T#026 NICOLAITANS – observe THEM VERY WELL and KNOW THEM --- but DO NOT EVER ARGUE with THEM!

The word NICOLAITANS

• although mentioned in THE BIBLE

• only two times

• (in >>Revelation 2:6 and >>2:15 only)

• was mentioned by no less than our LORD JESUS THE CHRIST HIMSELF.

It should therefore
be critically important

and

• imperative for all Christians

• to understand

• WHO they are

• in the light of the symbolisms

• that THE BOOK of REVELATION

• has-to-be understood

• and then OBEYED!

[ i enjoin you to pause .......

• ( and not as yet proceed with reading

• more so .... obey the points herein driven )

• ....... for your understanding first

UNTIL
you settle with
THE LORD JESUS HIMSELF

THE TRUTH in
>>2nd Corinthians 1:13 .... ]

NICOLAIT in Greek is composed of two words –

• NIKAO, meaning “conqueror or above others,” and

• LAOS, which means “peer among equals.”

NICOLAITANS therefore,
are people among ourselves

• in THE CHURCH HERSELF

• who esteem themselves higher than the rest of us ---

• their fellow-believers --- 

• and

• behave themselves as higher than us!!!!

In their churches

• THE LORD JESUS is above

• and their members are below

• and they position themselves

• and behave themselves

• as below THE LORD

• yet, very evidently ABOVE their members. 

THE LORD HIMSELF declared:

“I also hate the actuations
of THE NICOLAITANS.”

 ---->>Revelation 2:6

• ASSERTING AUTHORITY over fellow-believers

• by those leaders .......

• of positions, privileges, actuations, behaviors, methodologies

• with titles and special greetings

• is WHAT THE LORD hates.

IT is THAT THING which
also ought-to-be hated

• by us....  as JESUS HIMSELF approved

• of THE CHURCH still in ideal status in Ephesus then

• ---- hating those actuations of those NICOLAITANS ----

• shortly after John was banished to Patmos.

BEING ASSERTED AUTHORITY OVER
is exactly what we  ---

CALLED-OUTS
are

TO OVERCOME

• ---- to put to no significant adverse effect into our lives

• ---- their (1) behaviors,

• own (2) teachings & 

• own (3) methodologies

• without getting into any argument,

• on the above 3,

• with them,

• and about themselves!

This is

• THE WAY (>>John 14:6) that JESUS DECLARED to be HIS METHODOLOGY

• THE TRUTH (>>John 14:6) with which HE wants us TO LIVE

• THE LIFE (>>John 14:6) of obedience to the commands

• in >>Matthew 23:8-10 in particular

• and >>Matthew 28:20 in general

WITHOUT WHICH

HE cannot be

with us always

to the very end of
this OUR age

THE CHURCH AGE!

This is the essence
of
THE
UNIVERSAL
PRIESTHOOD

• of EVERY BELIEVER

• in THE LORDSHIP & THE CHRISTHOOD of JESUS

• IN THESE END-TIMES(!)

• >>> T#010

• plus >>> T#033

as
THE METHODOLOGY
for
HIS CHURCH!!!

In >>Exodus 19:5-6, All The People of Israel were-to-be THE KINGDOM of PRIESTS in their time;

if only they obeyed GOD’s WORD

• --- and kept HIS COVENANT (the old one for them then!)

without [1] adding to,
[2] subtracting from 
and [3] twisting IT.

In the beginning, GOD ordained that all HIS people be priests.

• Not long after though, the incident of worshiping the golden calf happened. Moses broke the tablets of the law and declared: “He who is on THE LORD’s side, let him slay his brother”.

At that time, only The Levites came to stand on THE LORD’s side. As a result, on that day, 3,000 Israelites were slain (>>Exodus 32:25-29).

• Thereafter, only The Levites could-be Priests.

