Contrary to popular opinion, the warning not to take the mark of the beast during the great tribulation is directly given to the church, specifically God’s faithful ones, not to sinners or backslidden Christians who will be left behind after the rapture.
We understand the book of Romans was written to the church because in his introduction, Paul wrote that he was writing to the saints who were in Rome (Romans 1:7). By this, we know that the teachings and instructions in the book are meant for the church. Similarly, at the very beginning of the book of Revelation, John states that God gave the revelations in the book to the church, specifically, those who are bondservants of God (Revelation 1:1). Examples of those identified as as bondservants in Scripture include the apostles Paul and Peter, while the Scriptures also exhort all Christians to walk as bondservants of Christ (Romans 1:1, 2 Peter 2, 1 and 2 Timothy 2:24-26). The bondservants of Christ, who are the faithful believers in the church, are those to whom the book of Revelation was written. Indeed, sinners and carnal Christians can also read it and get their life in order. But the book is clear about its audience.
Again in Revelation 1:4, John affirmed that He was writing the book to the church, and in Revelation 1:11, John mentions that Jesus told him to write the book of Revelation to the church. Additionally, Jesus Himself, at the very end of the book of Revelation, testified that He is the one who has given the revelations in the book to the church: “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches (Revelation 22:16). Thus, from the opening statement in the book Revelation to the concluding chapter, the book asserts consistently that it is written to the church, God’s faithful servants, and gives no room for speculation in this regard.
In the next post, we will look at the biblical texts that explicitly admonish the church on what to do during the Great Tribulation; and what they reveal challenges what tradition has handed down about who will still be here when the mark is enforced.
Kwadwo Omari, PhD
March 12, 2026