Opening the Gates of Heaven Perry Stone

CHAPTER 1

The Man Who Saw the Gate of Heaven And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel. —G ENESIS 35:15

J ACOB, THE GRANDSON of Abraham, was in serious trouble. He had deceived his brother, Esau, and his father, and he had taken the blessing intended for the firstborn son from Esau (Gen. 27:41). Fearing physical reprisal, Jacob went into exile, traveling far from home, and eventually arrived at a location near a place called Luz (Gen. 28:19). One evening as the sun was setting, Jacob stopped for the night and, using stones as a pillow, lay down to sleep. Late that night as he drifted off to sleep, he experienced a mysterious and wonderful dream. In his dream Jacob saw a ladder whose base was setting on the earth, but the top of the ladder reached into heaven. When we think of a ladder, we picture a stepladder with steps that one climbs to reach the roof of his house. The Hebrew word ladder i s sullam and is actually a staircase . This is evident, as Jacob saw angels going up and coming down the ladder. This supernatural