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 March 30, 2026

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Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone should hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me. Rev 3:20.

           Jesus presents Himself as standing outside the door into Laodicea, knocking and seeking an invitation to enter. Philadelphia’s door is the door of salvation, Jesus holds it open and no one can shut it. But the shut door here is not shut by Jesus but by Laodicea itself. It is an allusion to the Song of Solomon and actually has sexual overtones. Note the story behind this text.
           “I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My lover is knocking:
           ‘Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.’
           ‘I have taken off my robe–must I put it on again? I have washed my feet–must I soil them again?’
           My lover thrust his hand through the latch-opening; my heart began to pound for him. I arose to open for my lover, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh, on the handles of the lock. I opened for my lover, but my lover had left; he was gone. My heart sank at his departure. I looked for him but did not find him. I called him but he did not answer.” Song of Solomon 5:2-6, NIV.
           Back in the time of Solomon kings had many wives who were housed in a harem. Each would likely have had at least a room, perhaps even an apartment, with an outer door to the hallway where the king himself would walk. Since Solomon had 700 wives (1 Kings 11:3) the doors must have had placards on them, with the name of the wife and perhaps even some defining characteristic (like red hair or a well-placed dimple) so the king could remember who she was.
           The Song of Solomon is the story of a particular woman in Solomon’s harem, who may have been his favorite. She had been hoping he would come for her that night. She waited, waited, and finally gave up and went to sleep. Then he comes! But in her sleepiness, she did not jump up and invite him in. “No, not now. I don’t feel like getting up and putting my robe on again. My feet might get dirty on the floor.” Finally, she has a change of heart and runs to the door and opens it. The tragedy is that he is already gone.
           This is a scary scenario when applied to a church. Jesus does not force His way in but allows her to make the choice. The message here is that there is no time to lose. If Laodicea does not act soon, it will be too late.

           Lord, am I ignoring You? Am I deaf to Your knocking at my heart? Draw me to the door of my heart today! I don’t want to delay opening to You.