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 January 14, 2026

View in the Daily Devotional Index

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Rev 1:8.

           One Friday in October news reached a community that locusts were on the way and would devastate any crops left in the field. The community’s farmers immediately went into “around the clock” mode. Beginning Friday afternoon they harvested all night Friday and all day Saturday to get the crop in before the locusts arrived. There was one exception.
           A Seventh-day Adventist farmer followed his normal Friday afternoon routine, putting away equipment and setting aside all chores that could be done on another day. Anticipating this action on his part, a few of his neighbors took time out of their own race against time to drop in and plead with him. The labor of an entire year was at stake. Surely God wouldn’t mind if the Adventist farmer “took care of business” just this one time?
           “I will keep the Sabbath as usual,” the farmer told his neighbors, “I trust God to deal with the locusts.”
           The neighbors tried once more to dissuade him, but his mind was made up, so they returned to their farms and their desperate effort to get the crops in before the locusts arrived. All night Friday and all day Saturday they labored and most of the crop was saved.
           Sunday morning dawned, and the Adventist farmer looked out the window at the remnants of what had once been a thriving crop. The locusts had come through during the night and eaten up everything. The neighbors returned, to comfort the farmer as much as to chide him. But they did ask him to explain God’s failure to compensate him for his faithfulness.
           The farmer’s response: “God does not always make a final settlement in October.”
           In our text God is the Alpha and Omega (beginning and ending of the Greek alphabet). He is the One who is, was and is to come (the One in control of the past, the present and the future), and the Almighty. God is the Lord of history. No situation that we encounter could possibly take Him by surprise. Everything that happens to us is part of a larger plan. But how do we explain the farmer’s misfortune?
           The Book of Revelation is filled with God’s judgments on wicked nations and systems. But God’s true people can be found in those same nations and systems. They experience the “side effects” of God’s judgments. Because of the mixed nature of human systems, God’s faithful people should never expect perfect security in this life. Faithfulness is not always rewarded immediately. God does not always make a final settlement in October.

           Lord, give me the confidence today to know that You are in control, even when things seems totally out of control. Give me patience to wait for Your justice.