"that he was abhorred by his relatives and friends; yet he maintained his integrity. Jeremiah could not be deterred from speaking the words that God had given him to speak; and his testimony so enraged the king and princes that he was cast into a loathsome pit. Stephen was stoned because he preached Christ and Him crucified. Paul was imprisoned, beaten with rods, stoned, and finally put to death because he was a faithful messenger for God to the Gentiles. And John was banished to the Isle of Patmos “for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” AA 575.1"
"I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ."
The EGW passage directly quotes Revelation 1:9 regarding John's banishment to Patmos, making it an explicit allusion.
"These examples of human steadfastness bear witness to the faithfulness of God's promises—of His abiding presence and sustaining grace. They testify to the power of faith to withstand the powers of the world. It is the work of faith to rest in God in the darkest hour, to feel, however sorely tried and tempest-tossed, that our Father is at the helm. The eye of faith alone can look beyond the things of time to estimate aright the worth of the eternal riches. AA 575.2"
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Both passages discuss the nature of faith, particularly its ability to see beyond the present circumstances and trust in unseen realities. The EGW passage elaborates on the practical application of this faith in times of difficulty.
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
Both passages highlight God's presence and help in times of trouble. The EGW passage speaks of God's 'abiding presence and sustaining grace' and 'our Father is at the helm,' which aligns with Psalm 46:1's declaration that 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.'
"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."
Both passages contrast the seen/temporal with the unseen/eternal, and emphasize the importance of focusing on the latter. EGW's passage amplifies the idea of looking beyond the temporal through faith.