If Jesus spoke of reincarnation, why do Chrisitans refuse to believe in it?

Question

(After the transfiguration) And His disciples asked Him, saying, why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Like wise shall also the Son of Man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that He spoke unto them of John the Baptist (Matthew, 17: 10-13; Mark, 9: 11-13).

Clearly these passages stated that Elias was reincarnated and came back as John the Baptist.

Answer 1

Orthodox Judaism - the religion embraced by Jesus in his day - has always known that reincarnation is true. This explains why Jesus was puzzled when Nicodemus questions his statement that he must be born again: (John 3:9-10) "Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?"

Most Christians no longer accept reincarnation because in 553 A.D. the church made it a crime to believe it. Did they have the authority to speak for God? History has proved the early church was anything but godly; many church leaders were guilty of numerous acts of adultery, stealing, torture, greed, madness and murder.

This is the same church who, as late as the 17th century, persecuted and imprisoned scientists like Galileo - who discovered that the Earth actually moves, and is not the center of the solar system, as stated in the bible.

The least of the "sins" of the Christian church was to manipulate and pervert Christianity into a fearsome authority holding absolute jurisdiction over the souls of all mankind.

The references to reincarnation in the bible, understood by the Jews of Jesus's day, were later spin-doctored by corrupt men who took a Jewish sect and exploited it into a supposedly "infallible" authority - which again and again and again has been proved very fallible indeed.

Answer 2

As others have stated, you are misinterpreting this passage. Jesus spoke more of heaven and hell than anyone else in the Bible. I'm sure He would have mentioned reincarnation if that was a possibility. Instead, He told us that the gate to heaven is narrow but the gate to destruction is wide (Matthew 7:13.) Might be a good idea to listen to EVERYTHING He said.

The apostle Paul confirms this view later, when he tells believers that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5.)

The Bible wasn't written 100 years after Jesus' death. His disciple John wrote that he was an "eyewitness" to the events of Jesus' life, death and resurrection (John 21:24.) Paul (and others) wrote letters before that, also.

Answer 3

The Bible you are reading from is misleading you. By being a devoted Christian I would personally know that what you are saying doesn't make sense. You have to think about it and do the research. When is states," The disciples understood that He spoke unto them of John the Baptist." All that meant was that Jesus was quoting what John the Baptist has been saying for so long. Key word (unto them).....Like when I spoke unto my family of or about new years or John Doe. Get it. The word unto resembles a quote of another person. Come on,.... God only spoke of one life after death....its not on earth. Its in heaven.

Answer 4

That's a matter of interpretation. I'm not a religious buff, but a little research turned up John the Baptist's response:

http://www.newadvent.org/bible/joh001.htm#19

Quote:
"1:19. And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and Levites to him, to ask him: Who art thou?

1:20. And he confessed and did not deny: and he confessed: I am not the Christ.

1:21. And they asked him: What then? Art thou Elias? And he said: I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered: No."


Also, the interpretation of the verses you quoted is that John comes with the spirit and strength of Elias, not literally as Elias.

Answer 5

See the references in Malachi 3:23, and Luke 1:17, especially the latter, which fulfills the prophecy of the former. God sent the "spirit and power of Elijah", to be fulfilled in the person of John the Baptist. Reincarnation, as we understand it, does not deal with the spirit, but the body only.

Answer 6

John has the spirit like of Elias, thats the meaning of that verse. Jesus didn't spoke of reincarnation, He spoke of resurrection.

Answer 7

Yes, i think you've got it. Also reference in Genesis when I believe it was Abraham who had a meeting/celebration with Melchizadek, which literally means king of the just or righteous, and one of the Psalms (wish i had my Bible with me right now to look, but if you've got a Concordance look up Melchizadek), says this Melchizadek will be the savior, so it is also quite possible that Yeshua and Melchizadek were one in the same.
To think that the current earth age has gone on for 6000 years, that people are not perfect, make mistakes and are often slow to learn from them, it is entirely reasonable to believe that we return onto this stage to keep learning and get it right, and to continue serving God on earth.

Answer 8

You are taking this out of context. He was makiing a comparison. They were similar in spirit and power. It was not, as you refer to it, as being the same spirit in another body to live on earth again. We all share God's spirit. We all have similar character qualities, as others have. Do not read into the scripture wrongly. You should attend bible study classes.
John the Baptist's ministry. John's work was chiefly that of a forerunner for Jesus. Remember we read where Gabriel said of John, "And he (John, dm) shall go before him (Jesus, dm) in the spirit and power of Elias" (Lk. 1: 17, cp. Isa. 40: 3). John was very much like Elijah in his keen vision to denounce error, faith in Jehovah, and consuming zeal (First and Second Kings, cp. Matt. 11: 14). Elijah appears to have been about thirty when he made his first real appearance (Matt. 3: 1). John preached mainly in the wilderness of Southern Judaea and partly in the Jordan Valley (Matt. 3: 5). John's message was that of repentance (Matt. 3: 2). John emphasized that true repentance involves reformation of life and the presence of fruit (Lk. 3: 8, 11, 12, 13, 14). He preached "the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins" (Lk. 3: 3, Mk. 1: 4). John's baptism was based on true repentance and also prompted repentance in regards to Jesus. The expression, "I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance" is from baptizo en udari eis meranoian (Matt. 3: 11). The original clearly shows John's baptism also looked forward or stimulated repentance (looked to Jesus, to read more about repentance, click on "A Study of Biblical Repentance"). John announced the eminent kingdom of Jesus (Matt. 3: 2). John stressed eternal damnation in his proclamation (Matt. 3: 12, 10).

Answer 9

Yes and it is not the only part in the bible.
It is not important what somebody believe, etc... What is important is what you really know. When you will really know there will not be left much consideration about what other people are thinking.
So find the truth, all the rest is unimportant.

Answer 10

Because Chrisitans stick to one riligion and dont ever strectch it at all....its like a rumor...you tell one person and then another and another.....the bible was writen over 100 years after jesus died.....so how do we know the bible is 100% accuate for a fact?