The meme that resulted in ­Israel Folau’s sacking was ­designed by a radical American street preacher who was once arrested for carrying the same sign, and who paraded it at an AC/DC concert warning fans they were going to hell.

Pastor David Stokes, who regularly confronts concertgoers, gay pride parade marchers and student rallies in Texas, told fans of the Australian rock band outside Houston’s Toyota Centre three years ago: “If you love AC/DC, you hate Jesus.”

One of Stokes’ colleagues stood beside him carrying a poster with the same design and words that Folau posted to Instagram on April 10: “WARNING: Drunks, Homosexuals, Abortionist, Adulterers, Liars, Fornicators, Thieves, Atheists, Witches, Idolators, HELL AWAITS YOU”.

Folau’s Instagram meme is exactly the same aside from the removal of “Witches” and “Abortionist’’.

COURT ACTION: ISRAEL FOLAU TAKES ON RUGBY AUSTRALIA

media_camera An American street preacher carrying the same sign at the centre of the Israel Folau sacking.

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The artwork first emerged in 2011 when Stokes wore a T-shirt with the design emblazoned on the back while protesting against openly gay Houston mayor Annise Parker at an anti-abortion rally.

Stokes put the design on huge signs and has paraded it through the streets of Houston since, while warning perceived sinners that if they do not turn to Jesus they will burn in hell.

media_camera Copycat: Israel Folau’s post minus the “witches’ reference. media_camera Israel Folau has sued Rugby Australia for $10 million.

In December 2011 Stokes and a fellow street preacher, Dave Allen, were arrested and charged by Houston police for carrying the signs after people complained.

Police charged them with having signs that were thicker than allowed by the law but the case was thrown out of the Houston Municipal Court due to insufficient evidence, and both men vowed to return to preaching immediately.

Stokes has regularly been spotted with the sign on street corners and public events alongside his “Bulldog Ministries” worshippers, and on February 26, 2016 he took aim at music fans lining up to see AC/DC during their Rock Or Bust tour.

“You can’t be a Christian and love AC/DC,” Stokes tells the crowd.

“You can’t live wrong and die right.

“Don’t look at me like I’m crazy … Jesus ain’t playing, the king of kings ain’t playing.

“If you’re fornicating, if you’re partying, if you’re going to the AC/DC concert, you’re hell-bound right now.

“I know what you’re thinking, ‘Hey don’t judge me’. Let me tell you something, we’re with the education department, we’re out here to inform you, to teach you, and to explain to you the truth of the gospel, for without repentance, you will never see the kingdom of God.”

Stokes did not respond to requests for comment by The Sunday Telegraph.

media_camera Devil music? A street preacher claims “you can’t be a Christian and love AC/DC”.

Stokes believes in the same fundamental strand of Christian theology as that adopted by Folau’s Truth Of Jesus Christ Church in Kenthurst, which is that Jesus and God are one and the same and therefore the Holy Trinity adopted by Catholics is false.

Stokes’ website echoes the same sentiments as Folau’s church that Catholics and Mormons are not truly saved and will end up in hell alongside other sinners unless they are baptised in a pool in the name of Jesus Christ and born-again.