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 8, 2025
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Every island fled away and mountains were not found. Great hail weighing as much as a talent (90 pounds) fell from heaven upon men, and men blasphemed God because of the plague of hail, since the plague of hail was so severe. Rev 16:20-21.
When natural disasters come, people always ask why. But usually there is no simple answer. But a major cause of natural disasters are actions we thought would be to our benefit. Actions taken with the highest of motivations may still have negative consequences.
“What I am trying to do is make the whole world safe for Jews,” Harry Truman wrote as he wrestled over the decision whether or not to recognize a Jewish state in Palestine. Deeply affected by the Holocaust, Truman sympathized with Jewish aspirations for a homeland. In November 1947 he lobbied for the UN resolution that divided Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. Britain announced that it would hand authority over Palestine to the UN by May 14, 1948.
Secretary of State George Marshall advised against recognition. He warned Truman that Arab countries would unite in an attempt to destroy the Jews. On the eve of the British withdrawal he told Truman that “the office of the president” was at stake. But Truman’s mind was made up. At 4 PM on the 14th of May, David Ben-Gurion read a 979-word declaration of independence in front of a small audience at the Tel Aviv Art Museum. At midnight British rule over Palestine lapsed; 11 minutes later the US announced its recognition of Israel.
“God put you in your mother’s womb,” the Chief Rabbi of Israel later told Truman, “so you would be the instrument to bring the rebirth of Israel.” With Truman’s decision, the hopes of the Jewish people were realized, but so too were Marshall’s fears. Arab opponents of the new nation immediately declared war, prompting a bloody struggle over Israel’s existence that continues until this day.
The plagues at the end are horrible. In a perfect world God would never choose to destroy and devastate as described here. But this is not a perfect world. God’s people are in danger of destruction and God intervenes to deliver them from End-time Babylon.
Like President Truman, God once faced a fateful decision. God could create beings that were programmed to obey Him or He could create beings that were truly free. But free beings would be able to reject God and plunge the creation into great misery. It was a God-sized decision. There were pluses and minuses either way. God chose freedom and the rest is history. One day the wisdom of His choice will be clearly seen. For now we live with the necessary consequences.
Lord, thank You for the freedom we have to live and love and choose our way. Help me to freely choose the best way, the way that You designed me to go.