Does fasting only have to do with giving up eating; can it also be giving up something you enjoy doing?

Sincerely,
Rumbly Tummy

Dear Rumbly Tummy,

The Greek word for ‘fasting’ is ‘naystaya’, and it simply means ‘to abstain from food’, and this is the only way the word is used in the Bible.  In fact, we get our word ‘breakfast’ from this idea.  Breakfast is when you “break” the “fast” of the night.  Although many religions have used the term ‘fast’ to include abstaining from anything, the word means simply to abstain from food.

I am very tortured by something.  I learned of it from the History Channel special on Armageddon.  I looked into it, and it is in the Scriptures.  I asked Jesus to come into my life months ago.  And after, I felt His light shine into my heart.  My question: the thing that has been torturing me is that the Scriptures say those with the mark of the beast are those with a mark on their right hand or forehead.  Something will happen to them.  I’m unclear on what.  I think I know, but it tortures me.  I have both these marks, one on my right hand, from a burn, and one on my forehead, a scar.  I fear that my soul is already lost.  I WANT TO BE WITH GOD!  I asked and begged for His forgiveness and to have mercy upon my soul.  I don't want to go to hell.  I WANT TO BE WITH JESUS!  And it tortures me to think my path has already been decided.  I have been tortured by this.  I WANT TO BE IN GOD'S LIGHT!  I WANT TO HUG JESUS!  Please help me. Give me advice.  Anything.  I am very troubled and in need of guidance. Thank you.

Sincerely,
A Marked Man

Dear A Marked Man,

The verse you are referring to is Rev 14:9.  However, take comfort – it isn’t referring to you.  The book of Revelation is dealing with the struggle between christians and the idolatrous nation of Rome; therefore, it can’t be referring to the burn on your hand and the scar on your head; you weren’t alive back then!  Don’t worry; they get a lot of stuff wrong on television.

It is important to remember that the book of Revelation is a book written with symbolic and figurative language (Rev 1:1).  It is a vision the apostle John received on the island of Patmos that uses apocalyptic dream-like visions to teach on a real-life subject that was “soon to come to pass” and “at hand” (Rev 1:1 and Rev 1:3).  Considering John wrote the book somewhere between 65 A.D. and 100 A.D. – we are about two thousand years too late for the vision to specifically apply to us.  Today, you need to obey the Gospel in order to be in God’s light (1 Jn 1:5-6).  We recommend that you read “What Must I Do To Be Saved?”, so that you can feel confident about what will save your soul.  There is more to it than simply asking Jesus into your life.  After reading that, we would love to help you find a faithful congregation in your area to help you learn and grow in God’s Word.  Please e-mail us at askyourpreacher@mvchurchofchrist.org, and we will help you find a congregation.

Job 5:9-14 – explain to me what these verses really mean.

Sincerely,
One More Verse Please

Dear One More Verse Please,

Job 5:9-14 is an excerpt from Eliphaz’s rebuke of Job.  Eliphaz’s argument with Job was that all suffering is some sort of correction from God.  Eliphaz was wrong.  Job wasn’t suffering because he had done something wicked.  Job was suffering because he was righteous, and God was using him as an example of righteousness (Job 1:8-12).  Job 5:9-14 is a list of the great and mighty deeds of God – which are all true.  The only problem is Eliphaz was using them to try and prove his point that Job was wicked.

I was reading the question posted by the author, Reveling in Revelation, and became confused by your answer:

 

"After the time period of peace, the devil will once again be loosed for a short time to do much harm and severely persecute christians by deceiving the nations (Rev 20:7-8).  Most theologians do not believe that time of severe persecution has begun yet."

I thought I had somewhat of a clear picture of the book of Revelation.  I agree with everything you say, but I was under the belief that since the time of Rome during which Christians were persecuted HORIFFICALLY, NEVER AGAIN will Christians be persecuted to that "extent".  I thought Christians were now, at this present time, at a place in history where we are simply waiting for Christ's return.

Of course, "persecution of Christians" has always been and continues to be seen in our modern day history, but I never imagined that we could experience persecution like the first century Christians did.

Have I misunderstood your words?  Obviously, as a Christian, this can be a scary thought!  It's one thing to be "discriminated against" for being a Christian and another when those early Christians back in history were burned at the stake, fed to the lions, and beheaded, etc!

Sincerely,
Tired of Terror

Dear Tired of Terror,

No, you didn’t misunderstand us.  At the end of the great period of peace, which we are most likely enjoying right now, there will be a short time that Satan will be loosed out of his prison to deceive the nations once more (Rev 20:7-8).  At the end of that short period of time, the devil will be finally and permanently cast down into eternal fire (Rev 20:10).  In fact, those verses are a great example of how the pre-millenial doctrine cannot be correct.  If the pre-millenialist is right about Jesus having a thousand year reign upon earth… that reign ends in disaster!

To be fair, this is only one view on the book of Revelation, and good and faithful brethren do disagree on the details of this particular book.  We would be careful about being too dogmatic on any of the specifics within the book of Revelation.

Why and who was the person who walked on water with Jesus?

Sincerely,
Can’t Swim

Dear Can’t Swim,

The name of the person was Peter; he was one of the apostles (Matt 10:2).  Peter was on the boat as Jesus approached, walking upon the water (Matt 14:24-26).  When Peter realized that it was Jesus, he asked to come out to Him on the water.  He wanted proof that it was really Jesus (Matt 14:28).  Peter is only the second man in all of history to walk on water.  Unfortunately, when he got scared and stopped having faith, he became the first man to walk on water and sink (Matt 14:29-31)… proving once again that faith is a decision, not just a feeling (Jas 2:18).