Difficult Questions: What Does The Bible say About Reincarnation?

From time to time, we dig into Scripture and seek answers to difficult questions from the Bible. Today, we are asking the question: “What does the Bible say about reincarnation?”

Some people believe in something called reincarnation, or the belief that when people die they come back to earth as another person or another living being, like a horse, cow, or even a bug. It means they would live and die multiple times over and over. What does the Bible say about reincarnation?

For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Hebrews 9:26-28 (KJV)

Jesus Christ died just one time. We, too, are to live and die just once. Then our judgment is sealed. Those who accepted Christ during their lives will be with him forever. Those who die without Christ will be forever in the lake of fire. There is no reincarnation after death, only resurrection. There will be the resurrection of the righteous to be with Jesus. There will be the resurrection of the lost to be forever in the lake of fire.

When you die, your eternal judgment is sealed. There are no more opportunities. We make our choice now in this life while we are alive. The choice we make determines our eternal destination. There is no reincarnation. Reincarnation, like other false religions, is a counterfeit of the devil. He twists the truth of the resurrection into something it is not. Reincarnation is a fake resurrection that supposedly gives you multiple times to make it to heaven. He uses the falsehood of reincarnation to deceive people into thinking they have numerous opportunities to get things right. So no there is no reincarnation, no coming back as someone or something else. The Bible disproves it and exposes it as a lie.

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. II Corinthians 5:8 (KJV)

When believers leave their body, they are immediately with the Lord. This is not so with sinners. The choice you make will determine where you will go: heaven or hell, in the peaceful, pleasurable presence of God, or in the tormenting pain of hell’s eternal flames.

According to I Thessalonians 5:23, man is made of spirit, soul, and body. He will remain so forever, either with God or with satan. After death, there are no second chances. You are who you are and will be who you are forever.

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. I Corinthians 15:20-22 (KJV)

Christ’s resurrection guarantees ours as believers. We will get a resurrected body, like Jesus. Those who reject Jesus will have their same body throughout eternity in hell. They will experience eternal torment in fire and outer darkness, separated from God. They will not be reincarnated, only judged for rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ.

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7 (KJV)

The spirit of the believer returns to God. Not so for the unbeliever.

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15 (KJV) emphasis mine

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelation 21:8 (KJV) emphasis mine

The unsaved will appear before the Great White Throne judgment, and will be judged according to their own works, which will never be sufficient to get into heaven. The verdict is guilty and the sentence is eternity in the lake of fire. So, do not fall for the lie of reincarnation or any other religion that tells you anything contrary to the Bible. Choose to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior today, and when you die and your eternity is sealed, you will not regret your choice.