Chapter 3 of "The Precious Sons Of Zion"

"WITH WHAT BODY DO THEY COME?"

There is a doctrine prevalent in Eastern religions and to a much
lesser extent in Christianity which in its numerous variations, basically
teaches that we as individuals are born many times into different
bodies of flesh. Men call this reincarnation. It seems that if an
individual does not attain unto a perfected union with God during a
lifetime on earth then he must needs come back into another earthly
body for another chance, and so on it goes.

According to Christian biblical revelation this is not the way to
longevity, immortality, nor divinity, neither is it truth nor life. "Verily,
every man at his best state is altogether vanity.'' Psa.39:5-7. Are we
to be made perfect depending upon the flesh? Gal.3:3. Impossible,
because "the flesh profiteth nothing'' (Jn.6:63) in spiritual growth. For
God has revealed that the way of perfect truth and life (Jn.13:6) is
found only as one partakes of "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus." Ro.8:2; 2Tim.1:1. This life is resurrection life which begins
in its infancy through Christ by His Spirit and ends in the fullness of
the Godhead being made perfect and complete in human flesh -
Ro.8:9-11; Col.2:9,10.

The word of God reveals that man's only hope of perfection, is in
and through Christ and his redemptive work - Col.1:27; Phil.2:13.
"For what is the hope of the hypocrite though he hath gained, when
God taketh away his soul?" Jb.27:8. Without Christ and his faith
operating in us (Gal.2:16-20), our own beliefs or thoughts of gaining
stature of any lasting value are all dead works (Matt.6:27) in the eyes
of God - Ga1.5:6. Who can say I have made my heart clean, I am
pure from my sin? Prv.20:9. Who can bring a clean thing out of an
unclean? Not any man ever born! Only God - Jb.14:4. If we could
possibly attain to divine stature ourselves according to our own works,
then there would be no need for Christ's atonement - Heb.9:14;
2Tim.1:9; Tit.3:5.

The scriptures plainly teach that our own works of righteousness
cannot join us to God neither can they perfect us. In fact, just the
opposite is true. They do separate us and cause us to become more
wicked. "What man...shall...deliver his soul from...the grave?''
Psa.89:48. When one believes in the Son, he has continuous life
throughout the ages - Jn.3:36. He is "passed from death unto life.''
Jn.5.24. All human spirits which are born into the flesh, come forth
from the Father (Num.16:22); not in life but in what God calls death -
Ro 5:12. They are said to be born dead in trespasses and sins -
Eph.2:1. Only upon receiving Christ and His life giving resurrection
power, does our spirit no longer remain in death but is resting in
heavenly places (Eph.2:6; Col.1:13), and our spirit and soul are then
on the way to receiving age enduring life - Hos.13:14.

Only Once To Die

Upon cessation of bodily functions "then shall the dust return to the
earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it."
Eccl.12:7. As it is appointed unto man's soul only once to enter
into death and then judgment (Heb.9:27); how then, can a man enter
second time into his fleshly mother's womb? We must conclude that
he would have had life that was not everlasting, and he would also
have had to enter into death more than once. "For as in Adam all die
(only once in the flesh) even so in Christ shall (the same) all be made
alive (only once in newness of flesh)." 1Cor.15.22.

"There is but one event (Eccl.3:19-24) to both the righteous and the
wicked, and that is that the living know that they shall die, but the
dead know not anything neither have they anymore a reward under
the (earth's) sun. Their bodies "shall lie down together, they shall
not rise: they are extinct..'' from this present earth - Isa.43:17.
Their love, hatred, envy etc. does perish from the finite earth realm;
neither have they anymore a portion forever in anything
(including anymore physical births) that is done under the sun
(of this present earth) - Ecc1.9:I-6. "There is no remembrance of
the wise more than of the fool forever.'' Eccl.2:16. They "shall
behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world." Isa.38:11.

