[A mother[ref]This article has been edited to remove three names for privacy reasons[/ref]] watches her teenage daughters, [xyz] and [XYZ], get the numbers "666" tattooed on their wrists, beaming with pride. The number typically conjures up biblical symbolism tied to the Antichrist, but this St. Catharines, Ont., family belongs to a obscure Christian sect for which "666" is a positive symbol of their group's messianic leader.

Canada's National Post says

For this family, and other members of Growing in Grace International, these tattoos are a way of demonstrating their faith as true believers of Jose de Luis de Jesus — who they fervently believe is the second coming of Jesus Christ — before a day of reckoning they believe will wipe out most of humanity.

The group, which they say has branches in five Canadian cities and members in more than 130 countries, believes that on June 30 (or July 1 across the international dateline), their Texas-based leader and his followers will be transformed, said Alex Poessy, the group's bishop in Canada.

To spread the word, Growing in Grace put up billboards in Toronto this week featuring Mr. de Jesus.

"That day, the body of Jose de Luis de Jesus, who is a human like you and me, his flesh is going to be immortal€¦. He's going to be living forever. And that will happen to him, but also his followers."

But, said Mr. Poessy: "All those that are not believers are going to be destroyed." [...]

"The world's not going to end. What is going to end is the system€¦. All the governments and the currencies will fall. The new government of the 666 will take over," [the bishop's daughter] said. [...]

The group has come under fire and accused of being a cult.

Regina Albarracin of Pembroke Pines, Fla., whose son Alvaro became estranged from his family after he joined Growing in Grace, said its members are "brainwashed." [...]

José Luis De Jesus Miranda has previously said, "I am Jesus Christ man ...The second coming of Christ." He also refers to himself as the 'Antichrist.'

Carlos de Jesus Miranda says his brother, José Luis De Jesus Miranda, is a phoney, and that his followers are being brainwashed into tattooing themselves and giving money to a slick salesman, who has become a very wealthy man.

Theologically, Miranda's movement — Creciendo en Gracia (Growing in Grace) — is a cult of Christianity, due to the fact that it rejects essential doctrines of the Christian faith and promotes extra-Biblical teachings.

Research resources on Creciendo en Gracia (Growing in Grace)

Full story: ‘The time is finished’: sect says its ‘666’ leader will be ‘transformed’

Preacher claims to be both Jesus Christ and the Anti-Christ

GOLDEN GATE, Fla. - A man claiming to be Jesus Christ reincarnated had a birthday party Friday. Hundreds gathered in Golden Gate to celebrate their Christmas - the birthday of a Miami man who says he is Jesus Christ the man.

http://www.winknews.com/v/?i=43235142

WINK News report

His name is Jose Luis de Jesus. In 1973, he said angels came to him in a dream and told him he is the second of coming of Jesus Christ. He has millions of followers nationwide, and hundreds gathered in Naples to celebrate his birthday a few days early.
[...]

Jose Luis de Jesus refers to himself as 'The Man Christ Jesus' and he believes there is no sin, the devil does not exist, and 666 is the number of God himself.
[...]

The Growing in Grace movement survives through donations, and this so called second coming brings in 1.4 million dollars a year. Some followers donate cars, homes, and large sums of money to the man who claims to be Jesus Christ.
[...]

WINK News spoke with some preachers about this man who claims to be 'Jesus Christ Man', and despite his national attention, the religious leaders we spoke with have never heard of him.
[...]

Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda -- who also claims to be the Anti-Christ -- has reportedly used charitable donations to his ministry for personal expenses.

Last January Miranda lost his divorce court bid to protect his church from financial claims by his most recent ex-wife.

Carlos de Jesus Miranda says his brother, Jose de Jesus Miranda, is a phoney, and that his followers are being brainwashed into tattooing themselves and giving money to a slick salesman, who has become a very wealthy man.

Full story: Hundreds celebrate a man they believe to be Jesus Christ reincarnated

Supporters of 'Antichrist' protest Miami-Dade judges

Wearing white T-shirts emblazoned with ''666'', about a dozen followers of Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda, the Miami-based minister who proclaimed himself the Antichrist, protested his ''persecution'' by the justice system in front of the family courthouse on Tuesday.

Last year, following a bitter divorce that featured dueling claims of lesbianism and physical abuse, Miami-Dade judge Roberto Pineiro awarded more than $2.2 million to the minister's ex-wife, Josefina de Jesus Torres.

In his ruling, Pineiro determined that de Jesus' Growing in Grace church was a personal business, rather than a religious nonprofit, so the ex-wife is entitled to half of its assets.

