Unedited: David Koresh and his Branch Davidian Bible Students During the Waco 1993 51 Day Siege

This unedited video, was sent out on March 12, 1993 as a VHS tape by David Koresh during the FBI 51 day siege of the Branch Davidian Center, outside Waco, TX. The tape was intended to show that those inside the compound were not being held against their will, allowing them to talk freely and to humanize them. The tape features David Koresh and 25 followers, including children. In the video, Koresh presents his apocalyptic religious beliefs, and the followers profess their commitment to studying the Bible under Koresh's leadership. The sound is not the best, nor the video converted to digital--after 30 years--but viewers can easily absorb the spirit and ideas these Bible students of the "Seven Seals" reflected.
The FBI decided not to release the tape to the media for fear that it would cause widespread sympathy for the Branch Davidians, who were being portrayed as brainwashed dupes of the madman Koresh. This is the BEST EVIDENCE we have of what the group was really like during the siege at a point when there was hope for a peaceful resolution.

[@mlv418]

Thank you for sharing. I remember watching this unnecessary tragedy unfold, like it was yesterday. I commend you for the work you did to try and save them.

[@bobthor9647]

Yes, if David had allowed his fellow Christian ATF agents to perform their lawful duty and execute a search warrant , the tragedy could have been avoided. He knew they were coming and could have welcomed them with love

[@FVK-hx4ym]

I was looking for this but couldn’t find it! Great upload.

[@TheOldstufffan]

Thanks for sharing, Steve was a good interviewer. Have you used these in your religious studies courses? What a great primary source to have. I’m glad you have this footage, but I wish the general public and those in DC watched it. This would have and should have swayed public opinion.

[@4trahasis]

Always into Source material, be it Biblical, Mythological, or Historic. Thank you so much as always.

[@etinarcadiaego5708]

Did Koresh cut his hair after the shootout (or sometime before)? I was wondering why they didn't portray this in the Paramount miniseries.

[@junkiemonkey3317]

I'm wondering the same thing

[@x420xmarijaunanaut]

"if we get out of this i want steve vai to have this guitar" 🤣

[@user-pm5ps1ux3p]

ALL THESE PEOPLE AND THE LITTLE CHILDREN WERE MURDERED. BY A FOUL MALIGNANT MINDSET OF CONTROL AND LUST FOR POWER, They will be Judged.

[@jensandersen7011]

Yes Koresh was a monster.

[@user-pm5ps1ux3p]

@@jensandersen7011 Oh Samiel , Blind Lord it was not Young David Koresh that was evil. The WICKEDNESS HATRED AND EVIL WAS SPAWNED BY THE SECURITY STATE, THE HIRED KILLERS OF A MALIGNANT CORRUPTED REGIME. cheers Gabriel ☀️👣

[@susanepp2707]

I'll never understand how come those agents didn't refuse orders.

[@NathanielMorgan-Scuba]

all four of the children shown at about 15:00 died in the fire on April 19. Sad.

[@jassn6957]

Damn. I was wondering and hoping they were okay 😢

[@alysskennedy8661]

Reminds me of Jonestown the way the interviewers are trying to help the people.

[@rubytuesday1316]

Freedom of religion for adults often leads to abuse of children. Polygamy is still practiced in many USA states. Joseph Smith is no different than David Koresh. mormons just change to avoid the laws. My family went from FLD$/LD$/RLD$/CLD$ mormons are preparing to drink that kool aid. Ive been out 16 yrs

[@thaumkid]

53:35 "I'd like to stay. As long as he says to stay, I'll stay"

[@thaumkid]

that, and all the immigrants, and the lack of men, and the making all his daughters kiss him on the mouth, and that Psalm 45 guitar!! (1:45:24)

[@HB-qo9mv]

​@@thaumkidimmigrants was not a problem in the 90' and neither was kissing your kids that way. It was another time

[@user-pm5ps1ux3p]

Find the views of this panel of judges in the comment section reflect so well what has become of American society.

[@laurier1340]

When i watch them and i know the government is responsible for their death ,governments suppose to help ,jesus what a mess , God help us

[@longcastle4863]

God or the belief in such was part of the problem

[@Matthewcrosby26]

How, he burned all his people alive lmfao how is that the atf fault

[@ludoabsalom9652]

No men was interviewed. Interesting.

