In Isaiah 64:1, the prophet cried out to the LORD above, “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!” And God heard his plea. The LORD answered Isaiah’s prayer through His Son. In Matthew 27:51, we read, “And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.” But before any of this was ever written, in Genesis 28:12, the same God gave Jacob a prophetic dream. “And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.”

And therein lies a very intriguing thing. Angels dwell where? In heaven. Mankind dwells where? On earth. If a ladder was established between heaven and earth so that the two realms could meet and cooperate, wouldn’t Genesis have rather said a ladder was established so that angels could “descend and then ascend”? But instead, it specifically says the exact opposite. It says behold angels first ascending and then descending, in that sequence. This sequence tells us that the first effort of Jacob’s ladder is from earth towards heaven. Which coincides with the point that Jacob’s ladder was set up specifically on earth, not heaven. In other words, following on from the heavens being torn wide open above the earth, the first operation of Jacob’s ladder is not one of heaven coming down to earth, but is in fact, the realm of earth climbing up to meet heaven. Which also tells us that “the angels” in this illustration are in fact mankind.

In Hebrews 1:14, it tells us, “Are not ALL angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” So if ALL angels are "ministering spirits" sent to serve those who will inherit salvation, by describing men "as angels" tells us that Jacob’s ladder has something to do with man first ascending into heaven and then descending back to earth so that, as ministering spirits, man can serve those who will inherit salvation. We can find the same description of men as angels or messengers of light elsewhere in the Bible. In Matthew 11:10, John the baptist is referred to as the Lord’s messenger (angelos). In Revelation, when referring to the seven churches, it says “to the angel of the church of Ephesus”, for example. Both corporately and individually, the Church is to be a light unto the world and a ministering spirit that serves those who will inherit salvation.

What this also tells us is that Jacob’s ladder, therefore, serves a two-part active function in ministering to those who will inherit salvation. The first part is the deliberate action of first ascending from the realm of earth into the habitation of heaven. And the second part is that of deliberately descending from heaven back to earth. But where else do we see this twin operation specifically modeled in the Bible? This very same twin operation is perfectly encapsulated in the dynamic betrothal and partnering between Matthew 22:37 and Matthew 22:39. Mankind first ascends into the atmosphere of heaven through Matthew 22:37. This is further modeled in Exodus by Moses stepping up off the earth and ascending up the mountain of God to meet with the Presence of the LORD. Which is immediately followed by Moses then deliberately coming back down the mountain, and bringing the atmosphere of heaven with him to all those waiting below who are to inherit salvation.

As ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation, what does it mean "to serve"? To serve means to be “a witness to”. When it comes to being a servant of the kingdom of God, we are called to be witnesses. We are all called to be witnesses to the glory of God. And how do we do that? By being "sons" of our Father in heaven. In fact, ours is a simple ministry. It is not burdensome. For He who calls us unto the ministry of witnesses says “My yoke is light”. When Moses first climbed up the mountain to meet with God, and then descended back down wearing the glory of that encounter all over his face, he bore witness to the glory of God. Jesus lived entirely to bear witness only to the glory of His Father. In the same way, we are ALL called to bear witness to the glory of God our Father in heaven.

As such, as sons, our earthly ministry is all about first learning how to drink from the well of the Holy Spirit, which we do by ascending into the Presence of God, being the practice and lifestyle modeled by Matthew 22:37. And then, going hand-in-hand with us ascending up Jacob’s ladder, our ministry is about learning how to then cooperate with the Holy Spirit so as to pour out or impart the atmosphere and power of heaven into the world by letting the Holy Spirit loose upon the world, being the sibling operation of the heart of God modeled by Matthew 22:39. Which is precisely the functional design of the anatomy of the Cross. To be forever inclined "upwards" to the Father in heaven, and forever inclined "outwards" as far as the east is from the west in loving our neighbour as ourselves. The twin operation of Jacob’s ladder is the mirror function of the twin mandate of the Cross, and the operating model of Matthew 22:37-39.