Jo-Ann de Jesus, the minister's daughter who also handles the church's finances, says the judge based his decision on a ''prejudice against my dad'' and not on the evidence.

De Jesus and her father's followers are hoping to get the multi-million dollar judgment overturned. Pineiro could not be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.

The minister, who claimed his teachings have replaced those of Jesus Christ and therefore he should be known as the Antichrist, has refused to pay up.

He has been ''moving around a lot lately'', his daughter said, to avoid the arrest warrant issued against him for contempt.
[...]

Many of de Jesus' followers say his clash with secular justice system is further proof that he is the Second Coming. The original Messiah also faced significant legal difficulties, they note.
[...]

• Related photo gallery in the Miami Herald

Full story: Supporters of ‘Antichrist’ protest Miami-Dade judges

The South Florida preacher who gained fame after declaring himself to be Jesus Christ has fared poorly in divorce court.

The Christmas season was not kind to the self-proclaimed Antichrist.

Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda, who gained international notoriety by declaring himself first to be Jesus Christ, then the Antichrist, roundly lost his divorce court bid to protect his church from financial claims by his most recent ex-wife.

Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Roberto Pineiro essentially ruled that de Jesus' Growing in Grace church was his personal business, rather than a religious nonprofit organization, and awarded Josefina de Jesus Torres the more than $2.2 million she sought in the divorce -- the amount her lawyer deemed was half the assets of her ex-husband and his church.

''I think the judge did what was right and awarded Josefina what she was entitled to under the law,'' said Torres' lawyer, Norman Segall. ``The church has millions of dollars . . . and I'm sure if [de Jesus] issues an edict from up above that he needs money, it's available to resolve the situation.''

The ruling marks a downturn in the fortunes of the colorful preacher, one that affects not just him but others in his life. His daughter, JoAnn de Jesus, is fighting contempt charges related to the case. His father and first wife face possible eviction from properties held in his and the church's names that the judgment awarded to Torres if he doesn't pay up this month.

De Jesus disappeared in August, when the judge declared him in contempt of court and ordered him to surrender to authorities for not paying Torres $15,000 a month in alimony. The divorce trial went ahead without him that month.

JoAnn de Jesus has since testified that her father has been living in Houston -- in a house that Torres could soon own, according to the ruling.

De Jesus' lawyer, Leonardo Renaud, is in the process of appealing the ruling and is filing a request to halt the property transfers until the appeal is heard.
[...]

De Jesus exploded into popularity -- and controversy -- in the past few years after he declared himself to be Christ. He later claimed that his teachings replaced those of Jesus and so he should be called the Antichrist. He and his followers then began tattooing themselves with ''666,'' a practice that generated protests and headlines.

Growing in Grace has since expanded to more than 300 churches in 30 countries, with de Jesus' sermons broadcast by satellite to thousands of households worldwide.

During the trial, de Jesus' representatives argued that neither he nor the church were as rich as Torres' team claimed, especially since the value of many of the properties have fallen in the past two years. They also said that donations have dropped since the start of divorce proceedings, with the revelation of de Jesus' tangled finances, including disclosures that he paid his first wife's alimony with church funds.

Many of his followers believe that de Jesus' divorce court difficulties are further proof that he is Jesus' Second Coming, quoting biblical prophecies of persecution such as Luke 17:25, which says ``first, He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.''

''These life events are further proof that Jose Luis de Jesus is the reincarnation of the same spirit that dwelled in Jesus of Nazareth,'' said church member and spokesperson Axel Poessy. ``We are privileged to be witnessing the days of the Son of Man, the last manifestation of God on Earth, who is here to reign over all nations.''
[...]

In explaining his decision to treat de Jesus' and the church's finances as one, the judge wrote that de Jesus ``dominates the ministry like only a god can. . . . In what other corporation does the board of directors literally worship the president?''

Daughter JoAnn de Jesus, the ministry's finance manager, potentially faces contempt charges at a Jan. 21 hearing when she must explain why the church has not complied with an order to deduct Torres' alimony from de Jesus' salary.

De Jesus owes Torres $121,000 in back alimony, above and beyond the divorce judgement.

Shortly after the judge issued the August deduction order, JoAnn de Jesus switched her father from a salary of approximately $21,000 a month to paying him as a private contractor, with monthly payments of about $12,000 a month. She began writing those checks to cash, which she then used to pay his bills.

In a November deposition, she said that she cut his salary because the church was in financial trouble, not because she was trying to avoid paying Torres' alimony.
[...]