• The supposed nation of Priests was reduced to

A Tribe of Priests na lang!!!

under >>>T#058 
THE PERMISSIVE WILL of GOD

• The rest of Israel could not be priests anymore

• (and have become the precursor of THE LAITY-MEMBERS as distinguished from Priests / Pastors / Ministers we have now(!) in our days of >>> T#022 Denominationalism in This CHURCH Age).

• Thereafter, JUDAISM had to depend upon The Levites alone to-be the priests for their fellow Jews.

The priests
under The Old Covenant
as typified by
The Levites were  
a mediatorial class,
the in-between between

• GOD and HIS Nation,

• THE JEWS collectively as HIS Nation after they crossed the Red Sea!

Under THE New COVENANT

(for This Church Age)

which started
to take effect on
that Pentecost Day of A.D. 33,

• all the children of GOD

• all of THE CHURCH are-to-be priests of GOD.

“You are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people for GOD’s own possession.”
-- (>>1st Peter 2:9).

Because of the one-time work of redemption by JESUS THE CHRIST,

• for The Jews & Gentiles alike

• we are now(!) restored back to the condition GOD willed

• for ALL HIS PEOPLE then at the very beginning

the universal
priesthood
for
each one of US

• subject to our [Jews & Gentiles alike] 

individually
keeping
THE NEW COVENANT

in all its newness

in obedience to HIM(!)

by our individual

availment of

>>> THE GRAND AMNESTY GRANT

& followed throughout our LIFE

with 

THE COMMITMENT to LIVING UP to

THE LORDSHIP &
THE CHRISTHOOD
of JESUS

(>>>T#001)

thereafter!!!

All of us in THE CHURCH

• are-to-be HIS priests

• as made ultra clear in >>Revelation 1:5-6.

• It’s a pity that we believe in HIS redemption work,

• we profess to believe in HIS WORD

• but THE MANY of us disregard HIS design for us

• by our own ways --- contradicting >>Jeremiah 10:23

• disregarding HIS methodology.

All of us Christians
ought-to-be

The Priests in charge of

all of
GOD’s concerns
in THIS WORLD of
QUESTS for

Recognition, Fame, Fortune,
Control & Influence, Positions, Power,
and SOVEREIGNTY.

a

Yet, because of the behavior and teachings of these NICOLAITANS

• not all of us in The Church

• seem obligated to be in charge of GOD’s concerns & interests anymore.

There ought not to be

• [and there should be a total stop to]

• this mediatorial-kind of METHODOLOGY,

• BEHAVIORS, & TEACHINGS

• emanating from THE ATTITUDES of THESE NICOLAITANS

• which we should realize by now(!)

• --- are CORRUPTING us

• as THE CHURCH!!!

ALL of us added to
by THE LORD JESUS
(>>Acts 2:47)

to HIS Church

after
the 3000 Jews
on that Pentecost Day,
A.D. 33

can approach
the throne
of grace

IN PRAYER
with
confidence

guided by
>>>T#014

• without the need of the kind of mediatorial priests

• that the Levites were

• .... but still insisted upon

• by these NICOLAITANS around us

• in (!) THEMSELVES (!)

..... that we ALL may

[1] receive mercy and 
[2] find grace to help us

in our time of need
(>>Hebrews 4:16)!!!

THE CHURCH that we are a-part-of

• has JESUS THE CHRIST as our CHIEF-PRIEST

• (>>Hebrews 8:1)

• in WHOM we lack nothing

• and WHO needs no replacement

• as HE is continuing to live and function

• (>>Hebrews 7:11 up to >> 10:27)

as
THE ONE MEDIATOR
(>>1stTimothy 2:5)

• between us & GOD

• [devoid of organization, nor hierarchy, nay charisms]

• as ....... we are to behave as mere brothers/sisters

• to learn from ONE ANOTHER

• >>>T#010

• (>>Matthew 23:8-10)

with some among us given
by JESUS HIMSELF to do
the role as elders from
situation-to-situation!
>>>T#009

• THE CHURCH is, was and forever will

CONTINUE TO
REMAIN CORRUPTED

with these hated
by-THE LORD

 mediatorial roles
 these NICOLAITANS

are assuming over us!