[@Emmanuel-ti6ym]

58:28 Watch the whole video

[@NatalieScanlon]

The men were out on lookout, at every corner, at every window, at every doorway. Protecting the women and children who were hiding in an underground fireproof bunker. When the infrared planes flying overhead saw where they were, they used the tanks to bulldoze the building down on top of them intentionally killing those innocent hiding women and children. The atf and fbi extensive surveillance knew that. It was done intentionally. When you learn nothing from history, you are certain to repeat it. Sadly.

[@KoreshDabar-YHWHbenYisrael]

If it were men, you'd have something to say and accuse. Youre looking for something to accuse but can find nothing. All you've got is what the media said about the whole thing.

[@stacye.6047]

How did these people get money to buy food? Were they allowed to hold jobs on the outside? Some were not even U.S. citizens so I don’t think they could work legally-I don’t get it.

[@TimTestifies]

What the fed did is messed but isnt it interesting how theyre all talking about how true the truth they know is while not sharing the Word? Anyone who reads Revelation 5 can easily see that the one to loose the first seal was Jesus Christ! Before then, nobody could even look at or know the book as it says. And the book is Revelation itself. And the Revelation is defined by Christ as His testimomy many times! "stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth." Rev 5:6 This is in reference to the lamb who opens the seal. Notice how it says its the lamb whos been already slain with 7 eyes and 7 SPIRITS He cast into the earth? Well did you not read the very chapters before 5 explaining Jesus Christ message to the 7 churches and these represented as Jesus Christ 7 Spirits in the earth?? Everyone was hopeless but by Christ sacrifice, it gave him the ability to open the little book, Revelation! The testimony of Jesus Christ and the absolute promise He can now grant us because of His sacrifice of which it was not possible before! So you people, and especially Karesh, are blasphemous. You call Karesh Jesus Christ and himself Jesus. You look for a man to worship instead of God and thats what you get. Why not just read the bible??? And almost all of you have your right eye off in some weird direction just as Ellen did. And just as the Zech says speaking of the times after Christ of those who call themselves prophets, the false prophets right eye is darkned and their arm shrivelled. Your deaths were to teach alright... God spoke loudly to the consequences of false prophets. Always a siege in the bible isnt it? But not for the people of God, but for the judgment that He always beings against those who blaspheme his name. Ifnone justbsimply read Revelation from the beginning up to 5, this is not hard to see. And Christ Himself tells John to write of things that HAVE BEEN, ARE HAPPENING NOW IN JOHNS TIME, AND WILL BE. This was the little book. Revelation. Christ testimony from front to finish. Its amazing how you have so much self righteous confidence and worshipping a man, you camt even read the bible? What Rome did in 70AD wasnt right either. But as the Word says, Rome was serving God. So were the ATF that day. The judgment of God. And Karesh was begging for altercation every chance he got to keep himself at the center of attention. The people who want their idols... You think God had you, He was offended and your destruction a witness to all false prophets. Because you yourselves were false proclaiming so much confidence over what you dont even know for yourselves, all of you. But the worst awaits Karesh in judgment.

[@longcastle4863]

The interviewing of the children was tortuous to watch

[@aaronmcbryer4362]

Cool guitars, he was a great guitarist, he should've just focused on music.

[@bobthor9647]

Choose Peace

[@markthatcher6844]

Another comment by Judy that bothers me "Before you judge us make sure your own life is clean, would you want your own life um broadcast from the day when you were in high school, what you did, who you went out with, um, you know, I mean we're being stripped naked so lets make sure when that happens to you your ready too you guys. " In Dave Thibodeaus book he describes the dynamic between Judy, David Koresh and Steve Schneider. Steve and Judy had a real hard time reconciling with the New Light of 1989 that said all marriages were dissolved and all women in the world were now for David. Steve (the man filming this) and Judy were still very much in love with each other when they heard the news and were resisting the New Light. So the way David Koresh was finally able to resolve this was he asked Judy if she was a virgin when they married. She said yes of course. He asked her again and she confirmed it again. Then in front of everyone at a Bible study session he revealed that he had had a vision that Judy had a one night stand in the back seat of a car with a guy she met at a bar when she was in college( 'treat 'em mean to keep 'em keen'). Judy was humiliated and shamed in front of the flock, Steve was crushed and ceased to resist , and Judy ended up in the House of David. AND, as she states here at the beginning of the interview, she identifies as 'Judy Schneider Koresh', Proudly. This must have killed Steve Schneider. Not that this justifies anything that happened to them. It doesn't , not in a million years, but, when people say they weren't a cult or 'brain washed', I just don't know about that. I understand that they got something from David Koresh that they thought was very valuable (their eternal souls) , enough to through away their families, their loves, even their lives.... faith and belief. No one was translated. David didnt come back. They died and the people left behind were no longer with them. All for , as far as my mortal eyes can see, nothing. The whole thing is just so incredibly sad and mind boggling.

