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 October 13, 2026

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Here is the mind that has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman is sitting. Rev 17:9.

           One of the great pastimes of the human race is laughing at the foibles of other human beings. It is amazing the dumb things that human beings can say when under pressure. And we laugh, perhaps, because deep down inside we recognize that we are equally capable of such stupidity in a crisis. Consider the following calls to a hospital emergency room.¹
           “Caller- If my Mom is supposed to take her prescription every six hours, is it OK for her to take it now?”
           “When was her last dose?”
           Caller- “5 PM.” (It’s 11 PM at the time of the call)
           “And what time is it now?” (trying to be educational)
           Caller- “11 PM.”
           “Well. . . ?” (silence)
           Caller- “Well, is it OK?”
           Caller- “I’ve had sore ribs for maybe a month now. I think they’re broken. I’ve been drinking for pain control, but it’s not working. Is there anything else I should be doing?”
           Caller- “I just drank an Odwalla Beer that’s been sitting out for four days. Should I go get some medicine to throw up?”
           “Did the Odwalla taste bad?”
           Caller- “Yes, awful. I drank the whole thing.”
           “Why did you drink it if it tasted bad?”
           Caller- “Well, I was in a really big hurry.”
           Human stupidity can be so funny that even God gets a good laugh over it sometimes (Psalm 2:4; 59:8). But there is a powerful spiritual message embedded in the humor. True wisdom belongs to God (Rev 7:12) and to anyone who is willing to receive it from Him (Rev 17:9)! Without a heart that is willing to receive God’s wisdom, every one of us is just a crisis away from being a joke!

           Lord, once again I am reminded of my deep need for the wisdom only You can give. Teach me today.

¹ Reported from his own experience as a chaplain at Sequoia Hospital in California: Dan Millen, email on November 6, 2002.