"Through His servants, God gave the Jewish people a last opportunity to repent. He manifested Himself through His witnesses in their arrest, in their trial, and in their imprisonment. Yet their judges pronounced on them the death sentence. They were men of whom the world was not worthy, and by killing them the Jews crucified afresh the Son of God. So it will be again. The authorities will make laws to restrict religious liberty. They will assume the right that is God's alone. They will think they can force the conscience, which God alone should control. Even now they are making a beginning; this work they will continue to carry forward till they reach a boundary over which they cannot step. God will interpose in behalf of His loyal, commandment-keeping people. DA 630.1"
"Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:"
The EGW passage draws a parallel between the persecution of prophets and Christians in the past and a future persecution of commandment-keeping people, echoing the theme of persecution found in Acts 7:52.
"On every occasion when persecution takes place, those who witness it make decisions either for Christ or against Him. Those who manifest sympathy for the ones wrongly condemned show their attachment for Christ. Others are offended because the principles of truth cut directly across their practice. Many stumble and fall, apostatizing from the faith they once advocated. Those who apostatize in time of trial will, to secure their own safety, bear false witness, and betray their brethren. Christ has warned us of this, that we may not be surprised at the unnatural, cruel course of those who reject the light. DA 630.2"
"And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another."
EGW's passage expands on the idea of apostasy and betrayal during times of persecution, which is a central theme in Matthew 24:10. While not a direct quote, it's a clear development of the concept.
"Christians obeyed the warning, and not a Christian perished in the fall of the city. DA 630.3"
"Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains:"
EGW connects the warning in Matthew 24:16 about fleeing Judea to the historical event of Christians escaping Jerusalem before its destruction. This is a reasonable interpretation and application of the verse.
"“Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter; neither on the Sabbath day,” Christ said. He who made the Sabbath did not abolish it, nailing it to His cross. The Sabbath was not rendered null and void by His death. Forty years after His crucifixion it was still to be held sacred. For forty years the disciples were to pray that their flight might not be on the Sabbath day. DA 630.4"
"But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:"
EGW directly quotes Matthew 24:20 and uses it as a springboard to discuss the Sabbath's continued importance, arguing against its abolishment.
From the destruction of Jerusalem, Christ passed on rapidly to the greater event, the last link in the chain of this earth's history,—the coming of the Son of God in majesty and glory. Between these two events, there lay open to Christ's view long centuries of darkness, centuries for His church marked with blood and tears and agony. Upon these scenes His disciples could not then endure to look, and Jesus passed them by with a brief mention. “Then shall be great tribulation,” He said, “such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.” For more than a thousand years such persecution as the world had never before known was to come upon Christ's followers. Millions upon millions of His faithful witnesses were to be slain. Had not God's hand been stretched out to preserve His people, all would have perished. “But for the elec…
"For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."
EGW quotes Matthew 24:21 and uses it as a basis for discussing the great tribulation that would befall Christ's followers throughout history.