Happy Sabbath! Enjoy Your Journey to Heaven
The Seven-Day Space Voyage Proclaimed by the Adventist Prophet
By Rescue Ministries International
One of the most fascinating teachings found in Adventism is not found in the Bible at all. It is found in the visions of Ellen G. White.
Most Christians believe that when Christ returns, believers will be caught up to meet the Lord and enter their eternal home. Scripture tells us we shall be changed “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52). Yet Ellen White provides details far beyond anything revealed in Scripture.
“We all entered the cloud together, and were seven days ascending to the sea of glass.”
— Early Writings, pp. 16–17
Notice what has happened. The Bible never tells us how long it takes to reach heaven. Jesus never taught it. Paul never taught it. Peter never taught it. John never taught it. Yet Ellen White confidently tells us the trip takes exactly seven days.
Not approximately seven days. Not “a period of time.” Exactly seven days.
How did she know? Not from Scripture. From a vision.
Sabbath-Keeping During Space Travel
But the story does not end there.
According to Ellen White, the redeemed will actually be observing the Sabbath during this seven-day journey through space.
“As God’s people are caught up from the earth to meet the Lord in the air, and ascend to heaven, occupying seven days in the ascent, the Sabbath according to the fourth commandment is kept.”
— Letter 32, 1890
The Bible never says believers will keep the Sabbath while traveling to heaven. Yet Ellen White does.
Apparently, she not only knew how long the trip would take, but she also knew what activities would occur during the journey.
The Orion Highway to Heaven
And then we come to Orion.
“The atmosphere parted and rolled back; then we could look up through the open space in Orion, whence came the voice of God.”
— Early Writings, p. 41
“The Holy City will come down through that open space.”
— Early Writings, p. 41
The Bible never teaches that heaven is reached through Orion. The Bible never teaches that there is an opening in Orion. The Bible never teaches that God’s voice comes through Orion. Yet Ellen White provides all these details.
She seems to know the route, the gateway, the destination, and the travel schedule.
The Date, The Time, and The Announcement
Not only does Ellen White describe the duration of the journey and the route to heaven, she also claimed that God would announce the day and hour of Christ’s coming.
“The voice of God is heard from heaven, declaring the day and hour of Jesus’ coming.”
— The Great Controversy, p. 640
✔ The voice comes through Orion.
✔ God announces the day and hour.
✔ The redeemed begin a seven-day journey.
✔ The Sabbath is observed during the journey.
✔ The Holy City descends through Orion.
One begins to wonder what information remains unknown. She appears to know the route, the travel time, what occurs during the trip, and that God announces the day and hour. Yet none of these details are revealed anywhere in Scripture.
Tourism During the Journey?
But the itinerary becomes even more detailed. Ellen White claimed to have visited other inhabited worlds.
“The Lord has given me a view of other worlds.”
— Early Writings, p. 39
“I was then taken to a world which had seven moons. There I saw good old Enoch.”
— Early Writings, pp. 39–40
“Then I was taken to a world which had ten moons.”
— Early Writings, p. 40
The Bible never tells us about worlds with seven moons. The Bible never tells us about worlds with ten moons. The Bible never tells us that Enoch is living on one of those worlds. Yet Ellen White does.
At this point, the heavenly itinerary seems to include sightseeing opportunities. A seven-day journey. A route through Orion. Stops at inhabited worlds. A visit with Enoch. One almost has the impression of a guided celestial tour.
Again, Scripture is silent. The vision supplies the details.
The Green Cord
Then we encounter another fascinating symbol.
“He handed me a green cord coiled up closely. This he directed me to place next my heart, and when I wished to see Jesus, take it from my bosom, and stretch it to the utmost.”
— A Sketch of the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White, p. 64
Most Adventists interpret the green cord symbolically. But notice what is happening. The green cord becomes the means by which Ellen White is directed toward Jesus.
The Bible tells believers to look directly to Christ. Yet Ellen White is given a visionary cord that connects her to Jesus.
In practice, many Adventists approach Christ through Ellen White’s interpretations. They understand prophecy through Ellen White. They understand the sanctuary through Ellen White. They understand the remnant through Ellen White. They understand the last days through Ellen White. They understand heaven through Ellen White.
The green cord may not have represented Ellen White herself, but it is difficult to ignore the parallel. She becomes the guide. She knows the route. She knows the timetable. She knows the destinations. She knows the stops along the way. She possesses information unavailable anywhere else.
Vegetarian Meals on the Way?
As if the itinerary were not detailed enough, Ellen White also taught that those awaiting Christ’s return would eventually give up meat eating.
