"The scene that next passed before me was an alarm of fire. Men looked at the lofty and supposedly fire- proof buildings and said: “They are perfectly safe.” But these buildings were consumed as if made of pitch. The fire engines could do nothing to stay the destruction. The firemen were unable to operate the engines. 9T 13.1"
"And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
Both passages describe a sudden and unexpected destruction. While Matthew 24:39 refers to the flood, EGW describes a fire. The parallel lies in the unexpected nature of the disaster and the people's lack of preparedness.
"I am instructed that when the Lord's time comes, should no change have taken place in the hearts of proud, ambitious human beings, men will find that the hand that had been strong to save will be strong to destroy. No earthly power can stay the hand of God. No material can be used in the erection of buildings that will preserve them from destruction when God's appointed time comes to send retribution on men for their disregard of His law and for their selfish ambition. 9T 13.2"
"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
The EGW passage echoes the sentiment of Hebrews 10:31 regarding the fearful consequences of facing God's judgment. The idea of God's hand being strong to destroy aligns with the fear of falling into the hands of the living God.
"There are not many, even among educators and statesmen, who comprehend the causes that underlie the present state of society. Those who hold the reins of government are not able to solve the problem of moral corruption, poverty, pauperism, and increasing crime. They are struggling in vain to place business operations on a more secure basis. If men would give more heed to the teaching of God's word, they would find a solution of the problems that perplex them. 9T 13.3"
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
The EGW passage directly reflects the principle in Proverbs 1:7 that true understanding and solutions to societal problems come from heeding God's wisdom, while those who reject it struggle in vain.
"The Scriptures describe the condition of the world just before Christ's second coming. Of the men who by robbery and extortion are amassing great riches, it is written: “Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.” James 5:3-6 . 9T 13.4"
"Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days."
The EGW passage directly quotes James 5:3-6 and uses it to illustrate the condition of the world before Christ's second coming.
"Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you."
Ellen White directly references James 5:3-6 in this passage.