The Bible available to us today does not explain reincarnation in great detail, but there are a number of clear references to it. Looking at the many passages surrounding the second coming of Elijah (Mal. 4:5, Matt. 16:13-14 and 17:10-13, Mark 9:11-13, Mark 6:14-16, John 1:19-21), one gets the impression that reincarnation was a common belief at the time the Bible was written from all of these comments about someone being born again and the longing for a Prophet to come again. This would explain why there is not much detail on it, since one does not have to elaborate on concepts that are common knowledge.
Nicodemus was concerned about his ability to change at such a late stage in his life when he asked Jesus: “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus’ answer was: “Most assuredly.” In John 3:1-21, Jesus is telling an old man, who had just heard the teachings of Jesus, that clearly he did not have enough years left to change his ways, but that through God’s Love he would have at least another life in which he could live according to these new teachings.
Modern genetic research confirms that it was impossible for any human to live to the ages quoted in the Old Testament. Genetic research done on human remains confirms that there has been no change in the human body over this time period. Genesis 5:5 says: “So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died.” This is not the same as saying Adam lived to be 930 years old. Saying that his total years on Earth were 930 reconciles modern scientific knowledge with the Bible. It also helps to properly place biblical events into both geological and archeological history, since Adam’s 930 years could have been scattered over a 10 to 20 thousand-year time span.
The eruption of the volcano Santorini (on the island of Thera, north of Crete) in 1646 BC, has helped historians to accurately date Joseph’s life. The volcanic ash fallout from this eruption most likely caused the 7 years of famine, and which forced Jacob and his family to travel south to Egypt. Based on this, Jacob-Israel died around 1627 BC.* At the same time, archeologists have placed Abram’s life in the 22nd century BC. It does not take super-human life spans to explain the missing 400 years in this family history when you consider the possibility of multiple lives.
Intuitively, it is hard to believe that it was the same Jacob who so easily stole his older brother’s firstborn right, but later, so patiently put up with many years of abuse in order to win the daughter of Laban. It is also hard to believe that the great hunter Esau let his brother get away with such a dirty trick. It is more likely that he tracked down and killed Jacob for his treachery shortly after he discovered it. This means that the Jacob-Israel who woke up in Genesis 28:18 did so 400 years later, in a new life on Earth, and with a stronger belief in God. This logically explains Jacob’s 147 years on Earth, after dying in his 80’s in Egypt. It also helps to explain how Esau’s family got so big in what was earlier thought to have been a short period of time.
And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. (Genesis 28:11–18)
Genesis 28 is where the 400 years were lost. This is a good example of how God plays an active role in people’s lives. Jacob had gone astray in his life. Rather than let him continue in the wrong direction. God ended his life (he took the ladder to Heaven). His spirit went to Heaven where he relearned his mission on Earth and then was reborn 400 years later as the ethical man we know as Jacob-Israel.
Note: Many use Hebrews 9:27 to say that reincarnation is not God’s wish, and these are typically born-again Christians who do not take John 3:4–5 literally. But back to Hebrews. Jesus said “Let the dead bury their dead” (Matt 8:22) which points to the different meanings of the words dead, death and to die. The fallen angels died in the Fall, but they are immortal beings, so their death was a spiritual death, a separation from the divine - separation from God’s Will. This death happened once and will not happen again - thus we are to die once - be separated from God once. Jesus came to reconnect the dead or the fallen with God.