Betty
Member
- Mar 28, 2017
- 71
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This is a study from a few years ago that I came across today in one of my folders. I thought I'd share it here for discussion and input.
Revelation 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
Revelation 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Revelation 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Revelation 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.Revelation 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
The name "Nicolaitans" is derived from the Greek word nikolaos, a compound of the words Nikos and Laos. The word Nikos is Greek and means to conquer or to subdue. The word Laos is the Greek word for the people and where we get the word laity. When these two words are compounded into one, they form the name Nicolas, which means one who conquers and subdues the people.
The next mention of the Nicolaitanes is also in Revelation Ch. 2. To the church of Pergamos. It shows the doctrine of Balaam as part of the belief along with the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes.
Revelation 2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Revelation 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
The laws mentioned are the same laws that Paul and the Apostles gave to the gentile believers as recorded in Acts. Ch. 15
Act 15:19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
Act 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
Act 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Revelation 2:14, shows that the doctrine of Balaam went directly against those laws taught by Paul to the gentiles.
The third mention doesn't directly address the Nicolatianes, but shows the same type of teaching present. The laws mentioned in the first two listed above, are the same teachings that Jezebel taught.
Revelation 2:18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
Revelation 2:19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
Revelation 2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. Revelation 2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
The first two churches mention the Nicolaitanes, along with people being taught to commit fornication and to eat things sacrified, the third church listed here, (Thyatira,) doesn’t directly mention the Nicolatianes, but the same teachings are present along with what Jezebel teaches shown in Vs. 20, and the doctrine of Balaam.
With these examples in Revelation, the churches, (believers) are being addressed. The doctrines of the Nicolatianes is mixed into more than one letter to a church. It seems that it has to do with conquering and victory over the people through false teachings that are stumbling blocks set in the paths of believers that are opposite of what God's word says. Another reason we should all be studying the word prayerfully and seeking God's truth diligently.
Revelation 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
Revelation 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Revelation 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Revelation 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.Revelation 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
The name "Nicolaitans" is derived from the Greek word nikolaos, a compound of the words Nikos and Laos. The word Nikos is Greek and means to conquer or to subdue. The word Laos is the Greek word for the people and where we get the word laity. When these two words are compounded into one, they form the name Nicolas, which means one who conquers and subdues the people.
The next mention of the Nicolaitanes is also in Revelation Ch. 2. To the church of Pergamos. It shows the doctrine of Balaam as part of the belief along with the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes.
Revelation 2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Revelation 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
The laws mentioned are the same laws that Paul and the Apostles gave to the gentile believers as recorded in Acts. Ch. 15
Act 15:19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
Act 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
Act 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Revelation 2:14, shows that the doctrine of Balaam went directly against those laws taught by Paul to the gentiles.
The third mention doesn't directly address the Nicolatianes, but shows the same type of teaching present. The laws mentioned in the first two listed above, are the same teachings that Jezebel taught.
Revelation 2:18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
Revelation 2:19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
Revelation 2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. Revelation 2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
The first two churches mention the Nicolaitanes, along with people being taught to commit fornication and to eat things sacrified, the third church listed here, (Thyatira,) doesn’t directly mention the Nicolatianes, but the same teachings are present along with what Jezebel teaches shown in Vs. 20, and the doctrine of Balaam.
With these examples in Revelation, the churches, (believers) are being addressed. The doctrines of the Nicolatianes is mixed into more than one letter to a church. It seems that it has to do with conquering and victory over the people through false teachings that are stumbling blocks set in the paths of believers that are opposite of what God's word says. Another reason we should all be studying the word prayerfully and seeking God's truth diligently.