In Genesis 28:10-11 it says that Jacob was on his way from Beersheba to Harran, where he arrived at a certain place at sunset, the end of the day. At this place he decided to spend the night and took a certain stone from many stones to serve as his pillow.
Genesis 28:10-11:
10 Jacob left Beersheba (Note: ‘well of the oath’ or well of the ‘seven’) and set out for Harran (Note: ‘way, street, crossroad’).
11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.
10 Jacob left Beersheba (Note: ‘well of the oath’ or well of the ‘seven’) and set out for Harran (Note: ‘way, street, crossroad’).
11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.
While Jacob was lying on the ground of the place of the city of ‘Luz’ and the stone he had chosen with his head, he received a dream. In this dream he saw a ladder unfolding upwards from the ‘earth realm’ into the realm of the heavens, so that the top of the ladder was reaching into the sky.
At this he saw the angels of God ascending and descending it while the LORD, who is YAHWEH was standing above the top of the ladder, speaking to Jacob and blessing him (cf. Genesis 28:12-15).
Genesis 28:12-15:
12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
13 There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.
14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.
15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
13 There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.
14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.
15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
The Well of Beersheba and the Power of the Oath
In the context of the visitation, it is clear that Jacob moved forward with the power of the oath of his forefather Abraham, which is associated with the number ‘7’. Abraham dug a well in Beersheba and used seven lambs as a sign of proof of its discovery to king Abimelek, so the well was named by Abraham ‘Beersheba – well of the seven’ or ‘well of the oath’ (cf. Genesis 21:28-32a).
Genesis 21:28-32a:
28 Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock, 29 and Abimelek asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?”
30 He replied, “Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well.”
31 So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there.
32 After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, ...
28 Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock, 29 and Abimelek asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?”
30 He replied, “Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well.”
31 So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there.
32 After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, ...
Thus, Jacob made his way to Harran in the ‘power of the oath’ or ‘seven’ in the structure of the Lamb. Based on Revelation 5:6, we know that the Lamb of God has seven eyes and seven horns and stands before the throne of God.
Revelation 5:6:
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
In a prophetic context, lambs can be, among other things, a sign of Jesus Christ revealing Himself in His kingdom reign, which is accompanied by triumph.
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
In a prophetic context, lambs can be, among other things, a sign of Jesus Christ revealing Himself in His kingdom reign, which is accompanied by triumph.
It may sound unusual to some but the Lamb of God is full of the attributes of revelation.
These attributes of the Lamb of God are as following:
- white wool representing purity and righteousness
- seven horns representing dominion/authority of God (Note: worthy, power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and praise)
- seven eyes representing revelation of God (Note: the seven horns reveal the seven levels of authority of the Lamb and together with the seven eyes, result in the seven character traits of the Holy Spirit; cf. Isaiah 11:1-2 i.c.w. Revelation 5:12)
- wound representing the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross (Note: as slain)
- silence of the lamb representing the presence of the kingship of God (Note: the lamb stood in the midst of the elders)
It is so important that we accompany the Lamb of God and stay under the lamp of God’s kingship. The lamp of the kingship is the light of the Lamb. It is the light of renewal that we need in order to go forward in a new structure of the LORD.
Furthermore, the structure of the Lamb of God encompasses Jesus’ temporary time on earth and His victory over sin, death and the devil (cf. Colossians 2:12-15).
Colossians 2:12-15:
… 12 having been buried with him (Note: Jesus Christ) in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
… 12 having been buried with him (Note: Jesus Christ) in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
The Power of the Lamb and the Proper Biblical Understanding of Time
It is no coincidence that Jacob moved and walked in the way of decision (Note: Harran) with the power of the Lamb related to the promise of his grandfather Abraham.
It is Jesus Christ who is the way to the Father, the truth and the life (cf. John 14:6).
John 14:6:
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. …”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. …”
When we walk in the way of truth and life, which is Jesus Christ, and choose the way that the Holy Spirit wants to lead in this time, it results in a new dimension of God’s visitation giving us a greater understanding of the portal of the biblical times.
For this, it is necessary that we close an old phase of time and allow the Spirit of Truth to lead us into a new phase of time.
