In the parable of the sower in Mark 4, verse 17 says

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> “and they have no root in themselves, but are temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.” (NASB)
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This is referring to those who hear the word and receive it with joy initially — the seed that fell on “rocky soil.” What does “fall away” mean in this context? In the next example Jesus talks about the seed that gets choked up by thorns, and the result is that the seed does not bear fruit, but it seems that the belief in God/salvation is still there. In contrast, the seed that fell on rocky soil is akin to those who “fell away” after experiencing hardship due to their belief. Does “fall away” imply that they stop believing in Jesus? And if so, does this mean that they didn’t enter into His salvation and eternal life?