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 2, 2026

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After these things I saw, and behold a door was standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I heard, like a trumpet (cf. Rev 1:10), said to me, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” Rev 4:1.

           We have come to the portion of Revelation that offers interpreters more difficulty than any other part–the seals and the trumpets. Interpreters are seriously divided as to how to handle many of the texts in Revelation 4-11. It is important to bring to these texts a sound interpretation, not an interpretation based on feeling, or a gut-sense of current events, but an interpretation based on what we actually find in the text. The only safe course in texts like these is to determine, as far as possible, the author’s actual intention in writing these passages. To the degree that we can determine his intention in the original setting, we will be on much safer ground in drawing out applications for our own time.
           From 1986-1992 I met with the Daniel and Revelation Committee of the General Conference. This was a rich and exciting experience, trading ideas with 20-25 outstanding Bible scholars from all over the world on issues related to the Book of Revelation. In the course of three years we heard six different papers on Revelation 4-5. Each paper was written by a respected scholar, each made a case for a perspective on the text, yet all six papers were rejected. I was rather puzzled by the flat-out rejection, but the Committee was unanimous in suggesting that these perspectives did not grow naturally out of the text. They then turned to me and asked me to write a paper on these chapters. Talk about intimidation!
           I read through the Greek text of Revelation 4 and 5 many times. Suddenly it occurred to me: not a single one of the key words that would have backed up the six papers was present in the passage. Respected scholars had offered “gut impressions” of what they thought was going on in the passage, but the specific language to support those impressions was missing! In reading and re-reading the passage, I came to very different conclusions about its message and purpose than the other authors had.
           Our opinions about the Bible are not the thing that matters. What matters is God’s purpose through a human author and the method by which we discover that purpose. We need to begin by committing ourselves to the Word of God, no matter what opinions we may have brought to our study. We must then give careful attention to the words of the text in context, and allow each word to have its place in revealing the message God would have us see. The only truth that matters is the one God intended.

           Lord, I repent of all the times I have come to Your Word to confirm what I already think. Help me to be willing to accept Your wisdom on Your terms.