The Branch Davidians are a religious sect that originated in 1955 as an offshoot of the Davidian Seventh-day Adventists, themselves a splinter group that formed out of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the 1930s. The Davidian Seventh-day Adventists were led by Victor Houteff, who believed in additional prophecies beyond those of the Seventh-day Adventists. After Houteff’s death, his wife Florence took over leadership of the Davidians until a schism formed in 1955 led by Benjamin Roden, who believed Houteff’s prophecies were inaccurate. Roden’s faction became known as the Branch Davidians, while the minority who followed Houteff’s widow became the Davidian Seventh-day Adventists.
The Branch Davidians settled in the Mount Carmel area outside of Waco, Texas, on land that had been foreclosed on by the Seventh-day Adventists. There they lived under the leadership of Lois Roden after Benjamin Roden’s death in 1978. After Lois Roden’s death in 1986, a dispute over leadership led Vernon Howell (later known as David Koresh) to take control and persuade the group that he was end-times prophet. Koresh instituted draconian rules including mandated polygamy for women members and claimed to be the only one allowed to interpret Scripture. He taught an apocalyptic theology based on the imminent end of the world.
Under Koresh’s leadership in the late 1980s, the group became a cult of personality centered on him. Koresh and his followers stockpiled weapons and explosives, believing they would be under attack by the government or other forces during the end times. The Branch Davidians under Koresh believed he was the “Lamb” in Revelation 5 who could open the seven seals and interpret the hidden truths and prophecies inside. Followers of Koresh surrendered their finances, bodies, and minds to his total control.
Tensions with federal law enforcement began in the early 1990s when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) became concerned about the group’s stockpiling of weapons. After obtaining arrest and search warrants, the ATF attempted to raid the Mount Carmel Center in February 1993, resulting in a two-hour firefight that killed four ATF agents and six Branch Davidians. After 51 days of being besieged by the FBI, negotiations failed and the complex was assaulted and caught on fire, leaving 76 Davidians dead including Koresh.
The origins of the Branch Davidians show the tendency of schisms within schisms that can happen in religious movements led by charismatic leaders with apocalyptic beliefs. The specific teachings of Koresh that led to the 1993 siege also highlight the dangers of authoritarian cult leaders who demand unquestioning loyalty and obedience from followers. While most former Davidians disavowed Koresh after the events of 1993, a small fraction followed former Koresh loyalist Clive Doyle and incorporated as the Branch, The Lord Our Righteousness Church.
Roots in the Seventh-day Adventist offshoots
The Branch Davidian movement began as an offshoot of the Davidian Seventh-day Adventist movement started by Bulgarian immigrant Victor Houteff in the 1930s. Houteff believed he had new revelations and prophecies to add to those of Seventh-day Adventism, centered around his book The Shepherd’s Rod which was published in 1929. The book focused on alleged prophetic failures in the Adventist church and Houteff’s prophecy that a “purification” would come to the Adventists. Houteff’s followers formed the Davidian Seventh-day Adventists.
After Houteff’s death in 1955, his wife Florence took over the Davidians. But Benjamin Roden, who had been an early convert under Houteff, objected to some of Houteff’s prophecies and claimed God had inspired him with new revelations. Roden took a group to Waco, Texas and settled on the Mount Carmel property previously owned by the Seventh-day Adventists. Roden’s faction became known as the Branch Davidians, indicating they were an offshoot (branch) of the Davidian Seventh-day Adventists.
When Roden died in 1978, his wife Lois assumed leadership of the Branch Davidians. She recruited followers by claiming God had chosen her to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. After Lois Roden’s death in 1986, Vernon Howell joined the group and soon gained control. He legally changed his name to David Koresh in 1990, claiming he was the Messiah.
Under Koresh’s control, the Branch Davidians became a cult of personality centered entirely on him. Koresh claimed to have the authority to interpret Scripture and dictate doctrine. He taught his followers must devote their lives, bodies, and minds to him as the “Lamb” of Revelation who could open the seven seals containing hidden prophetic truths.
Beliefs and practices under David Koresh
When David Koresh gained control of the Branch Davidians in the late 1980s, he instituted dramatic changes in the group’s beliefs and practices to consolidate his power and position as the sole interpreter of prophecy.
Some of Koresh’s key teachings were:
- Koresh was the “Lamb” of Revelation 5 who could open the seven seals containing secrets and prophecies no one else was worthy to open.
