The Stairway to Heaven
Genesis 28:12 And he had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to
Jacob was on his way from Beersheba to Haran when God caused him to stop off at Bethel. There, the Bible says he had a dream in which he envisioned a ladder (more like a stairway), extending from earth to heaven with the Lord seen standing above it (verse 13).
In speaking to one of his disciples named Nathanael in the New Testament, Jesus made a direct reference to Jacob’s ladder when he said, Truly, truly, I say to you, you shall see the heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man (John 1:51). The Son of Man links Jesus to his earthly mission which was to go to a cross to die for our sin disease which has separated us from God. Then the Bible says Jesus was buried, but rose on the third day, and then after appearing for forty days to over 500 witnesses, he ascended into heaven and one day he will come back for his bride, the church!
Oh to think of the fulfillment of the covenant promise of Jacob’s Ladder in the presence of Jesus Christ. Do you know him as your Lord and Savior? When you put your trust in him, the Bible says your connection to the cross on earth reaches eternally into the heavens! (See John 10:7-11 and John 14:6)!
The hymn writer says we are climbing Jacob’s Ladder, as soldiers of the cross!
Pastor Louie