What does the Bible say about the transmigration of the soul?

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION

What does the Bible say about the transmigration of the soul?

“Many religions teach the transmigration of the soul. Even the Roman Catholic Church and other Christian-professing groups believe in it. What does the Bible say about it?”

“THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO” ANSWERS

Let us first define, what is “transmigration” of the soul? This is how Encarta Dictionary defines the word:

“Soul's passage to other body: according to some religions, the supposed passage of the dead person's soul into another body at or after death.” (Microsoft Encarta Dictionary 2009. ©1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. s.v. “Transmigration.”)

The dictionary defines “transmigration” as “soul’s passage to another body at or after death.” Does the Bible conform with this doctrine? No. According to the Holy Scriptures when a person dies, his soul also dies with him:

“Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:4 NKJV)

All men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (cf. Rom. 3:23). Thus, upon a person’s death, the soul dies. The Bible also testifies that when a person dies his soul “cleaves to the dust” (cf. Ps. 119:25). The Bible also declared that upon one’s death, everything in him is gone:

“Yes, the living know they are going to die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward; they are completely forgotten. Their loves, their hates, their passions, all died with them. They will never again take part in anything that happens in this world.” (Eccl. 9:5-6 TEV)

The Holy Scriptures also explicitly teach us that the dead “shall never return to his house, nor shall his place know him anymore”:

“As the cloud disappears and vanishes away, So he who goes down to the grave does not come up. He shall never return to his house, Nor shall his place know him anymore.” (Job 7:9-10 NKJV)

The Bible also says that upon a person’s death, “his thoughts perish”:

“His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” (Ps. 146:4 KJV)

The dead will not rise till the heavens are no more:

“But man dies and is laid away; Indeed he breathes his last And where is he? As water disappears from the sea, And a river becomes parched and dries up, So man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, They will not awake Nor be roused from their sleep.” (Job 14:10-12 NKJV)

The passing away of the heavens referred to will take place at the Day of Judgment (cf. II Pt. 3:7-10).

Thus, the Bible doesn’t conforms with the “transmigration of the soul” and even with “reincarnation” (the “rebirth of the soul). The Bible explicitly teaches that when a person dies, his soul dies with him and cleaves to the dust.


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