Q&A: Do the Scriptures Support or Deny Teachings of Reincarnation?

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="129a11c3.png"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Welcome to the Heart4God Website!"><U><B><IMG SRC="4b55a500.png" border=0 width="90" height="80" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Writings of Joseph Herrin"><U><B>Writings by Date</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id212.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Writings of Joseph Herrin Organized "><U><B>Writings by Topic</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.heart4god.ws/Audio/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.heart4god.ws/Audio/index.htm"><U><B>Audio Files</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id690.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Videos"><U><B>Videos</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id323.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Writings of Others"><U><B>Other Authors</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id324.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id339.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Questions and Answers"><U><B>Q&A</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id328.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Heart4God Email List"><U><B>Heart4God E-mail List</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com"><U><B>Parables Blog</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id306.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="File Downloads"><U><B><IMG SRC="2b264140.png" border=0 width="100" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <div> <B>Q&A: Do the Scriptures Support or Deny Teachings of Reincarnation?</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="c2827160.png" border=0 width="807" height="22" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Dear M., </div> <bR> <div> I have heard some people share teachings regarding the pre-existence of the spirit of man, though I cannot think of any solid Scriptural evidence for this. I certainly don't believe in reincarnation. The Scriptures state, "<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Georgia" >It is appointed unto man ONCE to die, and then the judgment</FONT>" (Hebrews 9:27). Another evidence against any concept of reincarnation is that the saints who lived in days of old have at times reappeared as themselves. They have never reappeared as someone else. For example, when Yahshua appeared in glory on the mount of transfiguration, Moses and Elijah also appeared with Him. They were still Moses and Elijah. They did not appear as someone else. </div> <bR> <div> We also read in various places of the souls of the dead waiting in captivity until the day of judgment. They are not going through one incarnation after another. They are being held in this place until judgment. </div> <bR> <div> Job 21:30</div> <div> "For the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity; They will be led forth at the day of fury."<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> II Peter 2:9<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment...<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Romans 2:2-9<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things... But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek...</div> <bR> <div> Such clear Scriptures as the ones above preclude any possibility that men are undergoing various incarnations after they die. They await a day of judgment. Yahshua's story of the rich man in torment and the beggar in Abraham's bosom also leaves no possibility for contrary depictions of men undergoing reincarnation. The Scriptures speak much of man's state after death, and never do we glean any evidence that men might be reincarnated to experience another life. </div> <bR> <div> Satan does come as an angel of light and we are told that the whole earth lies in his power. He is the great deceiver and as I think on the teachigns of reincarnation I do not see them leading men to Christ, but rather away from Him. This is the work of the enemy. </div> <bR> <div> I pray you find this helpful. May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days, </div> <bR> <div> Joseph</div> <bR> <div> This entry is being expanded due to further correspondence on this topic. A reader writes:</div> <bR> <div> Hello. My name is A. and I was just reading your questions and answers. I wanted to say something about the question of reincarnation. I don't know if that's the right word for it or not, but I believe that there is scripture to support the spirit's of men returning. What about when Jesus told his disciples that John the baptist was Elijah? Matthew 11:14 and Matthew 1:11,12. I know of the scripture in Hebrews also, but I believe that it has been misinterpreted. What about when Jesus asked his disciples, whom do men say that I am? Matthew 16:14. Why would people even think those things. Even when the disciples saw Jesus with the blind man in John 9:2. How could the man have sinned before he was born. It seemed to have been common knowledge back then and now everyone has put God into some box. Someone once told me that he could have made that decision in the womb, but sin is either a condition or an act and they were speaking of an act here, everyone is born into sin the condition... Well, I wasn't trying to argue, I just wanted to share some other scriptures with you. Thanks for listening. May God bless you. A.