I'm sorry, but I have a hard time showing sympathy for a man who was somehow able to delude his followers into believing that he was a messianic figure and then forced them to live in an isolated compound where reported sexual abuse of minors took place. If these cultist were actually innocent of any wrongdoing then they should have turned themselves over to the authorities first thing and let the due process of law take its course. Instead they pulled an O.J. Simpson and tried to duck the authorities and they unfortunate paid the consequence for their disobedience to the law and those responsible for upholding it.
Cults are a very dangerous thing and it is the duty of the lawful civil authority to protect us from their noxious sting. If you look at most sensible countries like Russia and Europe, they have clear cut laws which define what is and isn't a recognized religious body. Most of the two bit "churches" and sects that we have proliferating in the US would never see the light of day in most other civilized western nations, yet here they are thriving and causing harm upon those foolish or misguided enough to fall into their trap in the good old USA.
He didn't. They believed more or less that Nahum was speaking though him. They were very open and friendly to the general public around them. The county Sheriff knew them well and saw Koresh many times in town (2 days before in fact).
When the feds arrived they were "tipped off" how armed the Dividians were. Koresh came out the front door to greet them completely unarmed and they began firing. Bullets rattled his front door and hit people in the hallway behind him. He retreated wounded and the Dividians fought back.
To this date the Dividians who escaped this murderous event were all found not guilty. No charges stand. If you watch the video I quoted in the link above, its an entire different perspective. It's a terrible thing.
They were victims. Charges were "alleged" and that doesn't deserve shooting at people coming out their door.