The word Nicolaitans is found only three times the Holy Bible. The word Nicholas is mentioned only once. However, as this series will reveal, the man (Nicholas) and the church group he established (Nicholaitans) has had a tremendous impact on the Church of God in the past and continues to do so today. To fully understand who and what we are discussing, we need to conduct a bit of historical research which will not only reveal who and what the Nicolaitans were anciently, but who and what they are today.

In Revelation two verses six and fifteen we find Jesus dictating letters to the seven churches that existed along a Roman mail route in Asia. These churches represent the seven church eras that have transpired from the founding of God’s church until this day. In the letters to the individual churches Jesus identified both positive and negative aspects of each body. He pointed out that in two of the churches (Ephesus and Pergamos) there were people about whom Jesus used the word HATE in His description of their doctrines and practices. In verse six He said that He HATED THE DEEDS of the Nicolaitans. In verse 15 He noted that He HATED THEIR DOCTRINES. Remember, these were groups of people existing IN THE CHURCHES whom Jesus was addressing in His letters to them. Before we get into the extremely negative aspects of this subject, I want to show you something that thrills me no matter how many times I read it. Turn with me to the first chapter of Revelation beginning with verse 12.

Here we find that John has heard a voice coming from behind him that sounded like a trumpet. He turns toward the voice in order to see its source. Stunned, He describes what stands before him in verses 12-16. Read those verses. John’s description of the risen Savior is significant because it describes what God’s Very Elect, Law-obeying saints will look like after being born again upon Christ’s return. If you have not done so, stop here and read Born Again. Key word–Born. Be warned: IF YOU ARE A CAPTIVE OF THE CATHOLIC/PROTESTANT RELIGIOUS SYSTEM (“THE CHURCH”), EVERYTHING YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT ABOUT THE SALVATION/ BORN AGAIN EXPERIENCE IS WRONG. The same is true about most everything you have been told about the Word and will of God. For this reason God focused this ministry on the Institutional Church–His primary mission field in which literally billions of people have spent most of their lives doing what their false prophets told them to do, all the while believing that they are serving the Biblical God. Thank God for the second resurrection which will allow the billions of deceived people who live and die in Satan’s church the opportunity to learn His Truth, believe and become part of His eternal kingdom. Read The Three Resurrections. Key word–Three.

In the series titled “My People Who Are Called by My Name” and “Who Are God’s People” (key words –Called and People respectively), Jesus tells us how Satan’s people came to be in His (Christ’s) church. If you have not read those series I suggest that you do so in conjunction with this series. Now we will turn to the sixth chapter of Acts in order to learn who the founder of the Nicholaitans was and how he gained entrance into and acceptance within the newly established Church of God.

In Acts six we find that the church, which had attracted a number of widows and orphans, was experiencing growing pains and needed to take care of some administrative matters. It seems that the widows and orphans were not being cared for as they should have been. This problem was presented to the apostles who were already busy with the ministry of God’s Word. Knowing that they could care for both their spiritual and physical jobs, they told the people to choose from among themselves seven men to take care of the problem, thereby freeing the apostles to do the ministerial work God had assigned them. The people chose seven men who are named in verse five. One of those men was “Nicholas, a proselyte from Antioch.” Six of the men were Jews. Nicholas was a converted Gentile (heathen) who, history would prove, had retained some of his heathen beliefs upon his supposed “conversion” to Christianity. These beliefs included the doctrines and deeds of such religious luminaries as Balaam of talking ass fame and Jezebel of Thyatira. These two “prophets” had taught God’s people to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication (Rev. 2:14,15,20). Because both abominations were pleasing to the flesh, they had no trouble convincing a large number of church people that their DOCTRINES AND DEEDS were of God. Sound familiar?

The fact that the people had faith in the seven men, including Nicholas, and that the apostles laid hands on all of them, reveals that Nicolas had deceived everyone, including the apostles. The laying on of hands remains an important act among God’s people today. Judging from the Satanic ministries of Nicholas and those whom he discipled in the church, he and his followers had not abandoned their heathen religion. Instead, they simply made Christianity a part of it. The same was true for Simon Magus who “believed and was baptized” before being sent packing by the Apostle Peter. Read Acts 8.

Where are the Nicolaitans today? They fill the pews of 99.99% of the world’s churches. The principle of leaven and the whole loaf cannot be better illustrated than the example given by the Nicolaitan takeover of the church. The Institutional Church is a Nicolaitan institution from the top down. Just as Satan used heathen “converts” to destroy the church 1900 years ago, he is using heathen people to bring about her eventual demise in these end times. The church not only knows nothing about God or His ways, she will have nothing to do with, and will not listen to those who know God and His ways and want to share Him and them. L.J.