[@paulcarey191]

at 1:23:00 his daughter saying she wants to grow up and be a woman at that age in 1993 was a very humble and intelligent answer if you look at what's going on today with gender confusion and what not! david laughed and gave a sarcastic response, but i think his daughter is a genius - OR WAS

[@purplitooelfideo9732]

Looks just like him too.. yea his response, and look in his eyes is chilling. It's like he knew what was going to take place, I guess with what was all going on he had to feel that it was just a matter of time the government would intervene, so if he couldn't live the lifestyle he wanted he'd take some of the government down with him, not to mention the whole sect and his own offspring, really he was just a right wing extremist that used the branch as a front!

[@markthatcher6844]

Is that milk David Koresh is drinking ? I thought he said Milk was for babies?

[@CameronsCars]

It was trying times

[@NatalieScanlon]

Who cares if the shot innocent man, living legally in his own home, attacked by outsiders is drinking a cup of milk. Same with ruby ridge. What a stupid thing to say. If that's all you picked up from watching this, then you need to watch it again.

[@markthatcher6844]

Well there’s actually a lot of things to take away from this video besides the fact he (and his family/followers) was attacked, shot and died under siege by LEO. Lots of things and none of them stupid. Now, someone who is so myopic, and can only see the most basic of things, and then accuses someone else of stupidity for seeing multiple layers… that’s someone whose accusations of stupidity are to be taken accordingly. BTW he forbade all of his followers to drink milk because he said milk was only for babies.

[@NatalieScanlon]

@@markthatcher6844 ok, so all of those many things you mentioned, I also agree with. But, you hadn't spoke of those. You, only spoke of the milk you thought he was drinking. So, according to your logic, somehow by watching this, I should have somehow been able to preemptively respond to a comment you had not yet made? I obviously, was able to pick up on a multitude of factors, having studied this topic extensively for many years, almost 3 decades now. And I take every opportunity to learn as much as humaly possible, for those who learn nothing from the past, are certain to repeat it. But, you seem hellbent on trying to somehow put me in my place. So yeah, good luck with that one my friend. Bless your heart

[@NatalieScanlon]

@@markthatcher6844 and again I ask, what multiple layers were you seeing with your "hey, is that milk the guys drinking comment? 🤣🤣

[@goneprivate2714]

Had these people known how they would soon die, I suppose they could testify they were so sure it was worth being martyred for David's doctrines.

[@runbuddyrunnow]

At one point koresh told his followers he didn’t know if they were getting so they should go if they wanted. They stayed. If you research everything the feds had done I don’t think they stayed because of David. They were afraid to leave. They wanted help. At one point they hung a sheet outside the windows that read “ god help us we want the press” guess they thought it would be safe to go out if someone was watching. If you discover everything the feds did you would know why they didn’t come out. They weren’t brainwashed, they were terrified! One member that was in town and heard about the raid ran home to check on his wife and baby. Running across the yard to get to the front door he was gunned down. 7 shots in the back. On the very first day David tried to talk to them. He stepped outside and they opened fire on him. He had invited them earlier to see his guns but they declined. Feds did not want to arrest him and they did not want a peaceful end. They wanted the outcome they got. Witnesses say they saw 20 or 30 survivors come out of the back door and feds gunned them down. One reporter was taking pics of the after math when feds saw him and took his film. He claims from what he saw though most victims died outside in the yard. Those people were murdered. Feds then covered it up with stories of brainwashing and suicide packs. They were to scarier to come out. Plain and simple.

[@NguseCivilisation3247]

I NOTICE EDITS TO THE TRANSCRIPTS LOSING THE WORDS AT THE POINTS EMPHASISING THEIR WILLINGNESS TO BE THERE EVEN TILL THE VERY END. SAD STUFF.😢

[@sburns2421]

Koresh was a megalomaniac who I wish was a more talented musician. Then he could have wasted his life trying to make it in show business rather than getting dozens of people killed

[@Jamie-Russell-CME]

I don't endorse Koresh, but they actually should have been left alone. The law could have trampled their rights without taking the risk they did. Therefore, they didn't do a damn thing to bring that upon them. you should probably kick rocks. But to each his own.

