Expert: Dean Gade - 9/5/2007

Question
Who were the nicolaitans in revelations chapter 2 ver6,but this thou hast,that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans,which i also hate. also what did they do to have lord God hate them.

Answer
The Nicolaitans were an immoral group that spread their heresies in the early church.  They are often associated with Balaam and his encouragement to God's people to indulge in sexual sins and follow idols.

Num 25:1-3
25:1 While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, 2 who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods. 3 So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the LORD's anger burned against them.
(from New International Version)


Num 31:16-17
16 "They were the ones who followed Balaam's advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the LORD in what happened at Peor, so that a plague struck the LORD's people.
(from New International Version)

The Nicolaitans did these things and would eat things offered to idols in opposition to the Jerusalem Apostles' directives against  these acts.   

Eventually they became a part of the Gnostic sect.