Thursday, August 4, 2016

Who were the Nicolaitans in Revelation?

The Nicolaitans,

Ever wondered what John at Patmos directed by Jesus Himself was referring to? I have, for years...
In my studies over time and recently, what I've discovered is the word Nicolaitan is Greek in origin, NIKO meaning 'Conquer" or "To Conquer" and LAOS, which in Greek means "People" or "The People" or "The Laity"
Biblical scholars think there are at least two different beliefs concerning the origins of the word Nicolaitans from the early Church writers, but for this blog I'm going to just focus in on what the most prevalent belief is.

The Nicolaitans that John exiled on Patmos refers to are the disciples of Nicolas, an early Elder in the first century Church from recorded history. It appears that Nicolas was originally a pagan as most were at that time other than the Jews, and then converted to Christianity and was appointed later as an Elder along with several other men over the early church. Nicolas was first a Pagan probably a worshiper of Isis or the goddess Diana which was an extremely perverse and sexually immoral pagan religion, then he became a Jew, and then finally a Christian and a Christian leader.

Some biblical scholars say that Nicolas had little trouble combining his earlier pagan sexually immoral beliefs with his Christianity. and was teaching this heretical stew to the Laos or "The people" directly,
other scholars say that it was his churches misunderstandings of his teachings which led to the men having more than one wife and even the sharing of wives sexually.
Either way Nicolas and his particular congregation began embracing teachings of sexual immorality forbidden by the Apostles and Jesus Christ Himself, and then passing these heretical teachings off as true church doctrine.
The text in John's Revelation to the church at Pergamos describes what Christ hated and despised here as a severe warning to those who practiced these corrupt doctrines...Revelation 2:14-16

"But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to Idols and commit sexual immorality. In the same way, some of you hold to the teachings of the Nicolaitans.
Therefore, repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of my mouth..."
The Nicolaitans were teaching Idol worship, paganism, and sexual immorality ALONG WITH their Christian doctrines to the LAITY or the people, the church, just as these two odd characters Balaam and Balak who persuaded the Israelites into stumbling by teaching them sexual immorality and Idol worship.They did this to "stumble" or "trip up" the Israelites because they knew once they committed sexual sin and Idolatry their belief in their God would be severely lessened and would be much easier to "Conquer"
Similarly the NICO (To Conquer) Laitans (The Laity) were secretly making early Christians stumble and fall by teaching them sexual immorality or sleeping around with other mens wives and or girlfriends constantly and then pretending that was somehow Ok with God.
These were somewhat similar to the Gnostics of the first century, Gnosticism was the teaching of so called "knowledge", but it was an earthly knowledge, a carnal knowledge not of God but of men.
Gnostic is where we get our word knowledge but also where we get the English word Ignorant.
The Gnostics along with the Nicolaitans are those so called leaders who are knowledgeable of carnal and corrupt things, but "ignorant" of the teachings of God. Or possibly they "know" the things of God as well but choose to ignore those pure things from God and instead trip up or deceive the laity or "people" of God anyway, knowing it's wrong for the sake of money or power. or simply because they like to Lord over, control, or "Conquer" the people.
It's pretty obvious that the Nicolaitans are not only alive and well, but today in some cases ARE the Clergy, the Ecclesia, or certain church leaders who to this very day teach the mixing of Paganism, idol worship, and completely depraved sexual perversion and then pass it off as Christian doctrine.
These are the Wolves in sheep's clothing Jesus and some apostles warned us about are they not?

"Watch out for false prophets. they come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." Matthew 7:15
and again here...

"I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God's
Marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." Jude 1:4

Are we not seeing these things this very day in certain denominations and leaders that call themselves Christian?
The acceptance of Homosexuality, Lesbianism in not only some churches but actually practiced by bishops and so called leaders and groups of churches and then pretend God somehow agrees with these perverse doctrines?
Christian singers coming out and saying they are lesbian or gay and then wanting to profess and teach these heretical doctrines in churches or conferences believing that God says that's not only Ok but if you speak against that you're called a "hater" and "not tolerant"? All for money?
Politicians who profess they are Christians and say they belong to this denomination or that denomination and teach that the sin and destruction of human life through abortion of human beings made in the image of God Himself in direct opposition to God's word is some kind of Sacrament? For votes and money?

Do these modern day Nicolaitans actually think God is not watching all of this? Really?

Jesus Christ gives his strongest condemnation and uses the word "Hatred" of these perverse corrupt doctrines taught to His laity, the people, the church, and gives this stern warning to those who teach these things...

"In the same way, some of you also hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of my Mouth..."

I take these words from Christ Himself seriously and if I've been guilty in any way of such teachings forgive me Lord, and pull me back to the Rock that is higher than I. I would hope every church leader of any kind over Christians or political leader that says they are a Christian should do so as well...

I'm just the Sax Player...


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