End of Days - Why Ruby Ridge Happened

Chris Jennings' End of Days chronicles the 1992 Ruby Ridge, Idaho, siege of the Weaver family by the U.S. government, which resulted in the death of two family members and a federal agent.

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Jennings thoroughly covers Ruby Ridge, but the book's strength lies in his examination of Randy and Vicki Weaver's religious beliefs and the federal government's strategies for dealing with anti-government types. As it turned out, the Weavers and the feds were always headed for trouble.

The Weavers were distrustful of the government and concerned that a clash with federal agencies was possible. Federal agencies, through faulty intelligence, miscommunication, and bureaucratic mistakes, came to view the Weavers as unpredictable and possibly violent.

To me, two things highlighted in the book set the Weavers and the feds on a collision course: the teachings of theologian John Nelson Darby, and the beliefs of anti-government extremist Gordon Kahl.

Darby lived in the 19th century, and his teachings became central to the American fundamentalist movement. The end times, the antichrist, the tribulation, and the rapture of the church were part and parcel of his biblical interpretations. Though the Weavers may not have known of Darby, his end-of-the-world views influenced their religious beliefs. To escape it, they sought to create a stronghold to ride out the storm.

On the other hand, the feds were influenced by their dealings with Kahl, who rejected federal authority and advocated armed resistance. Initially a tax resistor, he later joined the Posse Comitatus, a group that meshed with his views. Kahl later killed two federal agents and died in a 1983 shootout with authorities. His actions informed how the FBI and other agencies came to view the resistors who followed after Kahl.

Jennings detailed research and writing on the influences of Darby and Kahl help explain why Ruby Ridge happened. It doesn't make it easier to come to terms with the tragedy, but it does bring into focus why the actions and philosophies of the Weavers and the federal government ended in violence.

Jennings' book is a compelling read. I liked that he started with the initial clash between the Weavers and federal agents that led to the 11-day standoff. It nicely sets up his examination of the Weavers' lives and how they came to think and act as they did. He also highlights federal encounters with other anti-government individuals and groups.

At the end, Jennings provides a well-reasoned epilogue that explains the impact of Ruby Ridge. He brings together the perspectives, history, and human frailties at play, offering a balanced account of an event that still shapes how citizens and the federal government view each other.

I received an advance reading copy from www.netgalley.com.