I saw that if God's people in Wisconsin would prosper, they must take a decided position in regard to these things, and thereby cut off the influence of those who are causing distraction and division by teaching sentiments contrary to the body. Such are wandering stars. They seem to emit a little light; they profess and carry along a little truth, and thus deceive the inexperienced. Satan endows them with his spirit, but God is not with them; His Spirit does not dwell in them. Jesus prayed that His disciples might be one, as He is one with the Father, “that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.” The oneness and unity of God's truth-believing remnant people carries powerful conviction to the world that they have the truth, and are the peculiar, chosen people of God. This oneness and unity disconcerts the enemy, and he is determined that it shall not exist. The present truth, believed in the heart and exemplified in the life, makes God's people one, and gives them a powerful infl…
"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."
EGW directly quotes and expands upon John 17:21, emphasizing the importance of unity among believers for the world to recognize God's truth.
"These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;"
Both passages describe individuals who appear to be part of the religious community but are actually deceptive and spiritually barren. The 'wandering stars' in EGW's writing are similar to the 'clouds without water' and 'trees whose fruit withereth' in Jude, representing a lack of spiritual substance.
"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."
Both passages discuss false teachers and their destructive influence within a religious community. EGW's description of 'wandering stars' aligns with the concept of 'false prophets' bringing in 'damnable heresies.'
"visions at the time of the organization of the church there. There were some in —— who were God's children, and yet doubted the visions. Others had no opposition, yet dared not take a decided stand in regard to them. Some were skeptical, and they had sufficient cause to make them so. The false visions and fanatical exercises, and the wretched fruits following, had an influence upon the cause in Wisconsin to make minds jealous of everything bearing the name of visions. All these things should have been taken into consideration, and wisdom exercised. There should be no trial or labor with those who have never seen the individual having visions, and who have had no personal knowledge of the influence of the visions. Such should not be deprived of the benefits and privileges of the church, if their Christian course is otherwise correct, and they have formed a good Christian character. 1T 327.3"
"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?"
Both passages use the analogy of 'fruits' to evaluate the genuineness of something. EGW applies it to judging the visions, while Matthew 7:16 uses it to discern false prophets. The principle of judging by results is directly shared.
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
Both passages emphasize the importance of discernment and testing the validity of spiritual claims. The EGW passage discusses the need for wisdom in dealing with those who doubt visions, especially in light of past false visions. The Bible verse directly commands believers to 'try the spirits whether they are of God,' highlighting the need for critical evaluation.
"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."
Both passages discuss the importance of wisdom and its characteristics. The EGW passage emphasizes the need for wisdom in dealing with doubts about visions, while the Bible verse describes the qualities of wisdom from above, such as being pure, peaceable, and gentle. The connection lies in the shared theme of wisdom and its application to practical situations.