Father's Love: Open Heaven and Angels

As many attended "Kingdom Foundations:  A school of healing and impartation" I was stunned by the Lord highlighting one session on Open Heavens.  Many don't understand the concept of an Open Heaven and think it is some charismatic thing for the super-elite Christian, hype, or a scam.  Yet could it be that Biblically the foundation of an open heaven was all the way back with Jacob when he had an encounter with the Lord where there was a ladder with angels ascending and descending from heaven.

In our world we have a fascination with the supernatural but seem to quickly lose the truth of how the Bible clearly describes the heavenly realm and also many TV shows are currently obsessed with the supernatural but mainly the dark and demonic side.  Genesis 28:12 describes this encounter this way, "And he 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."  Many people throughout the Old and New Testament have had encounters with angels, yet in our secular society that tends to only look at the physical realm angels are often relegated to cupid looking creatures that shoot love arrows at their victims.  

While I would say that I had a mental ascent that angels are real and certainly are Biblical, they still seamed almost unnecessary in my heart of hearts.  As Randy Clark talked about the actual partnering with the angelic realm and their profound impact on ministry and miracles, I began to realize that my attitude about angels needed some adjustment.  Also the concept of the heavens being opened up by the the Father over Jesus the Son of God and then never closing seemed like a nice sentiment for Jesus but not really important to me.  Amazing how our unbelief can be arrogant as repentance (change of mind) occurs and we have revelation of the truth.  

In John 1:51 Jesus claims to be the ladder between heaven and earth by the title "Son of Man", "And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”  Many believers do not understand the covenant and Jesus Christ and simply believe this was for Jesus but has no relevance for us today, whereas an understanding of covenant brings revelation that Jesus is the representative for all regenerated people.  Thus when the heavens were opened over Jesus they were opened over every born again believer who has been placed "in Christ".  Jesus throughout His life and ministry had the assistance of angels to minister to Him, to strengthen Him during times of weakness (the desert and Gethsemane), to make a way for Him (Gabriel's appearance to Joseph and Mary), and angels had an important role in Jesus resurrection.  We are told in Hebrews 1:14 that angels have a special role to serve those who will inherit salvation (redeemed people).  Could it be that out of Father's love (His Nature) we are given angels to assist us in carrying out His will on the earth, just as Jesus was on the Father's mission of bringing the Kingdom of heaven to earth.  Yet I believe this is a subject where there is not only a lot of mystery but also much deception, delusion, and distortion.  Hollywood Horror films seem to be hell-bent on using the supernatural to bring nightmares to the big screen.  Many conjure up the mental picture of the "Exorcist" with the demon -possessed woman's head spinning.

Under an Open Heaven,
Bret