According to them, the end of the world is approaching, on the 30th of June to be precise and the obscure Christian sect is erecting billboards across the United States to let everyone know.
Growing in Grace International have stepped up their global campaign to announce the 'transformation' at the end of June, a day of final reckoning which will wipe out most of humanity, except their followers.
Adding their voices to the already noisy 2012 apocalypse brigade, Growing in Grace International are led by the charismatic Jose de Luis de Jesus, who openly calls himself the antichrist and makes his followers tattoo 666 onto their bodies.
Preparing for the end of the world: Growing in Grace
International have begun to put up billboards heralding the end of the world on
June 30 this year
The Puerto Rican national states that calling himself the antichrist is appropriate because it is wrong to worship the 'Jewish teachings' of Jesus, but rather to study the teachings of the Apostle Paul, who de Jesus claims to be in direct contact with.
Antichrist according to de Jesus means 'no longer following Jesus of Nazareth as he lived in the days of his flesh.'
Spreading the word about June 30th has seen the Miami based-group invest in billboards featuring a smiling de Jesus and his 666 symbols prominently displayed imploring people to phone up his group and repent.
Inspired by the teachings of Jose Luis de Jesus the group
is looking forward to the 'transformation' which will see his followers endowed
with superpowers
'That day, the body of Jose de Luis de Jesus, who is a human like you and me, his flesh is going to be immortal,' said Alex Poessy, the bishop of Growing in Grace International in Canada.
'He's going to be living forever.
'And that will happen to him, but also his followers.'
'All those that are not believers are going to be destroyed.'
With followers in 35 different nations, 287 radio stations and a 24-hour Spanish language television network, Growing in Grace International is not the first group to pick a date this year as the end of the world,
Growing in Grace International followers have 666 tattooed
onto their bodies as a mark of the antichrist
The famous Mayan 'Long March' calendar ends on December 21st 2012.
In addition to surviving the 'transformation', de Jesus promises his followers that following that apocalyptic event they will be given superpowers.
'We can run and not get tired,' said Axel Cooley who is the daughter of bishop Poessy.
'Go through fire and not get burned.
'I could be talking to you right now and then I could go through that wall.
'So, you'll know there is a difference.'
Antichrist: Jose Luis de Jesus calls himself the
antichrist because he believes he is the true incarnation of the Messiah as
opposed to the one written about in scriptures
Basing their beliefs on passages from the Bible, Growing in Grace International followers are excited about the end of the world as far as we all know it.
'The world's not going to end,' said Cooley.
'What is going to end is the system.
'All the governments and the currencies will fall.
'The new government of the 666 will take over.'
Projecting the image of de Jesus with messages such as '666, number of wisdom' or 'Countdown to the transformation June 30, 2012', billboards are up in the United states, Brazil and eight other countries.
Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico in 1946, de Jesus insists on all his followers calling him 'dad' and has stated that his conversion occurred in 1973 while living in Massachusetts.
The former petty-thief witnessed two angels coming down to him, 'The body of Christ manifested in Jose de Luis de Jesus, and all of sudden, that's when he knew,' said Cooley of the transformation.
With the billboards being erected in ten different
countries including the United States and Brazil, Growing in Grace International
is being very vocal in its apocalypse prediction
Founding Growing in Grace in 1986, its success has attracted some criticism, with some claiming that the group is little more than a cult.
'They're stupid people who believe in stupidities,' said Regina Albarracin who lives in Pembroke Pines in Florida who says she has lost a son, Alvaro to the group.
There have also been queries raised about the correct use of funds at Growing in Grace International, with some money reportedly being syphoned off to a Colombian bank account in the name of de Jesus.
However, members are quick to deflect any criticism of the group.
'All our lives have been enriched with this, If we were a cult then I guess we're a pretty awesome cult,' said Ana Guevara, who is a Canadian member.
Attending meetings called 'tracings', followers watch a sermon style broadcast from de Jesus before singing 'We're the ones who will live eternally,' in Spanish.
When the world ends on June 30 this year Jose Luis de
Jesus will assume control of the planets government when everyone but his
followers has perished
Retreating from public view on April 22 of this year to prepare for the 'transformation', de Jesus is readying for his groups eventual takeover of the world.
'A government where we will govern everything with a perfect order,' described de Jesus in his goodbye address.
'This is my last farewell for you. The time is finished.
'We will see each other soon in Armageddon.'
Religious and sociological experts have expressed concern about this latest prediction of armageddon.
Transformation: Growing in Grace International are just
one of many groups claiming that 2012 is the year of the apocalypse
University of Waterloo sociologist Dr Lorne Dawson explained that a deadline is a sign that the 'movement is starting to run into trouble'.
