It is for the futurist doom-and-gloomers. Imagine if the gospel had a real impact in Syria (and surrounding nations) and a significant portion of the population was converted to biblical Christianity.
[Speculation alert!] Even if the futurist rapture occurred, there would be no one left to wage war against Israel in the futurist tribulation.
That would put a real damper on the party.
“It's all hypothesis, of course, but fun to play around with.” (Prof. Groeteschele in Fail Safe)
“Imagine if the gospel had a real impact in Syria (and surrounding nations)....”
It already has, tc. Antioch is where the followers of Christ were first called Christians. +Peter was its first bishop. Even after the Mohammedan conquest, Christianity has continued to be a major force within Greater Syria. The only real oppression of The Church there took place under the later Ottomans. Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy are growing in Syria. Monasteries are reopening and expanding. Some have become pilgrimage sites even for Mohammedans.
This isn’t as surprising as it seems.
I think what they were trying to get across to you was there is a Christian minority in Syria and the head of the Antiochian Orthodox Church is located in Damascus.