they were all afraid of him: they could not believe he was really a disciple. Barnabas, however, took charge of him, introduced him to the Apostles, and explained How the Lord had appeared to Saul and spoken to him on his journey, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus In the Name of Jesus. Saul now started to go around with them in Jerusalem, preaching fearlessly In the Name of the Lord. But after he had spoken to the Hellenists, and argued with them, they became determined to kill him. When the Brothers knew, they took him to Caesarea, and sent him off from there to Tarsus (Saul's birthplace).
