"Jacob's Ladder"

"Jacob's Ladder" is a biblical concept, but for Hermetic philosophers it was also symbolic of man's transformation, and his connection to the universe.What is Jacob’s Ladder?In the book of Genesis (28,12), Jacob had a dream in which he saw a ladder extending to the gate of heaven.For Hermetic philosophers, the ladder became an important symbolic motif. It was often used to convey the interlocking world of God, the soul and man. In some Hermetic texts, the ladder was depicted as a series of chains, each representing a different "sphere" of consciousness. All of these spheres were linked together, and like man, were each connected to "the true essence of God."The Ladder and Other Hermetic ConceptsOften, the ladder was associated with other Hermetic concepts and ideas. It was used to represent a wide range of different theories and philosophical notions. The following list explores some of these ideas:Ladder and Sephiroth Sometimes, the ladder was interchangeable with the concept of "Sephiroth." The Sephiroth tree comprises the basis of Cabala. Often depicted by ten numbered spheres in alchemical and Hermetic texts, the Sephiroth tree is symbolic of the world of the divine, and the world of material goods. Not only does the Sephiroth tree comprise the foundation of the universe, but it is responsible for mankind as well.Cycle of Nature and Life Here, each sphere was shown linked together, and represented the cycle of life. The last sphere would connect to the first, thereby linking the cycle of life and death. Hermetics believed everything in the universe ultimately went around in a circle. They believed the universe originated from a single source.Axis Mundi The ladder itself was often used to point toward the direction of "The One." It became easily recognizable in manuscripts, but was also a popular subject matter for artists..God Cannot be Fully Comprehended Other times, the ladder was shown to depict a Hermetic concept that man cannot fully grasp the concept of God. In manuscripts, a ladder may be shown pointing towards the sky, but not able to reach it. The ladder may point towards heaven, but stops at a certain point because God (also referred to as "The One") is incomprehensible.Genesis 28:10 "And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran."Genesis 28:11 "And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep."Jacob, who will be the father of the twelve Patriarchs, picked a stone to lay his head upon; and we will see later where this pillow stone, also called Jacob's pillar, will become important in the future. Genesis 28:12 "And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set upon the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it."Jesus referred to this ladder in the gospel of John 1:51; "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." It is the windows of heaven that open, and the angels that come and go from God's throne are to the service of Jesus Christ. The ability to see this ascending and descending was conditional on the repentance of the nation, yet this time will still be seen. What it is saying is that Christ is the link between heaven and earth. It is by and through Christ that the angels descend and ascend. Christ is the link between God and man, for Christ is the tabernacle for man, to allow God to commune with man.This particular stone has been carried through the wilderness by the Israelites, and held through many centuries. It is the stone that the kings of Israelites were crown on, and it sats in Westminster Abby in England, and the Kings and Queens of England are crowned upon. It is the stone that Queen Elizabeth II was crowned upon,. "Jacob's pillar" [stone]Then for some completely unknown reason on the fast of 17 Tammuz 5756 (July,4,1996) John Major the Prime Minister of England decided to return the Coronation stone to Scottland..http://www.revelationsofthebible.com/JacobsPillarStone.htm 28:13 "And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, "I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;"God is the God of the living, and not the dead. God is the God of all souls, and the living souls are those souls that are in Christ, and did things God's ways; yes, even in the old testament. Genesis 28:14 "And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed."It will be through Jacobs family that Jesus Christ will be born, and it is through Jesus Christ the we receive all our blessings. It is through Jesus Christ that the souls of all mankind can receive eternal life of the soul. Christ is the only ladder by which all mankind can ascend to the throne of God, and His name is the authority for our approaching that throne in repentance and requests. This verse is also in reference to Jacob's sons become many nations scattered around the world, in geographic locations that would be a wealth to their peoples. Genesis 28:15 "And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of."This promise is to Jacob and all the generations that followed him, right up to our present generation. It is not just for the tiny land of Palestine, or Israel of today, but to all the migrations of the offshoot generations that sprang forth from Jacob. God's promises was for those ten tribes that came through the Caucasus Mountains in the seventh century B. C. and migrated westward to settle throughout Europe, and moved on to the Americas. The became known as "Caucasians" as a race of white people by tradition, However, this term is in reference to the event of migration of the "House of Israel"; the so called "lost house of Israel.This promise that God is giving to Jacob also includes the "House of Judah", which includes the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and part of the tribe of Levi, which was scattered throughout all the other tribes. So here we see God is presenting himself to simple Jacob, sleeping on his rock pile, and revealing to him what he will be in the distant future. Why would God chose Jacob for this blessing? Because he obeyed his mother and father, and did not marry from the daughters of the Hittites, but most of all he obeyed "El Shaddai", the Living God.Genesis 28:16 "And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, "Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not."

The term "Jacob's Ladder" has become a common phrase in many aspects of our daily lives -- it has been used as a movie title, a book title, a name of a flower, and even as a name of an electrical device. But from where did this phrase originate?Genesis 28:10-12 first mentions "Jacob's Ladder" when it says: "Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. 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. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway/ladder resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it."It is in this passage that God reveals Himself to Jacob and reaffirms the covenant He made with Abraham, promising Jacob (who will later be named Israel) that his offspring will be many and that the promised land will one day belong to his descendants.In this vision Jacob sees something similar to a ladder or a stairway (Hebrew word: Sullam) which signifies a connection between God and man. In this instance, it was God who provided the means necessary to link Himself to man as opposed to the men of Babel in Genesis 11 who tried to reach heaven by their own actions, aside from the help of God.These two passages of Scripture reflect differing schools of thought over the issue of salvation: One group tries to reach heaven based on their own actions aside from God's help, but the other group has access to heaven based on the provisions of God and only the provisions of God.As Christians we see this dream of Jacob's as highly symbolic, representing the Mediator, Jesus Christ, who came to earth and became that ladder or stairway for us to reconnect the relationship with God that was severed because of sin. Romans 5:1-2 says: "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand."According to the Bible, Jesus was our ideal "Jacob's Ladder" who came to earth, from the line of Jacob, through the provisions of God, and redeemed us so that we may live in heaven for eternity.