"But like the stars in the vast circuit of their appointed path, God's purposes know no haste and no delay. Through the symbols of the great darkness and the smoking furnace, God had revealed to Abraham the bondage of Israel in Egypt, and had declared that the time of their sojourning should be four hundred years. “Afterward,” He said, “shall they come out with great substance.” Genesis 15:14 . Against that word, all the power of Pharaoh's proud empire battled in vain. On “the self-same day” appointed in the divine promise, “it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.” Exodus 12:41 . So in heaven's council the hour for the coming of Christ had been determined. When the great clock of time pointed to that hour, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. DA 32.1"
"And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance."
Ellen White directly references Genesis 15:14 in this passage.
"And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt."
Ellen White directly references Exodus 12:41 in this passage.
"“When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son.” Providence had directed the movements of nations, and the tide of human impulse and influence, until the world was ripe for the coming of the Deliverer. The nations were united under one government. One language was widely spoken, and was everywhere recognized as the language of literature. From all lands the Jews of the dispersion gathered to Jerusalem to the annual feasts. As these returned to the places of their sojourn, they could spread throughout the world the tidings of the Messiah's coming. DA 32.2"
"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,"
EGW directly quotes Galatians 4:4, making this an explicit allusion. The surrounding context in DA 32.2 further elaborates on the 'fullness of time' mentioned in Galatians.
"And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:"
Both passages address God's control over historical events. Daniel 2:21 speaks of God changing times and seasons and setting up kings. EGW states that 'Providence had directed the movements of nations' to prepare the world for Christ's coming. This reflects a similar theme of God's sovereignty in shaping history.
"At this time the systems of heathenism were losing their hold upon the people. Men were weary of pageant and fable. They longed for a religion that could satisfy the heart. While the light of truth seemed to have departed from among men, there were souls who were looking for light, and who were filled with perplexity and sorrow. They were thirsting for a knowledge of the living God, for some assurance of a life beyond the grave. DA 32.3"
"Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
Both passages address a deep, unfulfilled thirst. The EGW passage describes a longing for spiritual satisfaction, while John 4:13-14 speaks of Jesus offering 'living water' that quenches spiritual thirst. The connection is thematic and relevant.
"And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."
Both passages speak of light shining in darkness, but the EGW passage focuses on a societal longing for truth while John 1:5 speaks of the light of Christ. The connection is thematic but not a direct allusion.
"As the Jews had departed from God, faith had grown dim, and hope had well-nigh ceased to illuminate the future. The words of the prophets were uncomprehended. To the masses of the people, death was a dread mystery; beyond was uncertainty and gloom. It was not alone the wailing of the mothers of Bethlehem, but the cry from the great heart of humanity, that was borne to the prophet across the centuries,—the voice heard in Ramah, “lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.” Matthew 2:18 . In “the region and shadow of death,” men sat unsolaced. With longing eyes they looked for the coming of the Deliverer, when the darkness should be dispelled, and the mystery of the future should be made plain. DA 32.4"
"In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not."
The EGW passage directly quotes Matthew 2:18 and provides context for its use, making it a clear and explicit allusion.
"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined."
Both passages refer to people dwelling in darkness or the shadow of death and the hope for light. The EGW passage describes the spiritual state of the Jews awaiting the Messiah, while Isaiah 9:2 prophesies the coming of a light to those in darkness. The connection is a clear thematic parallel.