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Meet The Minister Who Says He Is Jesus Christ
#1
Prophecy News Watch Headlines - January 30
Kade Hawkins

Meet The Minister Who Says He Is Jesus Christ

At first glance, the congregation gathered in a warehouse in Doral, Fla., seems like a typical Hispanic evangelical group. There's the 10-piece band, the singing and swaying, the whooping and hollering. But look a little more closely. There's not a cross in sight. The lectern is emblazoned with a near replica of the U.S. presidential seal, except that it reads in Spanish, government of god on earth. Off to the side stand three burly guys in dark suits with Secret Service-style earpieces. When a door by the stage opens, the guards leap into action. They surround the man with slicked-back hair who emerges and escort him to his seat. When the crowd spots him, it goes wild. People chant, "Lord! Lord! Lord!" It quickly becomes clear that they're referring to him. "It's Jesus Christ himself!" a preacher onstage announces. "Let's welcome Jesus Christ Man!"

In the rapturous eyes of his flock, Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda is, in fact, the second coming of Christ. As the head of the Growing in Grace International Ministry, he presides over a sprawling organization that includes more than 300 congregations in two dozen countries, from Argentina to Australia. He counts more than 100,000 followers and claims to reach millions more through a 24-hour TV channel, a radio show and several Web sites. He is supported by the generosity of his devotees, who have launched some 450 businesses to pour cash into Growing in Grace's coffers. Though de Jesus' followers worship him, others denounce him as a charlatan. Everyone, however, agrees on one thing: his teachings are incendiary.

A native of Puerto Rico, de Jesus, 60, spent his youth drifting from the Roman Catholics to the Pentecostals to the Baptists. Then one night in 1973, he says, he awoke to a vision of two hulking men at his bedside who announced the arrival of the Lord, who, says de Jesus, "came to me and integrated with me." In the early years after founding Growing in Grace in Miami in 1986, de Jesus didn't claim to be Christ. Instead, he worked as a pastor spreading his doctrine: that under a new covenant with God, there is no sin and no Satan, and people are predestined to be saved. But as his following expanded, his claims did, too. In 1998, de Jesus avowed that he was the reincarnation of the Apostle Paul. Two years ago at Growing in Grace's world convention in Venezuela, he declared himself Christ. And just last week, he called himself the Antichrist and revealed a "666" tattooed on his forearm. His explanation: that, as the second coming of Christ, he rejects the continued worship of Jesus of Nazareth.

All members of Growing in Grace are expected to tithe—which, along with offerings, yielded $1.4 million for headquarters last year. One of the first orders of business at every service is the collection of money. Those who have pledged their businesses to de Jesus donate much more. Alvaro Albarracín, a savvy, successful businessman given the title Entrepreneur of Entrepreneurs by de Jesus, is an example. Over the course of Albarracín's 14 years in the church, he estimates that he's given roughly $2.5 million. Such funds help underwrite a lavish lifestyle for de Jesus, including diamond-encrusted gold rings and fancy cars. But most of the money goes to his broadcast operation.

Some observers call Growing in Grace a cult. De Jesus exerts total authority over the ministry. As a result, many have defected over the years, including Albarracín's mother, Regina, who initially turned her son on to the church. "They brainwash you," she says. Because of their disagreement, Regina and her son haven't spoken in years (she now attends an evangelical church). "This is my only family," Alvaro says of Growing in Grace. Such submission concerns Daniel Alvarez, a religious-studies instructor at Florida International University. "I hope de Jesus doesn't metamorphose into Jim Jones," he says, referring to the cult leader who led his followers to mass suicide in Guyana. "He has that kind of control over people."

Over the past year, de Jesus has encouraged his followers to protest the alleged lies of other churches. In response, supporters have picketed Catholic congregations and burned religious materials, including crucifixes. "Our purpose is to open up people's minds," says de Jesus' right-hand man, Carlos Cestero, who says that the group rejects violence. Jesus wouldn't have it any other way — the question is whether de Jesus feels the same.

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#2
Antichrist, Man on Earth
Summary: Has the real Antichrist been revealed? In a story by MSNBC on Jose Luis Miranda, the Antichrist is revealed. That is according to Jose’s own words. From Jesus Christ man on earth to the man of sin, how could it be? Is there such deception in the ranks of Christianity today? Is this man Jesus Christ, the Antichrist, or just another deceiver?

