"If you had been a prompt, thorough laborer, keeping pace with God's opening providence, the fruit now manifested would be of an altogether different character. Souls would be decided somewhere, either wholly for or against the commandments of God and other truths connected with the third angel's message. They would not be hanging on the skirts of Zion to weigh down those who would be right. But there has not been faithfulness manifested by you. Straight and thorough work has not been made. You have not encouraged in the church, by a pointed application of truth, the necessity of everyone practically, harmoniously carrying out his profession; and many are not as willing to exert themselves to do something to advance the truth, as they are to be gratified with listening to the truth. They love the cause in word and profession, but not in deed and in truth . 1T 316.1"
"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."
The EGW passage criticizes those who are lukewarm in their commitment. Revelation 3:15-16 directly addresses the issue of being lukewarm and the Lord's displeasure with it. The connection is strong and relevant.
"So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul."
The EGW passage discusses the responsibility of the individual to be a 'thorough laborer' and to warn others. Ezekiel 33:7-9 speaks of the watchman's duty to warn the wicked, aligning with the idea of individual responsibility and warning.
"Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."
The EGW passage discusses the need for everyone to do their part and not weigh down others. Galatians 6:2 speaks of bearing one another's burdens. While not a direct parallel, the concept of shared responsibility and not hindering others is present in both.
"Your position has led many in and about —— to think less highly of the Review than they otherwise would have done, and they have held very lightly the truths found in it. Thus the Review failed to have the influence upon them that God designed it should have. And everyone has followed his own course, and done that which seemed right in his own eyes; hence all are far upon the background, and unless there is a thorough work accomplished for them, they will be weighed in the balance and found wanting. 1T 316.2"
"TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting."
The EGW passage explicitly uses the phrase 'weighed in the balance and found wanting,' which is a direct allusion to Daniel 5:27. The context of judgment and deficiency is also shared between the two passages.
"In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."
Both passages highlight a state of moral relativism where individuals act according to their own judgment, leading to negative consequences. The EGW passage directly uses the phrase 'everyone has followed his own course, and done that which seemed right in his own eyes,' which is a clear echo of Judges 21:25.