Most of the members of Branch Davidians were former
Seventh-Day Adventist which can be track down to the Millerites Movement back
in the nineteenth century. The Millerites movement was founded by William
Miller who was a Deist turned Christian convert. He was convinced that
information about the end of the world and then the Second Coming of Jesus are
all coded in the Bible. With this in mind he felt his obligation to spread this
finding to others. One of the main text that he interpreted was the Book of Daniel
8:14 where he believed that the Second Coming would occur between March 1843
and March 1844. Unfortunately this
prophecy did not come true and this became known as the AGreat Disappointment@. Their leader William Miller later on withdrew from the leadership and
what was left in the congregation called themselves the AAdventists@
which was later joined by Ellen Harmon known as Ellen White.
Ellen
White formed the new movement called the ASeventh-Day
Adventist@. She believed that the prophecy of 1844 was just a
prelude to the Second Coming of Jesus. She referred to this as the Astart of an investigative judgement@ (Seventh-Day Adventist p.2) This is a period when
Christ judges the dead and the people on earth according to their holiness
which will then be followed by the return of Christ. The Seventh-Day Adventist
Church is well known for their belief in the impending return of Jesus Christ
to earth. The Seventh-Day contain the dogma of Christianity. This dogma
consists of the bringing into existence, the transgression of Adam and Eve in
the garden of Eden, the divinity of God, Satan as the fallen angel,
resurrection of Christ, the Bible being infallible, and salvation by the
redemption of Christ.
The
Seventh-Day Adventist Church was later joined by Victor Houteff. Houteff
believed that he was a messanger of God to carry out the task of purifying the
Church from within and to gather the remaining 144,000 just before the coming
of Christ. This idea was taken from the book of Ezekiel 9 in which the purification
of Jerusalem by angels was to take place. He believed this prophecy to be the
purification of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and believed that he was the
angel that is to carry this task. Houteff believed that the return of Christ
would occur only when a small number of Christians have been completely
purified. According to Tabor and Gallagher, this was one of the interrelated
teachings that Houteff developed. His second precept consists of the Kingdom of
God. He believed that the Kingdom of God will be set on earth specifically
centered in Palestine where the chosen 144,000 led by him would meet Christ at
his return in the land of Israel. In contrast to this idea, Ellen White and
other Seventh-Day Adventist taught the Kingdom of God was a spiritual phenomenon
and they would spend the Millenium with Christ in heaven while the earth waits
for new heaven and earth after the judgement day.
Houteff=s movement took the name Davidian Seventh-Day
Adventists. The name Davidian referred to the sect=s teaching about the Aimminent restoration of the Davidic Messianic Kingdom in Palestine@.(Tabor, Gallagher p.35)
The
movement later on split further and eventually led to the organization of the
Student of the Seven Seals, well known as the Branch Davidian. Branch Davidian
is a sect that sow dissension from the more mainstream Seventh-Day Adventist
Church.
Branch
Davidians believe that they are the chosen people of God in the Last Days
before the end of the world. With this belief, they believe that there will
always be a prophet send by God to show them the way or what they call Athe new light@.
They believe that prophets are sent by God to reveal to them new light or new
revelation. Branch Davidians believe that God has two revelations to mankind
one in Jesus Christ and one at the end of time. The identity of the Lamb at the
end of time can be established as the one who is able to give explanation of
the Seven Seals of Revelation. Because Koresh was able to explain the Seven
Seals, his followers were convinced that he was the second Messiah.
One
element of Koresh teaching is his claim to be able to unlock the Seven Seals of
the Book of Revelation. The Davidians understood the sealed book to the Entire
Bible. The sealed book was the most important to the sect since they explained
the Book of Revelation and predicted the end of the world. They believed that
opening these seals involved two things: AGod=s plan of salvation through Koresh, the Second Christ
figure and the final events of the end of history@.(Tabor , Gallagher p.54)
Koresh
pointed out to his followers that although the Book of Revelation was written
by John and revealed by Jesus Christ, it was only supposed to be understand and
fulfill before the end of history. Therefore, Koresh taught that the Book of Revelation
would remain closed and sealed until the Lamb figure appears at some point who
would open the seal and fulfill the prophecy.
In their view, the entire Bible was sealed and hidden
from full understanding until the time of the seventh messenger believed to be
Koresh that would open it all and announce it to the world.
One of Koresh=s
teaching was called the ACyrus Message@
(Tabor, Gallagher p.59) in which Cyrus, the King of Persia destroyed the
ancient Babylon. This was a history in which the Jews were held captive by the
Babylonians who were perceived as their merciless enemy. Cyrus was
distinguished as Messiah and had a divine task to the conquer the Great
Babylon, oppressor of God=s chosen people.
