"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." Gen. 28:12.
"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." John 1:51.
In his dream Jacob saw a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, and this mystic ladder constituted the means or channel of the angelic communication between heaven and earth. The angels of God ascended and descended upon it. The angels we knew, and that they are sent to earth and return to heaven we knew. But what the ladder was upon which they made their journey we knew not until Jesus revealed it unto us. He says that the angels of God ascend and descend "upon the Son of Man."
A most important truth is herein communicated unto us. It is that there is no channel of communication between earth and heaven, except through our Lord Jesus Christ. Elect angels come to earth on errands of judgment, comfort, instruction, love, and mercy; and return again, all under the direction of their great Commander, the Archangel, the head over all the angels—the Son of God.
So we see that the holy angels minister to Christ by going and coming according to His good pleasure. But we should remember for our admonition, comfort, and encouragement, that these same holy angels minister to saints on earth. While it is true that the mystic ladder reaches to heaven, and the God of Abraham stands at the top of it, lovingly interested in seeing His angels ascending and descending by the loving direction of His beloved Son whom He has made the Mediator, or connecting link between heaven and earth; it is also true that at the bottom of the ladder, on the earth, are the helpless but trusting saints. So, while it is true that these holy angels would not come to earth if Jesus did not send them, it is also true that they would not come to earth if His people did not need them. Hence, it is evident that the cause for the existence of the ladder is on earth as well as in heaven.
It is through this divinely-appointed instrumentality that God is with His people, and keeps them in all places. Gen. 28:15. How comforting to the believer is this great truth of the ministration of holy angels. How blessed the thought that these holy messengers are enabled to come to our aid through the kindness and love of God our Saviour; that they are lovingly subject to His behest; and that He loves us with an infinite love.
