Steve Conover: Thank you for joining us for The Friends of Israel Today. I'm Steve Conover, executive director of The Friends of Israel, and with me as always is our host and teacher, Chris Katulka.

Chris Katulka: Steve, I'm very excited about this three part series that we're entering into. It's called Biblical Essentials for Being a Friend of Israel. Now, we didn't invent these essentials. In fact, they come from a very famous 20th century theologian, maybe you know his name, Dr. Charles Ryrie. The way that he taught that we should interpret the scriptures really plays a major role in how we, even at Friends of Israel, understand the importance of Israel and the Jewish people, and that's why we're calling it the Biblical Essentials for Being a Friend of Israel. Now, Charles Ryrie didn't invent this, but what he did was systematically put these pieces in order for us to better understand the way that we should read the scriptures to be a friend of Israel. Now, also, on top of that, Steve, it is Passover starting April 12th, and it's a great opportunity. Jewish people aren't the only ones who get to celebrate Passover. In fact, we get to celebrate Passover. Jesus celebrated Passover, so Friends of Israel's created resources for you, our listeners. All you have to do is go to foiradio.org and there we have our entire Passover resource page for you. You can download a haggadah that is Christ-centered. You can find all of our recipes and tips on how to manage and run a fantastic family Passover right there at your fingertips at foiradio.org.

Steve Conover: And we look forward to getting into the Word today. But first in the news, the Israeli military announced to Hamas that it will return to fight with great force to eliminate the capabilities of terrorism. This in the Rafah area of the Southern Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces also issued an evacuation warning for Palestinians in the entire Rafah area. This after Hamas has refused to renegotiate with the Israelis concerning the release of the remaining hostages.

Chris Katulka: Well, Steve, here's my take. There's only one way to end this war in Gaza. Return the hostages. Listen, Hamas cannot win the war with Israel. At this point they're just putting their own citizens in harm's way to use them as props for propaganda to make Israel look bad. Hamas, return the hostages and end the war.

Chris Katulka: In a world where political allegiances and religious convictions are often tangled together, it's easy for observers to mistake Christian support for Israel and the Jewish people as simply a political exercise, one of national loyalty. But for Bible-believing Christians like us here at The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, this couldn't be further from the truth. Our support for Israel and the Jewish people doesn't begin with a political agenda. It begins with the pages of Scripture. It begins with the heart of God and ultimately it begins with a deep passion for God's Word. When we honor the Word of God, when we read it rightly and take it at face value, literally we can't help but develop a deep abiding compassion for the Jewish people. Why? Because they are God's Chosen People and his promises to them have not changed. Our conviction at The Friends of Israel begins with how we interpret the Bible.

See, we read the scriptures literally. It's really that simple. This doesn't mean that we ignore the figures of speech or poetic language. It means that we allow the Bible to speak plainly and clearly according to its literary genre, its historical context and its grammatical construction. We don't twist God's words to suit modern political narrative. Instead, we submit ourselves to his revealed truth, trusting that he means what he says. A literal interpretation of the Bible leads us to one unshakable conclusion. God's relationship with Israel is not a metaphor, a placeholder or a temporary arrangement. It is a covenant. It is eternal, it is unconditional, and it is real. Charles Ryrie, one of the most influential theologians of the 20th century, was a strong advocate for the literal interpretation of scripture. In his book, Dispensationalism, Ryrie defines literal interpretation and connects it directly to how we understand Israel and the Jewish people.

Ryrie writes, “Literal interpretation is the understanding of scripture in its plain, normal or natural sense.” He clarifies that this approach doesn't deny figures of speech or symbolic language in the Bible like I had mentioned earlier. Instead, it means that words are understood in their usual meaning unless there is a compelling reason to interpret them figuratively. This method is often summarized by the principle: If the plain sense makes good sense, seek no other sense. This is foundational to Ryrie's theological framework and undergirds the dispensational system of interpreting the scriptures, especially the promises and covenants God made to Israel. Ryrie strongly believed that a consistent literal interpretation of scripture leads to a clear understanding of how Israel fits within the promises of God. First, Ryrie would argue that Israel means Israel. Under a literal approach, when the Bible refers to Israel, it means ethnic national Israel, not a symbolic reference to the church.

The promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their descendants in the Old Testament are not reinterpreted or transferred to the church. They are to be fulfilled literally in the nation of Israel. Because of this literal approach. Ryrie emphasized that the Abrahamic, Davidic and New Covenants are real, unfulfilled in its completion and irrevocable. These covenants promise land, nationhood and a blessing that have not yet been realized completely, but will be in the future. See, Ryrie taught that replacement theology, which is a very common interpretation of the scriptures among many churches. The idea that the church has taken over Israel's promises is the result of spiritualizing or allegorizing the text rather than interpreting it literally. He believed that such reinterpretation undermines the integrity of God's Word and his faithfulness. See, Ryrie’s interpretational framework leads to a theology that affirms God's ongoing plan for Israel. It encourages support for the Jewish people and actually sees the rebirth of the state of Israel, not just as a political entity, but as a part of a prophetic narrative that's unfolding according to God's literal promises. From the very call of Abraham in Genesis chapter 12, God's plan for Israel unfolds with an unmistakable clarity: “I will make you a great nation.” God says to Abram, “I will bless you and make your name great. I will bless those who bless you and I will curse him who curses you, and in you, all the families of the earth will be blessed.” That's Genesis chapter 12 verses 2 and 3. And see, this promise isn't symbolic, it's literal. It forms the bedrock of God's redemptive plan, not just for Israel, but did you see that? For the entire world. Many Christians have inherited a theology that assumes that God is finished with Israel, that the church has somehow replaced her in God's plan. But a literal reading of scripture, it really tells a different story. Paul writing in Romans 11 asks a great question, “Has God cast away his people?” And what does Paul say in Romans 11:1? “Certainly not. May it never be.”

He goes on to speak of a future restoration of Israel, starting with confidence that the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. Romans chapter 11, verse 29. See, if we believe the Bible, we must believe that God's covenant with Israel still stands. He has not forsaken his promises, and if he is faithful to them then he will be faithful to us. That's what's absolutely amazing about the promises of God. His relationship with Israel becomes the very proof that he is a covenant keeping God. This reality should produce in us not only a theological clarity, but an emotional compassion. God loves the Jewish people. He has chosen them, preserved them, he's disciplined them, and he's promised to restore them. To love what God loves is a mark of living out the compassion that is stirred through passion for God's Word. See, when we study scripture with care and conviction, our hearts are shaped by the same truths that move the prophets, the apostles, and yes, even our Savior.

Jesus himself was a Jewish man born under the law. Galatians 4:4. “Who came first to..” Do you remember, if we take the words literally? “To the lost sheep of the house of Israel?” He wept over Jerusalem. He honored the Jewish feasts like Passover. He taught in the synagogues and proclaimed the fulfillment of certain Messianic prophecies. He didn't ignore his people, the Jewish people, He came to them even when they rejected him, he continued to love them. Paul likewise grieved deeply for his fellow Jews. In Romans 9, he writes, “I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart, for I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen, according to the flesh.” That's from Romans 9:2-3. See, Paul's burden wasn't academic, it was emotional. It was tied to what the Scriptures taught. It was tied to God himself.

It was spiritual. It was personal to Paul. So when we rightly understand the role of Israel in God's redemptive plan, as we read the scriptures literally, we share this burden as well. A love for God's Word naturally develops into a love for the Jewish people, not because they're perfect or politically aligned with us, but because they are God's. And we cannot say that we love the author of the scriptures while actually scorning the subjects of his affection. See, that flies in the face of God's character and nature. When we read about and take very literally the scriptures, God is a merciful, compassionate, forgiving, and loving God, and we aren't the church. We are not the arbiters of that grace that comes from the Lord himself. See, biblical compassion for Israel, it's not just theological, it's active. The Hebrew prophets repeatedly spoke of a future day when God would regather the Jewish people to their lands.

