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03/03/93
Theologians doubt Koresh's address won many converts
By Todd J. Gillman / The Dallas Morning News
Theologians predicted that cult leader David Koresh's 58-minute address Tuesday won few converts to his Apocalypse-centered beliefs.
Mr. Koresh prefaced the statement by explaining the terms under which it was broadcast-the FBI provided copies to several radio stations in exchange for his promise to surrender peacefully when it was over. Several hours later no one had emerged.
"He jumps around so much with the Scripture he cites,' said Dr.
James E. Wood Jr., director of Baylor University's Institute on Church-State Studies.
"He obviously is familiar with the text, but familiarity does not necessarily mean understanding of the text. He isn't able to be clear and lucid, but we're dealing with him at a very peculiar time. The man's been wounded, it's a last-ditch effort,' Dr. Wood said.
Mr. Koresh's sermon was filled with arcane references to the Seven Seals mentioned in the book of Revelation. He has claimed to be the Lamb, or Christ, but he made no such assertion in the broadcast.
The tape was broadcast at the FBI's request on KRLD-AM (1080) in Dallas and on the nationwide call-in show of Phoenix-based Christian broadcaster Craig Smith.
"It ended up being something of a mishmash of end-time theology,' said Dr. Charles Dyer, professor of Bible exposition at the Dallas Theological Seminary, referring to predictions of the return of Christ, Apocalypse and Judgment Day.
"He strung together a lot of verses from the Bible,' Dr. Dyer said.
"There were really some odd associations of Scriptures.'
Mr. Koresh seemed to anticipate some of the criticism.
"Even a man like Christ has to meet with unbelief,' Mr. Koresh said
on the tape.
About 50 minutes into the statement he said, "Just because the people don't accept the truth from God's words doesn't mean it's not true.'
Despite the difficult situation, Mr. Koresh tried at times to inject humor into his statement, as when he discussed ancient religious proscriptions for animal sacrifice to atone for sins.
"Of course having to slay a lamb for your sins, that would really keep a man on his toes because you could lose a lot of livestock that way,' he said.
Mr. Koresh gave veiled hints of what might have led to the gunbattle that left four federal agents dead after they tried to enter his cult's compound Sunday morning.
"We see that in Psalm 45 the Lamb only has to destroy his enemies.
And who are his enemies? Those who do not believe the word of God. Now if a person never had the chance to know, you gotta forgive 'em for they don't know what they do. But should anybody dare try to go against the word of God and try to hurt Christ because they know not and refuse to know, well then we're talking something serious,' he said.
He referred several times to himself, even discussing the origins of his name, which he changed in 1990 from Vernon Howell.
"He was clothed in a sash, then dipped in blood because people do not like to learn the truth, not out of their own heads. And his name was called the word of God. That's why so many times Christ has to be rejected, for people know not the word of God, and without knowing the word of God-the Book -- they'll not know the seals. Without knowing the seals they'll do unto Christ, fulfilling Matthew 24 -- "where the carcass is, there will eagles gather together,' ' Mr. Koresh said.
Scholars surmise that Mr. Koresh took his first name, David, because Branch Davidians believe that Christ's return will herald a millenium of rule under the House of David.
A flag with the six-pointed star of the Hebrew King David, and a serpent, has flown atop a building at the group's compound near Waco during the siege.
Dr. Wood said he was puzzled by Mr. Koresh's omission Tuesday of an assertion that he is Christ.
"It could be that he just failed to bring it up, but it may have been a deliberate choice. He certainly has not been reticent about claiming it before,' he said.
Dr. Wood said that apocalyptic literature, with language about seals and the Lamb and the Beast, is "highly figurative and metaphorical' and, therefore, has become a "fertile mine for one's own interpretation.'
That, he said, has fueled Christianity's long history of self-proclaimed prophets.
Asked whether he considers Mr. Koresh a false prophet, Dr. Wood said he doesn't doubt the sincerity of the man's beliefs or question his right to preach them.
"His teachings do not square with the mainstream of Christian orthodoxy. But a false prophet? In whose view? It's easy to think only with blinders on of only one's belief system,' he said. "People outside the Christian religion may well view Jesus as a false prophet.'
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