The word “reincarnation” does not appear in the Bible, but its texts describe a person’s destiny after death differently: a person is appointed to die once and then face judgment, while the dead will be resurrected—some to life and others to condemnation. Jesus’ words about John the Baptist (“he is Elijah”) should not be read in isolation: Luke 1:17 speaks of the spirit and power of Elijah, while John himself answers “no” when asked, “Are you Elijah?”
What Does the Bible Say About This
- Hebrews 9:27–28: A person is appointed to die once, and then comes judgment; so also Christ, having been offered once as a sacrifice, will appear a second time to those waiting for Him, for salvation.
- John 5:28–29: Jesus says that the time will come when all who are in the tombs will hear the voice of the Son of God: those who have done good will come out to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation.
- 1 Corinthians 15:20–23: Christ has been raised as the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep; as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ, each in his own order. In 1 Corinthians 15:35–44, Paul speaks of the resurrection of the body: the natural body is sown, and the spiritual body is raised.
- Revelation 20:11–15: the dead, great and small, stand before the throne, the books are opened, and they are judged according to their deeds.
- Matthew 11:13–14: Jesus speaks about John: if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. In Matthew 17:10–13, He says that Elijah has already come, and the disciples understood that He was speaking about John the Baptist.
- Luke 1:17 says that John will go before the Lord “in the spirit and power of Elijah”; while in John 1:21, when asked, “Are you Elijah?” John answers: no.
- The words about John and Elijah are connected in Luke 1:17 with “the spirit and power of Elijah,” while John himself says that he is not Elijah. Therefore, these passages do not support understanding John as the reincarnation of Elijah.
The brief answer was prepared by the editorial team; the verse texts are from the “Father’s Blessing” Bible.
Key Scripture Passages
9 Scripture passages · “Father’s Blessing” Bible
Hebrews 9:27–28
27 And just as people are appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so also Christ was offered once as a sacrifice to bear the sins of many and will appear a second time, not to remove sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.
John 5:28–29
28 Do not be amazed at this, because the time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear the voice of the Son of God; 29 and they will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.
1 Corinthians 15:20–23
20 But Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, so also the resurrection of the dead comes through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive, 23 but each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then, at His coming, those who belong to Christ.
Matthew 11:13–14
13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who was to come.
Matthew 17:10–13
10 And His disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 11 Jesus answered, “Elijah does indeed have to come first and restore all things; 12 but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist.
Luke 1:17
And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.
John 1:21
And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
1 Corinthians 15:35–44
35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body will they come?” 36 Foolish one! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And when you sow, you do not sow the body that will be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or some other grain; 38 but God gives it a body as He wishes, and to each seed its own body. 39 Not all flesh is the same: people have one kind of flesh, animals another, fish another, and birds another. 40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies; but the glory of the heavenly is one kind, and the glory of the earthly is another. 41 The sun has one kind of glory, the moon another, and the stars another; and star differs from star in glory. 42 So it is with the resurrection of the dead: what is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable; 43 what is sown in dishonor is raised in glory; what is sown in weakness is raised in power; 44 what is sown is a natural body, what is raised is a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is also a spiritual body.
Revelation 20:11–15
11 I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. The earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what was written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Related questions
- What happens after death?
- Will the dead be resurrected?
- What is God’s judgment?
- Where is the soul after death?
