Continuing our study of the book of Revelation, we glanced at the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:6; 2:15). They may have claimed to be followers of the early deacon, Nicolaus (Acts 6:5).
Whatever else may be true of them, there appears to be a connection with their beliefs and practices and those of two Old Testament villains: Balaam (Revelation 2:14) and Jezebel (Revelation 2:20).
Balaam had been unsuccessful in cursing Israel (Numbers 22:5; Deuteronomy 23:4-5) until he persuaded Balak to use the Moabite women to seduce the Israelite men with sexual immorality and worship of Baal (Numbers 25:1–4).
The same practices are said to be true of Jezebel (Revelation 2:20-22; 1 Kings 16:31). She was a murderer of godly people (1 Kings 21:7-14). She did not believe Samuel Rutherford's book, _Lex Rex_, The Law is King. She believed _Rex Rex_, that rulers answer to no one; she was a wicked influence on her husband (1 Kings 21:15).
Jezebel also is a powerful picture of the influence of a mother: "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Is the Hand That Rules the World." (2 Kings 8:18, 27). Queen Athaliah follows her mother's training. When her son dies, this queen from Israel annihilates the royal family of Judah (2 Kings 11:1). As with Jezebel, Athaliah is an autocrat who believes she has absolute power (2 Kings 11:14).
What a contrast between her and my dear, praying mother. Had it not been for my mother, I would likely be dead and in hell.
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After serving Grace Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Louisiana, Bob was honorably retired on Sunday, September 27, 2015, and given the title "Pastor Emeritus." This was forty years to the day after he became their pastor.
He now works for the Presbytery of the Gulf South as...
