Arguably the most infamous on the list, David Koresh (A.K.A. Vernon Howell) claimed to be the "final prophet" for the Branch Davidians religious sect in Texas. In 1983, Koresh stated that he was "the son of God, the Lamb", although he never directly claimed to being Jesus Christ himself. Speculation suggests Koresh was sexually involved with Lois Roden, the 77-year-old prophetess and leader of the sect, with who he wanted to father a child would could become the Chosen One. At his Mount Carmel Center, Koresh gathered a loyal group of followers to the sect and created a "doctrine of the House of David" by which to lead them. Sexual and child abuse claims surfaced, however, with Koresh supposedly taking 13-year-old Michelle Jones as his "spiritual wife". Eventually, the Mount Carmel Center was besieged by FBI agents for 51 days - with Koresh seriously injured by gunshot wound for a long period, but determined to complete the writing of his religious doctrines. On the 51st day, the FBI attempted to infiltrate the camp - but the compound set fire in disputed circumstances and 76 Branch Davidians, including Koresh himself and 17 minors, died due to the fact they were barricaded inside the building. Koresh preached apocalypticism, millenarianism and polygamy during his lifetime - and created a cult following, carefully declaring himself as "the son of God" but not actually Jesus Christ reincarnate himself.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
