Hi janny , and all ,
Aside from the idea of reincarnation , being contrary to Scripture .
Practically speaking one major problem with believing in " past lives " or reincarnation is that it conveys the notion that we are given multiple " chances " beyond the multitude of opportunity graciously given most of us in this present lifetime . Which could easily quench the sense of urgency which exists to warn us of not squandering our time and energy upon things which do not pertain to The Kingdom of God / Heaven .
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Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. <-----> Matthew 6:33
Also , there is an evil spirit ( impressiveness / seeking it's own glory ) which tries to " outdo " by coming up with things which are quite obscure , as if to say , " See how insightful / spiritual / gifted , I am . " Aside from the problem of self-seeking here , the obvious trouble is that the more obscure the notion , the less support there is for it .
It appears that such is rightly described as a " fascination " .
For the root meaning of the word " fascinate " is to bewitch w/ evil spell .
Most folks have probably fantasied about having a past life , usually after seeing / reading / hearing something that suggests such might exist .
Once upon meeting a guy who insisted he knew much about his past life ( lives ) , and that he could tell the difference between fact and fiction ; the conversation shifted to matters at hand , to which he loudly protested , that we could not judge such things . But he quickly became ashamed when it was pointed out that , if we cannot judge matters of the " here and now " , how can we discern and evaluate that which allegedly pertains to another lifetime ?
Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world ? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters ?
Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life ? <-----> 1st Corinthians 6:2+3
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. <-----> John 5:28+29
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. <-----> Revelation 20:6
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. <-----> Revelation 20:5
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison . <-----> Revelation 20:7
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. <-----> Revelation 20:12
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. <-----> Revelation 20:15
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This is the second death. <-----> Revelation 20:14
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
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 21:7+8
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. <-----> Matthew 10:48
We're made up of three main components . Spirit , soul , and body .
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. <-----> 1st Thessalonians 5:23
The " first death " is the death of the body . Upon which our physicality returns to the dust , and the portion which is our spirit returns to God .
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. <-----> Ecclesiastes 12:7
But our soul ( which is our individuality as one created to be in God's image ) sleeps until the Judgment .
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. <-----> Genesis 2:7
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed . <-----> 1st Corinthians 15:50+51
Body = dust
Spirit = breath of life
Soul = individuality ( as one created to be in God's own image )
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ... <-----> Genesis 1:26
It is our individuality which is judged . Either as one who has been cleansed by the Blood of The Lamb , or according to our own works , without Christ's Blood Atonement .
Those who have The Blood applied are spared God's wrath ; but those who were not cleansed by Christ's Blood and consequently do not have Christ's Blood Covering their sins , are condemned to the second death , which is the death of the soul : which means their individuality is destroyed / ceases to exist . Because we were created with a very specific objective in Mind , failure to have that objective met , leaves only one other option - death / destruction .
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted ? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. <-----> Matthew 5:13
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. <-----> 1st John 1:7
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. <-----> 1st John 5:12
No life = death .
See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil .In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;
I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: <-----> Deuternomy 30:15-19
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. <-----> Romans 11:22
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. <-----> Philippians 4:5
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. <-----> Revelation 11:18
Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up. <-----> Psalm 28:5
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils . <-----> 1st Timothy 4:1
Reincarnation denies the finality of God's Judgment .
There is no departure from the reward of being present with The Lord .
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words. <-----> 1st Thessalonians 4:16-18
And there is no resurrection from the second death .
Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction. <-----> Jeremiah 17:18
These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots . <-----> Jude 1:12
What do ye imagine against the LORD ? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time. <-----> Nahum 1:9
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. <-----> Psalm 37:7-11
( See also Matthew Chapter 25 -
Click Here )
We are straight-forwardly presented with two possible fates - Life or Death ; both of which are permanent and everlasting .
And we have Jesus to Thank that there is Everlasting Life within our grasp .
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. <-----> John 3:36
The notion of less extreme potentials diminishes how great our need / Gift of Salvation Truly Is .
And it is the extreme severity of our potentials that is undoubtably part of God's Wisdom and Plan , which instills in us the ability to become everlastingly grateful and loyal in the light of how great a death we've been spared , and how Great a Life we've been granted instead .
Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us . <-----> 2nd Corinthians 1:10
For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. <-----> Romans 8:24+25
As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.
Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee . <-----> Zechariah 9:11+12
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. <-----> Hebrews 6:19+20
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
For our God is a consuming fire. <-----> Hebrews 12:28+29
Amen .
wm
