Preacher Gets '666' Tattoo, Calls Self Antichrist

from cbs

(CBS) DORAL, Fla. More than 12 members of a Doral, Fla.-based church showed up at a tattoo parlor to get the number 666 tattooed on themselves as a show of faith to preacher Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda who is now sporting a '666' tattoo of his own.

"I am Jesus Christ, man," Miranda said in front of Miami CBS station WFOR-TV's news cameras. �The Second Coming of Christ."

In September 2006, the founder of the Growing in Grace Ministry was billing himself as the Second Coming of Christ. However, Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda is now claiming that he's the Antichrist.

At a recent gathering at the church's headquarters Miranda rolled up his sleeves and showed off the mark of the Antichrist. He had tattoos of three S's on one arm and the number 666 -- which is considered by many to be the Devil�s number -- on the other.

WFOR-TV asked his daughter and follower, Joann de Jesus, if it was the sign of the Devil, she said, 'no.'

"Jesus of Nazareth, when he died on the cross he killed the Devil," she said while getting her '666' tattoo done.

But Miranda, who preaches that the Devil and sin do not exist, isn't necessarily declaring himself the Devil.

Daniel Alvarez, professor of religion at Florida International University, thinks Miranda may be playing on the ambiguity of the term "Antichrist," which can mean "taking the place of Christ." In other words, because Miranda claims to be the Second Coming of Christ, he rejects the continued worship of the old Christ: Jesus of Nazareth.

WFOR-TV captured the preacher declaring the following on-camera during an applause-filled worship service: "Anyone who doesn�t believe in me will be miserable."

Critics say this is yet another publicity ploy by the flamboyant preacher known to sport Rolex watches and drive fancy cars paid for by generous donations from followers around the world. At least one former member feels the number 666 fits Miranda to a "T."

"He's the Devil,� former church member Regina Albarracin said.

She knows Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda says the Devil doesn't exist, but �it�s him,� she said.

Thousands of church members worldwide are expected to get similar '666' tattoos.

Lolol. I thought it said "Teacher" in the title, but after relizing it's preacher and reading it, it's just funnny.

and all this time I thought anti-christ was the term for evrything that christ isn't, whatever that is

oh well there's always one in every crowd

I think these guys are a little late. aleister crowley said he was the antichrist in the 1920's and some people claim nero the last roman emporer was the antichrist.