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 25, 2026
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Just as she has glorified herself and lived luxuriously, so give to her torment and pain. Because in her heart she says, “I sit as a queen, I am not a widow, and I will never know pain.” Rev 18:7.
In the Book of Revelation Babylon is portrayed as a queen; she is dressed in fine garments and decked with jewels (Rev 17:4-5). Her wealth is also the commercial engine that prospers the merchants of the entire world (18:9-19). Her wealth and standing, however, were gained at the expense of others (17:6; 18:2-3; 5). So this text contains a call for reversal. In contrast to her luxurious life, she is condemned to the kind of torment and pain she inflicted on others. Her luxury is even listed as one of the grounds for condemnation (18:3).
Is a luxurious life a sin against God then? If so, how luxurious? Is the mere possession of riches cause for condemnation? And if that is so, are not most of us condemned in today’s world? After all, what ancient person would not have been awed at the wealth of a “poor” person today, many of whom own aging, but self-propelled vehicles, live in apartments with central heat, and own electronic boxes that bring news and entertainment from afar! All of these would have been unimaginable luxuries in the Roman world. Is wealth a sin? And, if so, how much wealth?
The answer lies in the first part of Rev 18:7. It is not just that Babylon has lived luxuriously, it is that she has “glorified herself” in her possessions. It is not the possessions themselves that condemn her, it is her selfishness in the use of them that is the crucial thing. Her goal in gathering possessions was not the benefit of others or even humanity as a whole, it was to glorify herself and make her own life comfortable and secure.
I suspect that God is less concerned with the size of your house than with your hospitality or lack of it. God is less concerned about the kind of car you drive than whether or not you use it to transport people who don’t have a car. God is less concerned with the size of your social circle than with how many people consider you a friend. God is less concerned with the neighborhood you live in than He is with the way you treat your neighbors.
I suspect that God doesn’t mind if you have a high salary, He does mind if you compromised your character to obtain it. God will not condemn you for working overtime, but He will want to know if you did it for your own sake or for the sake of others. God won’t mind if you gained promotions on the job, as long as you worked equally hard to promote others. God is less concerned with the quantity of your possessions than He is with the degree to which they rule your life. Babylon isn’t about what you have, it is about how you live.
Lord, open my eyes to the Babylon within me. Forgive my blindness to the needs of others and help me to see others through Your eyes.