"come,” He said, “to destroy men's lives, but to save them.” Luke 9:56 . “God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17 . His mission of mercy in its relation to God's justice and judgment is illustrated in the parable of the barren fig tree. COL 212.1"
"For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village."
The EGW passage directly quotes Luke 9:56.
"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
The EGW passage directly quotes John 3:17.
"Christ had been warning the people of the coming of the kingdom of God, and He had sharply rebuked their ignorance and indifference. The signs in the sky, which foretold the weather, they were quick to read; but the signs of the times, which so clearly pointed to His mission, were not discerned. COL 212.2"
"And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?"
The EGW passage directly references and expands upon the concept presented in Matthew 16:3, using similar language and drawing the same conclusion about the people's inability to recognize the 'signs of the times'.
"Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?"
The EGW passage directly references and expands upon the concept presented in Luke 12:56, using similar language and drawing the same conclusion about the people's inability to recognize the 'signs of the times'.