When asked to explain who he is, de Jesus responds: “Jesus Christ, man, the second manifestation, the Second Coming of Christ.” He acknowledges that “it bothers a lot of people” that he calls himself Jesus.

How does a former heroin addict whose identities have evolved from the Apostle Paul to the Son of God get people to believe in him and give him money?

Surrounded by a mob of news cameras, a group of smiling, well-dressed church members crowded into a South Beach storefront parlor on a recent muggy evening and got matching tattoos of their prophet’s symbol: 666.

Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda is not your typical minister. De Jesus, or “Daddy” as his thousands of followers call him, does not merely pray to God: He says he is God.

Cult leader who claims to be Jesus (and the Antichrist) demonstrates his control over his followers.

Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda claims to be Jesus Christ. He also claims to be the Antichrist.

Just last week, Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda 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.

He wears gold Rolexes and diamond-studded rings. He owns mansions, luxurious cars and, according to his daughter/accountant, received a salary (not counting gifts) of $136,000 in 2005. No, he isn’t a highly-paid working man. He’s simply Jesus Christ Man.

Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda calls himself God — as well as millions of followers, growing in numbers everyday, according to the self-proclaimed prophet’s website. That includes those in Massachusetts, where there are four churches across the state in his honor.

Is he a religious savior or a cult leader? A self-proclaimed messiah from Florida says it’s his job to save humanity. His church is called Creciendo en Gracia — or Growing in Grace Ministry — and there are four congregations here in Massachusetts. The church leader is Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda and when asked who he is, he replies I am Jesus Christ Man. . . the second coming of Christ.

Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda, leader of Creciendo en Gracia, says he is Jesus Christ

ANNOUNCER: And thousands eat it up.

• Followers Claim Doral Man is God On Earth

Followers of a Puerto Rican man who claims to be Jesus Christ sang his praises at a rally in downtown Miami

The apostle wears a bulletproof vest when he's preaching in Colombia, retains a battalion of 50 bodyguards across the United States and drives to his Doral church headquarters in an armored Seven Series BMW.

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