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 28, 2026

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The mystery of the seven stars, which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands; the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. Rev 1:20.

           I drowned about ten years ago. Funny, I’m still here. Must have been an angel. You see,
           I was snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef off Australia. I was about 400 yards from shore in five-foot deep water, so when my strength began to give out I wasn’t worried. That was when I discovered the water wasn’t five-foot deep, it was seven-foot deep! I was in big trouble.
           Fortunately I spotted a rock about 18 inches high and 18 inches wide in the sand below the water. I stood on the rock and got my nose above water. Unfortunately, waves kept washing me off the rock so I couldn’t get my strength back. I called to my wife, who is a better swimmer than I am. To make a long story short, she came over and helped me stay balanced on the rock until help came.
           A few months later we told the story to a friend who had done a lot of diving. He asked my wife, “How were you able to keep your nose above water and hold your husband up when you’re so much smaller than he is?”
           “I balanced myself on the tips of my fins,” she said.
           His eyes grew wide, “That’s impossible! Fins won’t support your weight.”
           “Well, that’s what I did!” She replied. “They felt as solid as my own legs!”
           He thought for a minute. “There’s no way that could work,” he said, “An angel must have held you up!”
           I’m inclined to agree. In my desperate situation I didn’t know how she did it, I was just grateful that my wife was as solid as a pillar next to me. As I think about her explanation, I’m also convinced an angel held us up.
           What are the angels of the seven churches? Some interpreters think they are the messengers that carried John’s apocalypse and read it to the churches. Others think they are the pastors or leaders of the churches. Still others think they are God’s secret guardians that step in to help when needed, like the one I experienced in Australia.
           The Book of Revelation is full of angels. Most of them are clearly not human beings. In Jewish tradition, angels guide the activities of earthly rulers (Dan 10:13, 20-21, for example) and are sometimes held responsible for the earthly ruler’s behavior.¹ Perhaps these seven angels watched over the leaders of the churches. It is nice to know that the church, feeble and defective though it may be, has the same kind of watchcare from God’s angels that every one of us has.

           Thank you, Lord, for the messengers that watch over all of Your people.

¹ Keener, 100.