Q: “Where in the Bible does it say that we should fast? And why?”
A: “Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning” Joel 2:12
“Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.” Joel 2:15-16
“And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights” Matt 4:2
“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly” Matt 6:16-18
“Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” Matt 17:21 and Mark 9:29
From Rev Father Mikhail Aziz’s book “The Christian Orthodox Faith According to the Holy Bible”
Q: When is the Lord coming back? Where does the Bible tell us about His second coming? How will we know that its Him when He comes ?
A: "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Mathew 24:36
"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. Mathew 25: 13
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 "Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.” Mark 13:32-33
"Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am [He,'] and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them.9 "But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end [will not come] immediately." Luke 21:8-9
“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.” Luke 21:34
"Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:27
"It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.” Acts 1:7
There are also many other places in the Bible that discuss the second coming of Our Lord; please see as follows:
I Thessalonians 5:2-4
II Peter 3:10
Revelations 3:3
Angels
Q: Do Angels really exist? How do we know they’re there?
Q: Does the Bible talk about the existence of Angels?
A: Yes. Angels do exist. They are God’s creation and they are spirits. Here’s what the Bible tells us about Angels.
† Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire. Psalm 104:4
† Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by [him,] and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off [his] hands. Acts 12:7
† It happened as the flame went up toward heaven from the altar -- the Angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar! When Manoah and his wife saw [this,] they fell on their faces to the ground. Judges 13:20
† For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. Matt 22:30
† Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy [is] the LORD of hosts; The whole earth [is] full of His glory!" Isaiah 6:2,3
† After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.Rev 7:1
† I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which present the prayers of the saints,
and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One. Tobit 12:15
† My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you." Daniel 6:22
† My Angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit for punishment, I will visit punishment upon them for their sin." Exodus 32:34
Please also see many more examples: Gen 3:24; Joshua 5:13-15; I Sam 4:4; I Chron 21:16; Matt 13:41; Luk 1:19; Acts 10:3; Eph 6:12
The above was taken from the book “The Christian Orthodox Faith According to the Holy Bible” by Rev Father Mikhail Aziz, St Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, Pompano Beach, Florida
Salvation
Q: How does the Lord give us Salvation?
A: Salvation comes through-
A) Faith in Christ
B) the Sacraments necessary for Salvation
C) Grace and spiritual struggle
“Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven”. Matthew 7:21
“not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.” Titus 3:5-8
“And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing”. I Cor 13:2
“You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only”.
James 2:24
See also Romans 1:18; 2:13; 4:15 Revelation 2:7; 11, 17,26, 3:5, 12 and 21
From the book “The Christian Orthodox Faith According to the Holy Bible”by Father Mikhail Abdou