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 10, 2026

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And the third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star, burning like a lamp, fell out of heaven. And it fell upon a third of the rivers and upon the springs of water. And the name of the star is called Wormwood. And a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters because they had been made bitter. Rev 8:10-11.

           The language of this trumpet “echoes” the Old Testament. The falling star, for example, reminds me of Lucifer falling from heaven in Isaiah 14. Lucifer, who claims to be like God, is cast out of heaven like a star falling from the sky (Rev 8:10).
           A torch, or a lamp, is often connected with the Word of God (Ps 119:105; Prov 6:23). But here it is connected to a falling star, so it represents a counterfeit of the truth. The action of falling, then, represents spiritual decline (Rev 2:5; Heb 4:11). The falling star gives off light like the Word of God, but is not the real thing.
           These images are consistent with the embittering of rivers and springs that follows in our text. Rivers and springs symbolize spiritual nourishment. Just as we need physical water in order to survive, so we need spiritual water (the Holy Spirit John 7:37-39, cf. Ps 1:3) in order for our faith to survive.
           When the falling star strikes the rivers and springs, however, it makes the water bitter. People come seeking the nourishing waters of the Spirit and the truth, but instead are poisoned by waters that have become bitter. In the Old Testament wormwood and bitterness are consistent symbols of apostasy and idolatry (Deut 29:17-18). When the water of truth has been poisoned, that which promised life becomes the source of death. Bitter water cannot sustain life (Lam 3:15, 19; Exodus 15:23).
           Most of us know the frustration that comes when you buy computer software, but it doesn’tdo what you need it to do. Imagine buying a computer program that includes a software manual. But the manual is full of mixed up information. It says, “If you want to accomplish this task do thus and thus.” But when you do what the manual tells you to do nothing happens or the computer crashes.
           Now hopefully that has been pretty rare in your experience. But it is not rare in the spiritual world. People are faced with all kinds of false information about God and spiritual life. When they buy into it, their own spiritual software begins to malfunction and the consequences are great.

           Lord, help me to be more serious about what I believe. I don‘twant to have a casual faith, I want one that will survive whatever comes.