When Jacob woke from sleep on his way to Haran, he was afraid and named the place Bethel because he believed that the

When Jacob woke from sleep on his way to Haran, he was afraid and named the place Bethel because he believed that the place was the gate of heaven. In the book of Genesis, it is stated that Jacob had a dream in which he saw a ladder that was set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. The angels of God were ascending and descending on it. In the dream, God spoke to Jacob and promised to give him and his descendants the land on which he lay. When Jacob woke up, he was afraid and said, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it." He then named the place Bethel, which means "house of God," and believed that it was the gate of heaven.