Is Jacob’s ladder not a type and a pattern of the principle workings of the Cross? For on the one hand, is Jacob (Israel) not a type and a pattern of God’s people (Israel) (the body) wrestling for the eternal blessing of God? Which, as with Jacob, is for the ultimate blessing that was purchased and procured through the Cross? Being the blessing that STILL IS the supreme blessing of all. Being the blessing of the veil that stood in the way of ascending into the inner sanctuary of intimacy (relationship) being “finally torn”. For did Jacob not say: “I will not let you go UNLESS you bless me”?

     And was the veil not torn so that His people may all ascend and descend — at will — into the upper room of the tabernacle and the divine presence of God? For of Jacob’s ladder, is this not what we are all told: “Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.” Genesis 28:12. For, truly, is it not a supreme and ultimate blessing to be able to ascend and descend, at will, upon a ladder that stretches all the way from the earth into the inner sanctuary and the presence of our Almighty God in heaven?

     On the other hand, is Jacob likewise also not a shadow and a type of Jesus (the Head) who, on our behalf, and for our account, wrestled with the Father all night — being the very long night of Gethsemane and death — that through His side being pierced (just as Jacob’s hip was put out of joint from wrestling), we may all appropriate the license and permission belonging exclusively to “a holy nation and a royal priesthood” of entering into the abode and the presence of our God?

     For does David not rightly ask: “Who may “ascend” into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?” Psalm 24:3. And is it not through entering the small gate that is the Cross, that we may ascend into the high hill of the Lord? And is it not through the great wrestling of the Cross that we may now all stand in His holy place?

     For as with Jacob’s ladder, was the “foot” of the Cross of Christ not likewise set in the ground of the earth? And of that very same earth, is it not likewise written that the earth is His “footstool”? Isaiah 66:1. Is the Cross then not the very ladder that Jacob dreamed of that reaches from the earth below all the way to high mountain of heaven? And by connecting the eternal blessings of heaven above, with the pressing needs of men below, is it not the Cross that then makes the earth the footstool of the one whose throne is in heaven, and from whose throne all blessings descend?

      And as with the pattern of Jacob’s ladder, is it not the pattern and the mode of the vertical stay of the Cross to simultaneously reach up from its anchor point in the earth, and incline the gaze of our eyes and the inclination of our hearts forever upwards towards the throne of heaven? For just like Jacob’s ladder, the great purpose and intention of the Cross is a deliberate invitation from the heart of God through the Son of Man unto the spirit and soul of every man on earth to not only call up and out to God from below — being where WE are — but to come up, and be with Him, where HE is (to ascend).

     For note also, that in the narrative of Jacob’s ladder, that for those who availed themselves of the blessing of the ladder of dreams, they first “ascended”, and then “descended”. Which is key to appreciating the purpose of Jacob’s ladder, as well as for apprehending the high calling and the invitation of God unto the heart and soul of all men that is the Cross. For in any context, is it in any way logically plausible to somehow first “descend” from the top of any ladder without having first “ascended” to its crest or summit?

     And with that, what then of “the angels” ascending and descending Jacob’s ladder? Can angels who are in heaven first ascend and then descend? For has it not been written that “the angels of God” were “ascending” and “descending”? Which would incline one’s thoughts to automatically assume that because “angels” dwell in the high places of heaven above, that the account of Jacob’s ladder would logically then say the “exact opposite” of what it does say? Which would be that the angels of God were first “descending” and then “ascending” on it?

     But it doesn’t say that. And intentionally so. For is an angel of God not simply a “messenger of God”? And throughout the history of the Word, and that of mankind, does God not also use people on earth to likewise be “the messengers“ of His thoughts and His ways? Both unto all the peoples and nations, and unto a fallen world? For does the living Word not tell us: “Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets”? Amos 3:7.

     So are these angels of God then not a type of God’s messengers who dwell upon earth? Being, therefore, men? And, by dwelling on earth, and not in heaven, then in order that they might take any message prepared, purposed and packaged from the bosom and the lips of God back to the nations, would such a messenger not have to then first “ascend” from earth up to God, in order to hear and receive such a message, and then thereafter “descend” back to earth, that he may in turn impart or present it? For does it not plainly say that the angels of God first “ascended”, then “descended”?

     For is a messenger not also “a witness”? And are we not all called to be a witness? And do we not witness best out of the truth of our personal experience and relationship? And is this not why God has provided a ladder? That we may all ascend. That we may all have relationship? And then witness out of the personal experience and truth of that relationship?