This principle is revealed by Jacob, as mentioned earlier, as he was lying down at sunset in the region of the city of ‘Luz’ which means ‘almond tree’. The sunset in the region of the ‘almond tree’ as well as the lying down is an indication that a temporary personal time was completed and the LORD focused on the ‘lunar time’. This ‘lunar time’ is associated with the moon and the stars, which announce His months and feast seasons (cf. Genesis 1:14-19).
Genesis 1:14-19:
14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so.
16 God made two great lights – the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.
17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.
19 And there was evening, and there was morning – the fourth day.
14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so.
16 God made two great lights – the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.
17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.
19 And there was evening, and there was morning – the fourth day.
The position of the sun is associated with the period of the hour and the moon with the period of the month. The stars in their orbits set by God indicate, among other things, the seasons and point to the potential of the promise. From this we can assume that it is the dimension of God’s long suffering and goodness, since a month carries more time than the period of an hour (cf. Genesis 15:5 i.c.w. 2 Peter 3:9).
Genesis 15:5:
5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars – if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars – if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
2 Peter 3:9:
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Jacob’s settlement in the region of ‘Luz’ exposed the setting up of a ladder that extended from the ground with its top into the heaven or heavens.
A ladder is composed of two poles in which rungs are fitted.
A ladder is composed of two poles in which rungs are fitted.
Since the ladder was established in the region of ‘Luz’ linked to an ‘almond tree’ and the blossoms of the almond tree announce the spring season in Israel, it shows that the LORD opened a new time. And this new time was accompanied by His presence, His house as well as the open portal of heaven (cf. Genesis 28:16-17).
Genesis 28:16-17:
16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”
17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”
17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
It is the LORD who watches over His time and the promise of His word, which is evident from the additional Hebrew word for ‘almond tree – šāqēd’ as being similar to the word for ‘to be watchful – šāqad’ (cf. Jeremiah 1:11-12).
Jeremiah 1:11-12:
11 The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?” “I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied.
12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”
11 The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?” “I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied.
12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”
It was God who was at the top of the ladder, and we need to know that the top in Hebrew is ‘rō'š’ and in a biblical term is associated with the beginning of the month or of a year (Note: Rosh Chodesh, Rosh ha-Shana). This means that in a prophetic context a new phase of time was established, which had to go together with an exchange of angelic powers.
Here, the two spars of the ladder can be seen as the two cycles of God’s time as the cycle of blessing which begins with the month of Abib/Nisan and the cycle of redemption which begins with the month of Tishri/Ethanim. So the rungs on which the angels ascended and descended can be seen as the respective biblical months connected with the tribes of Israel from the sons of Jacob. Furthermore, Revelation 21:12 states that the gates of the tribes of Israel are assigned to an angel.
Revelation 21:12:
12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Thus, it reveals to us that the angels of God are assigned to the tribes of Israel and move in the God-assigned dimension of time. Since time is not literally touchable and God, the Heavenly Father is Spirit (cf. John 4:24), it also shows that the setting up of the ladder in ‘Luz’ was related to a spiritual dimension of time.
The Dimension of God’s Plural and Singular
God met Jacob in the plural as what we call the Trinity (Note: God the Father, Son, Holy Spirit) and in the singular, revealing Himself as ‘’ằlōhîm’ which is plural, and also as ‘YAHWEH’ which is singular, representative of the Father.
It should be noted here that the ladder in Jacob’s dream extended from the realm of the singular to the realm of the plural, which is evident from the Hebrew words for earth which is ‘äräẓ and singular and heaven which is ‘šāmajim and plural.
So God met Jacob as YAHWEH (Note: singular) at the top of the ladder in the realm of the fullness of heaven (Note: plural), while Jacob slept on the ground in the earth realm (Note: singular).
Here the angels of God first moved from the realm of the singular (Note: earth – ‘äräẓ), so that the angels from the realm of the plural (Note: heaven – ‘šāmajim) came to Jacob in the earth realm.
Genesis 28:12 states that first the angels of God ascended and others descended. The reason for this exchange of angels was that Jacob was in a time of transition, namely from the land of promise (Note: Beersheba) to the land of ‘pioneers’. This time of transition was in order to prepare the field for the future generations that would later be blessed through him (cf. Genesis 28:14-15).
Genesis 28:14-15:
14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.
15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.
