@civic @7xLightray Re: the connection, and Rev 13:18 the God they worship

[7xLightray]

…but the remnant will never be deceived.

But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

- Romans 11:4-5 (KJV)

Whoa! You really do have a different way of understanding. Don't even the remnant need to be saved at some point in their lives? Yes, Romans 10:12-17, Paul was one. Being saved means believing God. And that would be by hearing, or reading, believing the truth of what is meant to be understood, by God, as we all must.

And, yes, at the "present"G3568 ADV.; this word, for instance, is not in the Present Tense: a continuous action. It is a Adverb, so, it's "presently."

Paul chose this passage, because the same was happening in their day, and God preserved a certain amount to be saved. As in the days of Ahab (who was more evil than all before him; having 400 false prophets said, unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. 1Ki 22:8). Jezebels (the Jews), shown by their actions, rejecting God's truth, hating, and hunting Christ's prophets, teachers, etc. Paul was one; that would be one good reason why Paul said, he was the worst of sinners).

The "present time" could, or would, end at some point, and that is expressed with the next word "time" (G2540 N-DSM), which means: an occasion, that is, set or proper time, a particular time or instance of an event.

Paul is referring to the Jews here, that are being cast off, and a remnant saved out of them, at the present time. He also states that the Gentiles can be cut off as well in Romans 11:22; and they can Exo. 12:15, 19 (perfectly, or cut off, also refers to this age); Paul speaks the same as Exo 12 does, here in 1Co 5:3-8; John also speaks the same 2 Jn 1:9-10; And now here, Peter who speaks the same to the Jews, also referring to this age Act 3:22 (all things whatsoever; or shall be destroyed; whether he be a stranger, or born in the land).

 

[7xLightray]

Greetings…. There are two beasts mentioned in the book of Revelation, chapter 13. The first beast mentioned is in 13:1. This is a multi-headed governmental one-world political system. The second beast mentioned is in 13:5-8, 11. This beast is that dragon of old; he is the Antichrist and his name is Satan. I used blue to indicate the first beast and green to indicate the second beast. Here’s my understanding:

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

- Revelation 13:1-8,11-18 (KJV)

Whoa! In verse 4, how did the second beast become the first beast, before we were even introduced to the second beast contextually?

4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the [first] beast: and they worshipped the [second] beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?