“Among those who are waiting for the coming of the Lord, meat eating will eventually be done away.”
— Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 380
“The light given me is that it will not be very long before we shall have to give up using any animal food.”
— Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 357
This becomes especially interesting when compared with Paul’s warning:
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits… commanding to abstain from meats.”
— 1 Timothy 4:1–3
So now the heavenly itinerary includes dietary preparation before departure. No meat. Fruits and vegetables. Preparation for translation. Again, these details come not from Scripture, but from Ellen White.
The Golden Card
Just when it seems the details cannot become any more specific, Ellen White introduces another remarkable feature of heaven.
“All the angels that are commissioned to visit the earth hold a golden card, which they present to the angels at the gates of the city as they pass in and out.”
— Early Writings, p. 39
According to Ellen White, angels carry golden cards and present them at the gates of heaven.
The Bible never mentions heavenly identification cards. The Bible never mentions angels carrying credentials. The Bible never mentions heavenly checkpoints. Yet Ellen White does.
If angels need a golden card to pass through heaven’s gates, what about man? If heavenly beings require credentials to enter and leave the city, would redeemed sinners require them as well?
The Bible says nothing about this. Yet Ellen White supplies another detail of heaven’s administration.
✔ Seven-day journey.
✔ Sabbath observance during travel.
✔ Route through Orion.
✔ Day and hour announcement.
✔ Other inhabited worlds.
✔ Visits with Enoch.
✔ Green cord leading to Jesus.
✔ Vegetarian preparation.
✔ Golden cards at heaven’s gates.
The itinerary grows longer and longer. The Bible remains silent.
What If Another Prophet Said This?
Suppose a modern prophet stood up today and said:
“God showed me a seven-day journey to heaven. We travel through Orion. God announces the day and hour. We keep the Sabbath on the journey. We visit inhabited worlds. We meet Enoch. We prepare through vegetarianism. Angels carry golden cards through heaven’s gates. I was given a green cord that connects me to Jesus.”
Most Adventists would immediately ask: “Where is that found in Scripture?” And rightly so.
Yet when Ellen White says these things, many accept them without hesitation. Why? Because the source is Ellen White.
Another Voice Speaking
This raises a fundamental question.
When Scripture is silent and a prophet supplies detailed information about heavenly travel schedules, inhabited worlds, celestial routes, prophetic announcements, dietary requirements, green cords, and heavenly identification cards, are we dealing with biblical doctrine or extra-biblical revelation?
The Bible does not teach a seven-day journey to heaven. Ellen White does.
The Bible does not teach Sabbath-keeping during that journey. Ellen White does.
The Bible does not teach Orion as heaven’s gateway. Ellen White does.
The Bible does not teach the announcement of the day and hour. Ellen White does.
The Bible does not teach worlds with seven and ten moons. Ellen White does.
The Bible does not teach visits with Enoch on another world. Ellen White does.
The Bible does not teach a green cord leading to Jesus. Ellen White does.
The Bible does not teach vegetarian preparation for translation. Ellen White does.
The Bible does not teach angels carrying golden cards. Ellen White does.
Remove Ellen White from the equation and these teachings disappear because they are not found in Scripture.
When the Lesser Voice Becomes the Greater Voice
Adventists often say Ellen White is a lesser light pointing to the greater light.
But these teachings do not come from the Bible. They come from Ellen White.
The greater voice is silent. The lesser voice speaks.
And then Adventist apologists spend endless hours defending Ellen White rather than demonstrating these teachings from Scripture.
Practically speaking, the lesser light becomes the lens through which the greater light is viewed.
Conclusion: A Personal Confession
As a former Seventh-day Adventist, this subject is especially painful for me.
I once taught these things. I defended these things. I believed these things.
Today it pains me to realize that I was teaching ideas that are nowhere found in Scripture.
The Bible never taught me that heaven is seven days away. The Bible never taught me that we would keep the Sabbath during the journey. The Bible never taught me that we would travel through Orion. The Bible never taught me that God would announce the day and hour. The Bible never taught me that we would visit worlds with seven and ten moons. The Bible never taught me that Enoch lives on one of those worlds. The Bible never taught me that a green cord leads us to Jesus. The Bible never taught me that angels carry golden cards through heaven’s gates.
Those teachings came from Ellen White.
Yet here we are, watching Adventist apologists passionately defend them while attacking those who simply ask for biblical evidence.
My appeal is simple: Return to Scripture. Return to Christ. Return to the authority of God’s Word.
God has already spoken through His Son. The Bible is enough.
Where is that written?