While meditating on Elaine’s recent vision of the ladder or stairway to heaven, I am reminded of the many dreams and visions some of us saw throughout the years about “Jacob’s Ladder”. Again the idea of holiness was highlighted to me.
“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE Lord; and the pots in the LORD’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar.
Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.”
Zechariah 14:16-21 KJV
“For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.
And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.
And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.”
Isaiah 66:18-21 KJV
“Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.”
Malachi 3:1-6, 16-18 KJV
“Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written,
Be ye holy; for I am holy.
And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
1 Peter 1:10-23 KJV
“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture,
Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: And he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, The stone which the builders disallowed, The same is made the head of the corner, and A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
1 Peter 2:1-2, 4-12 KJV
“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
For He that will love life, And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile:
Let him eschew evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and ensue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous,
And his ears are open unto their prayers:
But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”
1 Peter 3:8-12 KJV
It was due to revelations along this line, as I cried to God that I would not miss His “train” of glory in His holiness, that our wonderful Father began to impress on my heart that He would uproot my life from Austin, a place infested by a false Christianity of many dangerous and toxic mixtures. Actually, the Lord revealed to me that it is the seat of the Spirit of Babylon (counterfeit Christianity or deceitful culture orientation) over America. This was later confirmed by others with similar revelations.
One of the things that inspired me into such a line of enlightenment was actually a similar dream.
https://kingdomage.org/dream-pathway-to-heaven-06-18-2008/
Allow me to expound on a prophetic revelation here. I hope it helps to bring a light to some of these practical and living truths concerning our lives as a chosen or set-apart remnant of God in an age that is ordained by God to wrap up and discard this corrupted world like a filthy garment.
Why did God give Jacob a dream for a stairway or ladder to His house when he was dispelled from his father’s household, and heading to Babylon, where God had called Abraham out from? Had he chosen, in obedience, a blessing of God to go back, or was he suffering the consequences of his sinful and unlawful ways of seeking it, like Eve and Adam? And why in the end does God hate Esau but love Jacob?
Obviously, Abraham’s sojourning in Egypt foreshadows the Israelites’ deliverance out of the power or dominion of the spirit of the world. Similarly, as a personal revelation, Jacob’s retreat back to Babylon and expeditions out of it with his household is a prophetic picture of the Church, or the Bride of Christ (a desolate woman in her own “right” due to her inability as a culture or household of priests to raise up the true sons of God) with her Sons being delivered from the spirit of Babylon, or a corrupted and perverted way of worshiping a holy God–false religion, if you will.
The real reason for the contending and trials is always about the spiritual seed or the lineage of spiritual sons. As in Abraham’s life, Sarah unwittingly “compelled” him to bear a son with Haggar, thereby introducing into his household “their first-born” son, Ishmael.
We can get out of Egypt in form, but not in substance or our ways of life. Leave it unchecked, and it will inevitably produce a son of the slave woman, who is doomed in God’s balance to have NO SHARE in the inheritance of His promise. This is obviously a symbol of the sons of the anti-Christ, or the man of lawlessness–humanistic ways of worshiping God, which would always try to persecute the true heir, the “first-born” of God in Abraham’s household.
“Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says?
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.
These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants.
One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.
But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.
For it is written: “Be glad, barren woman, you who never bore a child; shout for joy and cry aloud, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”
Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.
At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now.>
But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.”
Galatians 4:8-9, 17-31 NIV
“You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish?
After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain?
So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?
So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3:1-7, 13-14, 23, 26-29 NIV
Similarly we can get out of Babylon in form, but not in heart. We will more than remain in spiritual darkness, but will continue to produce sons of its culture and ruler, the devil; a people of Babylon.
Let us look at another prophetic picture to illustrate the importance of true holiness: setting ourselves apart FROM the kingdom of Egypt and the Kingdom of Babylon, in order to enter INTO the kingdom of God as His bride.
(That is, to first have the right for the promise of God, then to mature or be perfected as a son, and to have the fulfillment and the inheritance of the promise of God.
Give an effective, thorough study on this subject: in the NT, being sealed by the Holy Spirit is clearly not equivalent to being anointed by the Holy Spirit. We are sealed for the potential of eternal life, but we are anointed to reveal (make known) and minister (impart) the power of eternal life, effectively exercising the authority and power given to us as ministers of the New Covenant under the headship of Christ.
