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 October 3, 2026

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Behold, I come as a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and hangs on to his garments, in order that he might not walk naked and they see his shame. Rev 16:15.

           Falling asleep is the perfect metaphor for the way many of us live our faith. We go through the motions of religion, make it through worship songs without remembering a word, sometimes even pray and read our Bibles in a daze; as if a fog prevented any of it from making an impact on our lives. But we don’t have to stay in a fog spiritually. There is a ready antidote.
           A lifelong Catholic named Dan found Vicky Nelson to be extremely irritating. He could hardly stand to be with her on the job. Why? Because she was so calm all the time. She emanated a glow of serenity that was rare! Peace radiated from her like a spiritual tranquilizer! To him it seemed as if she were on drugs or something.
           He asked her, “Why are you so calm all the time?”
           “My faith,” she answered peacefully.
           “What faith?” he stammered. “I have faith, I’m Catholic!” (He claims to have been the world’s worst Catholic at the time.)
           “My faith,” she repeated.
           “What do you mean?” he asked. He’d always believed in God but felt that anyone who called themselves “born-again” must be nuts! When Christians called his radio show he played the theme from “The Twilight Zone” behind their voices.
           Vicky dragged him down to a Bible bookstore. He bought a Bible and took a little yellow pamphlet called “The Four Spiritual Laws” from her. Among other things, the booklet had a drawing of a throne with a little man sitting on it. The caption said, “Take yourself off the throne, and put the One Who made you on it.”
           “Hmm,” Dan thought, “Makes sense so far.” He got down on his knees and said, “OK God, if you’re really up there, come into my life and do your thing! Amen.” He then went to bed and read most of the Book of John. He fell asleep before he finished because he already knew how it ended.
           The next morning he woke up feeling high, as if he had drunk 10 cups of coffee or something. The reason was simple. He BELIEVED in God! He suddenly had a craving to read the Bible. And it made sense to him! He knew that only God could do a miracle like this.¹ The antidote to being asleep spiritually is to “ask and you will receive” (Matt 7:7). It is simply to “taste and see” (Ps 34:8). God is real and is waiting to show Himself to us.

           Lord, I invite You on the throne of my life today. Let nothing separate me from You.

¹ Email from Dan Millen, March 31, 2003.