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 December 25, 2025

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Behold, I am coming soon! And my reward is with me, to pay back everyone according to his work. Rev 22:12.

           There are two parts to this text. We tend to seize on the former and ignore the latter. The crucial message is not the nearness of the End, but the fact that our behavior today affects our reward then. Prophecies like Revelation are not given to satisfy our curiosity about the future, but to teach us how to live today. Ignoring this principle can have both humorous and deadly consequences.
           Michael tells the story of an Adventist camp meeting.¹ On Sabbath morning there was an open-air Sabbath School followed by a worship service and a potluck lunch. After lunch the young marrieds went on walks, the older marrieds went for their traditional Sabbath “rest,” and the teenagers either went to the river or “hung out” by the lunch tables.
           Will and Bobby were in the group by the tables. An 8-year old girl with red hair and freckles sauntered up to the table and asked, “What’s up?” Will said, “Nothing much. . .,” but Bobby quickly added, “Except a tornado is headed this way at 12 miles an hour, and the center of it is spinning at 95 miles an hour. Hail the size of golf balls are close behind, and we are directly in its path! It should be hitting us in about 30-45 minutes!”
           The redhead’s eyes opened wide and she dashed off to warn everyone else of the impending danger. Within minutes, most of the Adventists had surrendered their Sabbath “rest” and were tuning in to all the local radio stations. Many began packing up and getting out of there. Of the hundreds of families camping there, about a third had evacuated within the space of 20 minutes, even though there was not a cloud in the sky, and the tents were stifling hot due to the lack of a breeze.
           Michael’s first thought on hearing the report was, “I should have brought a radio.” His second thought was, “I wonder what Will and Bobby have to do with this?” So he went looking for the teenagers. Sure enough, there were about a half-dozen teens still hanging out calmly with Will and Bobby. They laughingly admitted to having told a redhead of the impending disaster.
           Michael went hunting for the redhead, and found her running to another part of the camp grounds. He stopped her, much to her agitation, and told her it was all a joke. She became really upset and told him that he was lying to her and that there really was a tornado headed their way and he had better get out while he had the chance! And off she went on her mission to warn everyone. The weather that weekend was perfect. If a tornado ever does hit that campground, nobody will believe the warning.

           Lord, keep my study of prophecy focused on You more than on the events around me.

¹ Email from Michael Pearson, December 6, 2002.