Who are the Nicolaitans as seen in Revelation 2:6,15.?

Question

We see two things related to this group. We have their " works" and their " Teaching."
There are not many things that the Lord says that He blatantly hates. But to the church in Ephesus He speaks to them concerning their stand against the works of the Nicolaitans. THis kind of behavior displayed by them.

By the time the Epistle was written to the Church in Pergamos.. these works or behavior had turned into a Teaching. What a jump.

Why does the Lord hate the works and teaching of this group in the Church.
The Word Nicolaitans has a lot to understanding why the Lord hates this. What did they do that was so horrible that the Lord hated it.

Ty for any scriptural references to support your answers. May the Word of Christ dwell in us richly.

Your sister
sandy

Note well that the Church that suceeded the Church in Pergamos is the Church in Thyatira.. the Apostate Roman Catholic Church. Did the teaching of the Nicolaitans continue. What of Sardis.. did it continue there? Notice Philadelphia.. Brotherly love. Where no one lorded it over another.

Answer 1

Nico -- to rule
Laitus -- the people

A small "elite" group of individuals said that they are the "go-betweens" between God and man. Jesus, who is God, says He HATES this, because Jesus insists that we each go to Him personally. The Nicolaitans used this power position to dominate the people.

We can and are required to go to Jesus ourselves. We don't need a person ("priest" or whatever) to do it for us. The Bible teaches the priesthood of all believers.

Answer 2

Well remember in Proverbs 6 we see what the Lord hates: 16 There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Now let us speculate. The Nicolaitans are most likely named after their leader or founder. Remember in the OT many times in 1st and 2nd kings we read and they followed in the way of ... and did evil in the eyes of the Lord. I mention this because these people are following in things that God hates. If they are part of the Church how horrible these attributes would be. The world has enough against us and some not so ill founded. If there was a group of Christians doing such things they would be worthy of hate and I am sure as we near the end of days we will see such people in the Church again. I believe there are some now and the TV is full of them but one day they will be so common people will have to flee the Church to find the word of God.

Answer 3

The Nicolaitans were a heretical group that troubled the churches at the Ephesus and Pergamos

The doctrine of the Nicolaitans, already seen in Ephesus ( v 6 ), was similar that of Balaam ( v 14 )

Answer 4

I thank the Lord for the inspiration to look in the epistle to the Ephesians to see who it was that the angel was referring to. The Lord bless you abundantly for your service to him.

Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;

They knew Christ, as their first love, and Paul admonishes them in a few verses to be renewed.

Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Answer 5

You will recall that I brought out in the Ephesian Age that the word, Nicolaitane, comes from two Greek words: Nikao which means to conquer, and Lao which means the laity. Nicolaitane means, "to conquer the laity." Now why is this such a terrible thing? It is terrible because God has never placed His church in the hands of an elected leadership which moves with political mindedness. He has placed His church in the care of God- ordained, Spirit-filled, Word-living men who lead the people through feeding them the Word. He has not separated the people into classes so that the masses are led by a holy priesthood. It is true that the leadership must be holy, but then so must be the whole congregation. Further, there is no place in the Word where priests or ministers or such mediate between God and the people, nor is there a place where they are separated in their worship of the Lord. God wants all to love and serve Him together. Nicolaitanism destroys those precepts and instead separates the ministers from the people and makes the leaders overlords instead of servants. Now this doctrine actually started as a deed in the first age. It appears that the problem lay in two words: "elders" (presbyters) and "overseers" (bishops). Though Scripture shows that there are several elders in each church, some began (Ignatius among them) to teach that the idea of a bishop was one of preeminence or authority and control over the elders. Now the truth of the matter is the word "elder" signifies who the person is, while the word "bishop" signifies the office of the same man. The elder is the man. Bishop is the office of the man. "Elder" always has and always will refer simply to a man's chronological age in the Lord. He is an elder, not because he is elected or ordained, etc., but because he IS OLDER. He is more seasoned, trained, not a novice, reliable because of experience and long standing proof of his Christian experience. But no, the bishops did not stick to the epistles of Paul, but rather they went to Paul's account of the time he called the elders from Ephesus to Miletus in Acts 20. In verse 17 the record states, "elders" were called and then in verse 28 they are called overseers (bishops). And these bishops, (no doubt political minded and anxious for power) insisted that Paul had given the meaning that "overseers" were more than the local elder with official capacity only in his own church. To them a bishop was now one with extended authority over many local leaders. Such a concept was neither Scriptural nor historical, yet even a man of the stature of Polycarp leaned toward such organization. Thus, that which started as a deed in the first age was made a literal doctrine and so it is today. Bishops still claim power to control men and deal with them as they desire, placing them where they so will in the ministry. This denies the leadership of the Holy Ghost Who said, "Separate Me Paul and Barnabas for the work whereunto I have called them." This is anti-Word and anti-Christ. Matthew 20:25-28, "But Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you; but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many." Matthew 23:8- 9, "But be not ye called Rabbi: for One is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for One is your Father, Which is in heaven."