You can read about that in Isaiah 11, Ezekiel chapters 36 and 37. The reestablishment of the modern state of Israel isn't just a political or secular event, it's a prophetic one, it's a biblical one. But with prophetic fulfillment comes responsibility. God's people are still under attack. Antisemitism continues to surge globally. Jewish communities around the world face spiritual blindness and physical threats, and here's where the church must rise up, not with slogans or shallow activism, but with deep, biblically rooted compassion. Why? Because of the way that we interpret the Bible literally. Spiritual compassion drives us to share the good news of the Messiah. Paul writes in Romans 1:16 that the gospel is to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Our mission is not complete if we compromise God's ultimate outworking of his grace to be unashamed of proclaiming the good news of Jesus. We are debtors to the Jewish people, for through them came the scriptures, the patriarchs, the covenants, and ultimately the Messiah himself.

See, passion for God's Word when read literally leads us to physical compassion, to comfort and support the Jewish communities in times of distress, just like our founders did at The Friends of Israel. So whether it's standing against antisemitism or helping Holocaust survivors, aiding Israeli families affected by war and terrorism, or simply being a faithful friend in a time of need, we reflect God's heart when we stand with his Chosen People. Why? Because of the way that we interpret and understand the Bible from a literal perspective. Now listen, when we come back, we're going to talk more about how this literal interpretation brings us to a place of supporting Israel and the Jewish people.

Steve Conover: Are you a new listener to our program? If you are, welcome. We're glad you're here. The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry exists to fuel your passion for the Word which should overflow to a compassion for God's Chosen People, the Jewish people.

Chris Katulka: Whether you're new to our program or have listened for years, we want to encourage you with our resources to help you see why God called us to support the Jewish people in Israel and worldwide. We have a free download, a digital version of our booklet, Whose Land is it Anyway? that we'd like to send you free today. Whose Land is it Anyway? takes the Jewish and Arab claims to the land and helps make sense of the common arguments surrounding the struggle. Whose Land is it Anyway? is an easy-to-read apologetic that will give you a clear answer as you think about Israel's right to the land.

Steve Conover: To get your free digital copy of Whose Land is it Anyway?, visit foiradio.org. Again, that's foiradio.org.

Chris Katulka: Welcome back everyone. We're talking all about hermeneutics and you might be going, wait, what? What's hermeneutics? It literally just means the interpretation of the Bible and Friends of Israel has always interpreted the Bible literally. We take God's Word at face value and that's why we must be careful not to allow the world to redefine our motivation. Supporting Israel is not again about aligning with a political party or adopting a nationalistic identity or entering into a geopolitical debate. It's about believing in God's Word, period. The Bible tells the story of a God who made a covenant with Abraham and reaffirmed it through Isaac and Jacob and promised a land and a people and a future, and it tells of a Messiah who came from the tribe of Judah, who died and rose again, who is returning to reign, not from Washington DC but from Jerusalem. And when we see Israel through the lens of scripture and understand how God is working in the church age from a literal reading of the Bible, our support becomes an act of obedience, not ideology.

Our advocacy becomes a reflection of God's faithfulness, not a pursuit of our favor or popularity, and our compassion becomes an outpouring of our conviction that every word of God is true. See, the Jewish people stand as a living testimony to the truth of God's Word when it's read literally. “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.” And despite centuries of persecution, exiles, and attempts to eradicate them, what? They remain here to this very day. No other ancient people group has ever retained its identity, its language, its customs and homeland over thousands of years. That is not a political miracle, that's a biblical one. And when we open our Bibles and we read literally, we discover that God's preservation of Israel is not incidental, it's intentional. It's for his glory and for the fulfillment of his promises, and it is a preview of what's to come.

The prophet Zechariah foretells a day when the nations will gather against Jerusalem, but God will fight for his people. That's in Zechariah chapter 12 through 14. Paul speaks of a time when all Israel will be saved. Romans 11:26. Isaiah envisions a future where the nations will stream to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. Isaiah chapter two and Micah chapter four. This future is not a myth or a metaphor, it is real. And our role as Christians today is to stand faithfully on the side of God's Word, God's promises and God's people. Our compassion for the Jewish people is born from our passion for God's Word. So when we read the Bible literally, we see the ongoing role of Israel in God's plan. We recognize the significance of the land, the people, and the promises. We begin to love what God loves, feel what he feels and act as he would have us act.

Supporting Israel is not an extracurricular Christian activity. In fact, it's a biblical imperative. It is an act of obedience and it reflects the heart transformed by the truth of scripture. Let the world misunderstand our motives. That's fine. Let them call it political, fine, but let us remain rooted in the truth that our love for the Jewish people is an outflow from our love for God's Word, especially when we read it literally. Because when we have passion for the wWord of God, when we read it literally, we cannot help but have compassion for the people of God.