JoAnn de Jesus said the church has been kicked out of its Doral location and is being sued by the landlord for $80,000. The church now has a new meeting hall in Hialeah. She said that de Jesus -- who often boasted of his lavish lifestyle and the ''box . . . of Rolexes'' provided by donations from his followers -- had closed one of his local bank accounts and had a negative balance in another.

See Also

• Life with the Antichrist: The wife of a controversial Miami-based preacher is divorcing him but staying married to his teachings. (Miami Herald, June 28, 2007)
• More about Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda (Apologetics Index)

Full story: More trouble for fiery ‘Antichrist’ preacher

Fiery preacher a divorce court no-show

The Antichrist is on the lam.

Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda, the Doral-based church leader who first claimed to be Christ, then the Antichrist, disappeared after he was declared in contempt of court for failure to pay alimony to his soon-to-be ex-wife. Their divorce trial went ahead without him this week, with wife Josefina de Jesus Torres alleging abuse, abandonment and infidelity.

She's seeking half of both the Growing in Grace church assets and his personal property, which her attorneys argue are the same because they claim de Jesus controls the church's finances.

Torres' number: $2.2 million.

Miami civil court Judge Roberto Pineiro, who is presiding over the case, had ordered de Jesus to pay up or surrender to authorities by Aug. 6 after he failed to pay five months of alimony -- more than $72,000 -- to Torres.

De Jesus' attorney, Gregory Betancourt, told The Miami Herald that Torres' accusations of mistreatment are part of a gold-digging legal strategy.

De Jesus ''categorically denies all those claims,'' Betancourt said, adding that he has not spoken to his client for more than two weeks. ''She just wants to obtain as much money as she possibly can,'' Betancourt said.

The three-day divorce trial ended on Friday, and Pineiro asked both lawyers to submit settlement proposals within three weeks, after which he will rule.

The Growing in Grace empire, which has spread to 300 churches in more than 30 countries, attained international notoriety in the past two years after de Jesus declared himself to be Jesus Christ. De Jesus, 62, later claimed the title of Antichrist because, he argued, as he is the Second Coming, his teachings supersede those of Jesus. He and other followers got ''666'' tattoos to illustrate their devotion.

Testimony in his divorce case ranged from the spiritual -- with one church leader explaining why he now considers de Jesus to be God -- to the sordid, with Torres claiming that during their marriage de Jesus cast her off for another woman in Houston -- a woman his inner circle now calls his ``wife.''

Torres, 45, also claimed he pushed her against a fence on one occasion and emotionally abused her by threatening to send ''angels of destruction'' to her and her children.

''He didn't hit me, but in my mind he destroyed me,'' she said. ``In that moment, I believed he was chosen by God with power over angels.''
[...]

Betancourt and church board members say that the church's wealth is far less than Torres' legal team claims and that as a nonprofit religious institution, it should not be considered his property. They also say donations have dropped since the start of the divorce proceedings -- along with its revelations about de Jesus' financial situation, including the annual $144,000 alimony he is paying to his first wife and the $15,000 monthly alimony he has been ordered to pay Torres.

De Jesus' daughter, JoAnn de Jesus, the ministry's finance manager, testified that because of the drop in donations, the church is two months behind on the rent at its Doral headquarters and she is hoping for ''a miracle'' that will allow them to stay. Several church members implied that Torres' statements criticizing de Jesus in the press played a role in the financial problems.

Betancourt highlighted de Jesus' other financial difficulties, including possible tax penalties de Jesus faces after the divorce court revelations about his finances, which include using charitable donations to pay alimony to his first wife and to purchase properties in his and his relatives' names.

De Jesus' tax attorney testified that, based on his interactions with an Internal Revenue Service investigator, he believes a fraud investigation is under way. A spokeswoman for the IRS said she could not confirm or deny the existence of an inquiry.
[...]

The interactions outside the courtroom also have grown increasingly nasty over the course of the divorce case. The Growing in Grace press team recently sent e-mails to reporters with links to video interviews with a woman who claims she was Torres' lesbian lover when Torres met de Jesus. The Colombian woman, Maria Teresa Charry, said Torres set out to entrap de Jesus and take his money, a sentiment echoed among his followers.

Segall said he hasn't seen the video but said it is another attempt by the church to discredit Torres.

''They're trying to pin the alleged fact that the church is not doing as well on her, when everyone knows that isn't true,'' he said.

Theologically, Creciendo en Gracia (Growing in Grace) is a cult of Christianity. This term is used of a group or organization whose central teachings and/or practices are claimed to be biblical, but which are in fact unbiblical.

