IS REINCARNATION BIBLICAL? SHOULD CHRISTIANS BELIEVE IN REINCARNATION?

What is reincarnation? Is reincarnation a Christian belief? Does the Bible teach reincarnation? Are there evidences in the Bible to support reincarnation?

Several people (including many Christians) believe in reincarnation. However, the Bible does not teach reincarnation, rather it teaches resurrection from the dead. What is the difference?

In reincarnation (or transmigration), the body dies and returns (i.e comes back to life again) in a different body to live on earth again. Depending on your deeds in the previous life or lives, the new body is entirely different from that of the previous life. For instance, a man could get reincarnated as a woman or an animal or a stone. On the other hand, in resurrection of the dead, the body that dies is the exact body that is raised. For the resurrection that will occur in the last day, the body is made new in the sense that it is perfected and no longer subject to frailty and death, but it is still the same body.

In reincarnation, the previous man or woman stays dead while a new person with a different body and distinct identity is born. In resurrection, the man or woman is brought back alive with same body (which will be a glorified same body if it's in the last day).

In reincarnation, the body dies and returns multiple times. The cycle continues multiple times. The goal is to give the individual many chances to reach a higher level of existence and eventually to escape from the cycle. However, resurrection happens once (with few exceptions, such as where Jesus, Elijah and Elisha body raised someone from the dead earlier). The individual does not have multiple chances. Hebrews 9:27 tells us that after we die once, then comes the judgment. This judgment process begins with the resurrection of the dead. This is why the apostle Paul emphasized in 2 Corinthians 6:2 that "now is the day of salvation".

(Hebrews 9:27 KJV) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

(2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV) (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

As earlier stated, what the Bible teaches is resurrection from the dead and not reincarnation. Below are some verses from the old testament which show that the ancient Jews believed in the resurrection of the dead rather than reincarnation:

(Daniel 12:2 KJV) And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

(Job 19:25-27 KJV) For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. 

(1 Samuel 2:6 KJV) The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

(Psalms 16:10 NLT) For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.

Those that believe in reincarnation often quote the under listed verses to falsely claim that the Bible and Jesus believed and taught the concept of reincarnation:

1. (Matthew 17:12 KJV) But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. (Matthew 11:14 NLT) And if you are willing to accept what I say, he [John the Baptist] is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come. These verses do not really teach that John the Baptist was a reincarnation of Elijah. Luke 1:17, an important cross reference, tells us that the ministry of John the Baptist was carried out "in the spirit and power of Elijah." (Luke 1:17 NLT) And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." The above statement was made by an angel of the Lord. The book of Malachi says that the prophet will be like Elijah. (Mal 4:5 TLB) “See, I will send you another prophet like Elijah before the coming of the great and dreadful judgment day of God."
2. (John 3:3 KJV) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. The context of this verse clearly shows that Jesus was referring to a spiritual rebirth. In fact, what Jesus said was you must "born from above" not "born again" as translated by many Bible Versions. Please read my previous post on Jesus said you must be born from above not born again
3. (Matthew 16:13-14 KJV) When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. The reincarnationists say that this verse proves that the people during Jesus' time believe in reincarnation that is why they thought that the above mentioned prophets reincarnated in Jesus. However, going by the meaning of reincarnation which requires a person to be reborn, the verse does not support reincarnation as John the Baptist who was just dead at that time could not have been reborn. Resurrection of John the Baptist and the others would most likely be their believe rather than reincarnation. Just like Herod, the people believed that John the Baptist and these prophets were raised from the dead not reincarnated. (Mark 6:14 KJV) And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

There are no evidence in the Bible to support reincarnation. What we have is the misinterpretation of the Bible by reincarnationists. A Christian should not believe in it. All over the New Testament, Jesus taught the concept of resurrection, not reincarnation. 

(John 11:23-25 KJV) Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 

(John 6:39 KJV) And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 

(John 5:28-29 KJV) Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 

(Luke 24:39 KJV) Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

The disciples of Jesus also taught the resurrection of the dead and not reincarnation. An example is in the book of Acts:

(Acts 4:2 KJV) Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.