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 April 20, 2026

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And I saw, in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God that have already been sent into all the earth. Rev 5:6.

           I have had the privilege of spending significant time in the Middle East over the last twelve years. Early in that period my oldest daughter chose to be baptized in the Jordan River. It was a special moment, whether or not it was near the place where John the Baptist actually baptized people. It was a pretty spot, there are trees on both sides of the river and the water flows very quietly at that point.
           A few years later my youngest daughter began to show an interest in baptism. I reminded her of her sister’s baptism and asked if she had any special plans for her baptism. I wondered what she could possibly come up with that would “top that.” She did it! She said, “I’d like to be baptized in the Red Sea, at the place where the Israelites crossed!” I doubt she realized it at the time, but Paul associates the crossing of the Red Sea with Christian baptism in 1 Cor 10:1-4. My daughter could not have chosen the location more wisely.
           Now archaeologists are not exactly certain where the Israelites made their crossing. Some even suggest that it was not the Red Sea, but the “sea of reeds,” which they identify with a lake north of the Red Sea near the Suez Canal today. But the traditional site fits the biblical evidence very well. The Israelites were “hemmed in,” with a mountain to their right and the sea to their left (Exod 14:1-4). The beach at Ain Sukhna in Egypt fits the description perfectly. So some friends and I took her there and baptized her in the summer of 2001.
           The Book of Revelation encourages Christians to see the experiences of ancient Israel as a model for Christian action and experience today. The Lamb in Revelation 5 is a slaughtered lamb, which reminds us of the Hebrew sanctuary and its sacrifices. The plagues of Revelation are modeled on the plagues that fell upon ancient Egypt. It was the blood of the Passover Lamb that protected the Israelites from the worst of those plagues. Similarly, the blood of Jesus protects His people during God’s judgments on humanity (Rev 7:3; 12:11). Just as the original Israelites became a kingdom of priests at Mount Sinai, so the followers of Jesus are a kingdom of priests drawn from every nation, tribe, language and people (Rev 5:9-10).
           The Exodus is a model for Christian experience today. Our personal Exodus occurs when our old nature is buried in baptism and we rise to newness of life (Rom 6:3-4).

           Lord, thank You for the newness of life that You have given me through the mighty action of Jesus Christ. May my appreciation for His sacrifice constantly increase.