- All women in the group had to become Koresh’s spiritual wives, even if married to other men already.
- Only Koresh was allowed to interpret Scripture and determine doctrine and teachings.
- Followers had to surrender all money and possessions to Koresh.
- The world would imminently end with the forces of Satan attacking Mount Carmel, requiring preparations.
- Stockpiling of weapons and learning to shoot were required to defend Mount Carmel during the coming “end times.”
- Koresh would be martyred when Mount Carmel was attacked.
- After Koresh’s death, God would resurrect him, and he would ascend to heaven with his followers.
Koresh taught his followers they needed to physically die at Mount Carmel to fulfill prophecy. This led to the “bunker mentality” as the group stockpiled weapons and ammunition to defend themselves against the coming apocalyptic attack.
Despite promoting celibacy in his early time at Mount Carmel, Koresh later claimed God commanded him to take “spiritual wives” and father children to establish the “House of David” before the end. This resulted in rampant sexual abuse and statutory rape of underage girls in the group.
As Koresh’s control became total, he banned dissent and prohibited people from leaving Mount Carmel. His leadership resulted in the Branch Davidians becoming an authoritarian cult dominated by prophetic manipulation. His prophecies created an urgent crisis mentality in the group that the end was close and required their preparation for the coming violence.
The 1993 Waco siege
Tensions between the Branch Davidians and federal law enforcement began to grow in the early 1990s as the cult continued stockpiling weapons, ammunition, and explosives. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) obtained arrest and search warrants for Koresh and the Mount Carmel complex based on evidence of non-compliance with firearms regulations, suspicious shipments, and information from former members.
On February 28, 1993, around 80 ATF agents attempted to serve the search and arrest warrants to Koresh. A two-hour firefight broke out that resulted in the deaths of four ATF agents and six Branch Davidians. After this initial confrontation, the FBI took over management of the situation and besieged the complex for 51 days.
Negotiations during the siege failed to convince Koresh to surrender peacefully. Communications eventually broke down as Koresh became increasingly paranoid and defiant. Despite promises to surrender, Koresh continued stalling while abuse and control of followers inside Mount Carmel continued.
On April 19, 1993, Attorney General Janet Reno approved recommendations to use tear gas against the complex to force people out. But the Branch Davidians refused to exit and began shooting at armored vehicles. The siege culminated in fires spreading from the building, either ignited accidentally or intentionally. Only nine people escaped the flames, while 76 Davidians died including Koresh.
The events showed the dangers of an authoritarian cult stockpiling weapons based on their leader’s extreme and paranoid apocalyptic prophecies. Rather than surrender, most Branch Davidians stayed loyal to Koresh believing God would spiritually resurrect them for remaining loyal to the end. The siege demonstrated the tendency of cult members to double-down on allegiance to the leader when under outside pressure.
Aftermath and legacy
After the Mount Carmel siege, most former Branch Davidians renounced Koresh and attempted to restart their lives. A few struggled to shake off Koresh’s influence, like Clive Doyle, who stole a large cache of Koresh’s teachings and writings from evidence lockers after the fire.
A small fraction of former members who still believed Koresh was a prophet reorganized under Doyle’s leadership at Mount Carmel. This group became known as the “Branch Davidian Seventh-day Adventist Association” before changing the name to “Branch, the Lord Our Righteousness” in 1999 and incorporating as a church in 2004.
The events also sparked conspiracy theories that the government deliberately started the fire and murdered the Branch Davidians. Despite claims of injustice, multiple investigations found no evidence the FBI intentionally set the fires or fired on the complex, determining the Davidians themselves started the blaze.
The 1993 Waco siege showed the potential dangers of apocalyptic cults led by authoritarian leaders like Koresh. His status as the sole conduit of prophecy allowed him to control followers and demand unquestioning loyalty even in death. The events provide a sobering example of how such groups can become fixated on defending themselves based on their leader’s extreme teachings.
The origins of the Branch Davidians in Seventh-day Adventist schisms also reveal how churches founded on prophecy have continual struggles with splinter groups claiming new revelations. The specific trajectory that led to Koresh’s rise to power highlights how such factions can result in new doctrines and practices completely contradicting their parent group.
Overall, examining the history of the Branch Davidians provides insight into how cults of personality develop around individuals claiming to have special prophetic understanding. The deadly conclusion of the 1993 siege serves as a warning of how fringe religious groups can become dangerous when they arm themselves and effectively barricade based on their leader’s unchallenged directives.