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 27, 2026

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Write, therefore, what you have seen, namely, the things which are and the things which must happen after these things. Rev 1:19.

           In verse 11 John was told to “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches.” The word for “see” in that verse is a present tense, indicating that John was already in vision and that the vision would continue for a time. In verse 19, on the other hand, John is told to “Write what you have seen.” The word for seeing is no longer in the present tense, it is now in the past tense. This suggests that John received the whole vision between verse 10, when he went into the spirit, and verse 18 when he finished the narrative of his encounter with Jesus. By verse 19 the vision was over, It was time for the writing to begin.
           According to verse 19, the content of Revelation fits into two categories; the things which are and the things which must happen after these things. In Rev 4:1 the language of 1:19 is repeated. “Come up here and I will show you the things which must happen after these things.” Verse 19, then, seems to be a structuring device for the rest of the book. The first part of the vision involves the “things which are,” the messages to the seven churches (Revelation 2 and 3). The rest of the vision focuses primarily on events that are future from John’s perspective. But what good is it to the churches to learn about events beyond their day?
           My wife and I recently flew from South Bend, Indiana to New Zealand. It was a very complicated itinerary, involving three separate flights and a layover in Los Angeles. We left on Tuesday and arrived on Friday. Snowstorms in Chicago complicated matters greatly. A number of flights into and out of Chicago were cancelled. As a result my wife and I ended up having to take different flights to Los Angeles. How did we manage to meet again in Los Angeles?
           We were able to meet up in LA because we knew something about the future. Knowing our ultimate goal we were able to make the right decisions along the way. We knew that whatever our separate routes, our baggage would be held by United Airlines at Los Angeles International Airport. As it turns out, I landed at a gate far from the terminal normally served by United Airlines. For a time I could find neither my wife nor my baggage. But she wisely waited at the United Baggage Office in Terminal 7. I eventually found my way to her and our things. We might never have gotten together if we had not both known where we were going.
           Likewise, God tells us about the future so that we can get where we are going today. Each day is a piece of our itinerary toward God’s purpose. With an eye on His Word we can find our way through the maze of life.

           Thank you, Lord, for making Your ultimate purpose clear through Your Word. May my steps today keep me moving in the direction of Your ultimate purpose for me.