The word “anointing” has become a popular jargon in today’s Christian circles. But as Apostle John explained, “the anointing (of his ministry and fellowship) is real”. It obviously must be real for us as a true church of Jesus Christ. It is not merely some spiritual experience or revelation, but an entrusted kingdom office of priesthood and its operations in an order, and by a power from above as a living representation of Christ– the Anointed One, our High Priest, the King of kings and God the Father, who enables us by the power of the Holy Spirit in His “name”. That is the honor and authority of a son or a priest of God the Father.
The proper understanding and application of this biblical concept is key for many of us to be able to really shake off the religious man’s indoctrination and enter into and build up divine relationships. Only in faith, with wisdom and understanding that we put into practice, are we able to immerse in the river of “the administration of grace”. This is clearly expressed by Peter, Paul and John in their ministry and teachings. Indeed, it is the gateway for us to allow apostolic grace to flow, especially as it concerns the order and substance of the work of discipleship.)
Rachel in her foolishness clung to the idol of her father’s household for a “blessing”, thus dooming herself not able to see her sons raised up. She died giving birth to Benjamin, a son of sorrow to herself but also a son of God’s right hand (heir) to her husband. This is almost a replay of the life of Eve and the promise God made to Adam for a family of legitimate sons, or sons fitting for His inheritance to mankind.
As a result of the curse Jacob inflicted on her when caught by her father Laban, Rachael was thus deprived of the joy and privilege to partner with Jacob in raising up Joseph and Benjamin. Joseph ended up marrying the daughter of an Egyptian high priest, Benjamin later had nearly the whole tribe severed from God’s people. Eventually the right of Kingship passed unto the tribe of Judah and the privilege of the Priesthood to the tribe of Levi; in a sense, her sons lost the true inheritance of God’s promises.
What is the spiritual and practical lesson for us as God’s chosen remnant?
To be qualified and productive as a spiritual leadership for a generation requires us to depart from more than our own sinful ways of life, but also to be further enlightened and built up as an able priesthood of God’s culture from above.
We are to sow in our spiritual garden God’s chosen seeds, and to build up God’s house with living stones (sons). No weeds and no idols, for sure; but this clearance is only the starting point. And in order for us to partner with God in raising up His Sons and build up His house, on earth as it is in heaven, we must be taught of His culture so that we can teach others His ways.
We must have the mind of Christ, and the entrusted counsel of our Heavenly Father.
In order to truly grasp such a truth, I highly recommend you, if you are a true disciple of the Lord, to study John 6, 8 and Revelation 12. Ask the Lord to reveal to you what He really wants to convey. No flesh or blood, no son of Adam, no one cursed by God into spiritual slavery, can enter the Kingdom of God. Yes, the Kingdom belongs to God’s sons, not slaves of the Devil; God the Father’s business or inheritance is to be entrusted to His approved heirs, not spiritual orphans who never get hold the culture of His household.
When one does not believe or is unwilling to participate in this HOLY work, what does his or her life have to do with us as a chosen and entrusted remnant? Can we even begin to engage in divine relationships or functional fellowship with them? Obviously not and never. Why? Because we are not of the same vision of life, nor are we able to labor together in building the culture of God. Why? Because God ordains it and commands it.
Oil can’t mix with water, sheep are not meant to group with goats, nor will the garden of God plant thorns and thistles. End of story! Any one who protests or argues on these basics of spiritual life is either blinded, or of evil. Period. Their only hope is to repent and forfeit their blindness and their evil ways.
The seed is holy; so is the harvest. If the seed is common, what kind of fruits will be waved in our basket as willing and joyful offerings? Surely not pleasant ones, if not rotten.
“The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.
One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.
Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.
Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good. For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt: and I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them. And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.”
Jeremiah 24:1-10 KJV
“Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit. And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit.
Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more. And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord GOD: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence.
Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? and it shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day: and I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.”
Amos 8:1-3, 8-12 KJV
“Then the angel who was speaking to me came forward and said to me, “Look up and see what is appearing.” I asked, “What is it?” He replied, “It is a basket.” And he added, “This is the iniquity of the people throughout the land.”
Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman! He said, “This is wickedness,” and he pushed her back into the basket and pushed its lead cover down on it.
Then I looked up—and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth. “Where are they taking the basket?” I asked the angel who was speaking to me. He replied,
“To the country of Babylonia to build a house for it. When the house is ready, the basket will be set there in its place.””
Zechariah 5:5-11 NIV
Let the religious contend with themselves and with the world when they are content with their ways and their sons; but let the Bride of God be washed and adopted into God’s household, so she can help to raise up her sons as “heirs with Christ”.