By STAFF REPORTER

Published: 17 February 2010

WHEN Rob Millist stared into a fire he got an Almighty shock — the face of Jesus glaring back at him.

The Holy visage made an appearance on a burning log and the stunned 29-year-old couldn't resist taking a snap to capture the moment.

There was no mistaking the Christ-like features that formed on the wood — including a nose, eyes and a beard.

The face remained glowing within the flames for 20 minutes before disintegrating into ash in the open hearth fire.

Phenomenal

Rob, a freelance video editor, was out in the kitchen cooking when he went into the living room to look at the fire and spotted the image.

He immediately pointed out Christ's image to his partner's mum, Judith Bailey, 56, a buyer for a lingerie company, at her home in Hatfield, Herts.

Rob, who was brought up a Catholic and a Spiritualist, said: "It was phenomenal. I came in from the kitchen and there the face was. It was crazy.

"I had one of those moments where everything goes surreal and I just shouted to Judith to get over here.

"She was as shocked as I was. It was like a parallel universe had opened up right there in the living room.

"I would like to believe it was the face of Jesus, but it could be an incredible coincidence.

"I do believe in miracles, but I'm undecided as to whether this was one - I'm on the fence."

As they studied the face, neighbour Patrick Rodgers, 51, popped round and was dragged over to the fire to see the face.

He said: "It took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to what I was looking at, but it's totally clear.

"It's only ash around the log, but it's absolutely formed that classic iconic image."

Rob added: "I know because I'm a video editor people will say I have tinkered with the pictures, but trust me, they're totally genuine."

ABC News reports that high-powered rifle sights provided to the US Army and Marines by Michigan weapons maker Trijicon include coded references to Bible passages about Jesus Christ:

The sights are used by U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and in the training of Iraqi and Afghan soldiers. The maker of the sights, Trijicon, has a $660 million multi-year contract to provide up to 800,000 sights to the Marine Corps, and additional contracts to provide sights to the U.S. Army.

U.S. military rules specifically prohibit the proselytizing of any religion in Iraq or Afghanistan and were drawn up in order to prevent criticism that the U.S. was embarked on a religious "Crusade" in its war against al Qaeda and Iraqi insurgents.

One of the citations on the gun sights, 2COR4:6, is an apparent reference to Second Corinthians 4:6 of the New Testament, which reads: "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

U.S. Military Weapons Inscribed With Secret 'Jesus' Bible Codes (ABC News)
Trijicon (corporate website)

Eerie ... 'Jesus' face in Ikea door

HEAVENS above! The 'face of Jesus' peers eerily out of this door at Swedish furniture giants Ikea.

Shoppers have been left stunned by the spooky Turin Shroud-like image at the entrance to a loo.

The long flowing hair and beard of Jesus can clearly be seen in the grain of the wood on the door of the gents' toilets in Ikea's Braehead outlet, near Glasgow.

Mystery ... Turin Shroud

Last night one shopper said: "It takes you by surprise. It is really clear in the wood.

"I was only heading to the toilet and found God.

"My wife thought he looked like Gandalf from Lord of the Rings but it is definitely more like the Turin Shroud.

"It's certainly not what you expect to find in an Ikea store. Mind you, you need a little divine intervention to get out of here sometimes."

But Ikea bosses reckon it looks more like the founder of Sweden's most famous pop group ABBA - Benny Andersson.

A spokeswoman said: "Swedishness is engrained in every part of our stores."

The famous Turin Shroud - which bears the image of a crucified man some believe is Christ - was handed to the late Pope John Paul II in 1983.

Earlier this month, an Italian scientist said it could be "a medieval fake".