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 July 3, 2025

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And (The angel) cried out with a loud voice like the roar of a lion. And when he cried out, the seven thunders uttered their own voices. And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders said and do not write them down.” Rev 10:3-4.

           John experiences the seven thunders and finds much in them that he would like to record, but he is told not to write them down. The thunders evidently reveal matters that are not yet ours to know. The hidden things belong to God alone (Deut 29:29). No matter how much we study, no matter how brilliant we may be, we know only in part until Jesus comes (1 Cor 13:9). We should be candid about our limitations of understanding and not speak dogmatically about matters that are not certain.
           Particularly in Revelation, many teachers of prophecy like to fill in too many details on which the text does not directly comment. Prophetic speculation often takes the place of obedience to the clear teachings of the Word. Instead of hearing and obeying the text, we use the Bible to satisfy people’s curiosity about the future. In so doing we add to the message of Scripture (Rev 22:18).¹
           Many put the blame for terrorism on religion. In the words of a protest sign that appeared on September 12, 2001: “No Religion, No War.” The sign expressed the conviction that, if you could get rid of religious authority and sacred texts, the world would be a better and safer place. In a world torn by division and hatred, any religion that adds to the divisions or fuels the hatreds is part of the problem rather than part of the solution.
           But would the elimination of religion make the world a safer place? A more tolerant place? History offers a resounding “no” to both questions. The architects of the French Revolution and Russian Communism both saw the intolerance of the “Christian” West and sought to solve the problem by eliminating the Christian faith. But reaction against religion tends to create a new exclusion that breeds more violence in the future (“we have to stop those narrow-minded people”). To paraphrase the words of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn: “The line between good and evil does not run between “us” and “them” but through the heart of every human being.”
           I believe that in a terrified world we don’t need less faith but better faith. We don’t need less spiritual guidance, we need better spiritual guidance. Instead of “no sacred texts” we could start with a lot more humility in how we handle sacred texts. The very greatness of the God envisioned in the Bible warns us against the tendency to think we have gained absolute clarity in our understanding of Him.

           Lord, open my eyes and my heart to the limitations in my understanding of You.

¹ Based on Keener, 284.