Steve Conover: Israel on the verge of becoming a state, a teenaged Holocaust survivor arrives on her shores alone. His name is Zvi Kalisher. Little did he know his search for a new life in the Holy Land would lead him to the Messiah. Zvi, enthusiastic to share his faith, engaged others in spiritual conversations, many of which can be found in our magazine, Israel My Glory. While Zvi is now in the presence of His Savior, his collected writings from well over 50 years of ministry continue to encourage believers worldwide. Now, Apples of Gold, a dramatic reading from the life of Zvi.

Mike Kellogg: People here in Israel are extremely nervous. This is partly due to the economic situation. When I try to speak with them, many say, “There is no longer a God because He sees and allows His chosen nation to fall down.

One man asked, “What do you think, Zvi?” 

I replied, “What you say is not true. God has chosen us and brought us to this Promised Land. We shall live and not die. In October 1973, when the Arab armies attacked us, the Israeli population was very demoralized. Why did God spare us? And why are we living now? We are still alive and still a nation because God loves us. Is it not true that we love our children? Of course, we do. If we do not punish them for their misdeeds, they will continue to do as they wish. It is the same with our God. He loves us; therefore, He punishes us when we need it until we ask for His forgiveness. If people ask for forgiveness, change their ways, and turn to God, He will bless them. If you do so, you and all your friends will know the truth about our God. And when He makes a promise, He keeps it! He is not as we humans are.” After that, this man asked, “What do you think I should do? Should I believe in God?”

“Yes,” I replied. “But you should ask God what to do, instead of asking me.”

With surprise he asked, “How can I ask God?

I told him he could go directly to God in prayer because He is our Father and will answer him.

“How shall I pray?” he questioned. I then opened the Bible and read the Lord’s teaching about prayer in Matthew 6:9. Then this man realized about whom I was speaking. “Jesus?” he asked incredulously. “He was against our Torah. How can I believe in Him?”

I then read from Galatians 3:10: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” This was another surprise to him, and he declared, “Jesus is the great enemy of the Jews.” “That is what people say,” I told him. “And you, my friend, believe them.” He thought for a moment and then replied, “That is how I felt before, but not now.” Then we read together John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” “This is all so new to me,” he said. “It would be nice if you would give me some books, so that I may read about these things for myself and share them with my friends. I want to show them how they lied to me. I will visit you every week, and you can teach me from the Bible.” Through this man, two other families came to me, and I gave them my testimony about the Lord. I was sure that after such a lengthy conversation about our Savior, they would not return. But the Lord opened their hearts and now we meet every week. All of these dear people are now secret Christians. Perhaps one day soon they will openly acknowledge Jesus as

their Messiah and Lord.

Steve Conover: Thank you for joining us for today's episode of The Friends of Israel Today. Don't forget to get your free digital download of our popular booklet, Whose Land is it Anyway? That's on our website, foiradio.org. Again, that's foiradio.org. Chris, we heard you teach from God's Word today. We're back with part two next week. Where are we headed?

Chris Katulka: Yeah, biblical essentials for being a friend of Israel. So today we looked at literal interpretation. Next week we're going to look at a subject that's quite interesting, the distinction between Israel and the church. How do we understand that, and what does that mean and how we support Israel and the Jewish people, and how we remain true to God's Word as the church today. It's going to be an interesting study.

Steve Conover: Yeah, it's a really important topic. As mentioned, our web address is foiradio.org. Again that’s foiradio.org. Our mailing address is FOI Radio PO Box 914, Bellmawr, New Jersey 08099. Again, that's FOI Radio PO Box 914, Bellmawr, New Jersey 08099. You can call our listener line. That number is 888-343-6940. Again, that's 888-343-6940. Today's program was engineered by Bob Beebe. Edited by Jeremy Strong, who also composed and performs our theme music. Lisa Small is our executive producer. Sarah Fern is our associate producer. And I'm Steve Conover, executive director of The Friends of Israel. The Friends of Israel Today is a production of The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry. Passion for God's Word. Compassion for God's Chosen People.