'It's a strong indicator that their authority is slipping, they're losing followers, not acquiring followers at a level that they used to.
'And nothing galvanises a group and galvanises attention like a new mention of an apocalypse.'
The June 30 prediction is very similar to that of Californian preacher and broadcaster Harold Camping who infamously declared the apocalypse would occur on May 21, 2011.
It didn't and in the embarrassment that followed he retired from the public eye.
However, in the run up to the last day of June, Growing in Grace International members are totally sure that we have entered the last days on this earth.
'We are sure that it's going to happen,' said Poessy.
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Wonder if some of this people use "juju" to acquire this number of followers. I'm sure the man is ready to retire & go somewhere quite 2 chop his money. By d time d followers realize they've been scammed, it'll be too late. Just wondering what d govt is doing about it before it becomes another case of mass suicide.
ReplyDeleteThis has been predicted in the bible long ago. The words of Jesus is been fulfilled.There had been many more like him, where are they now? He is no exceptional. He will lick the dust and come to realize that God is the creator of the heavens and the earth and that no man must share his glory. He will soon know like Nebuchadnezzar that Jehovah is God and that he rules in the affairs of men.
ReplyDeleteAs a Christian, you need not borther about the date and time of End Of The World. All you need do is to be prepared at all time.It could be today, it could be next year and it could be a million years to come, but since we neither know the date nor hour when it will happen, Just be prepared and ignore the Anti-Christ. There are worse Anti-Christ in Nigeria in the name of BOKO-HARAM. God pass them.
ReplyDeleteGOD is biger than them 4 sure. they are just talking nonsense of things that they don't know.Is only those who don't know our Heavenly Father will believe them.As 4 me nobody know the hour, day, month or year, all we need to do is to prepare and be ready at all time.
ReplyDeleteThis man is a DEVIL incarnate,a breed from the kingdom of HELL.Their mission is to decieve as many people as possible to HELL.So,people hold unto JESUS the WAY and the TRUTH and don't allow any devil to make u go astray.
ReplyDeleteMAtt. 24:36- But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
ReplyDeleteOnly God knows when the world comes to an end. Not anyone born of a woman,not Jesus the son of God, not even angels in heaven knows the hour. Let no one be deceived, believe God, and depart from evil.
ReplyDeleteMay the Almighty God deliever from the hands of EVIL ones who call themselves ANTICHRIST or BOKO HARAM....AMEN. They are ALL losers and DECIEVERS of all kind But they fail to know that JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH is the KING OF KINGS,ALPHA & OMEGA,LORD OF LORDS,MATSER OF UNIVERSE AND HE HAS THE FINAL SAY.
ReplyDeleteBut of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 1 Thes. 5: 1 - 3.
ReplyDeleteBut as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Matt. 24:37-39
THIS MAY BE A HOARSE BUT HOW PREPARED ARE WE FOR THE LORD'S COMING?
Christians, can you now see that the Bible is true? It has been written that the anti- christ will come up with this sign. Why can't we move closer to God the more? Those carrying fake date of rapture should stop making noise. Our Bible has clearly told us that no one knows either the day or the time. But we just get prepared all the time.
ReplyDeleteOH SHUT UP PEOPLE, HIS BELIEFS ARE NO MORE MADE UP THAN YOURS. HE IS IN A MODERN DAY CULT JUST LIKE CHRISTIANITY WAS CONSIDERED A CULT IN THE PAST AND STILL BY SOME TODAY. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A RELIGION AND A CULT IS: RELIGION IS WIDELY ACCEPTED. NO ONE KNOWS THE PURPOSE OF LIFE AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT OR WHO GOD IS. YOU GUYS ARE ALL FREAKING SHEEPS.
ReplyDeletePagan speaking.
DeleteChristians dt know their God should hold fast to d faith. This is d endtime.God will keep us till Jesus second coming . The bible is true. Only God knows d time of rapture.
ReplyDeleteChristians, DON'T be deceived; be at PEACE with God and keep the faith. NOBODY knows the day; it might be today, it might be tomorrow. Be prepared at ALL times and seek constantly for God's grace. It is well; keep the faith.
ReplyDeleteGod hv mercy on you bcos you dont know what you are doing.
ReplyDeleteWonders shall never end--- i foresee a case of mass murder by the agent of the devil looming on the deceived followers--
ReplyDelete@ no. 7 anonymous, should i call u a cow/goat/sheep or are they all in the same category? well, guess these few are even better than you are. Brethrens, pls let us not deviate from the part of JESUS who is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE
ReplyDeleteJesus is the only way the truth and the life, so, for a man to wake up in a morning and decided to call himself the anti-Christ i believe he needs a deliverance, please pray for his deliverance.
ReplyDelete