In 1846, Ellen G. White, a prominent figure in the early Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) movement, reportedly experienced a “vision” in which she saw the solar system and its inhabitants. Several others, including Mrs. Truesdail, a committed member of the SDA church, witnessed this vision. According to Mrs. Truesdail, White described “a tall, majestic people” residing on either Jupiter or Saturn:

“Sister White was in very feeble health, and while prayers were offered in her behalf, the Spirit of God rested upon us. We soon noticed that she was insensible to earthly things. This was her first view of the planetary world. After counting aloud the moons of Jupiter, and soon after those of Saturn, she gave a beautiful description of the rings of the latter. She then said, ‘The inhabitants are a tall, majestic people, so unlike the inhabitants of earth. Sin has never entered here.'” [1]

The details White shared during her vision included descriptions of celestial bodies, such as the rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter, suggesting an otherworldly insight. This experience made a powerful impression on those present, especially as White had no formal education in astronomy and was thought to lack knowledge of the planets. Her supporters took her descriptions as proof of divine revelation.

In 1942, SDA historian A.W. Spalding added more context to the “vision” and explained how those who observed it interpreted her descriptions of the planets:

“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.” [2]

This description adds an element of mystery, suggesting that White’s vision was an insight into life beyond Earth. During this period, theories of extraterrestrial life were popular, influenced mainly by advances in astronomy, speculative literature, and the theological belief that other worlds, untouched by sin, might exist in the universe.

For years, White’s account was accepted by her followers as plausible, aligning with the SDA belief in ongoing divine revelation. However, as scientific knowledge advanced, particularly in the 20th century, a clearer understanding of planets like Jupiter and Saturn emerged, challenging the vision’s credibility. Modern science reveals that both Jupiter and Saturn are profoundly hostile environments for life as we know it:

1. 1. Both planets lack solid surfaces, consisting instead of a vast ocean of liquid hydrogen extending hundreds of miles.
   2. The atmospheric pressure on these planets is extraordinarily high—millions of times greater than Earth’s—capable of crushing even the strongest materials.
   3. Surface temperatures are extreme: Jupiter’s average is around -234°F (-145°C), while Saturn’s average is -218°F (-139°C).
   4. Numerous space probes have since examined these planets with sophisticated technology, and no signs of life have been found. Instead, these planets contain only hydrogen, helium, and other gases, with no observable life forms.

Ellen White’s Observations on the Moons

In 1847, a year after the vision, James and Ellen White published a tract recounting Ellen’s experiences during this vision:

“At our conference in Topsham, Maine, last Nov., Ellen had a vision of the handy works of God. She was guided to the planets Jupiter, Saturn, and I think one more. After she came out of vision, she could give a clear description of their Moons, etc. It is well known, that she knew nothing of astronomy, and could not answer one question in relation to the planets, before she had this vision.” [3]

This testimony emphasized Ellen’s supposed unfamiliarity with astronomy, positioning her descriptions as revelations beyond her natural knowledge. Her detailed descriptions, including the exact number of moons she claimed to observe, impressed her followers. Historian J.N. Loughborough later recorded an account by Captain Bates of her vision:

“One evening, at the conference above mentioned, at the house of Mr. Curtiss and in the presence of Elder Bates, who was yet undecided in regard to these manifestations, Mrs. White, while in vision, began to talk about the stars, giving a glowing description of rosy-tinted belts which she saw across the surface of some planet, and added, ‘I see four moons.’ ‘Oh,’ said Elder Bates, ‘she is viewing Jupiter!’ Then having made motions as though traveling through space, she began giving a description of belts and rings in their ever-varying beauty, and said, ‘I see seven moons.’ ⁷ Elder Bates exclaimed, ‘She is describing Saturn.’ Next she said, ‘I see six moons,’ and at once began a description of the ‘opening heavens,’ with its glory, calling it an opening into a region more enlightened.” [4]

According to Francis Nichol in Ellen G. White and her Critics, Loughborough “undoubtedly based this account on conversations held with Joseph Bates years before.” [5] It is interesting to note that Ellen White is recorded as saying Uranus had six moons when only two had been discovered by 1846. Two more were discovered in 1851, and a fifth in 1948. Voyager discovered ten more in 1986. There was never a time when Uranus was known only to have six moons.

