Events|May 12, 2014 04:47 EDT
False Messiahs Claim to Be The Second Coming of Christ; Leaders Around the World 'Deceive Many' (VIDEO)
The Bible speaks in Mark 13:22 of "false Christ's" rising up to seduce the people. In this article we will take a brief look into the uprising of just a few leaders from around the world who are claiming to be Jesus and even dare to say they are better than he was.
False Messiahs are not a rare occurrence. From as early as the 18th century one can find information of people who claim they were the second coming of Christ. Now in the 21st century people claiming to be the second coming of "Jesus" are gaining a following like never before.
Like many of these new leaders exhibit, cults are often known as secluded groups of people who follow the extreme teachings of one leader. More times than not, certain groups have been regarded by many people as extreme or dangerous.
North Korean "Jesus"
Sun Myung Moon was a self-proclaimed "messiah," from Korea. Moon was the founder of the Unification Church and of its widely noted "Blessing" or mass wedding ceremony. Moon claimed he was sent from the East to be the messiah and finish Jesus' mission. Moon stated that he had a vision when he was 15, and Jesus Christ called upon him to carry out his unfinished work - his failure to marry.
Siberian "Jesus"
Deep in Siberia's Taiga forest is a man who looks like the popular image associated to Jesus. His name is Vissarion and he claims to be the voice of God and second coming of Christ. Vissarion is the head of "The Church of the last testament." His 5,000 followers know him as "the Teacher."
According to VICE they believe in living in perfect harmony, they believe in aliens, they think suicide is ok, and believe in the Earth's imminent demise.
Australia "Jesus"
Former Jehovah's Witness, Alan John Miller and his girlfriend, Mary Suzanne Luck, operate under the title "Divine Truth" and claim to be the second coming of the biblical figures Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. The couple tells their followers that they clearly remember the crucifixion in the first century. Miller reaches his congregation with new age teachings of the laws of attraction and appeals to their emotion.
"Just a little over 2000 years ago, we arrived on the Earth for the first time," Miller says on his website. He believes his teachings offer, "oneness with God."
Along with a growing number of disciples in 2009, followers pooled together $400,000 to purchase roughly one square mile of land, where they currently hold weekly meetings and plan to build an international visitors center. Australia's Cult Awareness and Information Centre are concerned that the couple is preying on the vulnerable to sustain themselves.
American "Jesus"
José Luis de Jesús Miranda was the leader of the Creciendo en Gracia sect, based in Miami, Florida. He claimed to be both the return of Jesus Christ and the Antichrist. He was known for making statements that opposed the precepts of the Roman Catholic Church but that followed his interpretation of the Bible. He was previously known as el Jesucristo Hombre, (which translates, roughly, to "the Man Jesus Christ") but shortly after his death his followers granted him the title of Melchizedek because, as stated by his official site, he "attained his new and final name which means king of justice and king of peace." His followers have tatted the mark 666 on their bodies per their leader's encouragement. Miranda told CNN the number represents him.
In the Bible the disciples ask Jesus about the end of the world. "...Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." Matthew 24:3-8
Are these groups of people part of a religious cult or should these men and their teachings be accepted as another sect of Christianity although they mock what the scripture clearly states?