Allowing

THE CHURCH

JESUS
established
on that Pentecost Day,
of A.D. 33

remain corrupted

by these

NICOLAITANS

DEPENDS ON YOU

& EACH ONE OF US!

When the mere 
behaviors and actuations
(>>Revelation 2:6)

• --- of those NICOLAITANS then

• during the very initial days of THE CHURCH

• still in Desirable Status --- in Ephesus then

• --- were tolerated

• THE ONE CHURCH still in Desirable Status then

• (very shortly ....  after John's eldering ended with his banishment to Patmos

• --- started to turn to become

• THE CHURCH in Suffering State --- in Smyrna then.

• [>>>T#023].

Many in THE CHURCH
in Smyrna then

• could hardly bear those sufferings

• and when such behaviors and actuations

• turned to become teachings and methodologiess in their time (circa A.D. 96 - 100) and place

• (>>Revelation 2:15)

THE ONE CHURCH
became

THE CHURCH
in UNION with
The Worldliness ---

then
in Pergamum

• ---- when they accepted the slander of those who say they are Jews >>>>

• ---- (the claimant authorities in religion purposely left out earlier by THE LORD JESUS

• ---- on the day HE established HIS Church on that Pentecost Day, of A.D. 33)

• >>>> in favor of the 12 Galileean fishermen-turned-apostles

• of THE LORD JESUS THE CHRIST!

TRULY they were not & are
not authorities --

because THE CHURCH
was designed by THE LORD
JESUS to be without

human authority and
to be devoid of
 organization.

There and then
officially started

the mistaken
acceptance
that
THE CHURCH is

composed of
the clergy
and their laity with:

1.    a continued need for a house or building or room

• ----- where they gather for their group's prescribed worship

• ----- made with hands, where these church leaders

• require their church members or laity

• for their scheduled-prescribed worship service

• to meet and nowhere else(!!!)

• ..... contrary to GOD’s plan

• under THE New COVENANT that

• we upon our amnesty has already no need

• for such kind of temple of The Old Covenant

• for our WORSHIP

• ...... because we have already become HIS temple

• (>>1st Corinthians 3:16);

2.    a continued need for man-made-and-added-laws and doctrines and methodologies

• from their own positional authority

• own group-called synods, councils, conventions, and conferences

• despite the completeness and adequacy

• (>>2ndTimothy 3:16-17)

• of THE printed BIBLE

• as categorically declared by Paul

• .... plus, in terms of chronology in time

• what was declared by >>Jude's writing in verse 3 thereof

• for our guidance;

3.    a continued need for worldly promises

• so that they can get hoping their members >>>>

• (.... make it attractive for their laity-members)

• >>>> stick around and obey them

• as organizers trying to get their leaderships sustained

• --- extrapolating their wrong claim

• that we Gentiles together with the Jews will be able to avail of GOD's wealth

• as bounty promised to Israel then

• ---when in truth and in fact

• there is not anymore a single promise GOD gave to Israel as HIS nation

• that is left unfulfilled by GOD.

• (>>Joshua 21:43-45)

4.    a continued need for mediatorial priests/pastors/ministers

• who administers the three (3) above

• in the way of the world’s organizations.

All these needs of
Judaism got restored

by these
NICOLAITANS into

THE CHURCH JESUS
did not establish
HER with.

To this day, in all
the denominations

• some people (their leaders)

• are sought to take special care of the “spiritual affairs”

• while the rest of their members

• are rendered free to concentrate on secular work.

Thus, the clergy and
the laity GAP

PROBLEM

• widened and widened and

• no matter what these leaders have done and will ever do

• to try to eliminate this gap,

• they only have become victims

• of their own creation and cared for to maintain

• DENOMINATIONAL Set-Ups & Methodologies.

