The Christ in Prophecy Journal

Answering Questions About the Eternal State: Reincarnation

Questions About Eternity

Is there such a thing as Reincarnation?

[Note: This series of questions about Heaven and the Eternal State were sent in to Lamb & Lion Ministries and answered by Dr. David Reagan, Nathan Jones, and Tim Moore on our television program Christ in Prophecy.]

Dr. Reagan: Many people involved in the New Age Movement talk about this thing called Reincarnation.

Nathan Jones: Willie Nelson and others once sung a song called “They Highwayman” which provides a good example of Reincarnation:

“I fly a starship across the universe divide, and when I reach the other side, I’ll find a place to rest my spirit, if I can. Perhaps I may become a highwayman again, or I may simply be a single drop of rain, but I will remain, and I will be back again, and again, and again, and again…”

But, doesn’t Hebrews 9:27 teach that, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment”? To die once — that’s it! Reincarnation comes out of Eastern Mysticism. There is no truth to it. It is a false religion and false religious teaching. According to the Bible, people do not return again and again in new bodies in order to escape their bad karma.

Dr. Reagan: It is amazing how much Eastern Mysticism has invaded this country since the 1960s.

Tim Moore: It certainly has. Admittedly, even when Jesus said that we must be born again, that was a confusing concept for most. Nicodemus asked, “Well, how can that be? How can a man enter his mother’s womb and be born a second time?” Jesus went on to explain in the following portion of John 3 that this would be a spiritual rebirth, not a physical rebirth, and that is a very important distinction. God will redeem our souls and provide us with a glorified body at the resurrection of the saints. Our born-again nature is a spiritual rebirth that happens once we accept Him as our Savior, and not through an endless cycle of rebirths.

Dr. Reagan: I know from reading literature by people who believe in Reincarnation, supposed Christians even, they will always use that question by Nicodemus in their attempt to conclude that Reincarnation is taught in the Bible. Jesus in that passage explained that Reincarnation isn’t so by explaining the reality of one’s spiritual rebirth upon salvation.

Nathan Jones: Plus, if karma is meant to burn off bad energy, well, what bad energy are we talking about? Jesus Christ died for our sins, so our sins are forgiven. There’s no bad energy follow us. There’s no sin following us upon death.

Tim Moore: Yes, Reincarnation undermines the very promise of the cross of Christ.

Dr. Reagan: Reincarnation is simply a rejection of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. No, I’m not going to be purified and become one with God through a constant process of rebirth and striving to become better and better and better, unless I do something bad, which in that case I come back as a rat or whatnot. The Bible doesn’t teach that!

Nathan Jones: And who would actually want to live trapped in the cycle of Reincarnation? Who would want the endless coming back again and again, and never breaking that wheel? Christianity breaks the false teaching of Reincarnation and provides those trapped under those teachings hope of a truly new life in Jesus Christ.

In the fourth part of this series answering questions about the Eternal State, we will take a look at the lies of Reincarnation and Universalism.

Resource

This Q&A series is also available in a video album which contains two DVD discs that feature seven television programs in which David Reagan, Tim Moore, and Nathan Jones respond to questions about the Bible and Bible prophecy. These programs are great for both individual and group study and provide an excellent starting point for discussion.

Questions and Answers About Bible Prophecy

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Dr. Nathan E. Jones

As the Internet Evangelist at Lamb & Lion Ministries, Nathan reaches out to the over 4.5 billion people accessible over the Internet with the Good News of Jesus Christ. He also co-hosts the ministry's television program Christ in Prophecy and podcast The Truth Will Set You Free.

2 CommentsLeave a Comment

    • John the Baptist was a type of Elijah, not Elijah himself. After all, Elijah was seen at the Transfiguration.

      Typology definition:
      1. the doctrine or study of types or prefigurative symbols, especially in scriptural literature.
      2. a systematic classification or study of types.

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