The Branch Davidian cult is a controversial offshoot of the Seventh Day Adventist Church based in Waco, Texas. They originated in 1955 from a schism in Shepherd's Rod (Davidians) following the death of the Shepherd's Rod founder Victor Houteff.
Both the Shepherd's Rod and Branch Davidians believed themselves to be living in a time when Biblical prophecies of a final divine judgment were coming to pass as a prelude to Christ's Second Coming.
In the late 1980s, David Koresh, and his followers abandoned many Branch Davidian teachings. Koresh became the group's self-proclaimed final prophet.
The Branch Davidians were headquartered at Mount Carmel Center ranch in the community of Axtell, Texas, 13 miles (21 kms) east-northeast of Waco. On February 27, 1993, the Waco Tribune-Herald began publishing "The Sinful Messiah", a series of articles, which reported allegations that David Koresh had physically abused children in the compound and had committed statutory rape by taking multiple underage brides.
When the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) laid siege to their headquarters the following day, they were fired on by cult members and four militiamen were killed.
Upon the ATF's failure to raid the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, a siege was initiated by the FBI, during which they used sleep deprivation to try to force the suspects out. This included around the clock broadcasts of jet planes, screams from rabbits being slaughtered and repeated blasts of the song "These Boots Were Made for Walking".
On the 51st day of the siege on April 19, 1993 as FBI agents mounted a final assault, the compound broke out in flames, killing 86 people inside. It was claimed that David Koresh had the compound booby-trapped so that it would go up in a fireball.
A modern incarnation of the Branch Davidians exists under the leadership of Charles Pace, a follower of Ben and Lois Roden, who was a member of the Branch Davidians since the mid-1970s. Like the Branch Davidians under Koresh, this incarnation is waiting for the end times.
Both the Shepherd's Rod and Branch Davidians believed themselves to be living in a time when Biblical prophecies of a final divine judgment were coming to pass as a prelude to Christ's Second Coming.
In the late 1980s, David Koresh, and his followers abandoned many Branch Davidian teachings. Koresh became the group's self-proclaimed final prophet.
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| David Koresh in a 1987 mug shot |
The Branch Davidians were headquartered at Mount Carmel Center ranch in the community of Axtell, Texas, 13 miles (21 kms) east-northeast of Waco. On February 27, 1993, the Waco Tribune-Herald began publishing "The Sinful Messiah", a series of articles, which reported allegations that David Koresh had physically abused children in the compound and had committed statutory rape by taking multiple underage brides.
When the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) laid siege to their headquarters the following day, they were fired on by cult members and four militiamen were killed.
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| The Branch Davidian compound during the siege |
Upon the ATF's failure to raid the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, a siege was initiated by the FBI, during which they used sleep deprivation to try to force the suspects out. This included around the clock broadcasts of jet planes, screams from rabbits being slaughtered and repeated blasts of the song "These Boots Were Made for Walking".
A modern incarnation of the Branch Davidians exists under the leadership of Charles Pace, a follower of Ben and Lois Roden, who was a member of the Branch Davidians since the mid-1970s. Like the Branch Davidians under Koresh, this incarnation is waiting for the end times.
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