Our generation has been treated...
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Our generation has been treated on several occasions to the kind of false prophet the writer of Deuteronomy was referring to. The two most spectacular candidates are of course, Jim Jones and David Koresh of the Branch Davidian compound outside of Waco, Texas. Each of these men evidently started out as ardent followers of Jesus Christ, but in each case, they began to speak on their own, rather than seeking to speak the word of God. Each man became enamored of the power that comes with a charismatic leadership style, with the blind obedience of their followers, the sexual favors of the women in the movements, the ability to fulfill their every whim. And with that growing power over others came the increasing intolerance for questions and disagreements from anyone at any level. Each man eventually led his band of believers into some sort of isolated situation -- Jim Jones into the jungle of Latin America, and David Koresh into the Waco Compound, which was fortified for defense against some vague "Them" they expected to attack. And ironically, it was that enforced isolation that led the loved ones of those in these groups to bring in the authorities to investigate. Ironic, because the violent end that each group met was precisely the punishment that the writer said was the due of such false prophets. And ironic, because no one killed them; they killed themselves. -- Herrmann
