***** Chapter 7—My First Vision It was not long after the passing of the time in 1844 that my first vision was given me. I was visiting a dear sister in Christ, whose heart was knit with mine; five of us, all women, were kneeling quietly at the family altar. While we were praying, the power of God came upon me as I had never felt it before. I seemed to be surrounded with light, and to be rising higher and higher from the earth. I turned to look for the advent people in the world, but could not find them, when a voice said to me: “Look again, and look a little higher.” At this I raised my eyes and saw a straight and narrow path, cast up high above the world. On this path the advent people were traveling toward the city. Behind them, at the beginning of the path, was a bright light which an angel told me was the midnight cry. This light shone all along the path, that their feet might not stumble. Jesus Himself went just before His people to lead them forward, and as long as they kept the…
"I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven."
Both passages describe a person being taken up in vision. Paul describes being caught up to the third heaven, while Ellen White describes rising higher and higher from the earth. While the details differ, the core experience of being transported in a vision is present in both.
"Yet Christ was true to His promises. Sweet was the consolation He gave His people, rich the reward of the true and faithful. 1T 58.1"
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)"
Both passages emphasize God's faithfulness to His promises. The EGW quote directly echoes the sentiment of Hebrews 10:23 regarding God's faithfulness.
"His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
Both passages speak of the reward for faithfulness. Matthew 25:21 is a specific example of this reward, while the EGW quote speaks more generally about the 'rich reward of the true and faithful.'
"Mr. Miller and those who were in union with him supposed that the cleansing of the sanctuary spoken of in Daniel 8:14 meant the purifying of the earth by fire prior to its becoming the abode of the saints. This was to take place at the advent of Christ; therefore we looked for that event at the end of the 2300 days, or years. But after our disappointment the Scriptures were carefully searched with prayer and earnest thought, and after a period of suspense, light poured in upon our darkness; doubt and uncertainty were swept away. 1T 58.2"
"And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed."
Ellen White directly references Daniel 8:14 in this passage.
"Instead of the prophecy of Daniel 8:14 referring to the purifying of the earth, it was now plain that it pointed to the closing work of our High Priest in heaven, the finishing of the atonement, and the preparing of the people to abide the day of His coming. 1T 58.3"
"And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed."
Ellen White directly references Daniel 8:14 in this passage.
"For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:"
Both passages discuss Christ's ministry in heaven. Hebrews 9:24 speaks of Christ entering heaven to appear before God for us, which aligns with EGW's statement about the closing work of our High Priest in heaven.
"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."
Hebrews 9:28 speaks of Christ's second coming to those who look for Him, which connects to EGW's mention of preparing the people to abide the day of His coming.