The Apocalyptic Ladder of Jacob

The Ladder of Jacob

‘l 5 Thus he said to me: “You have seen a ladder with twelve steps, each step having two human faces which kept changing their appearance as this age, and the twelve steps are the periods' of this age. 'But the twenty-four faces are the kings of the ungodly nations of this age.

In Genesis the account of Jacob's Ladder is given in chapter 28:10-15 however the text does not say how many steps the ladder has nor does it have any faces on it

Genesis 28:12 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.

13 And behold, Yahweh stood above it and said: “I am Yahweh God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants.

14 Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”

However in the Apocalyptic Ladder of Jacob the text says that the ladder has twelve steps and each step has 2 human faces

“You have seen a ladder with twelve steps, each step having two human faces which kept changing their appearance as this age, ~and the twelve steps are the periods' of this age. 'But the twenty-four faces are the kings of the ungodly nations of this age.

This could be based upon 1kings 10:19,20

19 The throne had six steps, and its back had a rounded top. On both sides of the seat were armrests, with a lion standing beside each of them.

20 Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom.

The lions would be the rulers of this age which in the Apocalyptic Ladder of Jacob are human faces as lions are symbols of kings or rulers. In the book of Kings the steps up to the throne are six ascending thus there would be six steps to descend the throne as well this makes 12 steps altogether

Now getting back to the Genesis text the promises to Abraham and Isaac are now given to Jacob

Therefore, the time between the giving of the promise and its fulfillment was represented by a ladder of extraordinary length. One end stood at Bethel and the other end extended into the heavens.

a ladder is a device that connects separate points by which a person at the lower end can reach a desired height.

Hence, it is a connector between points of distance. this ladder however is not about locations but distant eras the ages and generations that connect them have a similar relationship to the period as a ladder has to the ground on which it rests and the point of elevation against which it leans.

Thus, the ladder in Jacob's vision represented his seed in their generations and appointed times.

The Lord Jesus identified himself with this ladder (John 1:51). He is the way of ascent to the heavenly places above (Col. 3:1-2). No man comes to the Father but by him (John 14:6). He stands as the summit of faith (Phil. 3:14).

Upon this ladder of ages and generations, with Jacob at the bottom and his seed, the Mesiah, at the top, 'the angels of God were seen ascending and descending'. This represented to him that the events of his posterity, natural and spiritual, in all their relations with the world, would be administrated by the Elohim, who would pass to and fro between earth and heaven, in the performance of their work. Hence, the apostle styles them, 'All ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation' (Heb. 1:14).

The work of the angels in supervising the affairs of the saints, as symbolically moving up and down the staircase of Yahweh's purpose, will cease, for, as the apostle remarks: 5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. (Heb. 2:5).

The staircase, therefore, represented the ages and generations of the called; whilst the angels moving up and down it, symbolised the angelic supervision of the times and the individuals associated with the divine purpose.

Perhaps as well [Jacob] caught a glimpse of his own [future] life in this visionary ladder.

The ladder Represents the step-by-step realisation by means of which a believer assimilates the divine ideas of the Gospel that come to him from the spirit word.

The ladder represents the step-by-step ascension of man from material to spiritual consciousness. Yahweh the spiritual God consciousness, stands above, assuring the believer of a worthwhile inheritance.

The angels or messengers represent thoughts or words of truth necessary to the unfolding of the higher consciousness.

What do we “understand” by the “gate of heaven”? This is the state of consciousness through which we pass from activity on the outer or physical side to meditation and prayer on the inner or mental side.