</div> <bR> <div> Dear A., </div> <div> You have asked some interesting questions regarding reincarnation, and I will answer them as I am able. First, regarding John the baptist being Elijah, he did bear a similar anointing as Elijah, and in this sense he was one spirit with him. Yet we would be wrong to think that he was the actual spirit of Elijah being placed back into a man's body again. When Christ said that John was Elijah He was using a figure of speech. It is similar to someone saying of a young man, "He is the spirit and image of his father". We do not mean by this expression that the body of a son is inhabited with the spirit of the father, but that they bear a remarkable resemblance in their spirit. A similar expression was used of Elisha when Elijah was taken up into heaven. </div> <bR> <div> II Kings 2:15<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho opposite him saw him, they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." And they came to meet him and bowed themselves to the ground before him. </div> <bR> <div> We can identify what this spirit was by examining Elisha's request that he made of Elijah. </div> <bR> <div> II Kings 2:9-10<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you." And Elisha said, "Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." He said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so." </div> <bR> <div> Now, we know that Elijah's spirit did not enter into the body of Elisha, for Elisha's spirit was already in Elisha's body, and this would have put two human spirits in the body of one man. What is actually being spoken of is the anointing that Elijah walked in. An anointing is the power of the Spirit which God gives to men to accomplish a specific task that he has appointed to them. Thus we see that David had an anointing to be king, and Aaron had an anointing to be High Priest, etc.. This anointing empowers men to walk in supernatural enablement and to do things that go far beyond the scope of normal humanity. We see Elijah asking for a double portion of the spirit, or anointing, of Elijah, and if you will count up the miracles done by both men you will see that Elisha performed exactly twice as many miracles as did Elijah. So the spirit of Elijah actually refers to the anointing in which Elijah walked. To read more about the anointing I would recommend reading the article "Black Oil Anointing" which is available on the Heart4God website. </div> <bR> <div> When Yahshua said that John the Baptist was Elijah, he was saying the same thing that the prophets said when they saw Elisha split the Jordan River, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha", and "The spirit of Elijah rests upon John." These were not the only two men to share an anointing. Daniel and John the beloved apostle also shared the same anointing, and we see this in the following parallels: </div> <bR> <div> The Spirit of Daniel and John<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> by Brother Bholan</div> <div> 1. Both Daniel and John were quite old when they wrote their prophecies. </div> <div> 2. Both were in exile. </div> <div> 3. Daniel was called 'beloved' (Dan 9:23) and John was known as 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' (John 21:20) </div> <div> 4. Both met with a man clothed in linen, girded with gold, with feet like brass (Dan. 10:5-6, Rev. 1:13-14), presumably Jesus in both cases. </div> <div> 5. Both fell down as if dead before Him (Dan. 10:9, Rev. 1:17) </div> <div> 6. Both met a man or angel (possibly Jesus in both cases) who lifted his hands to heaven to swear by Him that liveth forever and ever (Dan 12:7, Rev 10:6). The one in Daniel declared how long til the end of time, the one in Revelation declared the end of time (God is described as 'declaring the end from the beginning' in Isaiah 46:10). </div> <div> 7. Daniel's book was sealed (Dan. 12:9), and in Revelation the Lion of the tribe of Judah unseals a book (Rev. 5:5). Later John was told to eat the little book described as being 'open'. The description of the angel who was holding the book sounds similar to the description of Jesus from Rev. 1, who opened the sealed book in Rev. 5. The book of Daniel is a little book, containing only 12 chapters. Could these all three be the same book? As you mentioned, food can represent teaching, and John eating this book represents him learning what is in it. This further suggests that the Holy Spirit will in the last days reveal more to us and open the sealed books. </div> <div> 8. Daniel was told ' <I>go thou thy way </I><I><B>till the end be</B></I><I>: for</I><I><B> thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days</B></I><I>.' </I>(Dan 12:13), and Jesus said of John '<I>If I will that </I><I><B>he tarry till I come</B></I>, what is that to thee?'</div> <bR> <div> What is pictured here is two men who walked in the same anointing. This is not evidence of reincarnation, and a man returning in a later age and performing the same works would not even make sense to most people who believe in reincarnation, for they teach that a person would be reborn to do things they did NOT do in a former life. Yet we see these men walking in strikingly similar anointings. </div> <bR> <div> Regarding your question about whom men said that Christ was, once more we cannot use this as evidence that the people believed in reincarnation, or that reincarnation is of God, for a number of reasons. First, Yahshua said that the people were wrong, and He only exprssed agreement with what Peter said of Him, specifically that He was the Messiah, the Son of God. Second, the Scriptures do not teach reincarnation, but they do teach resurrection. It is possible for someone, like one of the patriarchs or prophets of old, to be resurrected from the dead and live again. The Scriptures support this idea, and it has happened to many. Following is one example: </div> <bR> <div> Matthew 27:50-53<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> And Yahshua cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. </div> <bR> <div> Now, in answer to your question about the man born blind. It is possible that the Jews had picked up some false concepts from the Greeks, for Matthew Henry in his commentary on this