David Koresh and the Branch Davidians Cult
History Revealed
About the Branch Davidians Seventh Day Adventists
The Branch Davidians Seventh Day Adventists is a Protestant sect that originated in 1955 as a result of separation from the Davidian Seventh Day Adventists. The split developed after there was a controversy over who had the qualifications to lead the reform group after the death of the church’s president. The reform movement believed themselves to be living in a time when Bible prophecies of the final days before the second coming of Christ.
The group Branch Davidians, also known through the media as the Branch Davidian Cult, made headlines in 1993. Their property near Waco, Texas was raided by the ATF and the FBI, resulting in the deaths of 82 members. The person heading this reformed group was David Koresh. Under the leadership of their now-deceased leader, the group became a destructive, doomsday cult.
David Koresh
The FBI viewed David Koresh as a deranged individual. Koresh believed himself to be Jesus Christ, and he had a huge arsenal of illegal weapons. They had information that led them to believe he was sexually and physically abusing the children in the compound. He may be involved in producing illegal drugs.
Tragedy at Waco, Texas
A major tragedy happened in Waco, Texas in the spring of 1993. On February 23, 1993, ATF agents decided to arrest David Koresh on firearms violations and attempted to serve him a search warrant. What resulted on that day was an exchange of gunfire. It ultimately left six Davidians, four ATF agents dead and many others wounded. At that point ATF agents withdrew, FBI agents took over, and the 51-day siege began. Then on April 19, 1993, after consulting with several groups experienced in dealing with doomsday cults, the Bureau decided it was safe to attack the compound with tear gas.
At the same time, a group of fires was started at different locations in the compound, forming a large, disastrous fire. 8 followers were able to escape, many were injured. David Koresh and about 75 of his followers died of stab wounds, gunshots, and smoke inhalation, including 21 children. 5 followers were convicted of voluntary manslaughter and firearms violations.
Controversy Remains
To this day, there is continuing controversy over who is responsible for the deaths. Many agree the blame should be divided among the church, its leader, the FBI, and ATF agents, and the Baylor College of Medicine for using intensive and improper interrogation techniques on Branch Davidian children, and Attorney General Janet Reno. All of the sect members who served jail time have since been released and fragments of the original group still survive.
It is said that perhaps the ultimate message of the Waco tragedy is that seeking religious certainty and security while elimination religious doubt and skepticism from one’s life can have dangerous consequences.
Top image: Vernon Wayne Howell (AKA: David Koresh).
By Madeleine Noa
Madeleine Noa is a freelance writer from Honolulu, Hawaii who has published articles on a wide range of topics including spas, real estate development in Hawaii, entertainment, luxury yachts, and history. She is also a copywriter and creates sales collateral for small businesses and corporations.She has been an associate writer for "IN" Magazine and "Second City" Magazine, having been published 13 times between the two publications.
Since the author did not interview one member who actually lived through its she is just parroting the FBI account. They are an extremely trustworthy organization and I am so glad to read an accounting based upon the typical government version. These are the same officals who provided a fairy tale account of 9/11, Kennedy's shooting, the Vietnam War and every other war our deluded government decides to engage in to sacrifrice young healthy men.
I prefer the other/ real version,they set up a community to escape the tyrannical government,there is no proof of sexual exploitation, and illegal guns? The fbi murdered those people,they deliberately incinerated the compound,and blew the roof of a bunker inside killing the children in it. Tyrannical government in action,and what happened at randy weavers place was just as bad