"The declaration that God hath set some in the church, etc., implies something more than that the way was left open for the gifts to appear if circumstances should chance to favor. It rather signifies that they were to be permanent parts of the true spiritual constitution of the church, and that if these were not in active operation the church would be in the condition of a human body, some of whose members had, through accident or disease, become crippled and helpless. Having once been set in the church, there these gifts must remain until they are formally removed. But there is no record that they ever have been removed. PP 24.1"
"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."
Both passages discuss the church as a body with different members and their functions. EGW uses the body analogy to discuss spiritual gifts, which aligns with the theme in 1 Corinthians 12.
"For the body is not one member, but many."
Both passages discuss the importance of different parts working together in a body, though EGW applies it specifically to spiritual gifts within the church. The connection is thematic but not a direct allusion.
"Five years later the same apostle writes to the Ephesians relative to the same gifts, plainly stating their object, and thus showing indirectly that they must continue till that object is accomplished. He says ( Ephesians 4:8, 11-13 ): “Wherefore He saith, when He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.... And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” PP 24.2"
"For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:"
EGW directly quotes Ephesians 4:12 to support her argument about spiritual gifts.
"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:"
EGW directly quotes Ephesians 4:13 to support her argument about spiritual gifts.
"Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men."
EGW directly quotes Ephesians 4:8 to support her argument about spiritual gifts.
The church did not reach the state of unity here contemplated, in the apostolic age; and very soon after that age, the gloom of the great spiritual apostasy began to overshadow the church; and certainly during the state of declension, this fullness of Christ, and unity of faith, was not reached. Nor will it be reached till the last message of mercy shall have gathered out of every kindred and people, every class of society, and every organization of error, a people complete in all gospel reforms, waiting for the coming of the Son of man. And truly, if ever in her experience the church would need the benefit of every agency ordained for her comfort and guidance, encouragement and protection, it would be amid the perils of the last days, when the powers of evil, well-nigh perfected by experience and training for their nefarious work, would, by their masterpieces of imposture, deceive if it were possible even the elect. Very appropriately, therefore, come in the special prophecies of the …
"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,"
EGW's description of the last message gathering people from every kindred and people echoes the language of Revelation 14:6, which speaks of the everlasting gospel being preached to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. The connection is thematic and supports the idea of a universal message.