The numbers White reported align with astronomers’ knowledge at the time:

• • Jupiter has four moons
  • Saturn has seven moons
  • Uranus has six moons

Coincidentally, these moon counts matched the scientific knowledge of the day, although further moons would be discovered later. SDA editors eventually altered White’s descriptions of the solar system to align with ongoing discoveries; for instance, Saturn’s moon count was updated to eight as astronomers identified an additional moon shortly after White’s vision. We can see this from the publisher’s footnote in the above quote:

“7 In Rise and Progress, it says she saw eight moons to Saturn. This change was made after the proofs went out of my hands. More moons to both Jupiter and Saturn have since been discovered.” [6]

The Scientific Reality

In today’s understanding, these counts of moons are highly outdated. Here’s what is now known as of 2024:

1. 1. “Jupiter has 95 known moons and probably many more; the four largest moons were discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Ganymede, the largest of the four, is larger than the planet Mercury.” [7]
   2. Saturn “has a bright and extensive system of rings, composed mainly of ice particles, with a smaller amount of rocky debris and dust. At least 146 moons orbit the planet, of which 63 are officially named; these do not include the hundreds of moonlets in the rings. Titan, Saturn’s largest moon and the second largest in the Solar System, is larger (and less massive) than the planet Mercury and is the only moon in the Solar System that has a substantial atmosphere.” [8]
   3. “Uranus’s 28 natural satellites include 18 known regular moons, of which 13 are small inner moons. Further out are the larger five major moons of the planet:  Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon. Orbiting at a much greater distance from Uranus are the ten known irregular moons. As of 2024, it had been visited up close only once when, in 1986, the Voyager 2probe flew by the planet.” [9]

These details reveal apparent discrepancies between White’s vision and later scientific discoveries, particularly regarding the extensive number of moons around Jupiter and Saturn.

Could Ellen White Have Known of Tall Beings?

Speculations about life on other planets were common in the 18th and 19th centuries. Literary works such as Voltaire’s Micromegas (1752) imagined giant inhabitants on Saturn.

“But let us now return to our travelers. Upon leaving Jupiter they traversed a space of around one hundred million leagues and approached the planet Mars, which, as we know, is five times smaller than our own; they swung by two moons that cater to this planet but have escaped the notice of our astronomers. I know very well that Father Castel will write, perhaps even agreeably enough, against the existence of these two moons; but I rely on those who reason by analogy. These good philosophers know how unlikely it would be for Mars, so far from the sun, to have gotten by with less than two moons. Whatever the case may be, our explorers found it so small that they feared not being able to land on it, and they passed it by like two travelers disdainful of a bad village cabaret, pressing on towards a neighboring city. But the Sirian and his companion soon regretted it. They traveled a long time without finding anything. Finally they perceived a small candle, it was earth; this was a pitiful sight to those who had just left Jupiter. Nevertheless, from fear of further regret, they resolved to touch down. Carried by the tail of a comet, and finding an aurora borealis at the ready, they started towards it, and arrived at Earth on the northern coast of the Baltic sea, July 5, 1737, new style.” [10]

Visionary Emanuel Swedenborg detailed his claims of interactions with spirits from other planets in his book De Telluribus in Mundo Nostro Solari (translated as Earths in the Universe), published in 1758. In this work, he described encounters with spirits from various planets, including Jupiter. Swedenborg’s descriptions characterize the inhabitants of Jupiter as fair, beautiful, and with larger-than-human faces, which he interpreted as signs of their wisdom and virtue.

“I was also shown the kind of faces the inhabitants of the world of Jupiter have. I did not see the inhabitants themselves, but the spirits showed me their faces; they were like the faces of the men of our world, but the lower part of the face was black, not with a beard, which they do not have, but from blackness in place of it.” [11]

In the 1840s, public fascination with extraterrestrial life was high, influenced by several different advancements:

• • The Great Moon Hoax (1835): Published in the New York Sun, this series of articles claimed that British astronomer Sir John Herschel had discovered life on the Moon, including bat-like creatures. Although entirely fictional, the story captivated the public and stoked curiosity about life beyond Earth.
  • Scientific Advancements: By the 1840s, telescopes had improved, allowing astronomers to study planets more deeply. Observations of Mars and other celestial bodies led to speculation about whether these planets might harbor life. The astronomer William Herschel, John Herschel’s father, had earlier speculated that planets like Mars and Venus could be inhabited.
  • Philosophical and Religious Interest: The idea of a “plurality of worlds,” suggesting that other planets could support life, had intrigued thinkers like Immanuel Kant and Emanuel Swedenborg. In the 1840s, this concept continued attracting scientists and theologians, who debated what the existence of extraterrestrial beings would mean for human spirituality and uniqueness.
  • Popular Literature: Fictional works and philosophical writings about life on other planets gained popularity. Writers and thinkers, influenced by Romanticism and an increased interest in the unknown, published stories and theories imagining civilizations on distant worlds.