See Also:
'Jesus Christ Man' faces flock -- and divorce (Photo gallery at the Miami Herald)

Full story: Antichrist misses court date, but divorce case goes on without him

Man who says he's Jesus brings his controversial message back to Houston

HOUSTON -- He claims to be the second coming of Christ, but his message is controversial.

Dr. Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda came to the Houston area Sunday, and once again, a crowd gathered, rapt on his every word.
[...]

Miranda runs a worldwide organization called Creciendo en Gracia (Growing in Grace) — an organization that he claims has millions of followers.

He preaches a message of freedom to indulge.

"His message tells us that we're perfect, that there's no sin, there's no devil," Gisela Villanueva said.

Miranda also says there's no hell.
[...]

But experts say Miranda's operation has signs of being a cult.

Miranda wants to establish a world government with himself as the leader.

He's also been criticized for accepting expensive gifts from followers like watches and cars, and living an extravagant lifestyle.

Theologically, Miranda's movement -- Creciendo en Gracia (Growing in Grace) -- is a cult of Christianity, due to the fact that it rejects essential doctrines of the Christian faith.

• Apologetics Index has various research resouces on Jose Luis de Jesus Mirada and Creciendo en Gracia

• Kevin Peters' report can be seen in this KHOU video.

Full story: Man who says he is Jesus brings his controversial message back to Houston

McALLEN — Miguel Valezquez pulled the gauze off his arm to reveal the fresh ink of a black 666 tattoo and smiled.

The leader of McAllen's Growing in Grace congregation joined seven of his followers Saturday afternoon at the Lucky 13 Tattoo Parlor. Each one left with 666 or some variation etched on an arm or leg.

Growing in Grace considers itself a Christian denomination, though it follows the teachings of a man who calls himself the Antichrist. They admit most people do not understand or accept their beliefs, which have also stirred international controversy.

Today at 10 a.m., Velazquez said a group of about 25 will meet to discuss their beliefs and pay tribute to God, Jesus Christ and a man from Puerto Rico they believe to be the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Puerto Rican-born Jose' Lui's de Jesus Miranda calls himself the Man Christ Jesus, and he leads the international Growing in Grace organization, based in Miami. He cites Biblical passages and claims to be the second coming of Jesus, according to information distributed by his followers.

And the group believes the new Jesus has come and replaced Jesus of Nazareth, which makes him the Antichrist. While mainstream Christian beliefs view the Antichrist as evil, Miranda's followers say that's a misinterpretation.

In March, a leader within the Roman Catholic Church warned people to beware the Antichrist, according to the Catholic News Service.

Traditional Christian views often consider 666 the mark of the beast or Satan.

Growing in Grace followers also cite Bible entries that mention 666, none of which call it evil. They say King Solomon, a figure from the Old Testament, collected taxes in the amount of 666. For this reason, the eight people at Saturday's tattooing wore T-shirts that read "666 prosperity."

As tattoo artist Lee Lopez burned 666 into Velazquez's arm, he learned about the man's religious beliefs.

"We don't believe in sin," Velazquez told him. "The Bible says Jesus destroyed sin in one day. That doesn't mean I have to go and do every crazy thing."

Velazquez continued to tell Lopez that Growing in Grace believes people receive earthly punishments for sins. For example, a murderer suffers punishment at the hands of the government. Lopez listened, but was more concerned with the numbers he was etching into the man's arm.

Velazquez said the McAllen congregation is small, but the church has many followers internationally. Miranda, the group's founder and leader, has claimed 2 million followers worldwide, saying his largest support comes from Miami and Colombia.

Still, controversy remains. In April, Guatemala refused him entrance to the country, and according to the Dallas Morning News, El Salvador and Honduras have done the same.

Full story: Mark of the follower: Antichrist followers get 666 tattoos

(CBS4) MIAMI The Doral based church leader who called himself Jesus Christ, only to later call himself the Antichrist and tattoo "666" on himself, is calling for a protest against the judge who handled his divorce case.

The protest is taking place outside the family courthouse in Downtown Miami, where followers of Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda are complaining against the way Judge Robert Pineiro talked to Miranda. They claim Pineiro mocked Miranda's beliefs.

"We are not going to allow any American judge to deny the right of an American citizen, especially not to God on earth," said supporter Axel Poessy."

Pastor Alvaro Albarracin, self-described as Entrepreneur of Entrepreneurs, said in a press release, "There is no question that Dr. Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda's rights have been violated. Judge Pineiro not only violated American principles of freedom and expression, but also has clearly reflected his bias and mockery during his proceedings in this case".

