1154. “亚实基拿, 利法, 陀迦玛” 是具有这类敬拜的众多民族, 也表源于歌篾所具有的外在敬拜的众多教义, 也就是仪式. 这同样从提及这些民族的先知书清楚可知. 他们各方面都表教义或仪式, 通常具有两种意义, 有时具有正面意义, 有时具有反面意义. 如耶利米书提及的 “亚实基拿”:

要在地上竖立大旗, 在各族中吹角; 祝圣各族攻击巴比伦, 使亚拉腊, 米尼, 亚实基拿各国听到攻击她. (耶利米书 51:27)

这论及巴比伦的毁灭, “亚实基拿” 表它的偶像崇拜, 或毁灭巴比伦的脱离内在的外在敬拜. 它尤表虚假的教义, 因而具有反面意义. 以西结书提及的 “陀迦玛”:

雅完人, 土巴人, 米设人都与你交易人的灵魂, 他们用铜器兑换你的货物. 陀迦玛族用马和战马并骡子兑换你的货物. (以西结书 27:13-14)

这论及推罗, 推罗代表拥有对属天和属灵事物的认知之人. 和前面一样, “雅完人, 土巴人, 米设人” 表各种代表性或相应的仪式; “陀迦玛族” 也表这些. 前者的外在仪式涉及属天事物, 而后者的外在仪式则涉及属灵事物, 这从他们所交易货物的含义明显可知. 他们在此具有正面意义. 同一先知书:

歌篾人和他的全军, 北方极处的陀迦玛族和他的全军. (以西结书 38:6)

此处, 他们表歪曲的教义, 也就是 “北方极处” 所指的. 歌篾人和陀迦玛族在此具有反面意义.

86. "'But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.'" (2:6) This symbolically means that owing to their truths they know this and therefore do not wish works to be merit-seeking, as this is contrary to the Lord's merit and righteousness.

That the deeds of the Nicolaitans are merit-seeking works is something I have been granted to know by revelation.

We are told that the people of this church hate those works, because the church knows this owing to the truths of its doctrine, and therefore does not will them, which is why the verse says, "But this you have."

Nevertheless, people who put truths of faith in first place, and goods of charity second, all do works that are merit-seeking. But not people who put goods of charity in first place. The reason is that genuine charity does not wish to be rewarded, as it loves to do good. For it is prompted by goodness, and acts out of goodness, and from goodness looks to the Lord, knowing from its truths that all good comes from the Lord. It is therefore averse to seeking reward.

Now because people who regard truths of faith in first place cannot help but do works that are merit-seeking, and yet know from their truths that such works are to be hated, therefore the present statement comes after their being told that if they do not have charity in first place, they do works that they ought to be averse to.

We say that it is contrary to the Lord's merit and righteousness, because those who place merit in their works claim righteousness for themselves. For they say that righteousness is on their side because they have earned it, even though it is the height of unrighteousness, as the Lord alone has merited it and He alone does the good in them.

That the Lord alone is righteous is taught in Jeremiah:

Behold, the days are coming... when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch... And this is His name by which He will be called: JEHOVAH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Jeremiah 23:5-6, cf. 33:15-16)