Ellen White’s vision aligned well with these cultural beliefs, although her followers interpreted her descriptions as divine insight rather than imagination or cultural influence. Even to this day, many of Ellen’s followers still don’t see a problem with her vision of Jupiter, despite the fact that there are evident discrepancies as science progresses.

Missed Opportunities for Validation

Had White described additional moons or unique planetary features unknown at the time, her vision might have supported claims of divine revelation. However, her descriptions missed critical scientific discoveries that would later emerge, such as the additional moons of Jupiter and Saturn or the faint rings around Jupiter. This absence of new information raises questions about whether the vision was genuinely revelatory.

 

Context of the Vision: Winning Over Captain Bates

By early 1846, Ellen and James White faced financial hardship and skepticism. They met Captain Joseph Bates, a retired sea captain and ardent astronomy enthusiast, who was initially doubtful of White’s visions. White’s vision, which occurred during Bates’ attendance at a meeting, was filled with astronomical details that captured Bates’ interest. Mrs. Truesdail later reported that Bates’s doubts faded as he listened to White’s vision, particularly her statements about celestial bodies and “majestic” beings.

Mrs. Truedail, who was present at the ‘vision,’ reported the following:

“It was evident from Brother Bates’s smiling face that his past doubts in regard to the source of her visions were fast leaving him. We all knew that Captain Bates was a great lover of astronomy, as he would often locate many of the heavenly bodies for our instruction. When Sister White replied to his questions, after the vision, saying that she had never studied or otherwise received knowledge in this direction, he was filled with joy and happiness. He praised God, and expressed his belief that this vision concerning the planets was given that he might never again doubt.” [12]

This moment was pivotal; from then on, Bates became a dedicated believer in White’s prophetic gift.

We can confirm this as the outcome of the vision from Ellen White herself:

“August 30, 1846, I was married to Elder James White. In a few months we attended a conference in Topsham, Maine. Elder Joseph Bates was present. He did not then fully believe that my visions were of God. It was a meeting of much interest; but I was suddenly taken ill and fainted. The brethren prayed for me, and I was restored to consciousness. The Spirit of God rested upon us in Brother C.’s humble dwelling, and I was wrapt in a vision of God’s glory, and for the first time had a view of other planets. After I came out of vision I related what I had seen. Elder B. then asked if I had studied astronomy. I told him I had no recollection of ever looking into an astronomy. Said he, ‘This is of the Lord.’ I never saw him as free and happy before. His countenance shone with the light of heaven, and he exhorted the church with power.” ^[13]

I find it quite disturbing to think that Bates was conned into believing Ellen White’s visions were divine in origin based on completely erroneous scientific information. In modern understanding, we would see Ellen’s move as controlling and manipulative—a tactical move to sway the mind of a man who would become a financial resource for Ellen’s movement.

Modern SDA Interpretation

Over time, as science progressed, Adventist historians and writers became more cautious in referencing White’s vision of otherworldly beings on Jupiter and Saturn. Some SDA scholars now argue that she may have seen other unknown planets. Here is how the White Estate side steps the clear issue today:

“Ellen White did not identify by name any of the “worlds” that she was shown in vision. In Ellen White’s own account of her vision, however, she says only that she was taken to “A PLACE” that was bright and glorious.” She does not identify “the place” as Jupiter, Saturn, or any other planet in our solar system.” [14]

However, at the time of the vision, both James White and other eyewitnesses identified the planets as part of our solar system. There is no evidence that White or her contemporaries viewed her descriptions as anything but a depiction of familiar planets.  It’s a tactical move by the White Estate to cop out and claim that ‘she says only that she was taken to a place.’ The fact of the matter is that Bates was convinced, and Ellen White allowed his assumption about her vision to convince him.  At a minimum, this was misleading and dishonest if the vision wasn’t really about the planets that Joseph Bates identified.

