Almost all of the members went their separate ways. A few mingled behind with a preacher named Benjamin Roden. Roden considered himself the next in line to King David of Israel. This background leads all the way up to the time that Koresh enters the scene.
When Koresh was 18 he moved to Tyler, Texas. Here he tried to fit in by joining an Adventist Church. He just could not seem to fit in though. According to his grandmother Koresh became disillusioned with the church. This causes him to move to Waco and begin probably the most interesting chapter in the Branch Davidians history yet. Koresh could not have come at a better time. Lois Roden's control over the Branch was weakening. Her son, George, though that he should be next in line to succeed his father as leader of the Branch. Several members of the Branch were already not too pleased with the Roden duo. Several were turned away by Lois's idea that the Holy Spirit was feminine, and others didn't like George either. As one can see this was an ideal opportunity for Koresh to use his Bible and guitar skills to impress his soon to be new followers. He succeeded getting close to the then current leader, Lois, by sleeping with her. Not too long after that he married Rachel Jones. After the marriage, and long enough to establish himself as a new powerhouse, he stopped sleeping with Lois just as fast as it had started. Koresh declared to the compound that his beliefs were now the true word. One would think that someone in that place would have at least tried to question his superiority. The irony of the situation is that the members did. He had that charisma and a Biblical answer for everything. .
According to David Mitchell, a former member, "He knew the Bible awful well.".
That could very well be the understatement of the century. While Lois Roden was still alive, her son and Koresh would often get in to minor scuffles. Irony continues to be present at the compound.