Our great commission as witnesses is that we all need to first climb up Jacob’s ladder into the shekinah glory and presence of God (representative of being closed inside Noah’s Ark with God), and to then abide there, like Moses and Jesus did, for 40 days and 40 nights, where we simply abide and rest in the Presence of God (abide and rest upon the waters in Noah’s Ark). And then, after that period of abiding, just like the dove of the Holy Spirit was thereafter set loose from Noah’s Ark into the world, we are to come back down the ladder, with the same glory that Moses had upon him when he descended the mountain, and to go into the world. Just like Noah’s Ark did when it came back down from being upon the waters to rest once more on earth. As witnesses, we are to go into the world to release the rivers of living water into and upon the world, so that the river of life may flow from its source at the top of the mountain, which is where Noah’s Ark came to rest, all the way to the open mouth of the sea of humanity.

As witnesses, we need to do this continuously, throughout our times and seasons on earth, while there is still day, as a continuous lifestyle of first ascending and then descending Jacob’s ladder. Like the wise virgins, who took oil in their vessels together with their lamps, we are to keep our lamps both burning and full of the oil of the habitation of the Holy Spirit, which is only possible  if we first ascend up Jacob’s ladder into the Presence of God. From there, we are to then take our burning lamps (His glory) and oil (His grace), and go out into the world, so that the glory of God may be encountered, and that His grace may be borne witness to, through the Holy Spirit being poured out from the vessels of all His wise virgins, into and upon the world. “As You sent Me into the world, I have also sent them into the world.” (John 17:18). Just like Jesus descended from heaven and went into the world, as a light unto the world, so too are we to do the same. We are to both live and walk with His mantle of humility (glory), and His likeness (grace), for only then can we be witnesses.

In John’s gospel, as Jesus came up from being baptised, it says the Holy Spirit came down like a dove and rested on Him, and left not. And just like the dove with the fig leaf of Noah’s Ark, Jesus came into the world in peace, bearing the nine fruits of the Spirit. Which is represented by the nine wing feathers of a dove. The dove is purposefully symbolic of the Holy Spirit, for not only does the dove have nine wing feathers, representing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, but the dove also significantly has no gall bladder. In other words, in the dove there is no bitterness. For one cannot bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit where there is any bitterness.

At the same time, the dove of the Holy Spirit is always looking for a place to rest upon. It first came to rest upon Jesus. But in the same way that the anointing of the Holy Spirit that rested upon Jesus without measure became a river of life to those about Him, the Holy Spirit that rests on us in the same way is always looking for someone else to come and rest on. As Jesus went out into the world, the woman who touched the hem of Jesus clothing received the impartation of the Holy Spirit instantly, and was immediately healed. Those who the shadow of Peter fell upon as he walked by were also healed by the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Those who were touched by the garments of Paul were also healed by the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The anointing is like a radiant sun always reaching out to be a light where there is darkness. In the same way, the dove of Noah's Ark first flew around looking for a place to land. And when it had circled and found nowhere it came back. But when it found a place to land, it went with the fig leaf out into the world so that it may be a witness and a blessing of peace unto all the world.

Likewise, we are all to go into the world so that the works of God should be revealed in us and in all of mankind. “Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” (John 9:1-4). Why are we to do this? So that the world “may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:18).

What is “this day”? That the sun of His glory (gold) and the moon of His grace (silver) may come to visit upon this earth and all who dwell therein. And what is “this night”? In Ephesians 2:10, it says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Just like Jesus, we must go into the world so that the works of Him who sent us should be revealed while it is still day, before the night that is the end of our lives where no one can work comes, so that at the end of our lives, we have left nothing unfinished or undone, so that we have poured ourselves out, so that just like when the night of His day came for Jesus, and He looked up to His Father in heaven and said, “It is done!”, we too can say in spirit and truth, “It is done!” For it is those who are sons, not just in spirit, but in truth, who are true sons. For then they have honoured their Father. For it is they who hallow His name. It is they who seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. And it is they who live that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

We are all spiritually blind from birth, just like the blind man in John's gospel above. And just like for the blind man above, Jesus descended Jacob’s ladder to come down from the throne room of His Father to earth that is His footstool so that He may go into the world and be "the light of world" that may be seen by ALL of mankind. He came all the way to earth from heaven, and bent down to touch the dust of the earth, being representative of all of mankind, who are all made from dust, and mixed the dust with His own saliva, being representative of the rivers of living water, and became a personal salve for the blind eyes of all humanity so that we could all have eyes to see. “When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.” (John 9:6-7).

