Welcome to "Covenant and Conflict," a new podcast produced by Gateway Center for Israel. We look forward to being a regular part of your faith journey as you seek God's heart during these challenging days. Join Executive Director Nic Lesmeister and Teaching Pastor David Blease in this first episode as they share their hopes that this new resource will: Help Christians examine long-held perspectives in the light of Scripture, develop a biblically-based understanding of Israel and the Jewish people, and facilitate an ongoing conversation about God's ultimate purposes in a post-October 7 world.

In this episode of “Covenant & Conflict,” Gateway Center for Israel Executive Director Nic Lesmeister and Teaching Pastor David Blease respond to recent claims made about Messianic Jews (or Jews that have professed faith in Jesus as their Messiah) by a traditional Jewish media site. Nic uses biblical references and historical accounts to debunk such theological statements as: Any Jew that believes in Jesus has converted and is now a Christian, Judaism and Christianity have been separate religions since the second century, and Christian and Jewish theology cannot co-exist.

Nic Lesmeister introduces his friend Yoel Shoshani, a native-born Israeli and Jewish believer in Jesus, who served in the Israeli military reserve force immediately after the horrors of October 7th. He shares his sobering eye-witness observations as an Israeli military escort to international journalists – some of whom were very cynical – as they toured the terrorized villages in the massacre’s immediate aftermath, as well as how he and his family have personally processed the life-changing realities of war. Yoel discusses the major worldwide shift since Oct. 7 that has released a whole new level of hatred against Jewish people just because they are Jewish – and offers suggestions on how believers can connect, love, and care for war-traumatized Israelis and Jewish people in general due to the resulting global rise of antisemitism.

Nic and David have a fascinating conversation with two Israeli professors - Dr. Guy Golan (Texas Christian University) and Dr. Guy Chet (University of North Texas) - who wrote "My Brother's Keeper," a book that analyzes the complicated relationship between American Jews and Israel. Born out of personal conversations, the book explains how Reform Judaism and the European "Grand Bargain" influenced the political and religious lifestyle of American Judaism. It also clarifies why Israelis are more accepting of the support of Christian Zionists than American Jews. Guy and Guy address the impact of October 7 and how subsequent events have caused an identity crisis for so many in the American Jewish community. Many have been forced to reevaluate exactly WHO they are due to rising anti-Semitism and the changing political landscape.

Where do we begin to understand the complicated topic of the end times? Nic and David dive into eschatology (or study of what is to come) with author Travis Snow, who has researched theology and biblical prophecy for 20 years. Travis, who holds an MDiv in Biblical Studies from Regency University, has written three books about the subject that emphasize Israel's role in end times prophecy. The eschatological beliefs held by the Church and Jewish Messianic believers are compared during the discussion, as well as how biblical prophecy - which makes up 25% of Scripture - can be approached in a more positive, hopeful way without some of the sensationalism that often surrounds the topic. Travis also stresses that to truly comprehend what end-time passages convey, such as Matthew 24 and the book of Daniel, requires a spiritual lens focused on Israel, God's chosen people.