"Chapter 20—The “Messenger” Party [See Appendix .] When at Oswego, New York, June, 1855, I was shown that God's people have been weighed down with clogs; that there have been Achans in the camp. The work of God has progressed but little, and many of His servants have been discouraged because the truth has taken no more effect in New York, and there have been no more added to the church. The Messenger party has arisen, and we shall suffer some from their lying tongues and misrepresentations, yet we should bear it all patiently; for they will not injure the cause of God, now they have left us, as much as they would have injured it by their influence had they remained with us. 1T 122"
"But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel."
EGW uses the story of Achan as an analogy for those within the church who are causing problems. The presence of 'Achans in the camp' is a direct reference to Joshua 7:1, where Achan's sin brought trouble to Israel. This is more than a thematic parallel; it's a specific biblical allusion.