A Wake-Up Call - Pastor Rajiv

Why Revelations Still Matter - Pastor Rajiv 

Read Revelations Chapter 2 

Today as part of Pastor Rajiv's series of the letters to the 7 churches mentioned in Revelations, we expand on the 3rd letter because it is important for us. Why?

Rev chapter 2 verses 6 and 15, talks about Jesus hating the works of a section called Nicolaitans. Hate is a strong word and coming from the Lord it assumes the form of a judgement.

So, first let's understand who the Nicolaitans were and what did they do. 

The Nicolaitans were a heretical sect in the early Christian church, specifically mentioned in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 2:6, 15). Jesus strongly condemned their "works" and "doctrine." While the Bible doesn't give a detailed theological treatise on their beliefs, the general consensus among scholars and early church fathers points to the following aspects of their doctrine:

1. Antinomianism and Moral Compromise: This is the most consistently identified characteristic. The Nicolaitans likely taught a form of antinomianism, the belief that Christians, being saved by grace, are no longer bound by moral laws. This led them to believe they could indulge in sinful practices without spiritual consequence. They likely twisted the concept of "freedom in Christ" into a license for sin.

2. Sexual Immorality: enticing Israelites to commit sexual immorality and idolatry.

3. Eating Meat Sacrificed to Idols: This was another practice associated with them, as it was with the followers of Balaam. In the Greco-Roman world, much of the meat sold in the markets had been offered to pagan idols. While some early Christians grappled with this issue, the Nicolaitans likely taught that it was acceptable, perhaps viewing it as harmless or a way to avoid persecution by compromising with the surrounding pagan culture.

4. Compromise with Paganism: Their teachings encouraged a blend of Christian faith with pagan practices, blurring the lines between the two. This syncretism was a significant concern for the early church, which emphasized separation from the world's ungodly ways.

In short, the Nicolaitans were persuading the believers that there was nothing wrong with conforming to the world’s standard.

Sounds familiar? It should because we are today constantly bombarded with persuasive communication to conform to today’s world standards, ways and practices and many don't find it a problem at all. 

But as Christians we are instructed to be Holy in all aspects of our lives because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

The other negative influence was that of Balaam's philosophy- if you can't curse them then corrupt them. This theory is as valid today as it was then. When Satan can't hurt us due to God's protection, he fills our lives with temptations to try and corrupt us in our day to day lives thereby hurting ourselves. 

When we look around, we can see churches and preachers and people who have diluted the essence of religion to suit themselves in this world today. We all do it, in varying degrees.

But Jesus explicitly states that He "hates the works of the Nicolaitans" (Revelation 2:6) and that some in the church at Pergamum held to their teaching, which He also hated (Revelation 2:15). Jesus strong condemnation (“I hate the works of the Nicolaitans") highlights the grave danger these teachings posed to the spiritual purity and faithfulness of the early church and even today to ourselves as well. 

Jesus, therefore, goes on to encourage the Church to persevere and not get swayed by such influences, as He does today as well. The stated rewards of such perseverance indicate how important and critical it is.  

Verse 17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat (hidden manna is the manna God gave the Israelites in the wilderness which brought physical blessing. The manna that Christ gives is the manna of eternal life). And I will give him a white stone (white stone is a widely used symbol for victory or special privilege for those whose faith is steadfast), and on the stone a new name written (new name is the new glorified existence in the age to come) which no one knows except him who receives it.”

Therefore, to summarize - “Three things marked the heresy of Pergamos: idolatry, immorality and infidelity. The overcomer kept himself from all three, and the reward was commensurate with his conduct. 

To those who kept themselves from idolatry and refused to eat things offered to idols, the Lord gave hidden manna to eat. 

To those who kept themselves from immorality the Lord gave a white stone, a symbol of changeless purity.

And to those who kept themselves from infidelity, the Lord gave a new name – knowledge of Himself that no one else can share” a unique part to play in god’s eternal kingdom.