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 April 11, 2026

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And whenever the living creatures express glory and honor and thank-fulness to the one sitting on the throne, who lives forever and ever, . . . Rev 4:9.

           Bob and DeAnna Gulke, my wife’s brother and sister, both kindly passed on a cute story a while ago that was food for some thought.¹ In the story someone was getting the proverbial tour of Heaven from St. Peter. During part of the tour they walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels.
           St. Peter stopped in front of the first section and said, “This is the Receiving Section. Here, all prayer requests are received and processed.”
           The heavenly tourist looked at the section, and it was terribly busy with many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world. They moved on to the second section of the workroom.
           St. Peter said, “This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the persons who asked for them.”
           Again this was an extremely busy section. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth.
           Finally at the farthest corner of the room, the two of them stopped at a very small station. To the surprise of the heavenly tourist, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing.
           “This is the Acknowledgment Section,” St. Peter said.
           “How is it that there’s no work here?” the tourist asked.
           “So sad,” St. Peter sighed. “After people receive the blessings they ask for, very few send acknowledgments.”
           “How does one acknowledge God’s blessings?”
           “Simple,” St. Peter answered. “Just say, ‘Thank you, Lord.’”
           But what if you can’t think of any blessings from God? What if life for you has seemed an unending series of disasters and trials? Should heaven’s Acknowledgment Section be unemployed on your account?
           I’d suggest consulting a dictionary. Every page of the dictionary is filled with blessings we may never have acknowledged to God. Apes, apples, apricots; there are so many things that God has given each of us. When was the last time you thanked Him for one of them? God is the author of life and every good thing. Let the acknowledgments begin!

           Lord, I am ashamed of the many times You have reached out to me in blessing and I have taken You for granted. I thank You for this day and all that You have done for me.

¹ Emails on December 1, 2003.