Does the story of Elijah continue in the life of John the Baptist? In this excerpt from May a Christian Believe in Reincarnation?, Swami Nirmalananda Giri explores the connection between these two prophetic figures—and the striking parallels between the rulers and queens who opposed them.
Viewed through reincarnation, their stories illustrate how the consequences of our actions and desires may reach beyond a single lifetime.
I cannot resist giving one more Biblical instance–bridging both the Old and the New Testaments–of how the human drama can be played out over the “acts” of several births on the stage of this world.
(This example, by the way, was pointed out to me by Bess Hibarger, a Presbyterian Sunday School teacher of long standing and great popularity, who at least once a year devoted one Sunday to the subject of reincarnation.)
The sowing: Elijah, Ahab, and Jezebel
Ahab, the king of Israel, married Jezebel, who was a Gentile and an idolater. For these reasons, Elijah the prophet came to Ahab and challenged him, demanding that he rid himself of Jezebel.
As could be expected, Jezebel decided that either Elijah or she had to go–and she preferred that it be Elijah. Though she had squadrons of soldiers searching for the prophet to kill him, he managed to elude them, and departed from this world still in hiding. Later, Jezebel died, but with the desire for the death of Elijah burning in her heart. (1 Kings 16:30–33, 1 Kings 18:17–18, 1 Kings 19:1–3)
Thus was the sowing; then came the reaping.
The reaping: John, Herod, and Herodias.
As Jesus said, Elijah was born again as John the Baptist. Ahab was reborn as Herod, and Jezebel as Herodias, the wife of Herod’s brother. Herod broke the Law by marrying Herodias illegally, thus committing the double crime of adultery and incest.
Just as in the previous lifetime, John came to Herod and demanded that he get rid of Herodias. Herod had respect for John, and so tried to simply ignore him. Finally, at the insistence of Herodias he imprisoned John, and ultimately Herodias got John’s head on a platter, fulfilling her desire of centuries. (Mark 6:17–29, Matthew 14:3–12, Matthew 11:14, Matthew 17:10–13, Mark 9:11–13.)
Note: In Matthew 17:13 Jesus explicitly identifies John as the Elijah reborn.
