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WHO ARE THE NICOLAITANES?

from

The Revelation of the Apocalypse

Given by Christ Jesus to John the Apostle
on the Island of Patmos.

Chapter 2
vv. 6 ”Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.”
vv. 15 “So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitanes.”

The Nicolaitanes were a cultish faction, holding to a Christian heresy whose adherents are called nicolaitans, nicolaites, or nicolaitanes. They were apparently much like the Pharisees. The name is a compound Greek term, the Greek word "nicao" means "to conquer," to dominate, intimidate, manipulate. It means undue control. The word "laos" means "the people" …the laity.

In case you don't know, when the church began in Jerusalem, on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb, believers met in their houses, shared meals, and studied the Torah and the Prophets to find for themselves the references to Y'shua haMessiach, and confirm for themselves that they truly were seeing Prophecy fulfilled. Of note were those residents of Berea, who "eagerly examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so", and many of them believed.

There were no official Priests, Bishops, Cardinals, or Popes. When the followers of Jesus met, anyone at all was welcome to share points they had found in study, and to speak out what the Holy Spirit might give them to say.

Now, the Clergy leads the conquered Parishioners in a procession, having made themselves lords over the Heritage of Jehovah God and His Christ. They limit what they teach of the Words of God. Worse, they expel (excommunicate) whom they will from their congregations, even for making study of Scripture apart from their interpretation. And so, “For lack of knowledge, my people perish.”

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