In a church setting that looks much like any other an audience is clapping and praising God. For all who see it, the scene could be any church in America. At the front is a worship team leading the service of praise. For any one who enters, you think it is the Lord himself. As the worship ends, a man introduces the person all are waiting for. In the midst of an entourage, is a man. His name is Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda.Jose Luis Miranda is called by many as “Jesus Christ man”. He is a Puerto Rican Minister and head of Growing in Grace International Ministry. This ministry has literally taken off the ground with around 300 churches affiliated with him. His ministry has a huge following and makes enough money to allow this man of the cloth to live in luxury.




“Two years ago at Growing in Grace’s world convention in Venezuela, he declared himself Christ. And just last week, he called himself the Antichrist and revealed a “666″ tattooed on his forearm. His explanation: that, as the second coming of Christ, he rejects the continued worship of Jesus of Nazareth”.




Jesus Christ, Messiah Yeshua, the true Son of God warned us of this time. He again and again warns us against the deception in the last days, deception of ‘false Christ’s’ and ‘false prophets’ who lead people away from the True Son of God.

Matthew 24:4 ¶And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

It is the American people and those who indulge this lifestyle of opulence that are now met with this deception. For many do not see the harm in such a man as Joes Luis protraying himself as some kind of savior. Over the ages many have done it. For those in America, however, the stakes are very high. Their own kids are at sake, the truth is at stake, and finally all those who are pushing this garbage are lost in blindness.

Matthew 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

It should not be surprising we are seeing such power of deception today. It is certainly true that we are in the Last days. We are also in the time of deception, a time of lawlessness, and a time ripe for the appearance of “the angel of darkness as a minister of light”. Paul says on this matter:

2 Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Further Paul also warned that the last days would see a delusion so powerful that many would be led away with it. Why? It is, Paul says, because they have not “received the love of the truth, therefore, God will send them a powerful delusion that they should believe a lie”. The context of what Paul says about this is:

2 Thessalonians 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

from wingswatchman.org
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#3
How do you share your faith using a man who claims to be Jesus?

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Followers of Self-Proclaimed Antichrist Don '666' Tatooes
Six months ago, Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda had claimed to be Jesus, after first having announced that he was the reincarnation of the Apostle Paul. He leads a global movement that boasts 287 radio programs and a 24-hour Spanish-language TV network that's available to two million homes.

"Would you know how to evaluate his claims and determine whether he's the founder of an outrageous cult or the next best thing in God's plan for humanity?" asks Jane Dratz, project coordinator of Dare 2 Share Ministries, a national youth organization.

"Look at what the guy is teaching and how it measures up against what the Bible has to say," she stated in a column.

De Jesus tells his followers that sin and the devil were destroyed when Jesus died on the cross and that God's chosen already have been saved. Therefore, his followers can indulge in all they want.

Dratz cited a recent interview where the preacher said murder and theft are crimes but not sins.

"Not quite in line with what the first century Jesus taught his disciples!" Dratz stated.

De Jesus, however, now calls himself the Antichrist. And his brother, Carlos, spoke out last week, calling the preacher a phony.

Backing the suspicions of critics, Carlos said he is a cult leader.

"He's not a Christian church or a Christian pastor," said Carlos de Jesus Miranda, according to South Florida's CBS4 News. “He doesn't adhere to any of the fundamentals of the Christian church."

Despite the critics, his followers say he has brought them happiness and spiritual fulfillment. Last month, they tattooed "666" on their bodies to brand their commitment to De Jesus who has the tattoo on his forearm. The "666," which Christians associate with Satan, is meant to mark their absolute faith in De Jesus.

De Jesus has become a wealthy man around his claim to divinity. His followers give him up to 40 percent of their salaries along with other gifts. But his brother Carlos says they are being brainwashed to give money to a slick salesman.

Carlos' comments were made in hopes that his brother's followers will realize his preaching is only making him rich, according to CBS4.

“I told him he knows he is not Christ and he knows he is not the Antichrist,” Carlos told the local news agency.

Self-proclaimed Christ or Antichrist, De Jesus provides a conversation starter for Christians to talk about their faith in the real Jesus Christ, said Dratz.

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