=Bilam;
Balak, Benai Yisrael=Bilam;
Balak, Benai Yisrael2:1 To the messenger of the Assembly of Ephesos write:
These things says He who holds the shivat hakokhavim in His yad yamin, who walks in the midst of the shivat zahaven Menorot:
2:2 I know your works, and your labour, and your patience, and that you cannot bear those which are evil: And you have tested those who say they are shlichim and are not, and have found them liars:
2:3 And have borne, and have patience, and for My Name's sake have laboured, and have not fainted.
2:4 Nevertheless I have this against you, because you have left your ahavah haRishonah (protos Agape).
2:5 Remember therefore from whence you are fallen, and make teshuvah, and do the first works; or else I will come to you quickly, and will remove your Menorah out of his place, except you make teshuvah.
2:6
But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the
Nikolaites, which I also hate.
2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Ruach says to the Assemblies:
To him that overcomes (nitzachon) I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of Elohim (אלהים).
2:8 To the messenger of the Assembly in Smuna write:
These things say Ha Rishon ve HaAcharon, who was dead, and came to life;
2:9 I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but you are rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Yehudim (Benai Brit), and are not, but [are] the synagogue of satan.
2:10 Fear none of those things which you shalt suffer: Hinnei, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be you faithful to death, and I will give you a crown of life.
2:11 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Ruach says to the Assemblies; He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.
2:12 To the messenger of the Assembly in Pergamos write; These things says he which has the sharp sword with two edges;
2:13 I know your works, and where you dwellest, [even] where satan's seat [is]: and you hold fast My Name, and have not denied My faith, even in those days wherein Antipas [was] my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where satan dwelleth.
2:14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there them that hold the teaching of Bilam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the Benai Yisrael, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.
2:15
So have you also them that hold the teaching of the
Nikolaites, which thing I HATE
(detest).
2:16 Make Teshuvah (Repent, metamoeo); or else I will come to you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
2:17 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Ruach says to the Assemblies; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it].
2:18 To the messenger of the Assembly in Thuateira write; These things says the Son of Elohim (אלהים), who has his eyes like to a flame of fire, and his feet [are] like fine brass;
2:19 I know your works, and charity, and service, and faith, and your patience, and your works; and HaAcharon (The Last) [to be] more than the first.
2:20
Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because
you sufferest that woman Isavel, which calleth herself a
naviyah, to teach and to seduce My Avedim to commit
fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.
2:21 And I gave her space to make teshuvah of her fornication; and she make no teshuvah.
2:22 Hinnei, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into tzarah gedolah (Great Tribulation, Mt. 24:21), except they make teshuvah of their deeds.
2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the Assemblies shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give to every one of you according to your works.
2:24 But to you I say, and to the rest in Thuateira, as many as have not this teaching, and which have not known the depths of satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
2:25 But that which ye have [already] hold fast till I come.
2:26 And he that overcomes, and keepeth my works to the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
2:27 And He shall rule them with a shevet of barzel (scepter of Iron); as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of My Father.
2:28 And I will give him the morning star .
2:29 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Ruach says to the Assemblies.
The doctrine of the Nicolaitans appears to have been a form of antinomianism. Antinomianism (from the Greek ἀντί, "against" + νόμος, "law"), or lawlessness (in the Greek Bible: ἀνομία,
Thayer Definition:
Nicolaitans = “destruction of people”
[1] which is "unlawful"), in theology, is the idea that members of a particular religious group are under no obligation to obey the laws of ethics or morality as presented by religious authorities.
[2] Antinomianism is the polar opposite of legalism, the notion that obedience to a code of religious law is necessary for salvation.
Nicolas = "victor of the people" Nikovlaoß Nikolaos was a proselyte of Antioch and one of the seven deacons of the assembly at Yerushalayim