I was shown that God's people, who are His peculiar treasure, cannot engage in this perplexing war, for it is opposed to every principle of their faith. In the army they cannot obey the truth and at the same time obey the requirements of their officers. There would be a continual violation of conscience. Worldly men are governed by worldly principles. They can appreciate no other. Worldly policy and public opinion comprise the principle of action that governs them and leads them to practice the form of rightdoing. But God's people cannot be governed by these motives. The words and commands of God, written in the soul, are spirit and life, and there is power in them to bring into subjection and enforce obedience. The ten precepts of Jehovah are the foundation of all righteous and good laws. Those who love God's commandments will conform to every good law of the land. But if the requirements of the rulers are such as conflict with the laws of God, the only question to be settled is: Shal…
"Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."
The EGW passage directly echoes the principle of obeying God rather than men when human laws conflict with divine law, as stated in Acts 5:29.
"For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth."
EGW uses the phrase "peculiar treasure" to describe God's people, which is a direct allusion to Deuteronomy 14:2, where God chooses a "peculiar people".
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
The EGW passage discusses not being governed by worldly principles, which aligns with the theme of Romans 12:2 about not conforming to the world but being transformed by renewing the mind.