About the Branch Davidian Flag

The Branch Davidian religious group which was attacked by United States federal agents in 1993 flew a flag that does not survive today, either materially or in photos. The only descriptions and interpretations there are of this flag is in media diagrams created from newsreels and reports from Branch Davidian members.

History

The Branch Davidians were a sect that split from the Davidian Seventh Day Adventists, which had splintered from the Seventh Day Adventists after their leader was excommunicated in the 1930s. Victor Houteff built his church headquarters near Waco, TX, calling it Mount Carmel. He named his group with "Davidian," referring to the ultimate restoration of the kingdom of the Old Testament King David, from whose genealogical line the Messiah would come. The group believed they were living in immediate apocalyptic times. After Houteff died, a further schism occurred and the Branch Davidian Seventh Day Adventists established their settlement at Mount Carmel. In 1981, Vernon Wayne Howell joined the Branch Davidians and eventually began preaching his own message, which caused yet another split when he attracted a large group of followers. In 1990, Howell became David Koresh.

Features

The original Branch Davidian flag used by Houteff was green with a white disk to the left and 19 white rays of different lengths coming from the disk. Inside the disk was a gray 6-pointed star, and a gold lion on that star. A total of 12 smaller 5-pointed gold stars lined the perimeter of the 6-pointed star.

Identification

During the 1993 siege of their compound, first by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and later by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Branch Davidians flew a flag that appears in newsreel footage and was later recreated by Newsweek magazine in a diagram. Half the flag had a very dark blue triangle with a large white Star of David at the top, along with a white triangle at the bottom.

Theories/Speculation

Branch Davidian member Steve Schneider, who died in a gunfight with ATF agents on February 28, 1993, told agents that the 6-pointed star represented the 6-winged fiery flying serpent described in Isaiah 14:29 and 30:6. In 2001, a Branch Davidian who calls himself Andrew X98 said the flag did not have the Star of David, but that this was a construct by the media. Speaking with conspiracy theorist Carol A. Valentine, president of Public Action Inc., Andrew X98 said the actual flag showed a 6-winged fiery flying serpent. Andrew X98 said David Koresh believed he would be instrumental in bringing the Sixth Seal from the Book of Revelations to reality.

Effects

On February 28, 1993, the ATF attacked the Mount Carmel compound and killed six Branch Davidians. The religious group subsequently shot and killed four ATF agents. The FBI then surrounded the site for 51 days, a siege which ended on April 19 when agents shot tear gas into the compound. At this point, several fires broke out and quickly turned into a massive blaze that spread through the buildings. The fires killed about 80 Branch Davidians, including 21 children. The flag flew over the sanctuary throughout the siege.

Resources

• The U.S. Department of Justice report on the incident at Waco
• Carol Valentine's interview with Andrew X98