"The Thessalonians had eagerly grasped the idea that Christ was coming to change the faithful who were alive, and to take them to Himself. They had carefully guarded the lives of their friends, lest they should die and lose the blessing which they looked forward to receiving at the coming of their Lord. But one after another their loved ones had been taken from them, and with anguish the Thessalonians had looked for the last time upon the faces of their dead, hardly daring to hope to meet them in a future life. AA 258.1"
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
The EGW passage discusses the Thessalonians' understanding of the Second Coming and their concern for deceased loved ones, which is directly related to the themes discussed in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.
"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope."
The EGW passage directly addresses the Thessalonians' grief and concern about their deceased loved ones in relation to Christ's return, which is the central theme of 1 Thessalonians 4:13. The verse provides the scriptural basis for the emotional context described by EGW.
"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
Both passages deal with the hope of Christ's return and being with Him. While not a direct quote, the EGW passage reflects the sentiment expressed in John 14:3.
"As Paul's epistle was opened and read, great joy and consolation was brought to the church by the words revealing the true state of the dead. Paul showed that those living when Christ should come would not go to meet their Lord in advance of those who had fallen asleep in Jesus. The voice of the Archangel and the trump of God would reach the sleeping ones, and the dead in Christ should rise first, before the touch of immortality should be given to the living. “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” AA 258.2"
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:"
The EGW passage directly quotes and discusses 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
The EGW passage directly quotes and discusses 1 Thessalonians 4:17.