"this life. They are entering deeper and deeper into a spirit of worldly enterprise. They are ambitious to get gain. Spirituality and devotion are rare. The spirit that prevails is to work, to accumulate, and to add to that which they already possess. “What will be the end of these things?” was the burden of my inquiry. 1T 469.1"
"But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition."
The EGW passage directly echoes the sentiment of 1 Timothy 6:9 regarding the dangers of pursuing wealth and the resulting spiritual decline. The phrase "What will be the end of these things?" reflects a concern about the consequences of prioritizing worldly gain, aligning with the warning in 1 Timothy about the destructive nature of such pursuits.
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Both passages contrast earthly and heavenly treasures, warning against prioritizing material wealth over spiritual devotion. EGW describes the accumulation of earthly possessions, while Matthew 6:19-21 advises against laying up treasures on earth.
"And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."
Both passages address the dangers of covetousness and the pursuit of material possessions. EGW describes a spirit of worldly enterprise and ambition for gain, while Luke 12:15 warns against covetousness and emphasizes that life is not defined by material abundance.
"Conference meetings have accomplished no lasting good. Those who attend the meetings carry a spirit of traffic with them. Ministers and people frequently bring their merchandise to these large gatherings, and the truths spoken from the desk fail to impress the heart. The sword of the Spirit, the word of God, fails to do its office work; it falls tamely upon the hearers. The exalted work of God is made to connect too closely with common things. 1T 469.2"
"And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,"
Both passages address the issue of inappropriate commercial activity interfering with spiritual matters in a sacred space. Jesus cleansing the temple is a strong parallel to EGW's concern about 'traffic' at conference meetings hindering the impact of God's word.
"The ministers must be converted before they can strengthen their brethren. They should not preach themselves, but Christ and His righteousness. A reformation is needed among the people, but it should first begin its purifying work with the ministers. They are watchmen upon the walls of Zion, to sound the note of warning to the careless, the unsuspecting; also to portray the fate of the hypocrite in Zion. It seemed to me that some of the ministers had forgotten that Satan was yet alive, as persevering, earnest, and artful as ever; that he was still seeking to allure souls from the path of righteousness. 1T 469.3"
"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."
EGW directly uses the 'watchmen upon the walls of Zion' imagery, which is a clear reference to Ezekiel 33:7. She applies this principle to ministers, emphasizing their responsibility to warn the people.
"For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."
Both passages emphasize the importance of preaching Christ rather than oneself. EGW's statement 'They should not preach themselves, but Christ and His righteousness' echoes Paul's determination to know nothing but 'Jesus Christ, and him crucified.'