Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
No I actually do a lot of reading these are not my speculations.The view was held by a number of early church fathers
Consider Irenaeus:
The Nicolaitanes are the followers of that Nicolas who was one of the seven first ordained to the diaconate by the apostles. They lead lives of unrestrained indulgence. The character of these men is very plainly pointed out in the Apocalypse of John, [when they are represented] as teaching that it is a matter of indifference to practice adultery, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.
— Irenaeus, Adversus haereses, i. 26, §3
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There's dozens of theories out there.
I'm surprised you have not endorsed the official interpretation from headquarters. See Revelation 2.6 footnote 1 of the Recovery Version.
Watchman Nee and Witness Lee rejected Irenaeus' view. Have you read that? Read the end of that footnote again!
But I must say that if you and Irenaeus are correct, then you just shot yourself in the foot, losing your case against the so-called clergy-laity system.