The Seven Churches and the Kingdom Today
Topic: Ephesus: Jesus Hatred for the Deeds of the Nicolaitanes
Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7
Greetings Kingdom Citizens and Sons of God:
In this last message on the church of Ephesus, Jesus gives His last approval to the church at Ephesus for their hatred of the deeds of the Nicolaitanes. Who are the Nicolaitanes? Some say The Nicolaitanes started from one of the seven original deacons of the first century church Nicolas (Acts 6:5). He began to go wayward and determined that he should be completely in charge of things so he formed the Nicolaitanes. The word Nicolaitanes come from two greek words Nikao – to conquer and laos – the people so the entire interpretation means “to conquer the people”. The Nicolaitanes were formed to overthrow the laity or the take over the church. This religious party developed rituals where the preachers dressed differently from the members and they included Babylonian teachings in the doctrine of the church. So now we have a mixture of the holy and the profane. These teachings included idol worship, sexual rituals and taught a doctrine of separation of spirit from the body. Meaning the spirit is pure and the flesh is weak and what the body does have no effect on the spirit and vice versa. God hates this false doctrine.
Now if we examine this considering the false god worship in Ephesus, this was very appealing to the people there than a true Word of God believing church. But look at the words of Paul to the church at Corinth: 2 Corinthians 6:17:”Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” So in the words of the Lord He does not want us touching or even dealing with unclean things and that includes doctrines. God is telling us to crucify our lusts and cast them away. Now remember the church at Ephesus tried false doctrines and people who were in and or tried to influence the church.
Jesus hates the deeds of these people and if Jesus hates it then we should hate it. I am not going really in depth on this because in another one of the seven churches we will explain this in depth. But what were their deeds?
These people lead lives of unrestrained indulgence. In other words there was no law to these people. They believed that because God knows that our sin is flesh then we can live how we want knowing that God understands our flesh is sin. This in a nutshell is lawless living and Jesus said, I came not to do away with the law but to fulfill it. In the Kingdom of God there are laws that must be adhered to. Every Kingdom on earth has laws because laws maintain order and if Jesus is the law fulfilled then to live lawlessly is to do away with the deity of Christ and the Kingdom. It does away with accountability. The deeds and doctrine of the Nicolaitanes is in full bloom today in this present age. The Gospel of Inclusion is a Nicolaitane doctrine because it takes away the consequence of sin and promotes the lie that everybody, including satan will be saved. But we know better than that because the scriptures themselves say that satan will be thrown in the lake of fire and that is the second death. In turn, Jesus is blotting out names out of the book of life and every one’s name not found there will be thrown in the lake of fire. This is so real!
If we look at the church today, there are so many people living lawless lives and call themselves saved and believers and the scary thing is Jesus said He hates their deeds. We have preachers that promote this antichrist doctrine because it takes accountability off the table and promotes God’s forgiveness towards man and His understanding that man will sin, so He understands. This is a fools doctrine and those who preach it will be held accountable for the blood of the souls they lead astray. Yes Jesus died for our sins to be forgiven but Paul said that does the fact that we have grace on our side give us an occasion to sin? GOD FORBID! You cannot take the grace of God and use it as a weapon and a crutch to sin.
At the Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun Jr.
