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 July 28, 2026

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And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is about to shepherd all the nations with a rod of iron. And her child was snatched up to God and to His throne. Rev 12:5.

           The child in this verse is clearly a representation of Jesus Christ. So in the middle of an apocalyptic vision we get a glimpse of something familiar, the Christmas story. The birth and ascension of Jesus Christ are clearly on display here.
           Although we are familiar with the stories of the Christmas season, it is still hard to imagine Jesus as a child. Did He fall and scratch His knee at times? Did His mother put a band-aid on the Son of God? How did Jesus get along with His playmates? When they grabbed one of His toys, did He demand it back or did He simply let it go? Did they take advantage of Him as a result? Did His mother or father ever ask Him to do something that would have violated His conscience? How would He have handled that?
           I recall a wonderful set of lessons that children learn in life. Reviewing these will give you a chuckle and also bring home the amazing truth that God did not send His Son to earth as an adult, ready to deal with adults, but as a child, subject to the lessons of everyday life. Here are some great truths about life that little children have learned:
           1) No matter how hard you try, you can’t baptize cats.
           2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don’t let her brush your hair.
           3) If your sister hits you, don’t hit her back. They always catch the second person.
           4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
           5) You can’t trust dogs to watch your food.
           6) Don’t sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
           7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
           8) You can’t hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
           9) Don’t wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
           10) The best place to be when you’re sad is Grandpa’s lap.¹
           Several of these illustrations would have been unfamiliar to Jesus as a child growing up in Nazareth. They do, however, give a delightful window into the world of the child and how life’s lessons get experienced, and hopefully learned. It is moving to realize that God took the enormous risk of inserting His Son into a world He could not control, an environment in which He was relatively helpless, facing the wrath of the dragon in full force. The measure of God’s sacrifice is also the measure of His love for us.

           Lord, thank You for sending Jesus to fully explore human life and its complications. I trust You to understand and meet my needs today.

¹ Email from Dan Millen, March 1, 2003.