"Satan and his angels determined to make Christ's death as humiliating as possible. They filled the hearts of the Jewish leaders with feelings of bitter hatred against the Saviour. Controlled by the enemy, priests and rulers stirred the multitude to take part against the Son of God. Aside from Pilate's declaration of His innocence, no one spoke a word in His favor. And even Pilate, knowing His innocence, gave Him over to the abuse of men under the control of Satan. 9T 229.1"
"But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus."
Both passages describe the role of the Jewish leaders in inciting the crowd against Jesus. EGW elaborates on the influence of Satan in this process, which aligns with the account in Matthew 27:20.
"Similar events will take place in the near future. Men will exalt and rigidly enforce laws that are in direct opposition to the law of God. Though zealous in enforcing their own commandments, they will turn away from a plain “Thus saith the Lord.” Exalting a spurious rest day, they will seek to force men to dishonor the law of Jehovah, the transcript of His character. Though innocent of wrongdoing, the servants of God will be given over to suffer humiliation and abuse at the hands of those who, inspired by Satan, are filled with envy and religious bigotry. 9T 229.2"
"And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace."
Both passages describe a conflict between human laws and divine law, with persecution resulting from adherence to God's commands. The fiery furnace is a specific example of the type of persecution described by EGW.
"***** Religious powers, allied to heaven by profession, and claiming to have the characteristics of a lamb, will show by their acts that they have the heart of a dragon and that they are instigated and controlled by Satan. The time is coming when God's people will feel the hand of persecution because they keep holy the seventh day. Satan has caused the change of the Sabbath in the hope of carrying out his purpose for the defeat of God's plans. He seeks to make the commands of God of less force in the world than human laws. The man of sin, who thought to change times and laws, and who has always oppressed the people of God, will cause laws to be made enforcing the observance of the first day of the week. But God's people are to stand firm for Him. And the Lord will work in their behalf, showing plainly that He is the God of gods. 9T 229.3"
"And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon."
EGW directly alludes to the beast with lamb-like horns speaking as a dragon from Revelation 13:11, connecting it to religious powers that persecute God's people. The reference to changing times and laws further strengthens the connection.