Apocalypse Revealed # 115
115. "'Thus you have also those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.'" (2:15) This symbolically means that they have among them also people who make works deserving of merit.
That the works of the Nicolaitans are merit-seeking works may be seen in no. 86 above.
Among people who place everything having to do with the church and salvation in good works, and not anything in doctrinal truths - those meant by the church in Pergamum - there are some who perform hypocritical works, and some merit-seeking works, but still not all. So we are told that "you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam," and, "you have also those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans." Moreover, all works connected with worship are either good, or merit-seeking, or hypocritical. Therefore the latter two are spoken of here, and afterward good works in the next verse.
Numbers 24:3-9
3
He took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says;
4
he says, who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and having his eyes open:
5
How goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your tents, Israel!
6
As valleys they are spread forth, as gardens by the riverside, as aloes which Yahweh has planted, as cedar trees beside the waters.
7
Water shall flow from his buckets. His seed shall be in many waters. His king shall be higher than Agag. His kingdom shall be exalted.
8
God brings him out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox. He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them with his arrows.
9
He couched, he lay down as a lion, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is cursed."
