Jupiter, Orion, Aliens, Atonement, and Ellen G. White

The Ironic Connection of the Great Controversy, Heliocentricism, and the Investigative Judgment

The Lord has given me a view of other worlds. Wings were given me, and an angel attended me from the city to a place that was bright and glorious. The grass of the place was living green, and the birds there warbled a sweet song. The inhabitants of the place were of all sizes; they were noble, majestic, and lovely. They bore the express image of Jesus, and their countenances beamed with holy joy, expressive of the freedom and happiness of the place. I asked one of them why they were so much more lovely than those on the earth. The reply was, “We have lived in strict obedience to the commandments of God, and have not fallen by disobedience, like those on the earth.”

— Ellen G. White (EGW), Early Writings ¹

I will further address the topic of EGW’s unfallen worlds toward the end of the article, with a few mentions in the middle.

Welcome to Part Five in a series on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit and how it affects the Flat Earth community. If you’re just now jumping in, you can find the previous posts here: 

Post #1: Are Flat Earthers Committing the Unpardonable Sin?

Post #2: The Great Disappointment and the Millerite Movement

Post #3: Was Ellen G. White a Prophet or a Free Mason

Post #4: The Visions and Prophecies of Ellen G. White

Foundational Post: Flat Earth, the Trinity, and Ancient Mysteries

While the previous post was the most difficult to write (mostly because there was so much information I had to leave out), this post is by far the most interesting. After examining EGW’s first vision according to scripture, it became clear that she was a false prophet. Learn more: The Visions and Prophecies of Ellen G. White.

Today’s entry will find EGW deficient as a prophet for spreading heliocentric propaganda and a false doctrine of atonement. The irony is that there are people in the Flat Earth movement who maintain that EGW was a prophet of the same order as the Holy Prophets of Old — even the Greatest Prophet, Jesus Christ. These are the same people who deny the doctrine of the Trinity, especially concerning the person of the Holy Spirit. And they look to White’s writing as the deciding factor. I will dig into this in a future post.

But for now, let’s investigate the investigative judgment, the mystery unlocked at The Great Disappointment.

“The subject of the sanctuary was the key which unlocked the mystery of the disappointment of 1844. It opened to view a complete system of truth, connected and harmonious, showing that God’s hand had directed the great advent movement.” EGW ²

We will examine EGW’s “complete system of truth” to see if it agrees with the Bible.

What Really Happened on October 22, 1844?

While all eyes were looking up to see the Lord Return on that fateful day, none could have known they should have been looking into the third heaven where God’s throne dwells. That knowledge would take extra-biblical revelation, which EGW and her companions supplied.

“Christ had come, not to the earth, as they expected, but, as foreshadowed in the type, to the most holy place of the temple of God in heaven.” ³

Jesus would begin cleansing the sanctuary of heaven with His “investigative judgment” to see who had obeyed all His laws and confessed all their sins so Christ could apply His blood to each sin, blot it out, and save those faithful few who had confessed all their sins before He returned in EGW’s lifetime.

To fully understand the investigative judgment, we must go back in time — way back — to before the fall of man when the Great Controversy happened.

What Is The Great Controversy?

Besides the book, “The Great Controversy,” by EGW, there was the great controversy that ensued in heaven before Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit. Rather than tell the story in my own words, I will let the “prophetess” share it herself.   

From the first the great controversy had been upon the law of God. Satan had sought to prove that God was unjust, that His law was faulty, and that the good of the universe required it to be changed. In attacking the law he aimed to overthrow the authority of its Author. In the controversy it was to be shown whether the divine statutes were defective and subject to change, or perfect and immutable. ⁴

Essentially, God and His law were on trial, according to EGW. God patiently waited for Satan to repent of his rebellion before kicking him out of heaven. God’s patience was intentional so He could vindicate himself to the watching “inhabitants of unfallen worlds” which Ellen White saw in vision.

God has worlds upon worlds that are obedient to His law. These worlds are conducted with reference to the glory of the Creator. As the inhabitants of these worlds see the great price that has been paid to ransom man, they are filled with amazement. With intense interest they watch the controversy between Christ and Satan; and as this controversy progresses, and the glory of God shines brighter and brighter, they give praise to God. ⁵

According to EGW, God’s plan of self-justification included sending Jesus Christ into the world with a fallen nature just like the human race under Adam. Jesus’ life would demonstrate how through prayer and submission, a fallen being could keep God’s law perfectly, leaving an example for all those who would believe in Christ by faith.  Those who put their faith in Christ, embrace Adventism, and keep the law will "experience" salvation now and in the future, ⁶ without the assurance they are saved.

