Cult Branch Davidians

1
Cult - Branch Davidians

• Unlocking the Seven Seals

2
History

• 1918 Victor Houteff joined The Seventh-Day
  Adventist Church
• 1935 Victor started the Shepherds Rod with 11
  follower
• Known as Mt. Carmel Center, located outside of
  Waco, Texas

3
History (cont)

• 1955 Victor died
• His wife, Florence, assumed leadership of the
  Davidians.
• 1959 Ben Roden took control
• Renamed the group the Branch Davidans
• 1978 Roden died
• His wife assumed control.

4
Messiah

• 1987 Vernon Howell took control
• 1990 Howell proclaimed that he was the messiah
• He changed his name to David Koresh.
• David (after king David of Israelites)
• Koresh (after the Babylonian King Cyrus.)

5
Beliefs

• Emphasis on the imminent arrival of Jesus Christ.
• Believed the lamb mentioned in Revelation 52
  is David Koresh
• The lamb is to open up the seven seals, and
  Christ would return to earth.
• The world would end, and Branch member would
  ascend to heaven to be with God.

6
Practices

• Highly regulated
• Raising early
• Eating together
• Growing their own food
• Some members obtained out side jobs, to
  contributed their income to the community.

7
Downfall

• The New Light Doctrine of spiritual Wife.
• Koresh physically assaulted children
• Impregnated children at age 12 or 13.
• Sell Carried illegal weapons

8
The Outcome

• 1993 AFT agents entered the compound with search
  warrant
• Many lives were lost
• Koresh Died
• Many members were convicted of voluntary
  manslaughter and firearms.