15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
The angels of God who were appointed to the land of promise ascended and the angels who were appointed to the pioneering phase by God descended.
The pioneering angels are angelic powers that help us as God’s people to obtain success in the earth realm to manage the natural things in our new walk with God so that we can reveal the visible breakthroughs of God before men.
There are angels who are exclusively ordained by God to cooperate in the spiritual realm and there are angels who are ordained by God to assist us in the natural realm, as it is written in Hebrews 13:2.
Hebrews 13:2:
2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
Jacob’s dream resulted in Jacob recognizing the presence of God, His house, and access into the heavens of God, so that the stone he used for himself as a pillow now became an anointed stone, as he set it up as a pillar of stone and poured oil on it.
In this context, he gave the place a new name, changing it from an almond tree ‘Luz’ to the house of God ‘Bethel’ (Genesis 28:18-19).
Genesis 28:18-19:
18 Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it.
19 He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.
18 Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it.
19 He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.
This clearly reveals that the place where Jacob stayed overnight was transformed. Here the place changed from the character of a single tree (Note: Luz) to the character of a house. The house (Note: Bethel) points to the fellowship of saints in the provision and presence of God (Note: in the form of ‘’ēl šaddaj’) (cf. John 14:2).
John 14:2:
2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
Nathanael’s Appointment, the Fig Tree and its Relevance
It is no coincidence that Nathanael, according to the Gospel of John, as the fourth called disciple of Jesus, was also associated with the region of a tree, which was a fig tree.
The name ‘Nathanael’ means ‘God has given.’ And the number ‘4’ is connected to the Hebrew letter ‘Daleth’, which in turn is connected to an ‘open tent entrance’ or an ‘opened wing of a door’. This numerical value was already a reference to the open portal of heaven of which Jesus later spoke to Nathanael, in that he and the people of Israel would see the angels of God ascending and descending above the Son of Man, much as Jacob experienced (cf. John 1:50-51).
John 1:50-51:
50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”
51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”
50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”
51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”
According to His word of knowledge Jesus saw Nathanael sitting beneath a fig tree (cf. John 1:48).
John 1:48:
48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
The fig tree is a representation for the people of Israel and is one of the most important fruit trees in Israel. Moreover, it bears fruit three times a year, at the God appointed times of the biblical feasts which are Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot (cf. Exodus 23:14-17), although the figs are inedible in the spring and a reference to the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ at the Passover time.
It is no coincidence that the fig tree is indirectly mentioned by name in the creation account (cf. Genesis 3:7-8).
Genesis 3:7-8:
7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
We may assume that after the fall Adam and Eve stood close to the fig tree or even beneath it, because they used its leaves to cover their nakedness or to even hide behind it from God. The Lord said, Adam and Eve were allowed to eat from all the trees in the garden except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which was located in the center of the garden (cf. Genesis 2:9.16-17).
Genesis 2:9.16-17:
9 The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground – trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. …
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
9 The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground – trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. …
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
Hence we can see that God set apart the fig tree from the other trees in the garden or rather, He emphasized it so that it received the place of a chosen tree, as it was located in the center of the garden.
In a similar way God chose His people Israel and their capital Jerusalem from among all the peoples on earth as His special possession and placed them in the center of the peoples on the earth (cf. Deuteronomy 7:6-7 i.c.w. Ezekiel 5:5).
Deuteronomy 7:6-7:
6 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.
7 The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.
6 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.
7 The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.
Ezekiel 5:5:
5 “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: This is Jerusalem, which I have set in the center of the nations, with countries all around her.
5 “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: This is Jerusalem, which I have set in the center of the nations, with countries all around her.
The fig tree became a test for Adam and Eve to submit to God’s instruction in order to live in a pure relationship with God or, on the other hand, to oppose His instruction and be removed from the relationship in direct closeness of God.
This explanation reveals that God challenges us, mankind, as we have to decide whether we are for His chosen people (Note: Israel) or against them.
Nathanael’s Spiritual Understanding
Looking at the place where Nathanael sat beneath the fig tree, his name and his position as the fourth disciple called by Jesus, we can see that he functioned in his spiritual position of authority and that he had a spiritual understanding of Israel’s position and its capital Jerusalem.
As God is spirit and as Nathanael’s identity means ‘given by God’, we recognize that Nathanael knew his place of authority in the spirit (cf. John 4:24a).
