We Are Not Alone
Man inhabits the physical planet Earth. But we humans are not alone. The Bible reveals there are spirit beings present on earth also. Among them are fallen angels — powerful spirit beings who have rebelled against God. They are "lying spirits" (I Timothy 4:1; II Chronicles 18:21) bent on fooling human beings in any way possible. These wicked spirits want human beings to continue to believe Satan's original lie that we have immortal souls.
These lying spirits or demons have been around since long before man. They remember what took place in the past. When a person's mind is receptive to suggestion, such as while under hypnosis, or in similar circumstances, it is not difficult for a spirit to inject information — historically verifiable information — into the human mind.
The Bible also reveals that there are even occasions where it is possible for an entire spirit personality to be "reincarnated." Not a human personality, but a fallen spirit who takes over — possesses — a physical being. The spirit's personality then dominates.
One day as Jesus was walking he came upon two men possessed of demons with violent, self-destructive personalities (Matthew 8:28). Jesus cast them out of the men and gave the violent spirits permission to enter into a herd of swine. Immediately the violent, self-destructive personalities were gone from the men. This then was a case of what some would call "reincarnation of a personality"!
The plain fact is that the Bible shows the "reincarnation" of human beings is not possible.
God's Plan
Then what about the important questions we referred to — the ones the churches of the world fail to answer? Since the Bible shows it is impossible for mortal human beings to be "reincarnated" in a different form or body, is there then no satisfying explanation for the inequities of this life? What happens to people — the majority of people! — who die ill-prepared for eternity — the millions "unsaved" as some would express it? Are they forever "lost"?
Let us understand! The truth is more glorious and comforting than the idea of "reincarnation" or of an "immortal soul."
God is indeed working out a purpose with humanity. It is a process of perfecting through which human beings may attain the divine level. "Be [become] ye therefore perfect," said Jesus, "even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matthew. 5:48). That is the purpose in human life. To become like God.
"Ye are gods," Jesus quoted from one of the Psalms (John 10:34). He said that the scripture cannot be broken (verse 35). Those who heard him were so shocked by what he said that they tried to seize him (verse 39).
The idea that humans may become members of the God Family still shocks many people. But it is the central theme of the whole Bible, believe it or not!
And it will take place, not through a reincarnation, but through a resurrection! The Bible says the dead "sleep in the dust of the earth" until they are resurrected (Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29). The resurrection is our only hope of eternal life. The apostle Paul pointed this out. "But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. . . If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished" (I Corinthians 15:13, 17-18, Revised Standard Version).
Paul continues: "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead . . . so also in Christ [not by reincarnation!] shall all be made alive" (verses 20, 22). How? By a resurrection (verses 51-55)!
Justice for All
Who are you? You are a unique individual — a mortal being having the potential of becoming an immortal individual member of the God Family! You were not somebody else in a previous life. You will not be somebody else in a future life. You are you! Though you can be improved and perfected, you will never lose your uniqueness.
Every person who has ever been born will ultimately be given the opportunity to develop his full potential.
Most humans have had no chance in this life to learn about salvation. They have not understood the benefits of obeying God's laws — his "good statutes and commandments" (Nehemiah 9:13). Mankind has been blinded to the truth — cut off from God (I Corinthians 4:4). Human history has been little more than a chronicle of suffering, warfare, disease, injustice, oppression and all attendant evils.
Jesus declared, "Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many [yes, the vast majority who have ever lived!] there be which go in thereat" (Matthew 7:13). Then he added that "narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (verse 14).
Only a few! Did you ever wonder why Jesus said that? It certainly is not fair for God to allow the majority of human beings to blindly follow the path to destruction when they don't know any better — unless. . . . Unless there is a time in the future — after this life — when they will all be given their chance for salvation — a chance they never had because they were cut off from the truth of God in this life.
They could not turn to God now even if they wanted to! We have Jesus' own words that "no man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him" (John 6:44). And the Father has been drawing only a few. They are the "few" who Jesus said are finding life. All others must wait until a later time.
When will that be?
As we have seen, the Bible states that "it is appointed unto man [mankind in general] once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). (Actually the definite article the is not in the original Greek and should not appear in English) All human beings die once, then a "judgment" takes place.
What is this "judgment" that comes after this life?
When the Bible uses the word judgment it does not exclusively mean the passing of a sentence or the giving of a reward. It can also mean a process or period during which judging takes place.
Those who do not experience their "judgment" in this life — and they make up the majority of all people who have ever lived — will be resurrected. Their physical bodies will be miraculously brought forth out of the dust of the earth and they will be given a period of time again in mortal flesh in which to learn God's ways. This period is a time of judging, of learning, of growing in perfection preparing for eternity in God's Kingdom. It is described in the Bible as the judgment of God's "great white throne" (Revelation 20:11-13). It is then that God will set his hand to save the majority of mankind. (For additional details, write for our free articles "Is This the Only Day of Salvation?" and "The Three Resurrections.")
So there is fairness with God. This present life is not all there is. The inequities, the deprivations, the tragedies suffered by people through the ages have been allowed by God to teach human beings the consequences of sin. A few people come to understand this lesson in this life. Most — the majority who ever lived — will have to die and be resurrected before they will understand. But then they will be given the chance — their first and final opportunity — to learn about salvation in a beautiful world of peace on earth under God's Government.
Those who choose God's way will be made perfect and immortal. Those who reject it will perish. Either way, a person's fate or destiny will be sealed once and forever. There will be no need for "reincarnations."
How simple and wonderful is God's Plan!