To some of you this subject may be a little bit outdated, and you may well say that “It is in the past and just leave it there“. Well as many of you know this April 19th 2015 was the 20th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing. And one of the chief reasons for committing that act the Bomber Timothy McVey said was “the Governments handling of the Branch Davidian Standoff In Waco, TX. from Feb 28 to April 19 1993“.
With that as my justification I have began an extensive research on the whole Big Picture surrounding that event and what brought us up to the Tragic events of April 19 1993.
I think I will do this as a multi part article to keep it abbreviated to you the reader and so as I learn facts I can impart them to you. Also I know MR likes us to keep things short. That being said:

PART 1: THE BEGINNING.

The Branch Davidian Sect was (and still is today) an off shoot of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and it’s doctrine. That “The world is in it’s end times and the coming Apocalypse mentioned in the book of Revelation is at hand at any given time“. The Church has had several “Last Days” type of meetings that have come to be known as ” The Great Disappointments” Some as recent as in the late 50’s.

In 1937 a Hungarian Immigrant Victor Houteff who was disillusioned by the Adventist teachings and it’s treatment of him at their medical Facilities in Loma Linda, CA. Started a sect called “The Shepard’s Rod” and moved his followers to Waco, TX. As a Weigh Stop until they could gather in Israel to await the “Second Coming Of Jesus Christ”
There they founded and built a little community with schools, hospitals, and industries. They mainly kept to them selves interacting with the local residents little.

Around this time they started calling them selves the Davidians after King David referred to in the scriptures. During the 2nd world war they Founded the Davidian Seventh Day Adventist Association in order to be eligible for members to be able to be assigned to Non Combat roles during the war.

As the city of Waco grew they were forced to sell off their lands and buildings to developers and the Main part of their compound was later Flooded to become Lake Waco. In the early 50’s they purchased a 77 acre tract of land 10 miles NE of Waco near the little hamlet of Elk, TX. to relocate and await their immigration to the Holy Land/Israel. That property became Infamous on Feb 28, 1993 and for the 51 days that followed we saw it every day on the News. What some in the media began calling “Ranch Apocalypse”

In 1955 Houteff Died and after his widow and the Executive committee predicted that the end would come later that year gathered the Faithful at what they called Mt. Carmel Center to await the return of Jesus. After midnight came and went and they were still there ( No Rapture, Go Figure!) They decided to disband the group and turn over it’s assets to a receiver to be distributed back to the followers in a series of cash reimbursements.
Next: Part 2′ The Branch.