There is coming another sure event to the righteous and the wicked,
and that is "all that are in the graves shall hear His voice and shall
come forth" unto the resurrection of life or unto the resurrection
of damnation - Jn.5:25-29; Ac.24:15. Man does not come forth from
death in reincarnation; he comes forth in resurrection. "And many of
them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to
everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting (age-lasting)
contempt." Dan.12:2. Until the time set by God which involves
vivification of each man in his own rank (1Cor.15:23), "they shall
sleep a perpetual (ages lasting) sleep (yet in their spiritual death)
and not awake (unto redeemed life), saith the King whose name is
the Lord of Hosts.'' Jer.51:57.

An Appointed Time

At least as far back as the time of Job, the revelation of resurrection
which contradicts reincarnation was given. "Man that is born of a
woman is of a few days and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a
flower and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth
not.'' Jb.14:2. "Neither shall his substance continue...upon the
earth." Jb.15:29. "So man lieth down and riseth not: till the heavens
be no more, they shall not awake (under the sun) nor be raised out of
their sleep (bodily)...if a man die shall he live again? All the days of
my appointed time will I wait, till my change comes", states
Job.14:12-14.

Job was not looking forward to a change in a reincarnated flesh body,
but was waiting for a change in his own flesh. "For I know that my
redeemer liveth. and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the
earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my
flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself and mine eyes
shall behold and not another.'' Jb.19-25-27. Job knew that it was
appointed unto him once to die and then he was to receive and
remain in the heavenly house appointed for all who were made alive
in Christ - Jb.30:23. ''ls there not an appointed time to man upon
the earth?'' Jb.7:1

He...Shall Come Up No More

The natural flesh of God's children is likened unto "a wind that
passeth away and cometh not again.'' Psa.78:39; Prv.10:25. The
earthly life of Job is likened unto wind and Jesus stated, "So is
everyone that is born of the Spirit.'' Jn.3:8. Speaking of this earthly
sojourn Job states, "Oh remember that my life is wind: mine eye
shall no more see good...as the cloud is consumed and vanisheth
away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.
He shall return no more to his house (earthly dwelling place:
body) neither shall his place (under the sun) know him anymore."
Jb.7:7-11. Here again, we see that Job in his limited understanding
knew he was to go to a place in the spirit whence his spirit should not
return to an earthly body in this present darkened land called earth -
Jb.10:21.

David prayed for divine strength to recover his own strength before he
went hence, to be no more in this earth - Psa.39:13. Just as Job, he
knew that his "body also shall rest in hope'' until the resurrection
(Psa.16:9); wherein God would redeem his whole man from the
power of the grave - Psa.49:15. Therein he would be satisfied when
his new glorified body would awake in the likeness of Christ -
Psa.17:15. He knew by revelation also as did Job that "when a few
years are come, then I shall go the way (of death and the grave)
whence I shall not return.'' Jb.16:22.

The great apostle who was divinely taught by God (Gal.1:12), had at
times a desire to depart this life and be with Christ (Phil.1:21-24), in a
place prepared - Jb.14:2,3. He knew there would be a permanent
release for his spirit in a place absent from his body and present with
the Lord - 2Cor.5:8. To die would be great gain both for his body and
his spirit. Whether he lived or died, Paul knew he was apprehended
of Christ - Phil.3:12. He taught on the power of Christ's resurrection
only, and never on reincarnation. Man's days on earth are also
likened unto "a vapour that appeareth for a little time then
vanisheth away.'' Jas.4:14. "His days are also as grass: as a flower
of the field so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it and it is
gone and the place thereof shall know it no more.'' Ps.103:15,16.

Just as there is a place beyond the natural realm for the righteous to
remain until their appointed time, so is there a place for the
unrighteous to remain in unrest until the determined time. "He shall
be driven from light into darkness and chased out of the world...surely
such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that
knoweth not God.'' Jb.18:18-21. The house of the wicked "inclineth
unto death and her paths unto the dead. None that go unto her
return again neither take they hold of the paths of life (on this
present earth)...the wicked shall be cut off from the earth and the
transgressors shall be rooted out of it.'' Prv.2:19-22. For "these shall
go away (out of the natural earth) into everlasting (undetermined age
abiding) punishment (correction)." Matt.25:46.

Man...Shall Remain In The Congregation Of The Dead

You might ask, "where is the house of the prince (of the power of the
air) and where are the dwelling places of the wicked? Have ye not
asked them that go by the way (of unrighteousness and death)? And
do you not recognize their witness, that the wicked is reserved to
the day of destruction (of their flesh-carnality). They shall be
brought forth (in reservation) to the day of wrath...for when he is
brought to the grave he shall remain in the tomb." Jb.21:30-32.
He will not keep returning into this earth! "The man that wandereth
out of (not in) the way of understanding shall remain in the
congregation of the dead" (Prv.21:16) both literally and spiritually.
He "shall suddenly be destroyed (physical death) and that without
(physical) remedy.'' Prv.29:1. "He shall be holden with the cords of
his sin" in the pit as he was on earth (Prv.5:22), for "they shall go
down to the bars of the pit when our rest together is in the dust.''
Jb.17:16. "And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are
gathered in the pit and shall be shut up in the prison, and (only)
after many days shall they be visited." Isa.24:22; 1Ptr.3:19.

The keys to hell and death are to be found in Christ only - Rev.1:18.
Let us give all thanks and praise to God for Jesus Christ "whose soul
was not left in hell" (Ac.2:31) in order that he should "deliver them
who through fear of death were all their lifetime (not lifetimes) subject
to bondage.'' Heb.2:15. "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins
the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God (not through
reincarnation but through resurrection), being put to death in the flesh,
but quickened by the spirit: by which (same Spirit) also He went and
preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime (aforetime)
were disobedient." 1Ptr.3:18-20. ''For this cause also "was the
gospel preached also to them that are dead. (and that is) that they
might be judged according to men in the flesh. but live according to
God in the Spirit." 1Ptr.4:6. These ones are included in "the rest of
the dead" that "lived not again until the thousand years were
finished." Rev.20:5.

With What Body?

"Some men will say, how are the dead raised up and with what body
do they come?'' 1Cor.15:35. Let us examine a few more angles,
wherein those who are in deception might see assuredly that the
dead come not by any process of reincarnation into any other body of
flesh, other than that in which they were originally born. The holy
scriptures declare the whole body of man to be like unto a single
seed. When a seed germinates it dies, and has not the form it is
going to have. But a seed of any one kind can come forth only in one
form or pattern. God giveth it a body (not numerous bodies) as it
hath pleased him and to every seed his own body (not bodies). "So
also is the resurrection of the dead.'' 1Cor.15:42.

That is how it will be when the dead rise. It is sown in corruption, it is
raised in incorruption. In other words, when it, our new body rises
after death, it cannot decay. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a
spiritual body. As surely as there is a (only one) natural human body
or shell, there is together with it a spiritual body which has the exact
form and shape of the natural body - 1Cor.15:35-50. Christ, the last
Adam, is the only life giving Spirit who can restore the dead seed to
life - 1Cor.15:45; Ro.8:10; Ro.5:10. The body without the spirit
remains dead (Jas.2:26) whether one is speaking naturally or
spiritually.

Man's personal soul composed of spirit and flesh remains as a
constant entity and image, and changes not in the sense of having or
being...one individual personal substance or nature. There is a
natural body, and there is a spiritual body - 1Cor.15:44. The inner
house containing ones' soul and spirit does not change but remains
one continuous living creation, a duplicate of the body it is, or was in.
In other words, it has only one unique spiritual form and one unique
earthly form. Individual flakes of snow are all formed in different
patterns of the same substance, and so it is with human flesh. Can
reincarnation adequately explain according to that theory, how it is
that each individual born has his own unique set of fingerprints; its
own unique genetic structure?

To sum this up, we believe that the outer shell or body is an exact
copy or pattern of the inner spiritual man. Man is created a
triune-one image being (1Ths.5:23), possessing one bodily form only.
This is the biblical revelation. He does not have one spiritual body
with many fleshly bodies. Paul puts it this way. "For we know that if
our earthly house (not houses) of this tabernacle (visible fleshly body)
were dissolved, we (still) have a building (spiritual creation) of God
an (heavenly) house (not houses) not made with hands (which is)
eternal in the heavens." 2Cor.5:1. Each individual house of God is
only "one body and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of
your calling'' (Eph.4:4), for in salvation our "one body'' becomes part
of the many members of Christ's one body - 1Cor.12.