In the same way, when the woman was caught red handed in the act of adultery, and was brought before the Messiah, Jesus once again bent down and wrote in the sand, thereby addressing all of mankind, asking that those who are without sin to throw the first stone. For just like the woman, we are all guilty of adultery, for we have all loved ourselves, and our way, and our truth, and our life, and a number of other things besides the LORD. Not only has Jesus come down Jacob’s ladder to give us eyes to see, but through the tear that was rend in the heavens above the earth, as heralded by the prophetic cry of Isaiah, Jesus came down that we may receive the heart of grace of “judging no one” and “forgiving all” that we may all not only be made whole, but like the woman caught in adultery, that we too can all go and sin no more.

While there is yet day, we are to ascend up the ladder of Mathew 22:37 to receive from the glory cloud of heaven, and then we are to descend down the ladder of Matthew 22:39 to be a witness to our Father in heaven. We are witnesses through both the nine fruits of the Spirit, as well as through the gifts of the Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 1:14 we are told to“Pursue love, and desire the gifts of the Spirit, especially that you may Prophecy.” We are to PURSUE love! That is an active, persistent, energetic endeavour. For in itself, love cannot be passive. For it is when we pursue love, that we then bring glory to our Father. For then we be, and then we become, as "living witnesses". For then we tarry not, just like the ants (Proverbs 6:6-8). For then we are true sons. For a true son is one who brings glory to his Father, not only in spirit, but in truth. For the truth is in both the way AND in the life. And then, and only then, can we say in spirit and truth, “IT IS DONE.”

The purpose of Jacob’s ladder is a deliberate invitation from the heart of God unto the spirit of every man on earth to call up and out to God in heaven. We all ascend Jacob’s ladder through calling out to God in fellowship and communion, which is prayer ignited and set ablaze, like Moses’ burning bush, a tree of righteousness consumed with the holy Presence of God, in both its likeness (nature) and its image (righteousness, without spot or wrinkle). And why is this important? Because what we look at, what we look up to, is what we become. And what is God? The fullness of life. The heart of God calls unto the hearts of man so that we may all look to Him, and through the heart of worship, become like Him, in the fullness of life, in both spirit and truth. Which is the best thing we could ever be. Which is like Father like son. Which is having, as our Father in heaven, the very fullness of all life. That God wants the very best for each and every one of us is a love made fully manifest from the heart of a Father unto all His own by God calling us all up the ladder of Jacob into the atmosphere of heaven.

For God loves all equally without measure. And because He loves all equally and without measure, it’s for this very reason that God calls us all to call out to Him. Which is to reach up to Him through the rend His Son tore in the fabric of heaven above the earth. For it’s when we have drunk from the wellspring of His image and likeness, which is to fill our hearts with His heart, that we can then go out into the world and love our neighbour “as He loves them”, which is with “HIS” heart. Which is equally and without measure. For the greatest conquests of all always remain those of romance. And this is His great romance for us all. The heart stirs man to his best, and his worst, and the heart of God is that we should not only be our best, but that our neighbour should have the best too. So before we turn to love our neighbour as ourselves, our Father would have us turn to Him first, so that when we turn to our neighbour, we will have become that which we have looked unto, which is the fullness of life and love. And THEN we will love our neighbour in the best way, which is the way our Father would have us all be loved.

As a result of the twin blessings of the rend in the veil provided by Jesus' supreme sacrifice on the Cross, and then the anointing of the Holy Spirit, it is through the twin actions of angels ascending and descending on Jacob’s ladder, mobilized by the twin operation and mandate of Matthew 22:37-39, that all the families of the earth, spread like the dust of the earth as far as the west is from the east, and the north is from the south, will all be blessed, just as Jesus foretold in Jacob's dream.

“And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon the place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood beside him, and said: ‘I am the LORD, the God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac. The land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed. And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. And in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee whithersoever thou goest, and will bring thee back into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.’ And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said: ‘Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.’ And he was afraid, and said: ‘How full of awe is this place! this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” (Genesis 28:10-17).

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17).