With approximately 2.1 billion followers, Christianity is one of the largest religions on the planet. At the heart of the belief system is Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the son of God.
While Jesus plays a crucial role within Christianity, having died for the sins of mankind, before resurrecting and ascending to heaven, it seems Jesus of Nazareth is not the only one who says he is the son of God.
In recent years, there have been several people who have claimed they are the promised messiah. Here are four modern-day self-proclaimed holy men who have strangely enough accumulated quite a following.
Moses Hlongwane
Hailing from Eshowe, Moses claims God identified him as the Messiah during a dream in 1992, at which time he was working as a jewellery salesman.
Claiming he is immortal and with a following of approximately 40 disciples, Moses has preached in Eshowe, Johannesburg and other cities. While many view him with disdain, especially with several of his followers being pensioners who have signed over their benefits to him, Moses is adamant he is who he claims to be and is even known as The King of Kings, the Lord of Lords and Jesus among his disciples.
Vissarion
Also known as the Christ of Siberia, Vissarion claims he had a revelation in August 1990 that he is the reincarnation of Jesus.
He is the founder of the Church of the Last Testament and has at least a staggering 5,000 followers; many of them live with him in several utopian eco-villages in the Siberian woods.
Such is his followers’ belief in him, that they built their own schools, churches, and society. Vissarion’s proclamations have been published in 16 tomes titled The Last Testament.
Jesus of Kitwe
Bupete Chibwe Chishimba claims he had a revelation that he was Jesus when he was 24 years old.
This Zambian messiah goes by several names, which includes Jesus of Kitwe, Parent Rock of the World, Mr Faithful and Mr Word of God. However, his followers merely refer to him as Jesus.
Living with his wife and five children, Jesus of Kitwe spends his days driving a cab and spreading the gospel, while preparing the world for the Kingdom of God.
Inri Cristo
Álvaro Thais is better known by his nickname Inri Cristo, who is a Brazilian self-proclaimed religious leader claiming to be the reincarnation of Jesus.
In 1979, obeying the same powerful voice which he claims to have heard since childhood, he underwent a fast in Santiago, Chile. It is here that he claims a rasping voice said, “I am your father”, and revealed itself to be the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
He claims this voice explained to him, that he was the same Christ who was crucified 2000 years ago.
Not stopping there, the voice apparently told Álvaro the second letter of his name (the “u” in “Iuri”) would henceforth be upside down, making his name “Inri”, the acronym for Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum (Jesus King of the Jews)
In an attempt to bring about the dawn of New Age of peace, Inri launched a pilgrimage over many countries, dressed in a white tunic and sandals. Wandering through 27 countries, he was expelled from the United States, Venezuela and England.
He has also established a new mystical order, SOUST (Suprema Ordem Universal da Santissima Trindade), which he calls “the formalisation of the promised Kingdom of God on Earth.”
With these four men holding a certain amount of sway over their followers, one needs to wonder if there are any more so-called messiahs preparing to come out of the woodwork.
