Omar6741 said
A number of times in the Gospels, some historical figure (Jesus, John the Baptist, and maybe others) is thought to be, in some sense, an ancient figure re-appearing in a new form. Jesus is also said, by Herod Antipas, to be John the Baptist raised from the dead; Antipas thinks this explains why he has miraculous powers.

Now, what was meant by saying John the Baptist was Elijah returned? Was it only that he was similar to Elijah? That seems a bit too weak for this sort of language. Did people think he was a reincarnation of Elijah? Or was he supposed to be possessed by the spirit of Elijah? If not these options, what else might be meant?

(Background motivation: I ask because the Indian Messiah-claimant Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, founder of the Ahmadiyya movement, claimed to be Jesus. I am pretty sure he was inspired in this by his studies of the New Testament, as the idea is not found in the Islamic sources with which he was brought up. So exploring this will help with understanding a more modern religious movement.)

Thank you!  

Omar. I am sure you are reading SYMBOLIC LANGUAGE. Jesus said that John was greater than all the Old Testament prophets – that would include Elijah. John is “Elijah that is to come” and not “Elijah in person.” An Elijah, even greater than Elijah, would herald the coming of the Messiah. I think Malachi says this Elijah figure must come first.

As an aside. Some want to be great military men, or prophets, or kings, or wise men etc.. but NO-ONE WANTS TO BE A REDEEMER WHO PAYS THE PRICE FOR THE  SINS OF OTHERS. When you read of people claiming to be Jesus in the flesh then it won’t be miracles that prove this – it’s their life. In any case, as Zechariah pointed out, the returning Messiah, the one who suffered for us, will return as a reigning King – not as a con-man. 

** you do not have permission to see this link **Elijah in the Guise of an Arab.

** you do not have permission to see this link **

Elijah *returns* from his ascent into the heavens a lot in midrash, and now he’s dressed as an Arab bestowing charity to good stewards. This makes sense to me with his earlier camel coat wear, because there’s no Jewish camels, and camels are an Arab symbol on ancient coins. What Arab/Arabians means in the ancient world is closer to sheik today, no-standing-army type of wealthy. Also Elijah is a ‘resident alien’ ie ’tishbite’ of Gilead in what is an archaeologically Arabian region – Midianite and then Nabataean. 

So maybe this ascent into the heavens is like how when Paul ascends or descends, it’s taken as a directional term of travel. Except with majestic language because maybe Elijah deserves it. 

“Elijah appeared to many while they were awake, and this in various ways. He often elected to appear in the guise of an Arab () or, more exactly, in that of an Arab of the desert (see Arabia in Rabbinical Literature). In this manner he once appeared to a poor but pious man, and asked him whether he wished to enjoy the six good years which were appointed him now, or at the end of his life. The pious man took him for a sorcerer, and made no reply. But when Elijah came the third time, the man consulted his wife as to what he should do. They concluded to tell the Arab that they wished to enjoy the good years at once; they had hardly expressed their wish when their children found a great treasure. The pious couple made good use of their riches, and spent much money for benevolent purposes. After six years the Arab returned and told them that the end of their prosperity had come. The woman, however, said to him: “If you can find people who will use with more conscientiousness what you give unto them, then take it from us and give it to them.” God, who well knew what use this pious couple had made of their wealth, left it in their hands as long as they lived (Midr. Ruth Zuṭa, ed. Buber, near end).

I think its in the deuteroconanical Maccabees where they explain that the “priestly secret” of the fire that burns in a great quantity of water (also a feat of Elijah) is naptha. Relatedly, the Arabian trade of petroleum products is more ancient than common knowledge gives them credit for. Bitumen as a plasticizer, fixative, and waterproofing material was big money.

As far as concepts of soul transmigration/reincarnation, Alexander the Great had opened a cultural transmission with India centuries prior. There’s Indian Elephant collonade toppers in syncretic Petra, indicating some level of familiarity with the region, and a fairly recently discovered First Century Berenike Buddha at the Nabataean Arabian trading port. Not only that but Nicolaus of Damascus, Herod the Great’s close friend wrote about meeting an Indian delegation with a spiritual practitioner.

And the 10th C Nabataean Book of Agriculture draws on earlier literature and plainly speaks of reincarnation. The earliest systemic belief like this that I can find so far is in Ebla, and the Nabataean Abgarid kingdom overlapped that site. Eblaites have no mourning rituals for their royalty. They are prepared to return to Earth life. 

The only explanation that makes sense to me as to why Western scholars don’t tend to read reincarnation in the New Testament is because to my perception, they likely don’t have as much lived experience nearer to the East.

The Druze and Mandaeans claim early adjacency to whatever philosophies are crystallizing in the ANE in the first millenium CE and they are Reincarnationists. I speculate that there may be a particular reverence for written records utilized as evidence for repeated characteristics.