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 August 28, 2026

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And they were singing, as it were, a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders, and no one was able to learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. Rev 14:3.

           I’ll never forget a dream I had as a teen-ager. I was sleeping at my parent’s house near New York City. It must have been a fairly deep sleep because, as I started dreaming, I was totally unaware of reality and was totally into the dream. In the dream I found myself in the New Jerusalem. I was looking around, seeing the streets of gold, with happy people and an aura of glory shining out of everything around me. As it sunk in that I was actually there, that the battle was over, that my salvation was secure, the first emotion that swept over me was a sense of total unworthiness. “I can’t believe God accepted me, me of all people! Unworthy as I am!” There was a sense of amazement that this could happen to me.
           Then the sense of unworthiness was replaced by a more powerful emotion. I was filled with an overwhelming sense of joy and gratitude. I wanted to shout and sing praises to God. I felt as if I would burst with thankfulness! I couldn’t imagine doing anything else for all eternity! I just wanted to pour out my gratitude to Jesus, who made it all possible. Jesus, what a wonderful name! What a wonderful person. And I praised the glory of His grace until I woke up! Now I’m learning to praise Him in advance of heaven, for what He has already done for me.
           The concept of a “new song” does not begin in the Book of Revelation. It is a common theme in the Psalms. But the interesting thing is that, wherever the concept of a new song appears, it is always inspired by God’s great salvation.¹
           Psalm 40:3 (NIV) says, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.” But in verses 1 and 2 he tells us what inspired the new song. “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” That is what inspired the new song.
           Psalm 98:1-2 (NIV) says, “Sing to the Lord a new song.” Why? “For he has done marvelous things. The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.” The psalmist sings a new song because of the marvelous things the Lord has done, particularly, making his salvation known throughout the world.
           This pattern is repeated often in the Psalms. Whenever the concept of a new song appears, it is always motivated and inspired by the mighty saving actions of God. When we arrive at the New Jerusalem, it is God’s salvation that will inspire a new song. And we will sing that song with power because we will finally realize just how much we have been saved from.

           May Your mighty works for me inspire the first notes of my “new song” today.

¹ Damien Johnson, “A New Song,”Adventist Review, December 18, 2003, 15.