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 May 5, 2026

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And when he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!” And I saw, and behold, a black horse, and the one sitting on it had a scale for weighing in his hand. And I heard, as it were, a voice in the middle of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and the wine.” Rev 6:5-6.

           A denarius was roughly a day’s wage during this period, so the prices mentioned in this text represent a severe famine. A man would have to work all day to get enough wheat to feed himself. If he had a family to support he would need to buy the cheaper barley. Given the large size of families in those days, the children would likely die or be stunted by malnutrition.
           Why does the text mention sparing the oil and the wine, which are less necessary for life than grain? In Asia Minor of the 90s this text would have connected with a hot issue. Wine trade at that time was more profitable than grain. The wealthy landowners of Asia were, therefore, switching production from grain to grapes.
           So much of the land in the Province of Asia (which included the seven churches) was dedicated to producing olive oil and wine for profitable export. Meanwhile, the cities of Asia had to import grain all the way from Egypt or the areas by the Black Sea. So while landowners and shippers profited from their choice, the people in Asia had to pay higher prices for staple foods.
           The problem was serious enough that the Emperor Domitian tried to intervene and force the landowners to restrict vine production in places like the province of Asia. His attempts were very unpopular and proved unsuccessful. If he had succeeded it would have been quite a blow to the wealthy of Philadelphia, for example, whose wealth was gained from wine production. As is often the case, the greed of the wealthy had serious consequences for the poor.
           But the sparing of the oil and the wine could also be read as a token of God’s mercy in the time of judgment. Ancient Mediterranean warfare included destroying the standing crops in the fields, but not the vines and the olives trees (which take about 17 years to reach productive capacity). Destroying wheat and barley meant hardship for a year, but destroying vines and trees would result in enduring disaster.¹
           While the judgments of God in our lives can be severe, they are for the purpose of redeeming us, not destroying us. It is not God’s purpose to prolong suffering, but to use difficulties to get our attention and bring us to a place that would be better for us. If everyone was more attentive to God’s call much of the injustice in the world also disappear.

           Lord, I want to be attentive to Your call in my life today. May I not need overwhelming difficulties before I am willing to listen to You.

¹ Based on Keener, 204-205.