John 4:24a:
24a God is spirit, …
24a God is spirit, …
Nathanael also had a territorial understanding of the position of regions or cities in the spiritual realm. We can see this when we look at the answer he gave Philip by telling him that normally nothing good can be expected from Nazareth, because its inhabitants had only little faith for the Messiah, as was confirmed later (cf. John 1:45-46 i.c.w. Matthew 13:58).
John 1:45-46:
45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.
45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.
Matthew 13:58:
58 And he (Note: Jesus) did not do many miracles there (Note: Nazareth) because of their lack of faith.
58 And he (Note: Jesus) did not do many miracles there (Note: Nazareth) because of their lack of faith.
Nathanael had a humble, earnest heart and was willing to submit to the instruction of the revelatory truth given to him by Philip despite his knowledge about Nazareth; so Nathanael left his place beneath the fig tree and entered into the presence of the son of God (cf. John 1:47-48).
John 1:47-48:
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
There is a deeper revelation when Jesus while speaking to Nathanael mentioned the fig tree in connection with calling him a true Israelite, because the fig tree is a symbol for the people of Israel.
Because Jesus had spoken a word of knowledge, Nathanael sensed the authority of Jesus Christ in the realm of the spirit by acknowledging Jesus as Rabbi (Note: complete authority in the word of God), Son of God (Note: complete authority in the true relationship with God, the Father) and King of Israel (Note: complete governmental authority; cf. John 1:49).
John 1:49:
49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
The Authorization to See Even Greater Things
Because of Nathanael’s faith and his knowledge, Jesus Christ granted him the right to see greater things which were connected to the exchange of angelic powers in the regions by the presence of Jesus (cf. John 1:50-51).
John 1:50-51:
50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”
51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”
50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”
51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”
Looking at John 1:50-51, we see clearly that all believers in Christ who identify themselves with the divine choice of the people of Israel and the knowledge of the Son of God, will begin to see the heavens open and the angels moving up and down in the presence of Jesus.
The reason for this we find in Zechariah 2:8b, where it states that Israel holds the position of the apple of God’s eye with Jerusalem as its pupil; as Christians coming from the Gentiles, it enables us to view our life and environment with enlightened eyes in order to advance with confidence into our future with Jesus Christ.
Zechariah 2,8b:
… 8b for whoever touches you (Note: Israel) touches the apple of his eye – …
Zechariah 2,8b:
… 8b for whoever touches you (Note: Israel) touches the apple of his eye – …
The Significance of the Ascend and Descend of God’s Angels
The ascending and descending of the angels of God over Jesus Christ reveal the exchange of angelic powers which is similar to the exchange of angels at the time of Jacob, when he was in a time of transition and received a promise from God (cf. Genesis 28:12-15).
Genesis 28:12-15:
12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
13 There above it stood the LORD, and he said: “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.
14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.
15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
13 There above it stood the LORD, and he said: “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.
14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.
15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
The ascending and descending of the angels over Jesus Christ is an indication for the high movement of the angels from God’s throne room, and they are assigned to carry His secrets in the shape of scrolls in order to reveal them for this time. These secrets can only be received by those who identify themselves with Israel as God’s chosen people and are aware of the significance in the realm of the spirit and who have truly submitted to Jesus Christ as head. Moreover, this supernatural ascend and descend is related to the increase in knowledge of the glory of the LORD (cf. Habakkuk 2:14).
Habakkuk 2:14:
14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
In summary, we learn from the walk of the disciple Nathanael the principle of spiritual identification, because we need a spiritual as well as a higher perspective, so we can keep our focus on the Almighty in times of aberration and confusion among the nations.
Only God’s choice, grace and sovereignty as Father creates the movement of the Spirit through the Son in the people of God; this in turn enables the body of Christ to have access to the glory of the LORD according to Isaiah 60. And this glory movement gives birth to the true bridal structure of the heavenly Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 60:1-2 i.c.w. Revelation 21:2.9-14).
Isaiah 60:1-2:
1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
Revelation 21:2.9-14:
2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. …
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. …
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Let’s be willing to enter the new time the Lord has prepared and let go of the things which have had to end as the promises given by God are not only for us, but for the securing of the generations.
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm
