Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

But God's mercy was still extended to His erring, distrustful
servant. The Lord compassionately revealed just what Jacob
needed--a Savior. He had sinned, but God revealed a way for him to
be restored to divine favor.
Tired, the wanderer lay down on the ground with a stone for his
pillow. As he slept he saw a ladder whose base rested on the earth
while the top reached to heaven. Angels were ascending and
descending on this ladder. Above it was the Lord of glory, and from
the heavens His voice was heard: "I am the Lord God of Abraham
your father and the God of Isaac. ... In you and in your seed all the
families of the earth shall be blessed." This promise had been given
to Abraham and to Isaac, and now it was renewed to Jacob. Then
words of comfort and encouragement were spoken: "Behold, I am
with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you
back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I
have spoken to you."
The Lord in mercy opened up the future before the repentant
fugitive so he might be prepared to resist the temptations that would
come to him when alone among idolaters and schemers. The
knowledge that the purpose of God was reaching its
accomplishment through him would constantly prompt him to
faithfulness.
In this vision Jacob saw the parts of the plan of redemption that
were essential to him at that time. The mystic ladder revealed in his
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