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 27, 2025

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I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you concerning the churches. I am both the root and the descendant of David, the bright and morning star. Rev 22:16.

           The church deacon had thoughtfully prepared a place for the guest speaker to look over her notes before the worship service one Sabbath. The speaker was seated at the church secretary’s large desk just outside the pastor’s study. A short while later three women came into the office and asked, “Have you seen our purses? We left them on the desk half an hour ago.”
           “I’m just a visitor here, not the receptionist,” the speaker replied, “but no, I have not seen any purses, and I’ve been here for 15 minutes.”
           The women panicked, looking underneath the desk, beside it, and in the drawers, but still no pocketbooks appeared.
           Just then the helpful deacon re-appeared and the frantic women asked him the same question.
           “Yes, I have seen your purses,” he said, “you left all three of them on top of the secretary’s desk. So to make sure they were not stolen, I took all of them and locked them in the closet.”
           The women were understandably relieved.
           But the deacon was not finished. He offered a gentle reprimand. “You should know better than to leave pocketbooks lying around anywhere. After all, although this is a church, it is not heaven!”¹
           The deacon was balancing the ideal and the real. While the church can offer a foretaste of heaven, it is not heaven in the fullest sense. It is very much a part of the great battle at the center of focus in the Book of Revelation. The church family is made up of human beings with a great number of imperfections.
           In Revelation Jesus offers a clear testimony concerning the churches. This is not only true of the first three chapters of the book, but of the entire book according to this text. Every vision, every beast, every blessing, every war, every song of praise is designed to instruct the churches.
           One thing is clear. The churches are not whitewashed in the book. Jesus applies a searching scrutiny to the churches and portrays their characters and experiences with rigorous honesty. While there are faithful ones in the churches, the people of God are far from perfect. They deeply need the cleansing that comes from the blood of the Lamb (Rev 1:5-6; 7:14; 12:11). They look forward to the transformation of all things that Jesus will effect when He comes.

           Lord, help me to keep my balance between the ideal and the real in the church. When things go wrong, keep my eyes fixed on Jesus.

¹ Based on Wilma McClarty, “This is a Church, but This is Not Heaven!” Adventist Review, March 18, 2004, 24.