How did David Koresh interpret the Lamb in Revelation 5?

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Waco siege — Branch Davidian Flames engulfing the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, ending a standoff with federal agents, April 19, 1993.

David Koresh’s interpretation of the Bible centered on a unique understanding of the Lamb mentioned in Revelation 5. While traditional Christian theology identifies the Lamb as Jesus, Koresh distinguished himself from Jesus by claiming this role for himself.

He argued that the specific function of the Lamb was to loose the seven seals and interpret the scroll described in Revelation 5:2. By doing so, Koresh believed he was bringing forth the endtime revelation of Christ. He viewed this task as a critical component of his messianic identity, which he also linked to the ancient Persian king Cyrus (Koresh in Hebrew). At the time of his death, Koresh was actively working to finalize his written interpretation of these seals for publication.1