The Elijah to come week 21, 2013

“So you want a passage on reincarnation? Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes Mal 4:5(ESV). Reincarnation is supported by your Bible. When John the Baptist came he was identified as the Elijah to come.”

Ah did you understand what you read? That scripture refers to a ministry that Elijah had: boldly pointing the people of Israel back to God. He was coming 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 just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared Lk 1:17(ESV). It was not that the original Elijah reincarnated. Have you not read where people asked his identity "Who are you, then?" they asked. "Are you Elijah?" "No, I am not," John answered Jn 1:21(GNB).

“Come off it my friend. Some people do not know who they are. Did Jesus not refer to him as the Elijah to come? He simply did not know himself again.”

Wait, according to you reincarnation is that someone died and then returns through birth to be in the world. 

“Yes.”

In that case where did you see that Elijah died? 

“What are you talking about?” 

Well your theory doesn’t hold water since you cannot prove he died. 

“I think you are sidetracking. You asked me to bring you a scripture that proves reincarnation and I just did.” 

No you didn’t. If John the Baptist was Elijah reincarnate why was it the original Elijah that showed up at the mount of transfiguration well after John himself had died. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus Matt 17:3(ISV).  By your theory it should have been John as the new Elijah showing up.

 “So why was he called the Elijah to come?”

I told you before. Elijah had a powerful ministry at a critical time in Israel’s history of turning hearts to God, of showing who the true God is. John had a similar ministry of showing the true God in the flesh: Jesus Christ of Nazareth. You want people to believe there will be another opportunity to repent of sins after death so you teach reincarnation. None exists. People do not get recycled. Instead when anyone dies then the dust shall return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God who gave it Eccl 12:7(MKJV) to be judged. Jesus told us of the rich man who died and found no place of repentance in hell. All of us get just one chance at life. The appointment is once. And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment Heb 9:27(MKJV). Now is the time to repent. For he says, "At the right time I heard you, and on a day of salvation I helped you." Listen, now is really the "right time"! Now is the "day of salvation"! 2Cor 6:2(ISV)