MM: "Here are the passages I believe teach He will use literal fire to punish and destroy the wicked:"

K: So how does that text mean He will use literal fire to punish and destroy the wicked?

M: Jesus did "act" differently in the NT. For example, He didn't command anyone to kill sinners. Nor did He employ the forces of nature to kill sinners. True, He taught these things, but He didn't demonstrate them.

T: Jesus taught the reverse of this.

M: Yes, Jesus also taught the reverse, but in doing so He wasn't contradicting the reverse.

K: Are you saying that Jesus taught that He would use force Himself and command others to kill sinners and also taught that He would not use force Himself and command others to kill sinners?

M: No

K: What are you saying when you said He taught the reverse?

M: He taught the truth about mercy and justice, which are opposites sides of the same coin.

K: You were talking about the reverse of Jesus acting differently. Tom questioned you on this. You confirmed that you really meant this. I asked you clearly which you then rejected. Now you are talking about mercy and justice (though not as the Bible means). So, are you talking about the reverse of acting and teaching differently or are you talking about the reverse of mercy and justice?

You don't mean to say that the reverse of not using force and commanding others to kill sinners is mercy and justice are you? If by some strange twist of logic you are, could you explain how they are the reverse and how that would be a logical conclusion? As in, if someone asks you what is the reverse of Jesus not calling hellfire and brimstone on sinners, would it be appropriate for you to answer, mercy and justice?

No hellfire, no brimstone ===reverse===> mercy and justice?

God withdrew His protection and permitted millions of mothers and infants and children to suffer and die in the Flood. And this is how Jesus treated them in the NT?

God withdrew His protection and permitted thousands of first born infants and children and youth and adults to die in Egypt. And this is how Jesus treated them in the NT?

God commanded His holy and chosen people to kill sinners by sword and stoning. And this is how Jesus treated them in the NT?

PS - I hadn't thought to ask this before - Do you think these kinds of OT stories are merely parables? Or, do you think they literally happened?

PPS - Comparing the death of a fig tree to the events mentioned above doesn't cut it for me. I see no similarities.

I don't like the word "reverse"...

M: God withdrew His protection and permitted millions of mothers and infants and children to suffer and die in the Flood. And this is how Jesus treated them in the NT?

God withdrew His protection and permitted thousands of first born infants and children and youth and adults to die in Egypt. And this is how Jesus treated them in the NT?

God commanded His holy and chosen people to kill sinners by sword and stoning. And this is how Jesus treated them in the NT?

T: Yes. Jerusalem demonstrates this. "How often I would have gathered you up as a check gathers her chicks, but you would not...Your house is left to you desolate.

PS - I hadn't thought to ask this before - Do you think these kinds of OT stories are merely parables? Or, do you think they literally happened?
T: No. Yes.

PPS - Comparing the death of a fig tree to the events mentioned above doesn't cut it for me. I see no similarities.

T: I don't understand this comment.

T: Yes. Jerusalem demonstrates this. "How often I would have gathered you up as a check gathers her chicks, but you would not...Your house is left to you desolate.

M:He taught it. But He didn't demonstrate it. That's the point.

IOW, saying what He said about ... chicks is nowhere near the same as withdrawing His protection and permitting millions of infants to suffer and die. He did no such thing while here in the flesh.

I am fairly certain you believe Jesus demonstrated everything there is to know about God while He was here in the flesh. You often quote the following to support your assertion: "All that man needs to know or can know of God has been revealed in the life and character of His Son. {8T 286.1}

At other times it seems like you're saying Jesus didn't actually demonstrate everything there is to know about God, that He resorted to talking about some of it.

So, Tom, help me out. Are you saying Jesus withdrew His protection and permitted sinners to suffer and die while He was here in the flesh? If not, what are you saying?

PS - I realize you believe your humane hunter story illustrates God running the risk of being misunderstood as being in favor of capital punishment when He commanded Moses to stone sinners to death. But what I don't understand is why you think God felt it was necessary to command it. Why do you think God command capital punishment in the OT?