passage says, "Some think that the disciples were tainted with the Pythagorean notion of the pre-existence of souls, and their transmigration from one body to another. Was this man's soul condemned to the dungeon of this blind body to punish it for some great sin committed in another body which it had before animated? The Pharisees seem to have had the same opinion of his case when they said, Thou wast altogether born in sin (v. 34), as if all those, and those only, were born in sin whom nature had stigmatized." Even if some in Christ's day did have notions of the pre-existence of souls and reincarnation, this would not be evidence of these thoughts being right. We read in the same gospels that the Sadducees denied that men were resurrected from the dead, but simply because some Jews believed this, and that it was mentioned in Scripture, is not proof of the validity of their thought. In fact, Paul publicly refuted the false teaching of the Sadducees.</div> <bR> <div> We can lay to rest any idea of reincarnation by examing the Scriptures and what they reveal about man's state after he dies. In your second e-mail you asked me if there were any Scriptures other than Hebrews 9:27 that would deny the teaching of reincarnation. There are actually quite a large number of them. </div> <bR> <div> II Samuel 14:14<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> For we will surely die and are like water spilled on the ground which cannot be gathered up again.</div> <bR> <div> Psalms 89:48</div> <div> What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol?</div> <bR> <div> Ecclesiastes 9:5-6<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten. Indeed their love, their hate and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun. </div> <bR> <div> Ecclesiastes 9:10<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going. </div> <bR> <div> Ecclesiastes 12:6-7<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> Remember Him before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> II Samuel 12:23<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Job 7:9</div> <div> When a cloud vanishes, it is gone, so a soul who goes down to Sheol does not come up. </div> <bR> <div> Job 10:20-21<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> Are not my days few? Cease then and let me alone, that I may take a little comfort and cheer up before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death...</div> <div> (Amplified Bible)<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> These are just a sampling of verses that would deny that the souls of people are reincarnated into other bodies. But beyond this there is a large body of Scriptures that speak of where people do go when they die. </div> <bR> <div> Luke 16:19-31<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> 19 "Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. </div> <div> 20 "And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, </div> <div> 21 and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. </div> <div> 22 "Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. </div> <div> 23 "In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. </div> <div> 24 "And he cried out and said, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.' </div> <div> 25 "But Abraham said, "Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. </div> <div> 26 "And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.' </div> <div> 27 "And he said, "Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father's house -- </div> <div> 28 for I have five brothers -- in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' </div> <div> 29 "But Abraham said, "They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' </div> <div> 30 "But he said, "No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!' </div> <div> 31 "But he said to him, "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.'" </div> <bR> <div> The last phrase here about someone rising from the dead is not speaking of reincarnation, but of resurrection. In this comment Christ was actually alluding to His own resurrection and the hardness of men's hearts, for many would not believe even though He should rise again from the dead. In this story of Christ's we see that men go to a fixed place until the time of the resurrection and judgment. Though some may be resurrected for a time, even as those were whose bodies were resurrected at the crucifixion of Christ, all must return to this place to await the resurrection and the judgment. </div> <bR> <div> Revelation 20:12-13<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. </div> <bR> <div> We see mentioned here three places that the dead go when they die. These three places are called "the sea", "death" and "hades". I do not have sufficient understanding to go into the distinctions of these three places at this time, but it is evident that the dead must remain in these places until the resurrection. They do not escape to be reincarnated into one body after another. It truly is appointed unto man once to die, and then the judgment. It is not live, die, live, die, live, die, etc., and then the judgment. But live, die and then the judgment. Christ confirms this with His own words: </div> <bR> <div> John 5:28-29<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment."</div> <bR> <div> Notice that they are not coming forth in an endless cycle of reincarnation, but they come forth at the time of judgment. I hope these words have been helpful to you. May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days, </div> <bR> <div> Joseph Herrin</div> <bR> <div> E-mail: </div> <div> website: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Georgia" ><A HREF="http://heart4god.ws" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://heart4god.ws"><U><U>http://heart4god.ws</U></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>