Answer 6

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Nicola’itans

(followers of Nicolas ), a sect mentioned in (Revelation 2:6,15) whose deeds were strongly condemned. They may have been identical with those who held the doctrine of Balaam. They seem to have held that it was lawful to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication, in opposition to the decree of the Church rendered in (Acts 15:20,29) The teachers of the Church branded them with a name which expressed their true character. The men who did and taught such things were followers of Balaam. (2 Peter 2:15; Jude 1:11) They, like the false prophet of Pethor, united brave words with evil deeds. In a time of persecution, when the eating or not eating of things sacrificed to idols was more than ever a crucial test of faithfulness, they persuaded men more than ever that was a thing indifferent. (Revelation 2:13,14) This was bad enough, but there was a yet worse evil. Mingling themselves in the orgies of idolatrous feasts, they brought the impurities of those feasts into the meetings of the Christian Church. And all this was done, it must be remembered not simply as an indulgence of appetite: but as a part of a system, supported by a "doctrine," accompanied by the boast of a prophetic illumination, (2 Peter 2:1) It confirms the view which has been taken of their character to find that stress is laid in the first instance on the "deeds" of the Nicolaitans. To hate those deeds is a sign of life in a Church that otherwise is weak and faithless. (Revelation 2:6) To tolerate them is well nigh to forfeit the glory of having been faithful under persecution. (Revelation 2:14,15)

They Worshipped idols, did not believe in creation. See any churches today that believe in evolution?

Answer 7

I actually researched this a little the other day. The Bible is vague as to what they practiced. I found that they started the heirarcy in the church about 100AD. I don't mean this as a slam against anyone but it bordered catholicism. That is if what I researched was acurate. I don't really know for sure though.

In Christ Together
Daniel

Answer 8

Nicolaitans are hypocrites of religous doctrine....meaning they preach one thing, while doing something COMPLETELY different....good word would be corrupt.

I see Nicolaitans as those wordly men obsessed with money and power who use religous doctrine as a political tool to obtain these ends....this would be the most reprehensible thing one could do--using religion to manipulate people in order to gain power and wealth.

Answer 9

The Nicolaitans-Were and Still are A group of people claiming to be in grace and mercy but

They don't beleave that the Law of Father God Apllies to them,
they feel that they are free from the Law of our Father God in Heaven which interms--they have commited (Sin) you would'nt beleave, adultry that is not heard of, in the name of Christian Liberty, In other words --Lyers, To the Real Christians and Soldiers of Jesus the Christ, they want to be among us, but there'er lyers and cheaters, Murderes of Christ and not only that Killers of Father God in Heaven Laws, they felel that they are the Law, You see and hear them everyday Claiming Peace on Earth, but at the same time starting wars, and lies to fool people in thinking that they are Christ like, tellings lies on other Countries killing there women and Children For the profits of oil and Money and sinfull Power they excercise, the very hate torge the Children of God Almighty in Heaven In the name of Jesus, for the diquise of so-called peace they robb each other sleep with men and women on women men on men but holds the manly power of Government, And get on T.V. with there Evil Smiles and riches off poor people, they even kill there own people here in the United States and lie for reasoning, they creates rapist, muderes, thieves, demons of profits from Slavery and Rape and Murder. With there lying anals and say God bless our Country, Not Father God in Heaven there're talking about the Satan Pegan God, A real person would say Lord God Let us pray for our people in Christ and for the Sins we the rich and powerful and Government have committed torge you and your People, Yeah Right like those snakes is going to do that, but there day will come, Were Every Knee Must Bow
To Our Lord of Lords and Kings of Kings. Jesus the Christ.

And the Flawless Words of Father God in Heaven and His Law. Amen and Hilaluah.

Answer 10

Excellent question !!

Impure heretics sprung up in the time of the apostolic church, but their doctrines were not received, and their deeds were hated, see Rev_2:6. This seems to design the doctrines of the church of Rome, which in this period took place; which forbid marriage to the priests, and recommended celibacy and virginity to others also; which were the source of all uncleanness and abominable lusts; for which pardons and indulgences were given, and, in process of time, brothel houses were set up, and licensed and encouraged by authority.