“The Saviour's life of obedience maintained the claims of the law, it proved that the law could be kept in humanity, and showed the excellence of character that obedience would develop. All who obey as He did are likewise declaring that the law is “holy, and just, and good.” EGW ⁷

This “life of obedience” that could be mimicked by mankind, leads us to examine the doctrine of the atonement. Before we examine EGW’s view, let’s consider the historical, biblical position.

The Orthodox Doctrine of Atonement

Historically, Christ accomplished the atonement at the cross, restoring man to a right relationship with God.

Atonement is “the act by which God restores a relationship of harmony and unity between Himself and human beings.” ⁸

While upon the cross, Jesus testified, “It is finished.” ⁹ His blood opened up the Most Holy Place once for all. The author of Hebrews under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit writes:

But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Hebrews 9:11-12

Christ’s death on the cross atoned for all our sins. He bore them on the cross.

“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:9).

Propitiation: The atoning death of Jesus on the cross, through which He paid the penalty demanded by God because of people’s sin [the wages of sin is death], thus setting them free from sin and death. The word means “appeasement.” Thus, propitiation expresses the idea that Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for sin that a holy God demanded.

— Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Let’s compare the historical, biblical understanding of the atonement against EGW’s view.

Ellen Gould White’s Atonement

According to EGW’s gospel, Christ entered the most holy place the same year as the Great Disappointment (1844). At the ascension, Christ did not enter the holy of holies, but rather the apartment outside the veil in heaven. She makes this case by comparing the earthly temple to the heavenly temple.

“The ministration of the priest throughout the year in the first apartment of the sanctuary, ‘within the veil’ which formed the door and separated the holy place from the outer court, represents the work of ministration upon which Christ entered at His ascension.” EGW ¹⁰

For eighteen centuries this work of ministration continued in the first apartment of the sanctuary. The blood of Christ, pleaded in behalf of penitent believers, secured their pardon and acceptance with the Father, yet their sins still remained upon the books of record. As in the typical service there was a work of atonement at the close of the year, so before Christ’s work for the redemption of men is completed there is a work of atonement for the removal of sin from the sanctuary. [Around the time of the Great Disappointment] our High Priest entered the most holy, to perform the last division of His solemn work—to cleanse the sanctuary. EGW ¹¹

Furthermore, she writes:

“Attended by heavenly angels, our great High Priest enters the holy of holies and there appears in the presence of God to engage in the last acts of His ministration in behalf of man—to perform the work of investigative judgment and to make an atonement for all who are shown to be entitled to its benefits.” ¹²

Did Jesus truly enter the Most Holy Place in 1844? Let’s take another look at Hebrews 9:11-12:

But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Also notice the words “entitled to its benefits.” What must a person do to be entitled to the benefits of atonement?

EGW’s atonement was not completed at the cross. The crux of her gospel is the investigative judgment. “The sanctuary in heaven is the very center of Christ’s work in behalf of men” (EGW) ¹³ not the cross. While Jesus is now in the holy of holies, He is blotting out those sins that have been forsaken and repented of only. If one sin remains on the record, that sinner is no longer entitled to the atonement’s benefits.

Every man’s work passes in review before God and is registered for faithfulness or unfaithfulness. Opposite each name in the books of heaven is entered with terrible exactness every wrong word, every selfish act, every unfulfilled duty, and every secret sin, with every artful dissembling. Heaven-sent warnings or reproofs neglected, wasted moments, unimproved opportunities, the influence exerted for good or for evil, with its far-reaching results, all are chronicled by the recording angel. EGW ¹⁴

“When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God’s remembrance.” EGW ¹⁵

EGW states that “The law of God is the standard by which the characters and the lives of men will be tested in the judgment.” By this, she means the Decalogue, including the Saturday Sabbath. Yet, she altogether ignores the Bible’s teaching on the removal of sin.

• “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalms 103:12).

• “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

• “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” —then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house” (Matthew 9:6).

• “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered” (Romans 4:7)

• “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

• “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses” (Colossians 2:14).

• “I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake” (1 John 2:12).

According to EGW, the previous generations before 1844 had to wait until the investigative judgment to be declared righteous before God. ¹⁶

As the books of record are opened in the judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected. EGW ¹⁷

Former Adventists and Adventist researchers testify that these doctrines leave Seventh-Day Adventists in continual anxiety and fear, never knowing if they will be good enough to pass the investigative judgment. It is a system of bondage. And adherents are instructed to live without assurance of salvation. “Those who accept the Saviour, however sincere their conversion, should never be taught to say or to feel that they are saved.” EGW ¹⁸

We must also remember the Bible teaches that we are NOT saved by keeping the law of God. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Nor can the law save anyone. “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified” (Galatians 2:16).

According to EGW, when will the atonement be complete?

