The 666 Preacher - Jose Luis "De Jesus" Miranda

José Luis de Jesús Miranda isn't the typical preacher. He claims to have at least 100,000 members world-wide in his congregation and every church meeting is held in a 500 seat auditorium, never with a bare seat in the house. But what makes this one so strange? Pastors usually don't travel in armored vehicles, preach on a stage flanked by undercover guards, spend $350,000 a year on security and have the number 666 tattooed on their bodies. But Miranda does. Why? Miranda an ex-heroin addict says he began to have revelations one night in 1976, when two angels appeared to him, heralded by trumpets. De Jesús says that at that moment, Jesus Christ merged with him. After that, he began to preach his version of the gospel and his version is indeed strange.

Miranda says that sin doesn't exist, he is one with God and also the Anti-Christ. Basically a 'do what feels good' philosophy. But it didn't start that way. At first Miranda believed himself the be an incarnation of Paul, but then came the conclusion he was one with God - therefore Jesus the Christ reborn. Miranda can't seem to decide who he is. Upset by his teachings others outside the congregation began to call him the Anti-Christ, this didn't bother Miranda one bit. In fact he acknowledged that he is indeed the Anti-Christ and commanded his followers to get the number tattooed on their arms, which all 500 loyal Houston Tx followers have done thus far. (See video bellow) Miranda also claims that all other religions must be destroyed and that he will one day rule the world via a New World Order.

Is he the next Jim Jones? Who knows for sure, but certainly he has a strong psychological hold on his followers. His show even boasted the highest December rating on the spanish tv station Univision. Much to critics' surprise the show generated the highest ratings of any TV show in the month of December, even surpassing the ratings of the live broadcast of the Latin Grammys in November by a substantial amount of viewers. Keep an eye on this one.

Links - Growing in Grace (English version), The Growing in Grace Cult (Cult Info), CNN.com "Pastor with 666 tattoo claims to be divine." & ABC.com "Jesus Might Be Alive and Well in Houston."

Video - CNN (Growing in Grace church members tattoo 666 on their bodies)

Video II - Interview on the Today Show