Like many evangelical Christians, Branch Davidians
recognized Babylon as the symbolism of Adominant
political, economic, and military might of the West@ (Tabor, Gallagher p.61) The Davidians believed that
the Branches would suffer persecution at the hands of the Government. Koresh
taught the followers that they are living in the end times and that God=s return was imminent. Preparatory to his return, the
faithful would be tested and persecuted. When the Government agent raided the
compound this served as the fulfillment of the prophecy.
In Koresh belief, the First Coming of Christ was
submissive and self-abasement. Jesus did not fight against his enemy and
allowed himself to be killed. This approach is to come to an end and
indoctrinate his followers to acquire weapons. He was convinced that the Second
Coming of Christ would involve a lot of violence and with force. They believe
that they are the chosen people of God that would confront their enemies in the
last days. According to Koresh, Jesus nonresistance served as sacrifice for all
the sins of mankind during his existence. He taught that resistance to what is
evil (for example Babylon or Government) is required by the chosen people of
God. With this teaching in mind, the followers believed that it was wrong to
actively oppose a conflict. They believe that when the Great War takes place in
Palestine, they would fight alongside with the Israelis to battle the United
Nation Force. They were taught not to initiate violence actively until that
final conflict comes but they were allowed to defend themselves against evil
force when persecuted or assaulted.
Another teaching of Koresh focused on sexual
abstinence. As the AMessiah@,
Koresh ordered that the women and men be separated with no sexual relation
including those who are married. Only he himself was allowed to have sexual
relation with the women. He believed that his children with these women would
serve to fulfill the prophecy of the kingdom of God that is to be set up in
Israel. Since Koresh strongly believed that they were living in the last days,
he strongly insisted on the policy of celibacy. The Branch Davidians believe
that when Adam was created he represents both male and female but was later
separated into two. In the new creation, the male and female would become one
again and in perfect harmony. Human Sexuality is considered as a disappointing
temporary state that would later be overcome by the new creation. ANo one really finds the right mate in this life but in
the Kingdom of God all will receive his or her true lost self whether male or
female, for whom each longs@ (Tabor,
Gallagher p.69)
Sex is perceived as a mean to continue the generation
of species and therefore it was okay but before the world ends, the followers
must turn form their normal human pattern of life in anticipation of the new
creation. He taught them that sex is evil and how it wrongfully enter human=s life prohibiting them close relationship with one
another. He taught that human sexuality leads to deceit and disruption in human
relationship. He stressed the idea of a purified person free from sinful
thoughts in his mind. They believed that by abstaining from sex they were being
transformed into a pure spirit. By going back to the idea of the creation of
Adam. Koresh further taught that since Adam is an embodiment of both male and
female. He has female spirit in him and is actually married to the Lamb or
Koresh in a spiritual male side. This work with women too since they have the
male spirit in them it expresses itself by marrying the female spirit found in
Koresh. The product of Koresh=s sexual union
with the women who were considered pure in body and spirit was the most sacred
aspect of their community life.
The tragedy in Waco which involved
deaths of David Koresh and many of his followers led to many preachers making
the event the central focus of their Sunday sermons, denouncing the cult and
its leader for straying from the right path. By looking at Christianity and the
Branch Davidian one could ask just what is the difference between a religion
and a cult. First Religion by its definition is the service and worship of God,
it is a system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith. While cult on the other
hand by its definition is a system of religious beliefs and rituals. What makes
one a cult. People that belongs to a cult believe in a supernatural being that
dictates his commands to the leader. The leader claims to have personal
relationship with the higher power and no one is to question it. They believe
that the higher power is all good and there must be an evil figure. The evil
represents the antithesis of the goals of the cult. Satan is considered to be
the primary evil force in Christianity and many Christians believe that he has
agents on earth. There is always a charismatic leader that gives orders which
claims to come from the higher power. The leader convinces his followers that
they are unworthy and this leads to lowered self-esteem. This characterized a
psychological manipulation. In the end one could ask a possible question
whether Religion is simply just a cult that has attained an acceptance among
the general population.
Annotated Bibliography
Tabor,
James D.and Gallagher, Eugene V. Why Waco: cults and the battle for religious
freedom in America. Berkeley: University of California Press. 1995
Tabor
and Gallagher explains what happened in Waco. Who were the Branch Davidians
what their beliefs are and what led them to Mount Carmel.
Outline
of Branch Davidian Teachings
This
outlines the teachings of Branch Davidians. They believe that they are the
chosen people of God for the last days before the world ends. Due to this they
believe that there will always be a prophet to lead them the way.
Seven
Thunders
This
gives information about their religious beliefs and their interpretation of the
passages in the Book of Revelation.
http://members.nbci.com/-XCM/tienkuo/tradition.htm
This
article outlines the points in the teachings of Adventist and Davidian leaders.
It shows how Branch Davidians evolved from the Seventh-Day Adventist.
wysiwyg://54/http://www.religious
tolerance.org/de-branc.htm
This
article summarizes the beliefs and practices of Branch Davidians