José Luis de Jesús Miranda was born on April 22, 1946, in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He grew up in poverty and later said he became addicted to heroin by the age of 14. During his youth, he served multiple prison sentences for petty theft, which he attributed to his living conditions at the time.
Miranda later joined a Baptist church, where he said he overcame his addiction through divine intervention. He became active in the congregation and eventually rose to the position of minister. This period marked a shift away from his earlier life and toward religious leadership.
In 1973, Miranda claimed to have experienced a spiritual vision in which two angels appeared to him. He said this event marked the moment when the spirit of Jesus of Nazareth became integrated with his own. After this experience, he began to depart from Baptist doctrine.
Miranda moved to Florida with his first wife Nydia and their five children, where he began sharing his developing theology through a small radio broadcast. In 1988, he formally founded Ministerio Creciendo en Gracia, or “Growing in Grace,” operating out of a warehouse in Hialeah.
Initially, Miranda taught from the four Gospels, but in 1998, he announced that he was the reincarnation of Paul the Apostle. Following this declaration, the ministry shifted its focus almost entirely to the Pauline Epistles and what Miranda described as the “Gospel of Grace.” He taught that Jesus’s death on the cross had eliminated sin, the Devil, and Hell. Based on this belief, Miranda argued that repentance and moral conduct were no longer necessary. He maintained that his followers were predestined for salvation and could not sin in the eyes of God.
As the movement expanded in the early 2000s, Miranda adopted increasingly elevated titles. In 2005, he declared himself “El Jesucristo Hombre” (Jesus Christ Man), describing himself as the living manifestation of Christ on earth. Under his leadership, the organization developed an extensive media presence, including hundreds of radio programs and a 24-hour satellite television network.
By 2008, the ministry claimed operations in more than 30 countries and a following numbering in the millions, though these figures were questioned by outside observers, who estimate the movement at its peak as having about 100,000 adherents. Around this time, the group adopted an emblem resembling the seal of the U.S. government and referred to itself as the “Government of God on Earth.”
In late 2006, Miranda began identifying himself as the Antichrist. He said the term represented a break from what he described as the Jewish teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and a transition to the grace he preached. Followers were encouraged to display their loyalty by tattooing the number “666,” which Miranda said symbolized wisdom rather than evil. Miranda got such a tattoo himself, and members of his flock as young as three years old were also tattooed.
During this same period, members of the group became known for public protests against mainstream Christianity. These actions included interrupting Catholic processions and publicly destroying religious items such as crosses, rosaries, and Bibles.
Internally, the movement emphasized devotion to Miranda, whom followers often referred to as “Daddy.” Members were encouraged to give substantial financial contributions. Miranda lived a highly visible lifestyle that included armored luxury vehicles and expensive watches, which he justified by comparing himself to Jesus receiving costly perfume from followers.
Financial operations were managed in part by his daughter Jo-Ann and supported by donors such as entrepreneur Alvaro Albarracin. Albarracin credited Miranda with his business success and contributed millions of dollars to the ministry.
In 2007, Miranda separated from his second wife, Josefina Torres. During their divorce proceedings, Torres alleged that Miranda had threatened her and had relationships with other women within the organization. Court records detailed extensive use of church funds, including a $46,000 casino gambling debt and the purchase of properties in Florida, Texas, and Colombia under Miranda’s name.
Despite these disclosures, a core group of followers continued to support him. One of Miranda’s most prominent teachings was a prediction of a “Transformation” set for June 30, 2012. He said that he and his followers would become immortal beings with glorified bodies capable of supernatural abilities. When the date passed without any physical transformation, the movement experienced internal strain.
Questions surrounding Miranda’s health emerged in 2013. In August, Torres claimed he had died of cirrhosis in Texas, though Miranda briefly appeared in a video denying the report. He died several months later, on November 15, 2013, at a hospital in Orlando. His death posed a challenge for followers who had been taught that he was immortal. After his passing, the ministry conferred upon him the posthumous title of Melchizedek, describing him as having reached a final state as the “King of Justice.”
Many followers left the movement following the failed transformation and Miranda’s death. Others formed splinter groups that continued to observe April 22, Miranda’s birthday, as a religious holiday and as his church’s Christmas. These groups have maintained his teachings through online platforms.
Key Sources:
Alter, A. (2006, July 22). Divine or dangerous, he’s got disciples. The Miami Herald.
Blake, M. (2006, February 9). Jesus Redux. Miami New Times.
Martinez, J. (2013, August 19). Ex-Wife of man claiming to be “Immortal Jesus Christ” confirms his death. The Christian Post.
Van Biema, D. (2007, May 9). A Different Jesus to Believe In? Time.
Varela, I. (2006, September 12). The Man Who Claims To Be Jesus. CBS Miami.
Zarrella, J. (2007, February 16). Pastor with 666 tattoo claims to be divine. CNN.com.
Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religious Movements 