It’s a pity again, so many
of them still have not realized
and understood:

• that it is The Holy Spirit’s workings

• that NICOLAITANS are getting driven to despair

• again and again and again

• in their efforts at leading and bridging

• that clergy-laity gap

so that they will abandon
their mediatorial roles and

consequently behave
in a manner that is called for

• in The Church in Brotherly Love

• ..... in Philadelphia then

• >>Revelation 3:7-13

• .... but continuing up to NOW(!)

that is, immediately,
THEY ALL

OUGHT-TO-GIVE WAY TO
THE UNIVERSAL
PRIESTHOOD

OF ALL BELIEVERS IN
THE CHRISTHOOD OF JESUS

• and behave as mere ELDERING brothers and sisters among one another

• learning

• (>>Matthew 23:8-10)

• and obligating one another

• (>>>T#010)

• as our brothers' keepers

• (>>Genesis 4:9)

• all of us having all been made in the image in the likeness of HIS AUTHORITY

• >>Genesis 1:26-28 

All these mediating
roles proliferating in the
denominations,

the gap between

THE WORLD of WORK and

THE WORLD of RELIGIONS

will
continue-to-be-a-concern
for all.

B o t h worlds will
continue

to be puzzled.

Christians

ought to be ALARMED(!!!)

• because works of religion

• have become comfortably accepted

• without question

as works of  THE CHURCH!!!!

All are continuing
to be DECEIVED

• starting the day these different religions

• assumed unto themselves

• CLAIMING THEMSELVES as

• "the local churches" one after another

as RELIGIOUSNESS
are passed on

---- as spirituality.

Non-Christians are
rightly observing:

these claimant
churches

have increasingly
become worldly and

the world has become
questionably “churchy”.

Secularists view

career, jobs, and

business as the

dominant force of

living and only if ever;

occasionally put GOD

in the picture.

On the other hand,
THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS
among them always outnumbered
by SECULARISTS can only go
as far as asking the latter on
occasions to maintain if not
improve a bit their preference
for religious (often times they
call “sacred”) activities in
order to challenge them for
increased involvement or
THEY just settle with some
financial schemes shared from

their members' tithes

(>>>T#s 015 & >>>016)!!!

As Christians however, each of us are to participate in the mainstream of society primarily to make full use of the strategic opportunities to share >>> THE GOSPEL MESSAGE with our friends, associates, clients, customers, competitors, acquaintances, employers and bosses, employees and subordinates, and more so relatives in their preoccupation and interests.

Christians should therefore
work in secular jobs
or engage in business, and
even in their social life

find and apply strategies
for evangelism in

THE GOD
HONORING LIFESTYLE

WHERE GOD WANTS
US ALL TO APPLY HIS

UNIVERSAL PRIESTHOOD

on EACH ONE OF US,

full-time & without hang-up.

• Religious LEADERS and their followers are reminded of >>1st Timothy 5:8. Even Paul, a bachelor at that, set the example as to live a disciplined lifestyle earning a living as a tentmaker in quite fashion so as to eat his own bread without depending on fellow-believers (>>2ndThessalonians 3:6-12).

• Denominationalists and religious LEADERS should have a stand on this matter!

• Refer further to >>>T#063, >>>064, >>>067, >>>068, >>>069, >>>070, >>>071 and >>>072!

Everything should be seen
in the light of how
as individual Christians

• ---- we are to be

• in pairs as co-responsibles

• >>>P#060

• jointly & severally accountable to

• one another (>>> T#010)

• ---- in GOD’s work (>>>T#073)

• ---- as we obey our great commission

• ---- of making disciples of THE CHRIST:

not make Adventists,
Baptists, Catholics,

Dating Daans,
Evangelicals,
Pentecostals, etc...
as these religious
LEADERS
 and THEIR members
and workers
are making!

This is the task & methodology

for each one of us,

jointly and severally

without exception

as Christians are called to do.