The religious group is all part of the Growing in Grace Ministry (Ministerio Internacional Creciendo en Gracia), the same congregation that had several of its members visit a South Beach tattoo shop and tattoo themselves with the numbers "666" at Miranda's urging.

Miranda's daughter claims that when Jesus Christ died on the cross, he killed the devil, so the number 666 is in reverence to Miranda.

Some religious experts say the group has the potential to become a religious cult, and Miranda's own brother has criticized him publicly in the past.

CBS4 News is currently trying to talk to Judge Pineiro to get his reaction to the matter.

Full story: Followers Of Antichrist Protest Against Judge

The next time Jesus Christ the man comes to Costa Rica he may face deportation, according to the Director de Migración y Extranjería - immigration service - Mario Zamora.

José Luis de Jesús Miranda, made his appearance this weekend in Costa Rica at the Complejo Picacho, en Paraíso de Cartago, before a crowd of his followers, made up mainly of foreigners.

Costa Rica is the only Central American country that has allowed entry to the controversial preacher. However, this may be his last.

Zamora said that Miranda entered the country as a tourist, however, in reality he was here taking part in activities different than tourism, violating his entry status.

Zamora added that the next time Miranda comes to Costa Rica on the same basis, he may face deportation.

Miranda is the founder and leader of Creciendo en Gracia (Growing In Grace International Ministry, Inc.) a ministry that teaches the doctrine of Grace and is based in Miami (Doral), Florida.

Miranda's followers believe that he is the reincarnation of God on Earth, Jesus, the apostle Paul, an angel and an archangel. He refers to himself as the Antichrist and exhibits a "666" tattoo on his forearm. He has also previously referred to himself as "Jesus Christ in the flesh".

Miranda "preaches to followers in some 35 nations, mostly in Latin America, and has 287 radio programs and a 24-hour Spanish-language TV network." Creciendo en Gracia has been described as a cult by cult expert Rick Ross, and others. [Recommended cult experts | Guidelines for selecting a cult expert/counselor - RNB]

Much of the controversy began to rise after Miranda made comments about the Roman Catholic Church. According to Miranda, the "Catholic Church is evil" and he has told his followers to burn pictures of the pope and protest outside of churches.

Also, Miranda claims "there is no sin." He has stated that murder and theft are only wrong because "society has made them wrong".

Miranda has been labeled as a "con man" due to his comments about children in his ministry. He claims the youth in his church are the "super raza" or "super race" because they have been brought up "pure with no stain of religion."

He also went on to say Miami was the center of his faith because "that is where Hispanics are." "Miami is the bridge for all nations," said Miranda, "That's where Hispanics are, and then eventually I'm going to find a lot of beautiful English-speaking people who will want to believe in me and I'm going to have millions of them."

Full story: Jesus Christ The Man May Face Deportation On His Next Visit to Costa Rica

A controversial religious figure who some call a dangerous cult leader while others call Lord spent two days in St. Catharines over the weekend to nurture his Canadian flock.

Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda, 61, addressed about 100 people jammed into the Merlot Room at Quality Hotel Parkway Convention Centre on Ontario Street Saturday afternoon.

The Niagara Memorial Militaires Drum Corps, who was hired and is not associated with the group, played jubilant marching band music while followers held 666 flags as part of De Jesus Miranda's grand entrance procession.

The self-proclaimed Anti-Christ's followers, who believe he is the second coming of Jesus Christ, sang his praises and danced with feverish joy.

"He is God on Earth, governing the nation," they sang in their native Spanish tongue.

De Jesus Miranda, a Puerto Rico native, has created a religious empire around the globe through his contentious religious teachings, which espouses there is no devil and no sin.

The ministry claims thousands of followers in 33 countries, mostly in Latin America.

A preacher who lives in Miami, De Jesus Miranda has been criticized for claiming divinity. Some religious experts have called him a dangerous cult leader.

"We want the whole world to know God is here," said De Jesus Miranda's media relations agent Debbie Betancourt, wearing a stylish trenchcoat emblazoned with 666 in gold thread.

"The second coming of Christ has occurred," said the Miami resident.

De Jesus Miranda has his own satellite television, which is broadcast in 16 countries.

His Growing in Grace church, which he founded in 1986, holds a congress every year in different locations in the Americas.

The two-day Garden City conference attracted people from throughout Canada and the U.S.

Last March, 19 local followers in St. Catharines had the number 666 tattooed to their skin to identify themselves as De Jesus Miranda's followers.

Full story: Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda visits Canadian followers