Jacob’s Ladder: Ascending and Descending :: By Mark A. Becker
“And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” – John 1:51
Jacob’s Ladder
Our study of Ascending and Descending begins with a dream that Jacob had in Bethel (“House of God” – a name given to this place, formerly known as Luz, by Jacob because of this experience) after his father, Isaac, sent him to their homeland of Padanaram to seek a wife from his family line.
“And he [Jacob] 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.” – Genesis 28:12
For the entire account of Jacob’s Ladder and his experience in Bethel, please read Genesis 28:1-22.
Significantly, Jacob saw a ladder (or staircase) that was set up on the earth and reached into heaven where the angels of God ascended and descended upon it, essentially producing a conduit between heaven and Earth.
The Prophecy of Agur
The next stage in our trek features a prophet named Agur, though he said of himself that he was “more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.” Agur was obviously a very humble man – a sincere prophet of the Lord who gave all honor and glory to God!
Agur then went on to inspirationally ask:
“Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?” – Proverbs 30:4
Proverbs 30:4 is one of the many passages of the Tanakh that we recommended Christians cite when Giving the Gospel to Israel.
As many know, the Hebrew word translated “wind” is ר֨וּחַ 7307 “ruach” which is also fascinatingly the Hebrew word for “spirit,” and is the very word used for the Holy Spirit of God.
In the Brit Chadashah, Jesus described the Holy Spirit metaphorically as both water and wind when He spoke to “a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.”
“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” – John 3:5
[John 3:5 could literally be read: “Except a man be born of water, even the Spirit…” The Greek word “kai,” translated and, can also be translated even, which makes much more contextual sense in this passage.]
“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” – John 3:7-8
Therefore, our portion of this verse, as spoken by Agur, could be read as – using the metaphors of wind and water for the Holy Spirit as Jesus illuminated – “Who hath gathered the Spirit in His fists? Who hath bound the Spirit in a garment?” The imagery would be that of Jesus Christ in His human incarnation having the power and might of the Holy Spirit in His holy hands and the Holy Spirit within His miraculous body bound within His garments of righteousness.
In any event, pertinent to our study, Proverbs 30:4 asks, “Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended… who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?”
The answer, of course, is the Son of God, Messiah Yeshua, as He was prophesied by Isaiah to also be “The mighty God, The everlasting Father.”
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6
Messiah Jesus: Ascending and Descending
When considering the angels Ascending and Descending upon Jacob’s Ladder and the Ascending and Descending of the Son of God in Agur’s prophecy, we can conclude that Messiah Yeshua Himself bridges the gap as a stairwell or ladder between God and man because He offers salvation through Himself to all who will believe. Only the Creator, Savior, and Redeemer could accomplish this feat on behalf of humanity.
Jesus said of Himself to Nicodemus:
“And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” – John 3:13
Though Enoch and Elijah had been translated to heaven, they did not ascend to heaven in their own power but by divine intervention.
The “Son of man,” however, would, by His own glorious divine power “ascend up to heaven” because He “came down from heaven,” as He is “the Son of man which is in heaven.”
Remember the Words of our Lord when Philip asked Him to show them the Father:
“Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
“Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.” – John 14:9-11
A truth, which is beyond our finite ability to fully grasp and comprehend, is that even while the Son of God was on Earth in His human incarnation, the eternal Son was also in heaven as an eternal partaker of the eternal Godhead.
A similar truth is that when we are indwelt by the omnipresent Holy Spirit, both God the Father and God the Son are also indwelling us, while all three members of the Godhead are simultaneously residing in unity in heaven.
“Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you…
“If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him…” – John 14:17-18, 23
Jesus prayed to the Father on our behalf:
“And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one…
“And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.” – John 17:22-23a, 26
All three members of the Godhead are omnipresent, with different roles and responsibilities for each member, and all three are within the believer through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Again, this is beyond our human capacity to fully understand.
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” – Romans 5:1-2
When Christ died, the veil in the Temple was ripped from the top, representing heaven, to the bottom, representing Earth (Matthew 27:51), signifying that Messiah’s sacrifice opened the way for man to be reconciled to God as the One who originated and descended from heaven and came to Earth to accomplish this sacrificial redemption on humanity’s behalf.
This is God’s work through the perfect and sinless sacrifice of the only begotten Son of God.
Messiah Yeshua is the “Ladder” between God and man.
“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” – 1 Timothy 2:4-6
Once Christ Jesus accomplished His sacrifice for sins, and the Father accepted His atonement on our behalf, Messiah Yeshua ascended back into heaven to offer Himself back to the Father.
“But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us…
“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us…” – Hebrews 9:11-12, 24
But there is more to His story.
