Branch Davidians

History

The Branch Davidians were a 1942 sect that broke away from the Seventh Day Adventist church. They believed that Jesus would return to the earth. Founded by Victor Houteff, who joined the Seventh Day Adventists in 1919. In 1935, near Waco Texas, he founded the Mt. Carmel Center. The group was called 'The Shepherd’s Rod'. In 1942, they fully broke away from the Seventh Day Adventist church.

Houteff died in 1955. His wife Florence took over and made a prophecy that the world will end on April 22^nd 1959 ; people prepared for this, and sold all of their things. The end of the world never happened.

In 1981 Vernon Howell joined the group. Eventually Vernon and his followers took over control , and then separated and called themselves "The Seven Seals".

Beliefs

When Christ died on the cross for people’s salvation, it only applied to the people who died before 32 CE.

After 32 CE, people could be saved only by participating and following a prophet of the Branch Davidians.

The “lamb” in Revelation 5:2 isn't Jesus, but David Koresh (Koresh thought he was Jesus).

The lamb opens up 7 seals which create a chain of events that ends the world.

After the seals broke, Jesus would come back to earth.

There would be a battle – the Branch Davidians would participate in this battle.

Only Branch Davidian members would go to heaven.

Events and Practices of the Church

The life of the Branch Davidians members at Waco was very disciplined (ate together, woke up early, grew their own food, and dedicated a lot of time to studying the Bible. Certain members earned money for the community by working outside the community.

There was a magazine that the Davidians published called "Shekineth Magazine".

The ATF heard that the Davidians were storing weapons and abusing children (reference).

1993 is when the Waco standoff occured. It was between the BATF, FBI and Branch Davidians. It lasted 51 days when the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms tried to search warrant the Davidians' compound.

The Davidians were armed with heavy weapons and fired at the agents.For 51 days the FBI/ATF tried to negotiate with Koresh for him to surrender with peace. 84 people stayed in the compound (including children) , though some were released (none of the 84).

The FBI put gas in the compound. The response was the Davidians shooting. 25 / 75 who died were children. The result of the shooting and gas was the compound setting fire. The cause and responsibility of the fire is questioned.