Elijah and John the Baptist

Probably the most commonly used references in the Bible to
supposedly support reincarnation is that of Elijah and John the
Baptist. If we go back to the Mt. of transfiguration scene, we find that
Moses and Elijah were seen apparently in their same recognizable
bodily forms...to Jesus at least - Matt.17:3. Note that this was after
the death of John the Baptist. If the actual personal spirit of Elijah
was truly now come as John, why then did Jesus and the disciples not
address and see him here now in the new bodily form of John? Is it
at all scriptural that spiritual or physical bodies take on that form of
someone else or revert back to a former image in the heavenlies?
No! It is not even according to common reincarnation teaching.

John the Baptist was considered a greater prophet than Elijah -
Matt.11:11. How is it that he would regress back to Elijah's form?
Besides all this, it is recorded that Elijah never actually died -
2Kgs.2:11. All this raises other questions also. If John was the
same Elijah prophesied that was to first come and restore all things,
why then are all things not restored? The scriptural answer is
because Mal.4:5; Matt.11:14; and 17:12 were not yet meant to be
interpreted literally. There is a primary and at least a secondary
fulfillment to it as there are in many biblical prophecies - Eccl.1:9;
3:15; Isa.41:22.

John himself said he was not Elijah even as he said he was not the
Christ - Jn.1:20, 21. Jesus was telling those who have ears to hear
by the spirit in Matt.11:10-15, that John really was part of the
forerunner mentioned in Mal.4:5 but he was not actually the same
personal spirit of Elijah. John merely came, as Luke 1:17 reveals;
and that was in the same "spirit and power of Elijah'' to make ready a
people for the coming of Christ. This spirit was not Elijah's own
personal spirit but rather was that same great anointing of the Spirit of
God that was upon Elijah in 2Kgs.2:9 and 15. It was that same
spiritual power which Paul speaks of in Ro.15:19) and 1Cor.2:4. It
was basically a spirit of reconciliation - - of getting the people ready
for a greater visitation of the Lord - Matt.3:3.

Even today, this "Elijah ministry" is a ministry of restoration - of
teaching and ministering restoration of all things (including people)
back to God. The word of truth must be first sent forth "to turn the
hearts of' the fathers (elders) to the children (spiritual babes) and (to
correct) the disobedient (children) to the wisdom of the just
(righteous); to make ready a people (truly prepared) for the (second
coming of the) Lord." Lk. 1:17. ''Elias truly shall first come and
restore all things...Elias is come already and they know him not."
Matt.17:11,12. God's great plan to reconcile as well as "to restore all
things" is well under control and well under way.

Are there any of you yet still believing to come back into another
corruptible body, or are you getting cleansed and washed in the pure
life giving blood of the Lamb in preparation to receive that glorious
redemption of your body, which redemption is already yours in the
true doctrine of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord? If you are
still believing in progressive incarnations or reincarnations. the spirit
would also say this unto you...

Ye Therefore Do Greatly Err

"Do ye not therefore err because ye know not the scriptures, neither
the (true resurrection) power of God? For when they shall rise from
the dead, they neither marry, nor or given in marriage; but are
(eternal, immortal) as the angels which are in heaven. And as
touching the dead that they rise: have ye not read in the hook of
Moses how in the bush God spake unto him saying, I am the God of
Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not
the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly
err.'' Mrk.12:24-27. "For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and
revived, that He might be Lord both of the dead and living." Ro.14:9.
"He that is our God is the God of salvation (and the God of
resurrection; not the God of reincarnation); and unto God the
Lord belong the issues from death." Psa.68:20. "For as the
Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them: even so the
son quickeneth whom He will." Jn.5:21.

The first quickened and resurrected "terrestrial" and "celestial" sons
shall be the "firstfruits" of those that have "put on incorruption" and
immortality'' (1Cor.15:53), having purified themselves (1Jn.3:3) and
made themselves ready (Rev.19:7) by learning to dwell in the "secret
place of the most High." Psa.91:1.

"For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground,
which cannot be gathered up again neither doth God respect any
person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not
expelled from Him.'' 2Sam.14:14.

K. Ross McKay