Are More Dangerous Religious Cults on the Horizon?

Recently, CBS4 News did a piece on a man named Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda. He proclaims himself to be the Son of God. The 60 year-old divorced father of four lives in South Florida with his second wife but he teaches throughout Central and South America, Cuba, and the U.S. A former heroin addict and convict, "Jesus" (as he calls himself) presides over a group which is called the "Growing Grace Ministery." They, like their leader, believe there is no heaven nor hell and that sin does not exist.

These teachings are popular with his congregation who choose to believe that only they are God's chosen people and that they will receive salvation no matter what they do here on earth. They even go so far as to say that all other religions are false and must be destroyed. To that end, they organize marches against other religions, burn and destroy religious icons and books, and even go out of their way to interfere with other religious gatherings.

This isn't the first, nor likely the last, person in history to annoit himself as divine. There have been many before him. Unfortunately, what these men left behind turned out to be anything but holy.

The Branch Davidians were originally attached to the church of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SAC). Like, many Christian groups, SAC believes that Jesus Christ will return to earth to gather his people and herald in His kingdom on earth. However, SAC has believed for years that the return of Christ is imminent. Some within SAC formed their own opinions on exactly "how" and "when" the return of Jesus might occur.

A man named Victor Houteff founded the original sect of what would eventually be referred to as the Branch Davidians. He was of the belief that Jesus would not return to earth until a small number of a particular group of Christians had been organized and purified for the return. He outlined these beliefs in a book that he authored in 1930 entitled The Shepherd's Rod.