This is an excellent post, JK. Forest Keeper, the icon I posted is a graphic demonstration of what Joe just wrote, showing Christ at the head of the Ladder, angels encouraging us and demons tempting us. Some, in the Icon its a couple of bishops, fall off the Ladder and into the Pit, others arrive at theosis.
Two questions on the icon you posted.
First, if the men falling off are bishops, was that inspired by St. John Chrysostom ("the way to hell is paved by the skulls of bishops"?!)
Second, is there an icon with Mary at the top of the ladder? I know some saints have had such visions of a ladder with her at the top. (like St. Francis of Assisi)
Brother in Christ