[@sburns2421]

@@Jamie-Russell-CME oh boy, where to start. Let’s begin with the statutory rape of many girls. He only legally married one 14 year old. You could argue that relationship was “legal”, maybe. But the dozen or so others many of which were underage and thus unable to give consent certainly were not legal. Perhaps they should have picked up Koresh when he was away from the others, but killing four ATF agents doesn’t seem very Christ-like by any insane interpretation. This guy ticks all the boxes of a narcissistic cult leader. He was a scumbag of the highest order, and a coward as he killed himself IIRC

[@TheScotsalan]

Skipped thro it to get the gist. Struck me about 1:19, when the dude is talking about the book of revelation, with his bullet wound, no matter how many times I read revelation it makes no sense at all. Its as if it was written by someone on a bad shroom trip. And the guy sort of agrees, that the stuff in revelation is not mentioned elsewhere. Yet he goes on and believes it. Its as if not knowing what it means, means its true. But it does not actually mean anything. Its gobbledygook. Its like listening to a flat earther explain why they think physics is not true. Yet here they are with their kids, willing to die for something they dont understand.

[@rebelrog]

I found your comment interesting. On one hand I agree with you, it is gobbledygook. On the other hand, it does have some surprisingly deep esoteric symbolism that takes me back to it's not really gobbledygook. So I land in the middle. I think it's extremely deep but to people today who don't understand all the esoteric meanings, it's gobbledygook. I know every Christian pastor in America thinks he can explain it, I don't believe any of them really know what they are talking about.

[@sburns2421]

It was a veiled attempt to trash Rome and call for the destruction of the Roman Empire. It was a document of that time that never had anything to do with the direct teachings of Jesus, rather a reaction to post-temple destruction using Jesus to lend credibility. It is amazing it was even included in the New Testament. It’s garbage

[@jeremias-serus]

If by gobbledygook you mean it means nothing, then Revelation simply isn't gobbledygook. It's esoteric and apocalyptic as all hell, sure, but it isn't just random ideavomit thrown onto papyrus. I recommend checking out Dr. Bart Ehrman and Dr. Tim Mackie's interpretations of Revelation, both are based in Jewish apocalypticism & historical culture.

[@TheScotsalan]

@@jeremias-serus I did say when I read it, its gobbledygook 👍. Sure, there are gonna be ppl who can explain what THEY think it means, and that a couple of PHDs working on it will have a better chance than others of being able to follow what the writer was saying. To ME its nonsense. And in the vid, where I timestamped, it seems evident to me, the dude who was prob going do die over it did not understand it too, same as me. Hey maybe he did understand it, or think he had the power to understand it. I dont know. But it sure seems a stupid thing to die over.

[@jeremias-serus]

​@@TheScotsalan "Sure, there are gonna be ppl who can explain what THEY think it means" What you're referring to is an interpretation, I did mention that, at the end of the day, these would be interpretations. However, interpretations, much like opinions, are not all equal. The fact of the matter is that some interpretations of Revelation are completely unsupportable, just like some opinions are unsupportable or less supportable than others. To claim, for example, that Revelation is referring to an alien invasion of Earth in the year 2780 by Tralfamadorians, is obviously incredulous. Conversely then, that means that some interpretations must be pretty accurate. Or perhaps even perfectly accurate. The interpretations that those two Christian scholars have on Revelation are not even truly their own, it's more so the Biblical scholarly mainstream belief that has been developed over the course of 200 years--and it's likely the exact belief that the author of Revelation (whom I believe to have either been the St. John himself, or one of his disciples). "To ME its nonsense." Well then what're you waiting for? Start reading/listening to interpretations of it, lol.

[@paulcarey191]

yea... thanks for the milk.. thanks for the milk.. thanks for the milk!! - so how do almost all americans thank the cows for the milk by turning them into steaks after slaughter... - me? i go right to the source with my thanks, which is why i'm a pescatarian - I EAT NO LAND ANIMALS, and nothing with eye balls, just fish for meat and just about everything else. So thats my thanks for the milk, to the cow itself. BOOM! this whole society is twisted to the f..king max.