This is not an option. Our

secular work or business has

to be factored with that of

our co-responsible's as our

partner in doing HIS WORK

which have to be seen as fairly

insignificant means for survival

in this world while engaging

in a far greater end.

Only the mission
to reach
a lost and dying

associate, consultant,
boss or subordinate,
client, customer, patient
or even
competitor

gives final
meaning and purpose,

to our living.

• Living is just the man-added part to THE LIFE JESUS WANTS of US

• but

• it is in living that we observe

• and discern who to “make disciples".

It is in the places of business,
work, social functions, gyms,
hospitals, clinics, courtrooms,
or in homes, and in the internet
where we have
direct and unimpeded access

to non - believers or part - believers
as yet ...... in
THE LORDSHIP &
THE CHRISTHOOD of JESUS

• to evangelize and non - repentant believers as yet

• to teaching (them)

• to observe all those JESUS commanded us

• THE OBEY-or-DIE-COMMANDS for us.

• Referring to >>Matthew 28:19-20,

• without our going to the far distant world

• to make disciples of some

THE LORD

JESUS wants us to

plant HIS WORD to!

.... How can we claim
HIS promise –

“and lo,
I am with you always,
even to the end of
the age”?

       “He who has an ear, let him hear what The Spirit says to the churches.”

• [>>>T#021]

• THE LORD JESUS speaks in the same way

• to all the seven churches.

This shows that

throughout

The whole Church Age

no matter in which
local church we are found,

we have to hear of
THIS CALL FOR OVERCOMERS

to these NICOLAITANS'
behaviors and teachings!!!

The things written of

these seven churches

herein (refer to

>>>T#s025, >>>023
>>>056, & >>>089)

actually presents to us
the whole length, breadth,
and exact chronology of
what happened in the past

and
  
what has accumulated of
THE CORRUPTIONS
to-date
in our own time;

• unfolding before our very own eyes particularly,

• the corruptions (from religious leaders,

• by their not behaving as mere elders

• (>>>T#009)

• among them then and with us NOW(!))

• that are corrupting us in particular

• so that we shall be able overcome them

• (>>>T#027)

and BE PART OF

THE CHURCH

THE LORD

WANTS
US

TO BE INDENTIFIED WITH,

• (The Church in BROTHERLY LOVE)

• ..... notwithstanding .....

• THESE NICOLAITANS are around us

• and are in fact to continue being around

• even @ JESUS’ second coming!

Please do not “Grieve
The Holy Spirit”
       

• on the issue of THE UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD

• (>>Matthew 23:8-10)

• OF EACH ONE OF US --- BELIEVERS IN HIS CHRISTHOOD

• that THE LORD JESUS SPEAKS OF

• and EACH ONE of US SHOULD BE IN OBEDIENCE TO!

• ---- (>>Ephesians 4:30)

Please do not “Resist
The Holy Spirit”

• in the matter of EACH ONE of US

• having THE HIGH PRIEST - JESUS THE CHRIST

• (>>Hebrews 4:14-16)

• WHO can sympathize with our weaknesses; but

• was tempted as we are,

• yet did not sin even once and therefore

• ALL OF US AMNESTIED by HIM

• can come direct to HIS throne of grace,

• without the need of a mediator

• between HIM and us

• that we may obtain mercy and find grace in times of our need!

• ---- (>>Acts 7:51)

Please do not “Quench
The Holy Spirit”

• by your refusal to believe and obey

• THE UNIVERSAL PRIESTHOOD

• (>>1st Peter 2:5-9, >>Revelation 1:6)

• of ALL of US

• whom THE LORD JESUS

• made us a part of

• and designed HIS CHURCH TO BE!

• ---- (>>1st Thessalonians 5:19)

  
~~~#~~~

     

NEXT>: T#027

OVERCOMERS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREVIOUS<: T#025

OVERVIEW to REVELATION Chapters 2 & 3