THE NICOLAITANS Who were they What did they

THE NICOLAITANS Who were they? What did they teach? What was so wrong with them? Why did Jesus hate their teachings? Revelation 2: 6 Revelation 2: 15

THE NICOLAITANS ● What Revelation says ● Who is Nicolas – Acts 6: 5 ● Connection to Baalam – Numbers 22 – 24 ● Connection to Jezebel – 2 Kings 9 – 10 ● Epicureans of Greece – Acts 17: 18 ● Are they still around today?

Revelation 2: 6, 14 -15 ● ● To Ephesus 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. To Pergamos 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Revelation 2: 20 -22 ● To Thyatira 20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.

Who is Nicolas? ● Acts 6: 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, ● A Gentile converted to Judiasm ● Then converted to Christianity ● Then converted to this false doctrine ● Nicolas was a deacon – gone bad

Connection to Baalam ● Baalam – prophet of God – gone bad ● Wanted to curse Israel – was not allowed ● Led Israel into adultery ● ● Numbers 25: 1 Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. Numbers 31: 16 Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.

Connection to Baalam ● ● 2 Peter 2: 15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness Jude 11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.

Connection to Baalam ● Fornication ● Honor pagan gods ● Eat meat offered to idols ● Violates the order of the apostles ● Acts 15: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.

Connection to Jezebel ● Actual woman or similar to Jezebel in OT? ● Claimed to be a prophetess of God ● Taught that fornication was OK ● Led many into adultery / fornication ● Only difference – This was a woman.

Connection to Epicureans ● ● ● Acts 17: 18 a Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. Stoics – Pleasure is evil. It is is enjoyed it is sin. Epicureans – All pleasure is good. “Eat, drink and be merry. ” See rich farmer – Luke 12: 29

Nicolaitans around today? ● Is there a desire to please false gods (false religions)? ● Islam ● Judaism ● Humanism ● Atheism

Nicolaitans around today? ● Is there an encouragement to fornication? ● TV, Movies, Magazines ● Internet pornography ● Ads at the Super Bowl ● Homosexuality, Bestiality (man marries dog) ● Adultery, Fornication ● Live together w/o marriage

Nicolaitans around today? ● The Nicolaitans were an example of unrestrained indulgence. ● Ignore the clear will of God in the Bible. ● If it feels good, do it. ● Anything goes. ● Nothing is immoral. If any of this sounds like today – then the Nicolaitans are still around. ●

Jesus hated their deeds ● Jesus hated their deeds Baalam – Jezebel – Nicolas – Claimed to be with God – opposed God – Today Revelation 2: 15 -16 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My – ●