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 June 21, 2026

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They had tails like scorpions and stingers. And with their tails they had the authority to harm the human race for five months. They had a king over them, the Angel of the Abyss. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek his name is Apollyon. Rev 9:10-11.

           The fifth trumpet contains many images that would have been familiar to readers in the time of John. Darkness is the opposite of light. In the New Testament this would represent a philosophy that denies Jesus and the gospel (John 3:18-21). The Abyss is a place where demons are confined (Luke 8:30-31). The tail is a symbol of lying prophets (Isa 9:15).
           While many parts of this trumpet remain mysterious, the “plague” is a spiritual one that torments the followers of Satan but does not harm those who are sealed (Rev 9:4-6). It leaves the wicked in suicidal anguish (9:5-6). The sun of God’s Word is eclipsed but not destroyed (9:2-3). The symbolism fits well with the effects of secularization in our world today.
           Secularization is a process by which people become less and less attached to religious organizations. Secular people are not atheists, they just don’t make time for God and/or religion. Secularization isn’t all bad, however, it sets the stage for a deeper appreciation of human rights and religious liberty. The secular commitment to universal education also gives people the tools to search the Word of God for themselves. Bible societies, scientific progress and archaeology are hard to imagine in a world without freedom of thought and faith. So the secularization of the western world has had its positive points.
           Secularization, of course, has also had a negative impact. Through the French and Russian revolutions, it opened the way for Communism, which made the practice of faith very difficult in communist countries. Secularization has also paved the way for the wrong kind of ecumenism. All other things being equal, Christian unity would be a good thing. But there is a type of ecumenism that impoverishes the faith and steals away certainty, implying, “Don’t be a fanatic. It doesn’t really matter what you believe!” Secularization has also led to unbridled materialism. If there is no God, then life at its fullest is mainly about shopping and eating. People with such beliefs usually become obsessed with the things of this world.
           Ultimately, secularization is a trend that God has used to judge oppressors and free up His people to serve Him without restraint. And the beauty of the fifth trumpet is that it does not harm those who know God. The ultimate Christian response to secularization is stated by a bumper sticker I saw a while ago, “God is not dead, I talked to Him last night.”

           Lord, in a world that ignores You in its pursuit of possessions and pleasure, keep me focused on Your living presence.