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 11, 2026

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And the fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were smitten, in order that a third of them might be darkened, and that a third of the day might not shine, nor a third of the night likewise. Rev 8:12.

           It started as a routine trip home one night. As I came around the “S-curve” and entered the straightaway that brings me to my street, I saw the strangest thing. There appeared to be a full moon rising above the horizon in front of me, but it looked as if someone had taken a big bite out of the left-hand side of the circle.
           “Could that be a gibbous moon (the third quarter of the lunar month, when the moon begins to shrink after its full phase)?” I asked my wife, who was riding home with me.
           “I don’tthink so,” she said, “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
           Undeterred by her opinion, I tried to think of whether a gibbous moon was like a reverse crescent, or whether it “had a bite out of it” like this one did. While she wasn’t confused, I kept on pondering the significance of what I had seen. Arriving home I forgot all about it for a half-hour or so and then suddenly remembered.
           “Hey, kids!” I called to my teens, “You’ve got to look out the front window, the moon has a bite out of it!”
           They followed me out to the living room to look past the white birch in our front yard. I wasn’t prepared for what I saw! No more moon with a bite out of it. I was looking at a half moon (what’s the big deal, Dad?)! Could the moon go through half a phase in half an hour? I ransacked the limited scientific knowledge in my brain and came up with a negative conclusion. Then I noticed the dark part of the moon was a dull red, completing the full circle.
           “I know!” I blurted out, “It must be a lunar eclipse (told you so, grumbled the wife)! The earth has moved directly between the sun and the moon and the shadow of the earth is moving across the moon as we watch.” I continued watching until the white part of the moon was completely gone, leaving a dull red circle.
           The best explanation of Rev 8:12 is probably an image drawn from eclipses of sun and moon that were widely known to the ancient world. The sun, moon and stars symbolize the Word of God (Ps 19: 119:105), the people of God (Dan 12:3) and the things of heaven (Dan 8:10) in the Old Testament. The rejection of God’s Word and His ways results in spiritual darkness. But the darkness here is partial. There is still time to repent.

           Lord, I want to live in the light of Your Word and Your ways. Keep me from choices that will lead me into spiritual darkness.