 

Memory and Eyewitness Accounts

Some defenders of White’s visions question the reliability of Mrs. Truesdail’s memory. Truesdail’s account, written decades later, describes inhabitants on Jupiter or Saturn. Her memory was not questioned until scientific knowledge showed these planets to be inhospitable. Ironically, Truesdail’s memory is accepted when it supports White’s reputation (e.g., stories of White lifting a heavy Bible during a vision) but doubted when it challenges SDA’s claims about White’s prophetic gift.

 

Implications of White’s Vision

In a January 31, 1849 publication titled To Those Who Are Receiving the Seal of the Living God, White described another vision in which she observed “majestic” beings, a sin-free world, and a planet with seven moons. This vision resembled her earlier vision. Historian A.W. Spalding believed these visions referred to the same event. As SDA beliefs evolved to accommodate scientific findings, references to “tall people” on Jupiter and Saturn diminished.

The SDA church later reframed White’s vision, claiming it could have depicted planets outside our solar system. However, this claim raises theological questions, as the early SDA community believed the vision was of our solar system. If the vision was intended to convince Bates of White’s prophetic abilities, it seems unlikely that God would display a planetary system resembling our own without clarifying it.

The historical context and scientific inconsistencies within White’s vision suggest that her description of the solar system may have reflected 19th-century astronomical knowledge and cultural influences rather than divine revelation.

Unfortunately, we see a similar move made when Ellen White makes a ‘divine claim,’ and later, the information doesn’t pan out.  This is precisely what transpires with the horrible calamity of the 1844 Great Disappointment. Ellen, in her early years as a ‘prophetess,’ couldn’t understand why Jesus hadn’t returned as they had predicted.  In an attempt to correct this mistake, instead of repenting of their sin, they claimed that Jesus did something, but they just got the event wrong.  The early Adventist Pioneers moved the event from the earth into the heavens and claimed that Jesus had changed rooms in the Heavenly Sanctuary.

How convenient! Instead of admitting their mistake, they moved the location and event into a region that would be harder for people to refute. This is the same strategy the SDA Church has taken regarding Ellen’s Jupiter vision.

James White claimed the following with regards to his wife’s vision:

“Guided to the planets Jupiter, Saturn, and I think one more, she gave a clear description of their moons.” [15]

It is clear that in the context of the vision in 1847, those who heard it understood the planets being described as Jupiter and Saturn, and probably Uranus. But since Ellen’s visionary information is proven wrong today, the White Estate must change their tune, claiming that:

“Ellen White did not identify by name any of the ‘worlds’ that she was shown in vision.” [16]

Now, the SDA Church has turned a false vision with clearly erroneous information into a theological statement, reframing her vision of ‘other worlds’ to have encouraged early believers and aligned with the Adventist understanding of a larger creation.

This is what time does. It turns a clearly false prophetess into an idol of divine revelation for those followers who are blind to the evidence.

 In Christian Love,

 

 

 

 

[1] Loughborough, Great Second Advent Movement, pg. 260-261. (Taken from Mrs. Truesdail’s letter, Jan 27, 1891).

[2] Spalding, Pioneer Stories of the Second Advent Message, Chapter 17, “The Opening Heavens and the Unchanged Law”.

[3] James White, A Word to the “Little Flock,” pg. 22

[4] Loughborough, Great Second Advent Movement, pg. 258.

[5] Nichol, Ellen G. White and Her Critics. pg. 93-94.

[6] Loughborough, Great Second Advent Movement, pg. 258.

 [7] “Jupiter, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter. ”

[8] “Saturn, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn. ”

[9] “Uranus, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranus. ”

[10] “The Project Gutenberg E-Text of Micromegas, by Voltaire.”

[11] Swedenborg, The Earths in the Universe, and Their Inhabitants, Also, Their Spirits and Angels from What Has Been Heard and Seen Emanuel Swedenborg.

 [12] Loughborough, Great Second Advent Movement, pg. 260-261 (Truesdail Letter, 1891).

^[13] Life Sketches of James White and Ellen G. White (Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, 1880), 238–239.

[14] “Ellen G. White® Estate, Inhabited Planets in Our Solar System.”

[15] White, A Word to the “Little Flock.”

[16] “Ellen G. White® Estate.”