"At sight of the angels and the glorified Saviour the Roman guard had fainted and become as dead men. When the heavenly train was hidden from their view, they arose to their feet, and as quickly as their trembling limbs could carry them, made their way to the gate of the garden. Staggering like drunken men, they hurried on to the city, telling those whom they met the wonderful news. They were making their way to Pilate, but their report had been carried to the Jewish authorities, and the chief priests and rulers sent for them to be brought first into their presence. A strange appearance those soldiers presented. Trembling with fear, their faces colorless, they bore testimony to the resurrection of Christ. The soldiers told all, just as they had seen it; they had not had time to think or speak anything but the truth. With painful utterance they said, It was the Son of God who was crucified; we have heard an angel proclaiming Him as the Majesty of heaven, the King of glory. DA 781.1"
"And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men."
The EGW passage directly alludes to and expands upon the description of the guards' reaction in Matthew 28:4.
"The faces of the priests were as those of the dead. Caiaphas tried to speak. His lips moved, but they uttered no sound. The soldiers were about to leave the council room, when a voice stayed them. Caiaphas had at last found speech. Wait, wait, he said. Tell no one the things you have seen. DA 781.2"
"And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men."
Both passages describe individuals becoming 'as dead men' due to fear or shock. While the contexts differ (soldiers at Jesus's tomb vs. priests at his trial), the shared imagery and physical reaction make this a valid thematic parallel.