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>>Upon rapture of the church will those asleep who heard and responded to Peters call to salvation be translated with those who responded to Paul’s call to salvation?<<

Just as always only God knows for sure. We do know that many Jews responded to Christ’s message and were called disciples until His sermon recorded in Matthew after which many of them left. Many were “added” at the sermon at Pentecost and we can only assume that because we are told that that they indeed were saved. It does say they received the Holy Spirit.

Keep in mind. That many became believers prior to Paul’s revelation of the “mystery” doesn’t detract from the fact that a “mystery” still hadn’t been revealed. Many today are saved not realizing the free gift they received. They may even have thought that it was they who did something. That isn’t the point.

The main point of understanding the “mystery” is to understand that salvation is a true gift not dependent on man’s actions. Once people understand that there is a deeper understanding of how God will deal with people after the rapture. Once again it will be actions that count. That is clear from the command to “not take the mark of the beast”. Salvation is no longer a free gift but requires people to take action and “persevere”.

Understanding the “mystery” that salvation is a free gift and entirely the work of the Holy Spirit within us we are relieved of the guilt that Satan tries to plant in our minds. He can no longer plant that doubt because I can say that the Holy Spirit within me is my guarantee or seal that I belong to God no matter what I do. Not to say I want to do wrong because the Holy Spirit is now my conscience if you will but the guilt is gone because it’s not something I have to other then have faith in the shed blood if Jesus and that I am secure in Christ. He chose me, I didn’t choose him.

Many people are saved who never understood the “mystery”. For one, I don’t think they had the peace of mind we do in the security of salvation and two, they never understood the prophesy of the coming tribulation.

I pray that helps explain. The Old Testament saints never had that assurance and neither will those during the tribulation.

Now, THERE is something we cannot know for sure. Because God hasn't revealed that to us. So all we have is to speculate. We DO know that Peter and the 11 preached the kingdom program. And we DO know that God had promised in His covenants that Israel would have an earthly inheritance. And we DO know that Peter and the 11 were promised by Christ that they will sit upon 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel during His millennial reign. I speculate that those who listened to and obeyed Peter and the 11 will receive what God has promised them. And they will be resurrected to go into the kingdom, their earthly inheritance. My opinion only.

As far as Isaiah 53, WHO was he referring to when he talked of "all we like sheep", "for the transgression of MY PEOPLE was he stricken", etc. Verse 1 tells you: ZION. Jerusalem, ISRAEL. Yes, the gentiles will also be benefactors of Isa. but it will be THROUGH ISRAEL, God's kingdom of priests and a blessing to all nations, during the Millenial reign of Christ that this will happen. RIght now is different, as we are seeing. The grace of God, the body of Christ, etc. til the fullness of the Gentiles be brought in.