Nicolaitans

Do you know what someone close to you hates? Do you know what they consider detestable? What is it that they would hate for you to practice? As we consider these questions let's look at them and apply them to our Father God. Have you ever thought about that? In this article we're going to do just that. We pray it will change your life, and give you a new perspective. I would like to give you a list of some things that God hates. This list is by no means exhaustive or in anyway limits God as to the things He hates. You may want to jot these down and look up the references later.

  1. FALSE GODS OR IDOLS - Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 5:9; 12:31; 16:22

  2. THE PROUD - Proverbs 6:17

  3. LIARS - Proverbs 6:17

  4. MURDERS - Proverbs 6:17; Psalm 11:5

  5. A WICKED HEART THAT DEVISES EVIL - Proverbs 6:18, Zechariah 8:17

  6. THOSE THAT LIVE IN WICKEDNESS - Proverbs 6:18; Jeremiah 44:4; Hosea 9:15; Psalm 5:5, 45:7; 11:5

  7. A FALSE WITNESS - Proverbs 6:19; Zechariah 8:17

  8. THOSE THAT SOW DISCORD AMONG THE BRETHREN - Proverbs 6:19

  9. ROBBERY - Isaiah 61:8

  10. THE OLD TESTAMENT FEAST DAYS, TURNED INTO WICKEDNESS - Amos 5:21, Isaiah 1:14

  11. DIVORCE - Malachi 2:16

  12. THE DEEDS OF THE NICOLAITANS - Revelation 2:6, 15

The word hate sane hate, hatred, hated, etc. means just that to hate like an enemy or to be opposed to. It's the opposite of like, or liking something. If you will notice this hatred that God has is not directed at anyone, which keeps in accord with John 3:16, but at the works and deeds of individuals.

Look at number twelve in the list. This is what we'll be focusing on in the rest of this message. In the New Testament the word hate is used about 16 times. In Revelation 2:6 and 2:15 we're told of this thing Jesus hates. The word hate miseo means to pursue with hatred, detest, or despise. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Do you know what this means? What is the deeds of the Nicolaitans? (Pronounced nic-oh-LAY-ih-tayns) do you know? Do you think you should know? Do you think that if it's something Jesus hates, and does not want us to do we should know what it is? The answers to those questions should be yes!

The teaching of the deeds of the Nicolaitans is something that is not taught in most churches. When was the last time it was taught to you? If you don't know what it is how do you know if you are not practicing it?

But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. (Revelation 2:6)

So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. (Revelation 2:15)

In Revelation 2:6 Jesus commends the Church of the Ephesians for their hatred of the deeds of the Nicolaitans. In Revelation 2:15 He condemns the Church of Pergamos (pronounced PUR-guh-mahs) for their acceptance of it. I would like you to notice, from both verses 6 and 15, two things. First, what deeds and doctrine are. Second, what and who were the Nicolaitans, and what was it they taught?

The word deeds ergon--to work or perform acts. For example this word is used, in a good sense, in the book of Ephesians.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).

Therefore we understand that the deeds of the Nicolaitans are something that was visible; it was an act that was practiced. Next we have doctrine. Most all of us should know what this is. It's teaching, that which is taught, the act of teaching, or instruction. We understand here that the Church at Pergamos allowed the Nicolaitans to teach and instruct what they held to!   Please understand no matter how good anything sounds or how learned one might appear to be it is not grounds for Truth. We must always check it out in God's Word.

Next, what and who are the Nicolaitans? And what were they teaching? After consulting numerous sources it's commonly held that the Nicolaitans were a sect or party which arose in the Apostolic period of the Church. There is very little information on exactly who these individuals were. Exactly who they were, at this point, is not relevant. What is relevant is "what they taught" again after consulting numerous sources it's agreed that the voice of antiquity accuses them of holding to the "lawfulness" of idolatry, sexual promiscuity, and Gnosticism.

For those that may not be familiar with Gnosticism (which comes from the Greek word Gnosis meaning knowledge) without boring us with a lot of complicated information; in its simplest definition "the central doctrine that emancipation (making free, salvation) comes through knowledge, and that once attained, one was freed from the clutch of matter, i.e. the body was evil and it did not matter what one did with it." Also it was common by most Gnostics to deny the Deity of Jesus Christ.

The sects, like the Nicolaitans, crept into the Church and influenced her to mix Paganism with Christianity. Roman Catholicism is guilty of this. Many may be saying, "ok, what does all this have to do with me my Church does not teach or condone any of those things"? Really? You better check to make sure. However, some may be thinking "hum? I heard so and so say something similar to what this is saying." This message is a warning to be very careful of what you receive as teaching.

"For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude 4)

The idea that we can do whatever we want, and not have to worry about incurring a rebuke from Jesus, is in line with the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. Let me give you the next verse from the passage about the Nicolaitans its in Revelation 2:16.

"Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth."

There are Churches that believe they are Christian but fall down, worship, pray to, and kiss idols.

"Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry." (1 Corinthians 10:14)

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies." (Galatians 5:19,20)

"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:5)

"Little children, keep yourselves from idols, Amen." (1 John 5:21)

There are Churches today that believe they can be Christians and have unbridled sex. One pastor is quoted as saying "Don't worry to much about sin" and another that had "a log book of his sexual liaisons of the women in his church" that pastor, at last word, was dying of cancer.

"But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and [from] fornication, and [from] things strangled, and [from] blood." (Acts 15:20)

"It is reported commonly [that there is] fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife." (1 Corinthians 5:1)

"Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body." (1 Corinthians 6:18)

"Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand." (1 Corinthians 10:8)

"For this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication." (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

There are many Churches today that say they're Christian but deny Jesus Christ! There are many Churches that have liberal pastors teaching that Jesus was not God!

"But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 10:33)

"If we suffer, we shall also reign with [him]: if we deny [him], he also will deny us." ( 2 Timothy 2:12)

"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." (Titus 1:16)

"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son." (1 John 2:20)

"And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world." (1 John 4:3)

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." (2 Peter 2:1)

In closing, there may be some of you that can still say, "none of this pertains to me." To that I say Praise God! but.

"Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18)

"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." (1 Corinthians 10:12)

If some of you have felt the Word speaking to you about an area in your life then; beloved, obey the Scriptures and ask Christ to remove the Sin.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

Please remember if the doctrine of the Nicolaitans does not pertain directly to you then truly thank God for His Grace! And be warned that it's out there and you should be on guard.

Amen!

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