“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
“(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)” – Ephesians 4:8-10
Jesus, in His incarnation, descended to Earth as a human being, emptying Himself of His eternal glory in heaven and becoming a member of the human family which He Himself had created. He became, and is forevermore, fully God and fully man.
“And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” – John 17:5
Once Christ gave of Himself on the cross, paying the just penalty we deserved and offering up His sinless blood in remission of sins to those who would believe in Him, He died and “descended first into the lower parts of the Earth” where His Spirit/Soul complex resided in Abraham’s Bosom, or Paradise, in Sheol.
Soon thereafter, Messiah Yeshua was resurrected and “ascended up far above all heavens” to the heaven of heavens, taking Paradise with Him as “He led captivity captive,” to present Himself and the saved souls from Paradise to the Father.
When Mary met Jesus soon after His resurrection…
“Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” – John 20:17
Once Jesus ascended with Paradise and presented Himself to His Father, the prophecy of Jacob’s Ladder and Agur’s prophecy was fulfilled in the Person and work of Messiah Yeshua!
Nathanael
To complete our expedition, we will visit the calling of one of Messiah’s disciples, Nathanael – also known as Bartholomew – and his very fascinating and illuminating conversation with Yeshua.
“Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” – John 1:47
Just as there will be “no guile” or lies found in The 144,000 Israeli Witnesses (Revelation 14:5), Nathanael, according to Messiah Yeshua, was “an Israelite… in whom is no guile” or deceit. What a testimony of Nathanael from the Creator and Savior Himself!
Obviously, Nathanael heard these Words of Jesus as he approached Him.
“Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
“Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.” – John 1:48-49
What was Nathanael doing under the fig tree before Philip called him when Jesus divinely saw him there? Could he have been reading or meditating on the Genesis account of Jacob’s Ladder and/or Agur’s prophecy? There is a reason we suggest this possibility.
Notice what Philip said to Nathanael while he was under the fig tree concerning Messiah Jesus.
“Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” – John 1:45
The account of Jacob’s Ladder is found in Genesis, which “Moses in the law… did write,” and Agur’s prophecy is recorded in the book of Proverbs, a prophecy that the Prophet Agur “did write.”
While Nathanael was skeptical that anything good could come out of Nazareth (John 1:46), Nathanael still desired to see Yeshua for himself when challenged by Philip.
Messiah proceeded to question Nathanael on why he suddenly had a change of heart and believed that Yeshua was “the Son of God… the King of Israel,” and then made him a very interesting promise!
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
“And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” – John 1:50-51
If Nathanael was indeed studying and/or meditating on Jacob’s Ladder and/or Agur’s prophecy under the fig tree, then Messiah’s reference to “the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man” would have absolutely stunned Nathanael and been further confirmative evidence of his earlier claim that Yeshua was “the Son of God… the King of Israel.”
But when would Nathanael “see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man”?
Nathanael, along with the other disciples of Jesus, saw Messiah Yeshua ascend to heaven at Christ’s translation:
“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
“And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” – Acts 1:9-11
The “two men” were clearly angels in human form, and we can be assured holy angels accompanied Messiah Yeshua as He ascended into heaven in a cloud. Nathanael along with the other disciples were all present at this glorious event.
Moreover, the two angels assured the disciples that “this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”
“Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” – Matthew 26:64
“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” – Revelation 1:7
Therefore, Nathanael, along with all believers in Messiah Jesus and those same disciples that were present at His ascension, will witness Yeshua descend back to Earth with all of us in tow at His glorious Second Coming:
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
“His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
“And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.” – Revelation 19:11-16
And, of course, the holy angels will be with us all, following upon the glorious heels of our Creator and Savior:
“… the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory…” – Matthew 25:31
Jesus Christ is that Ladder that every human being who accepted Him and His sacrifice for their sins accesses to ascend into heaven at either death or the rapture.
Moreover, Messiah Yeshua will also be that Ladder we all – regenerate man and holy angel – will access to descend back to Earth so our Lord and Savior may save His remnant along with the holy city of Jerusalem and the land of Israel, destroy His enemies, and set up His glorious Messianic Millennial Kingdom!
Messiah Yeshua Himself is Jacob’s Ladder, a Ladder or Staircase all humanity desperately needs to traverse to be born again by putting their faith and trust in Him. The holy angels Ascending and Descending upon Jacob’s Ladder – Christ Jesus Himself – as messengers of God, would be proclaiming the soon-coming Messiah of God before the cross, and confirming salvation through the Son of God post-cross, to all of humanity. This wonderful Divine Ladder, Yeshua HaMashiach, bridges heaven and Earth on humanity’s behalf because He loves us so much.
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May we all keep Answering the Call of The Great Commission, and giving an answer to every man and woman who so desperately needs Jesus and asks us, “Why Am I Here and What Is It All About?”
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Love, grace, mercy, and shalom in Messiah Yeshua, and Maranatha!
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