Heavenly Ascent (Bethel) was inspired by Jacob’s dream at what became Bethel in Genesis 28, and it embodies those promises for us today.

  • Genesis 28:11-13, 16-17, 19 (TLB) That night, when he stopped to camp at sundown, he found a rock for a headrest and lay down to sleep, and dreamed that a staircase reached from earth to heaven, and he saw the angels of God going up and down upon it. At the top of the stairs stood the Lord. “I am Jehovah,” Then Jacob woke up. “God lives here!” he exclaimed in terror. “I’ve stumbled into his home! This is the awesome entrance to heaven! He named the place Bethel (“House of God”)…
  • Micah 4:1 (NKJV) Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it.

In Psalms are 15 Songs of Ascent. Some believe that these were sung as the Israelites ascended the road to Jerusalem for the three pilgrim feasts: Pesach (Passover), Shavuot (Penecost), and Tabernacles (Sukkot). Others believe the Levites sung them as they ascended the fifteen steps to minister at the Temple. Both possibilities are during a time of spiritual ascent, just as this image represents such a heavenly ascent.

“The first Psalm of Ascent, Psalm 120, begins, “In my distress I called out to Jehovah.” This is a picture of man’s need and cry for covenantal relationship and regeneration. The last Psalm of Ascent, Psalm 134, begins, “Bless Jehovah now, all you servants of Jehovah who stand by night in the house of Jehovah.” This is a picture of those who have ascended to a place of covenant fulfillment and are fully capable of standing as God’s light in a time of darkness” (from an article by Gale Maiden).

“I saw someone trudging through the sand on a valley floor, a very dry place, on the way to a mountain with snow-covered peaks, and I knew that this person represented those in the Body of Christ who are still in a very dry place spiritually, but moving towards the fresh anointing. I believe at this point in time we have crossed the desert sands and are positioned for the spiritual ascent to the heights, far above worldliness and carnal living…I am sure God will continue to unfold and reveal His purpose for us as we begin our ascent” (from “We Must Rebuild Our Spiritual Foundation” by Marsha Burns of Faith Tabernacle).

The name of the silk hidden in this image is Bethel (House of God). The colors in it are turquoise representing wrestling, midnight sea representing cleansing, electric blue representing prophetic revelation, gold representing authority, and gold shimmer representing blessings.

Father, thank You for giving us the ladder – the means, the medium – for having spiritual ascent. You reach for us, invite us, provide a way for us to arise, to climb higher, to encounter You and the things of You. Thank You for the fresh anointing washing over even the most parched and saturating and smoothing the way. You so desire to meet with us! Who are we that You are even mindful of us – a wisp, a vapor – and yet You LOVE us and invite us to be with You. Thank You for who You are and for Your love. May we never take You or the access You extend us for granted.