“The work of the investigative judgment and the blotting out of sins is to be accomplished before the second advent of the Lord.”

Not the cross!

“When the work of the investigative judgment closes, the destiny of all will have been decided for life or death.”

This is EGW’s doctrine of atonement.

Yet, the Bible teaches that the destiny of each man is decided before the foundation of the world and that our redemption is SEALED by the promise of the Holy Spirit. Ironically, it is the doctrine of the Holy Spirit that has prompted this discussion.

“He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:4, 13-14).

God chose us before the foundation of the world and guarantees our salvation with the promised Holy Spirit. Christ has done it all. We accept His free gift and respond with a life of service and obedience to Him in joy for all He has done for us.

But there is more to the destructive doctrine of demons presented by EGW.

The Inverted Gospel

When one breaks down the SDA and EGW teachings, an emerging theme of an inverted gospel sludges out. Interestingly, EGW writes about this and warns her readers of Satan’s subtle ways to lead people astray by imaginary doctrines.

The vague and fanciful interpretations of Scripture, and the many conflicting theories concerning religious faith, that are found in the Christian world are the work of our great adversary to confuse minds so that they shall not discern the truth. And the discord and division which exist among the churches of Christendom are in a great measure due to the prevailing custom of wresting the Scriptures to support a favorite theory. Instead of carefully studying God’s word with humility of heart to obtain a knowledge of His will, many seek only to discover something odd or original. ¹⁹

Later, she writes:

Satan’s agents are constantly working under his direction to establish his authority and build up his kingdom in opposition to the government of God. To this end they seek to deceive Christ’s followers and allure them from their allegiance. Like their leader, they misconstrue and pervert the Scriptures to accomplish their object. ²⁰

Let’s look closer at the inversions of the gospel in EGW’s teachings compared to the Bible.

1. Bible: Christ came to a lost world because sinners could not keep the Law.
   EGW: Christ came to demonstrate to watching worlds and sinners that sinners CAN obey God’s law.

2. Bible: Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us by faith.
   EGW: Christ’s righteousness is earned by obeying the law and confessing sin.

3. Bible: Christ’s blood was shed once for all to secure atonement.
   EGW: Christ continues to use His blood in the holy of holies to atone for sin.

4. Bible: Christ said the work of atonement was finished.

   EGW: Christ’s atonement is NOT finished.

5. Bible: Christ came to vindicate unrighteous sinners by atoning for their sins.
   EGW: Christ came to vindicate God and show watching worlds that His law is just, fair, and keepable.

6. Bible: Christians are saved by grace alone through faith alone.
   EGW: Adherents must obey the law, keep the Saturday sabbath, and confess each sin for a chance to be saved.

7. Bible: We have the assurance of salvation through the finished work of Christ on the cross.

   EGW: There is no assurance of salvation until one has passed the scrutiny of the investigative judgment.

There is (at least) one more inversion in EGW’s gospel. And it is a HUGE.

Who Bore Our Sins?

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is our sin bearer.

“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

Jesus took the penalty of our sins upon Himself and paid for our sins with His blood.

In EGW’s gospel, it is not Christ, but Satan who is the sin-bearer, the one who pays for the sins of mankind eternally.

As the priest, in removing the sins from the sanctuary, confessed them upon the head of the scapegoat, so Christ will place all these sins upon Satan, the originator and instigator of sin. The scapegoat, bearing the sins of Israel, was sent away “unto a land not inhabited” (Leviticus 16:22); so Satan, bearing the guilt of all the sins which he has caused God’s people to commit, will be for a thousand years confined to the earth, which will then be desolate, without inhabitant, and he will at last suffer the full penalty of sin in the fires that shall destroy all the wicked. Thus the great plan of redemption will reach its accomplishment in the final eradication of sin and the deliverance of all who have been willing to renounce evil. EGW ²¹

What shall we say to all these things?

If you are a follower of EGW, take heed of her warning to beware of “vague and fanciful interpretations of Scripture….Instead of carefully studying God’s word with humility.”

If you are NOT a follower of EGW, I encourage you not to be tempted to assume your SDA friends are followers of Christ. Ask good questions. One long-standing trick of the SDA group is to use Christian terms to sound like we believe the same things. We do not. Have the conversation and point them to the true gospel.

More on the Watching Worlds

“As the moon and the stars of the solar system shine by the reflected light of the sun, so, as far as their teaching is true, do the world's great thinkers reflect the rays of the Sun of Righteousness.” — EGW ²²

Apologies for the length of this essay. But I promised this section in my previous installment and in the title, so I must deliver.

