Hello! I am Jon Paulien and I’m glad you came to this page to check out my work. I am a New Testament scholar and Professor of Religion at Loma Linda University. On this website you will find a collection of my articles, commentary on Revelation, and links to my blog, videos, and other resources. Make sure you check the articles link above regularly to see the latest postings. In my hand above is an exact replica of p52, the earliest extant New Testament manuscript fragment, containing portions of John, chapter 18. Centered above my head is a replica of ancient Greek pottery. At either end above are two sets of books from, and about, my favorite spiritual author, Ellen G. White. I hope you enjoy the site.

Daily Devotional For December 22, 2025

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They will see His face and His name is upon their foreheads. And there will be no more night. They have no more need for the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will shine over them and they will reign forever and ever. (The angel) said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show to his servants what must soon take place.” Rev 22:4-6.

           A Christian apologist once spoke to a group of atheists. After finishing his speech, one of the atheists complained to him, “Christians have their special holidays, such as Christmas and Easter; the Jews celebrate their national holidays, such as Passover and Yom Kippur. But we atheists,” he said, “have no recognized national holidays. It’s unfair.”
           As a humorous response the apologist replied, “Why not celebrate April 1?”
           Those familiar with North American customs know that April 1 is called April Fools Day. Some believe that the holiday had its origins in France. It may be related to the vernal equinox of March 21 (the first day of Spring). The vernal equinox was the beginning of the new year according to the Julian calendar. Because of small inaccuracies in its calculations, the Julian calendar was eleven days off by the 16th Century. So the vernal equinox was on April 1 until Charles IX implemented the Gregorian calendar in 1582. Then the vernal equinox reverted to March 21.
           Before the calendar change people gave gifts to each other on April 1 in honor of the New Year. After the date was changed pranksters sent mock gifts to people they had selected, thus making them “April fools.” The custom made its way around the world to many other nations.
           Regarding atheists Psalm 14:1 (NIV) reports, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” The fool is someone who is proud of his or her earthly knowledge and ignores the evidence of a Higher Power. The fool thinks, in the words of media mogul Ted Turner, “Christianity is a religion for losers.”¹
           Our text promises that in the New Earth we will see the face of God. When looking at a person’s face you can often learn a lot about them, because character is expressed through the face. With years of experience I can often tell at a glance that a person has been heavily traumatized in the past. Our characters and life experiences have an impact on the face. So when the redeemed get to see God’s face it means that they will come to know His character and will be in intimate relationship with Him. There will be no atheists in heaven.

           Lord, I am awed by Your willingness to enter into intimate relationship with me. With You in my life I will be preserved from foolish thoughts and actions.

¹ Leslie N. Pollard, “Fooled!” Adventist Review, October, 2004, 24.