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 18, 2025

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These will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings– and those with him are called and chosen and faithful. Rev 17:14.

           Native American (so-called Indian) culture is strongly centered in story-telling, not unlike the Hebrew culture that we find in the Old Testament. The elders of the tribe pass on stories about the ancestors which they had heard from their parents and grandparents. And the grandparents had heard these same stories from their own parents and grandparents.
           The story is told of a tribal elder not long ago who was approached by a group of children. As most children will, they begged him to tell them a story. He shared a story that personalizes the war described in our text for today.
           According to the legends of the tribe, every person at birth is given two wolves who reside within. These wolves grow with each child and affect human behavior throughout a person’s life. One wolf is the source of everything evil in life. It promotes behaviors that are unkind, hurtful, deceitful, hateful, and cruel. The other wolf is the source of every good behavior, acts of kindness, truthfulness, love and mercy. The two wolves are constantly battling each other inside and the person’s behavior reflects the wolf that is winning that day.
           The children were enthralled with this story and asked the question, “Which of the two wolves will win?”
           The wise elder paused dramatically for a few seconds and then answered, “The one that you feed.”
           The war described in Rev 17:14 is the global war of the end-time, called Armageddon in 16:16. It will involve every nation on the earth and every economic and religious power. But that battle also has personal dimensions. The New Testament is fond of describing the personal battle against sin and Satan in military terms (see Eph 6:10-17, for example). In the New Testament “the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly weapons” (2 Cor 10:4– author’s translation). Fleshly weapons tear you to pieces, like AK-47 assault rifles and M1A1 Abrams tanks. But spiritual warfare is different. It is about “tearing down false arguments, and every pretension that lifts itself up against the knowledge of God, and taking captive every thought, to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor 10:4-5– author’s translation).
           There is a battle raging inside every one of us. And our part in this battle is real. The question is, “What are you feeding your mind?”

           Lord, I will have many opportunities today to choose between Your ways and the promptings of our common enemy. I submit my choices to You today.