When EGW uses the term “universe,” she usually means watching worlds. She teaches these “unfallen” planets contain an alien race of humans untainted by sin who have kept God’s law perfectly. While there is assuredly evidence that EGW was involved in occult practices such as talking to the dead, meeting with spirit guides, talking to attending angels, and flashing occult signs to win over converts — she was also a charlatan. Occult practices are often built upon deception. EGW was no exception.

In 1942, SDA historian wrote of EGW’s vision of the solar system:

In vision, then, Mrs. White was taken to see these planets, and as she talked about them, describing them, Captain Bates, his face wreathed in smiles, would say, 'Now she is viewing Jupiter,' and, 'She is describing Saturn,' and so on. She told much more than astronomers knew about these, for they are not sure the planets are inhabited, but she saw that they are. On Saturn she saw good old Enoch, who was translated five thousand years ago, without dying. He said that was not his home, that he was only visiting there, that he lived in heaven, where God dwells, and there he was waiting until the earth should be restored as it had been in Eden. The people of these worlds were all very much more beautiful and strong than the people of earth, for sin has never entered there. ²³

What’s interesting about this story is that EGW maintained that she had no previous knowledge of astronomy. But history tells another tale.

Dirk Anderson of NonSDA writes: “Coincidentally, these numbers are exactly the same as the number of moons that had already been discovered by astronomers around Jupiter and Saturn as of the year 1846.” ²⁴

Anderson continues:

When Mrs. White had her "vision" in 1846, it was common knowledge that Jupiter had four moons. The fifth was not discovered until 1892. In 1846, it was thought that Saturn had seven moons. The eighth moon was discovered shortly thereafter, in 1848. After the discovery, an account of the "vision" was quietly modified to say "eight" instead of "seven." Mrs. White's vision did not reveal anything that could not have been obtained from an Astronomy book or even from a newspaper article! The only difference between what Mrs. White saw and what the astronomers saw through their telescopes was those "tall, majestic people!" ²⁵

But it seems there may have been ulterior motives on the White’s part.

In early 1846, the Whites were in trouble. They were poor and destitute. Many viewed Ellen White's visions with skepticism. What they needed more than anything was an influential friend who believed as they did. Fortunately for the Whites, they were able to locate just such a man—Joseph Bates. In the spring of 1846, the Whites met this retired sea captain. However, there was one major problem. Although Bates was advanced in age, his mind was still sharp enough to doubt Mrs. White's visions. The Whites tried to win him over, but had little success. But in November, all of that changed. At a small meeting with Bates and a few other diehard believers, Mrs. White had a special "vision" on Astronomy, which just so happened to be Joseph Bates' favorite subject. What a fortunate coincidence! ²⁶

In this vision, EGW also mentioned the “gap in Orion” — something Bates had previously discovered for himself while studying the celestials. This “gap” morphed into the place where Christ would return and bring down the heavenly city.

Dark, heavy clouds came up and clashed against each other. The atmosphere parted and rolled back; then we could look up through the open space in Orion, whence came the voice of God. The Holy City will come down through that open space. I saw that the powers of earth are now being shaken and that events come in order. War, and rumors of war, sword, famine, and pestilence are first to shake the powers of earth, then the voice of God will shake the sun, moon, and stars, and this earth also. EGW ²⁷

Many SDAs look up to the heavens to this day searching for Orion to see if Christ might be returning.

Not only are EGW’s teachings incompatible with the Bible — but her solar system and planetary imaginations are also incompatible with Flat Earth and Biblical Cosmology.

Next: Trinity Talk Among EGW Followers and SDA Teachers

1. https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/28.319#322

2. White, The Great Controversy: https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/132.1918#1919

3. White, The Great Controversy (TGC)

4. White, Patriarchs and Prophets: https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/84.215#215

5. White, The Review and Harold, 1900: https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/821.19628#19647

6. Learn more about the “experience” of salvation from former Adventists: https://blog.lifeassuranceministries.org/2022/09/07/inspecting-adventisms-beliefs-the-experience-of-salvation-109/

7. White, The Desire of Ages: https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/130.1414#1414

8. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary

9. John 19:30

10. TGC

11. TGC

12. TGC

13. TGC

14. TGC

15. TGC

16. This ties into another false doctrine called “soul sleep” — which is outside the scope of this essay. Interestingly, this also ties to another false doctrine of materialism. Humans are merely flesh, sin is inherited through tainted DNA. Since humans don’t have spirits, they cannot live again until the resurrection.

17. TGC

18. White, Christ’s Object Lessons https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/15.617#640

19. TGC

20. TGC

21. TGC — This doctrine defends the concept of no eternal punishment for unsaved sinners in hell.

22. White, Desire of Ages: https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/130.2253#2253

23. https://www.nonsda.org/egw/criticb.shtml

24. Ibid.

25. Ibid.

26. Ibid.

27. White, Early Writings https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/28.326#328