REINCARNATION: THE TRUE BIBLE POSITION 1
The occult knows that the bible is the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Tim 3:15) and the principal challenge they have against all the lies they spread. So, their ability to pervert the bible means great success at their mission of deceit.
KARMA- they teach that people must pay or bear the consequence of every sin they commit. As long as there is any iota of wrong doing in a man's life against his fellow man or nature or even animals that offender must pay for it.
In a situation the culprit dies, he is to Reincarnate (that is return in the midst of the living through another physical birth by a woman.) The purpose of this return is so that he will suffer for the sins he committed in his first existence. In a case the said offense is against nature or animals such as dogs or cats, the culprit must reincarnate as one of these species. One of the proponents of this doctrine, called Pythagoras, wrote what he called the Trans-migration of souls. He stated that he once heard a dog barking, and was able to recognize the voice of that dog as that of his late friend. He then meant to say that his friend had reincarnated as a dog.
When the culprit reincarnates, he is to suffer for all the wrong things he did, but in the case, he was not able to pay up, or commits other wicked things, he will continue to reincarnate until he has paid up and becomes holy or rather a worship able being - a god.
OCCULT SOCIETY’S VIEWS ON REINCARNATION.
They tell their followers to try to do well, to avoid too many reincarnations. Those of them who can purify themselves through much fasting and meditation can grow up to become worship able beings in this life. A perfect example of such in Nigeria is Sat Guru Marahaji. There are many of them all over India and Asia.
What they teach as Karma is very close to what the bible teaches in Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived God cannot be mocked A man reaps what he sows.”
The occult is of the devil, so they are full of lies. They rarely come out as direct enemies of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, rather they pick up scriptures of the bible and try to twist them to agree with their lies. This is the problem immature Christians have and hence often fall for their trap of lies
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44NIV
Like I said earlier they try to find a bible base for this view and refer to some passages as a proof. Yet, they reject the claim of the bible that man needs a savior or redeemer for sin who is the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is important to state here that almost all religions in the world except three. And these have root relationship with Abraham. These are Judaism, Islam and Christianity.
We are not here to concern ourselves with the views of the occult or the teachings of other religions. The only challenge here is where these false religions try to manipulate the bible in their effort to prove something that the bible does not agree with.
FALSE TEACHERS LIE AGAINST THE BIBLE
They claim that Elijah did some wicked things, among which is that he called down fire from heaven to kill hundred and two soldiers (2 Kgs. 1:8-12) and that he killed the prophets of Baal and Asherah on Mount Carmel. (1 Kgs. 18:40)
They are not alone in this view; Jezebel thought so too. In fact, she tried to avenge their blood (1kings 19). According to them, for reason this God decided to send Elijah back (Mal 4:5) so he will pay for these sins before he will be received as a worship able grandmaster.
So, Elijah reincarnated as John the Baptizer and was beheaded by Herod after many days of incarceration (Matt 14:3-12). This is so that he will fulfill the law of KARMA, because he killed the prophets of Baal.
How did they come to the conclusion that John was Elijah? They quote Matt. 11:14 and 17:10-13). In these places Jesus himself said John was the Elijah promised in Mal.4:5) To them they have proved their point and a little more twisting of the bible here, a little of perverting there, few stories of things that happened in India and China and they add the story of a Guru somewhere and the lecture is over.
WHAT JOHN THE BAPTIST SAYS ABOUT HIMSELF
Idol worshipers and the occult are not our focus in this article but we are discussing this because some sincere seekers of Christ have been deceived out of the way of truth because of the way these liars’ pervert the scriptures. In my few years of studying the bible I have discovered that it speaks for itself. Most people who complain of dark corners of the bible have not taken time to study. Some who study insist only on one version of the bible. This is wrong. The use of different versions allows you to have a broader view as you research. In this context of reincarnation, I discovered that many bible teachers have not carried out independent and unbiased research. This leaves them with the opinion of other researchers who themselves would have borrowed teachings from others.
Let the bible speak now
WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ON JOHN THE BAPTIST
Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ." They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No." John 1:19-21NIV
The Holy Scripture envisaging this controversy prepared grounds for the answer. John himself declared that he was not Elijah. But false teachers say that at that time John had not known his true identity that was why he said he was not Elijah. I make bold to say that this is not true and cannot be. John's ministry was declared to his father who was a man of God and his father revealed this ministry at his birth in Luke 1:67-79 and the angel who brought the good news also declared this ministry and its purpose and agency in Luke 1:13-17. We will come back to these passages, but take note that John was full of the Holy Spirit from his birth. To assume that John did not know his identity at the point he baptized Jesus was, to say the least, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. It is to say that despite the failure of his father to communicate to him the mandate of his ministry, the Holy Spirit that was in him could not guide him. Only one person can say such a blatant lie, his name is the Devil.
DID JESUS CHRIST SAY THAT IS JOHN THE BAPTIZER WAS ELIJAH?
This is the figure of speech which Jesus Christ used quite often, not only regarding John, but himself and others. Let’s pick some instances.
Philip said “Lord show us the father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered, “Don’t you know me, Philip even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the father. How can you say, “Show us the father” John 14:9
Before one read verse ten, you may be confused as to if Jesus has no Father who sent him.
“Don't you believe that I am in the father, and the father is in me?” John 14:10
We can see this figure of speech used by Jesus again in John 8:39-44. In talking about the Jews who insisted that Abraham was their ancestor; Jesus said,
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (vrs 44)
The above statement cannot imply that the Jews do not have biological parents. Again, Jesus used this figure of speech in talking about Judas Iscariot.
Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the twelve? Yet, one of you is a devil!? (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who though one of the twelve, was later to betray him). John 6:70-71
By the above comment Jesus cannot mean that Judas was not a human being. That would be a bogus lie. I mean to say that the occult and false teachers in their characteristic manner have been trying to pervert the bible to fulfill their satanic motive of deceiving people with their false doctrine.
WHAT APOSTLE PAUL TEACHES ABOUT THE DEAD.
Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and We believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself, will come down from heaven, with the loud command, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will Rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 1 Thes.4:13-17
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE THEN TEACH ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE DEAD?
From the above scripture we deduce that the issue of what happens to a Christian that died before the second coming of Christ is not a mystery. When a Christian dies physically, he does not go to heaven or Hell as some schools of thought propound. He remains where he was buried. He does not reincarnate either. He stays in the grave until Jesus returns the second time to call him out of the grave.
The bible says that when a man dies there is no other activity for him to indulge; he only awaits judgment.
Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, Heb 9:27NIV
For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no reward, For the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun. Ecc. 9:5-6
The Doctrine of Reincarnation is a direct attack on two of the Basic Foundation Teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These are the pillars upon which all Christian doctrines are built. It is not surprising that most Christians today do not know whether or not to accept the doctrine of reincarnation because most pastors and preachers do not understand these doctrines.
(To be continued)
Emma your brother pnurnigeria@gmail.com