     For as with Jacob’s ladder, is the purpose of His people “ascending” and “descending” into the divine presence and holy habitation of God, firstly, not chiefly so that by the personal experience of ascending into the precious presence of God, and drinking our fill from the wellspring of the cup of His love, that by thereafter descending from the high hill of God’s mountain, just like for Moses, we may all be a “living witness” TO, and a “loving messenger” OF, the marvel and wonder that is the relationship of perfect love?

     And is this not the exquisite model of perfect love that is the operation of the two greatest commandments of all, both working side-by-side, as one, like the twin chambers of God’s heart made flesh? Likewise being represented by the operation of the two pieces of the Cross? Which is the primary and abiding kingdom principle that, just as the natural heart first inhales and then exhales the new oxygenated blood in a continuous cycle called life, the requirement of Jacob’s ladder is to first ascend (inhale the oxygenated or Holy Spirit filled love of God), and to then descend (exhale the love of God) in a continuous cycle of life.

     For are the two greatest commandments of all not the very heart beat and function of God’s model of perfect love? Which is both the radiance and the exact representation of the pattern of the workings of the Cross? Making the two greatest commandments the literal spiritual spine of the entire body of perfect works that is the Bible? Being that spine upon which all the law and prophets hang? For is it not decreed that on the two greatest commandments of all, being the commandments that set the heart and soul of man on a trajectory for abiding by the model of perfect love, that on these two commandments all the law and prophets hang? Matthew 22:40.

     For is it not true, that by our continuous lifecycle of first ascending into the treasured habitation of God, and then descending back down to man on earth, we may ALL live and walk in the expression and the accomplishment of the two-fold calling by which all the law and the prophets are fulfilled?

     For in order that we may live and walk in the similitude and the pattern, as well as the perfect nature, that is the two-fold operation of the two complementary pieces of the Cross, by us first ascending, we all fulfil the first and greatest commandment that there is — which is the first and greatest commandment unto the imperative of “communion” with God. Where the call to communion is answered by the imperative to “love the LORD our God with all our heart, and all our soul and all our strength”. Matthew 22:37. Which is the relationship mandate of first drawing near to Him, that He may draw near to us. Which as the first and greatest law of love, is God’s prescribed starting point. And, likewise, with the account of Jacob’s ladder. Namely, to first ascend.

     For when Jesus broke bread with His disciples in the “upper room” of fellowship that is communion, where the upper room refers to those who have ascended, is it not written of the imperative of communion: “Do this in remembrance of Me...” But also: “Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.” Does this not speak of the magnitude of the importance and the sovereign imperative of fellowship and communion with God our Father?

     Which, being represented by the vertical stay of the Cross, is firmly anchored and grounded in the earth on its lower end, representing being anchored to the Rock. And on the other end, is forever pointing upwards to heaven. So that upon the Rock that is Christ, being the trust anchor and foundation of our faith, as well as the cornerstone upon which the living Jerusalem is built, God may then begin to build the fullness of His tabernacle within each of us, “as a display of the splendour of God.” (Isaiah 61:3). Until every room of the tabernacle of God is filled with every precious and beautiful treasure of the knowledge of God. As unto a tree of righteousness.

     For is a tabernacle not in order that we may abide in Him, and He in us? Which is likewise underpinned by the commandment unto communion: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.”

     Then, as soon our hearts have been filled to overflowing through “communion” (fellowship) with the blueprint and the heart of perfect love, we are then to descend, that we may pour out that love through “community” in loving our neighbour as ourselves. Which is to love as He has loved each of us. Which, as with the natural heart, is to give, just as it has received. In a never-ending and continuous cycle of life. Of first receiving. And then giving. Being exactly how the pump mechanism of the natural heart works.

     For as we descend with our cups running over from the bounty of the wellspring of all love, we are to go into every nation and community, and love our brother as we love ourselves. Which, in the pattern of the horizontal stay of the Cross, which reaches from left to right, is to love every neighbour, as far as the East is from the West. Which is so that together with the first and greatest commandment, the second greatest commandment, being the sibling to Matthew 22:37 of Matthew 22:29, may also be fulfilled. And so the model and pattern of perfect love may be complete, being perfect and entire, lacking nothing (James 1:4).

     For is this not how our God declares the end of His perfect model of love from the beginning? Isaiah 46:10. Which is to first ascend, and then descend? For do we not BEGIN the model of perfect love by first inhaling the fullness of love through ASCENDING up Jacob’s ladder into the place of “communion” (Matthew 22:37), being represented by the vertical stay of the Cross? And do we then not END the model of perfect love by then exhaling the fullness of that love through DESCENDING back down Jacob’s ladder into the position of “community” (Matthew 22:39), represented by the horizontal stay of the Cross?