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A pair of well-known pastors say Irans attack on Israel over the weekend was a fulfillment of biblical prophecy and that theyre urging Christians around the world to pray for the Jewish state.

Iran fired more than 200 drones and missiles at Israel, although an estimated 99 percent of them were intercepted thanks to Israels air defense and a military coalition led by Israel, American and British fighters.We are on the verge of the Gog-Magog war that Ezekiel described in chapters 38 and 39, pastor John Hagee said over the weekend.

Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship said in a video that he believes the attack was prophetically significant.

The nation Israel being attacked by Iran is unprecedented and is a real game-changer. What happens next? I look at these events unfolding before us in the light of Bible prophecy (PS- A correction- I state that Iran changed their name from Persia in 1930. it actually was 1935) pic.twitter.com/BbWyTKPX1f Greg Laurie (@greglaurie) April 15, 2024

I do believe the attack of Iran on Israel was a fulfillment of Bible prophecy, Laurie said in a video posted on social media. 

Laurie then explained his view.

A sign of the End Times according to Scripture is the Jewish people will be re-gathered together in their homeland. That has happened. On May 14, 1948, Israel officially became a nation.

… Not only will the Jews be re-gathered together in their homeland, but they will be increasingly isolated. That’s happening. The Bible also predicted the rise of anti-semitism in the End Times. That is happening. The Bible also predicts a large nation to the north of Israel identified in Ezekiel as Magog will attack her. That has not yet happened. Many scholars believe that Magog is a reference to modern-day Russia.

Ezekiel 37-38 references a Magog teaming up with Persia to oppose Israel.

Persia was the name of Iran. They changed their name in 1930, Laurie said. Therefore, Persia or Iran attacking Israel is predicted in the Bible. And guess what? That just happened now. Now, am I suggesting that what just took place is going to lead to the scenario of Ezekiel 38? I don’t think that’s necessarily the case. But it certainly is a cause for us to sit up and pay attention.

Laurie urged Christians: Let’s pray for our friends in Israel. Let’s pray for the Jewish people.

It is in the best interest of the United States of America to stand with our loyal ally, the nation Israel, Laurie said. God made a promise to Abraham years ago, He said, I will bless those that bless you. I will curse those that curse you. One of the reasons God has blessed the United States is because we have stood by our friend Israel, and I hope we continue to do so.

Hagee said he is flying to D.C. this week on behalf of Christians United for Israel to tell members of the House of Representatives to stop shuffling papers and actually do something to help Israel.

It should have been done a long time ago, Hagee said of additional U.S. aid for Israel.

Image Courtesy: iStock/Getty Images Plus/e-crow 

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

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MLB: Iassogna crew chief, plate umpire for ASG

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MLB: Iassogna crew chief, plate umpire for ASG

NEW YORK — Dan Iassogna will be the umpire crew chief and work the plate during Tuesday night’s All-Star Game at Atlanta’s Truist Park.

His crew will include Marvin Hudson at first, Chris Segal at second, Jansen Visconti at third, Jeremie Rehak in left and Erich Bacchus in right, Major League Baseball said Thursday.

Iassogna, 56, will work his second All-Star Game. He was at third base for the 2011 game at Arizona.

He worked his first big league game in 1999, was hired to the major league staff in 2004 and appointed a crew chief ahead of the 2020 season. Iassogna umpired the World Series in 2012, ’17 and ’22 along with eight League Championship Series and seven Division Series.

Segal, Visconti, Rehak and Bacchus will work their first All-Star Games and Hudson his second after being in left field in 2004 at Houston.

Tony Randazzo will be the replay umpire in New York.

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A’s Rooker joins list of HR Derby participants

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A's Rooker joins list of HR Derby participants

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Athletics slugger Brent Rooker is adding his name to the list of Home Run Derby participants.

Rooker announced Thursday that he’s participating in the event, which takes place Monday in Atlanta. He will become the first Athletics player in the Home Run Derby since Matt Olson in 2021.

“Competing in the Home Run Derby has always been a dream of mine,” Rooker said in an Instagram post. “Can’t wait to make it happen next week in Atlanta! See ya there!”

Rooker, 30, entered Thursday with a .270 batting average, 19 homers and 50 RBIs, putting him on pace for a third straight season of at least 30 homers. He went deep 30 times in 2023 and had 39 homers in 2024.

His 58 homers since the start of the 2024 season rank him third among all American League players.

The only A’s to win the Derby were Mark McGwire in 1992 and Yoenis Céspedes in 2013 and 2014.

Other announced participants include Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr., Minnesota’s Byron Buxton, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz, Seattle’s Cal Raleigh and Washington’s James Wood.

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O’s trade reliever Baker to Rays for draft pick

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O's trade reliever Baker to Rays for draft pick

BALTIMORE — The Orioles traded right-handed reliever Bryan Baker to AL East rival Tampa Bay on Thursday in exchange for the 37th overall pick in the 2025 MLB amateur draft, a sign that one of baseball’s most disappointing clubs could be sellers at the upcoming trade deadline.

Orioles general manager Mike Elias wouldn’t completely commit to that idea. Speaking to reporters before Thursday’s split doubleheader against the New York Mets, he cited the 2024 Detroit Tigers, who traded players off their major league roster but held on to ace Tarik Skubal and then surged into a playoff spot.

Elias did, however, acknowledge the possibility of selling on a day that began with last-place Baltimore (40-50) sitting 12½ games behind the division-leading Toronto Blue Jays and seven out of the final AL wild-card spot.

“I think it’s a step in that direction,” said Elias three weeks before the July 31 deadline. “There’s no way around that. The timing of the draft, and when you have draft picks involved in the trades, kind of front-loads these decisions, and it’s earlier than my comfort level. But we thought it was a really good return and a good trade for everyone. So, we did it.”

The draft begins Sunday. In a corresponding move, the Orioles selected the contract of catcher David Bañuelos from Triple-A Norfolk.

After a dreadful start that brought the May dismissal of manager Brandon Hyde, the Orioles have steadied under interim skipper Tony Mansolino, playing to a 21-14 record since a loss to St. Louis on May 28.

Baker was a solid part of that, posting a 3.52 ERA, striking out 49 batters and posting a 1.096 WHIP in 38⅓ innings as the setup man for closer Felix Bautista.

“This is a team that is moving in the right direction, and we still have a lot of time left before the deadline, but this was a trade with the draft coming up in a couple days that we had to make a decision on,” Elias said. “We didn’t want to pass up on the opportunity. Hopefully, we can use the pick wisely, bring a lot of value back, and Bryan’s going to a good place.”

Mansolino is also hoping his team will get replenishments in the form of players eventually returning from the injured list. That sizable group includes several possible starting pitchers: Grayson Rodriguez (shoulder), Albert Suarez (shoulder), Tyler Wells (elbow) and Kyle Bradish (Tommy John surgery).

Meanwhile, Baltimore will now have four of the first 37 and seven of the first 93 draft picks.

“All the drafts are important, but when you have this amount of picks, it becomes more important, there’s no question about it,” Elias said. “There’s just a much bigger opportunity ahead of us, and the draft is a lifeblood for our franchise.”

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