Who or What are the Nicolaitans?

Who are the Nicolaitans found primarily in the book of Revelation? Why did God say he HATED them? Jesus taught His disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, whom He denounced as hypocrites. He declared that they had so corrupted the truth of God with the doctrines and ordinances of men (which would occur countless times in the church) that the truth was no longer with them. That which these blind leaders of the blind were giving forth as truth were making their converts twofold more the children of hell than they were. They are discussed in the second chapter of Revelation: "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, 'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: . . . Thus you also have those who hold THE DOCTRINE of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate." (Revelation 2:12, 15) The deeds of the Nicolaitans are also mentioned in verses 1 and 6 of same chapter. The Lord demands repentance on the part of those who hold and practice these things and He threatens drastic punishment if they do not obey Him: "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place - unless you repent." (Revelation 2:5) The Greek word for Nicolaitans (Strong's Concordance Number #G3531) found in Revelation is actually three Greek words combined. Because it is a proper noun, the word is TRANSFERRED instead of being translated into English. Thus, it is subject to the laws of Greek construction in regard to ellipsis, contraction and phonetics. The three words used are: NIKOS, of which we use the English equivalents instead of the Greek letters, as we shall also of the other two. Nikos is defined as "a conquest; victory; triumph; the conquered; and by implication, dominancy over the defeated." Another transferred name in which this term is used is "Nicopolis," which is composed of Niko, which means conquest and polis, which means city. Hence, the city of conquest, or city of victory. LAOS, which means people. Another use of this word is found in NICOLAS, which is transferred and is composed of Nikos-laos and means one who is "victorious over the people," the letter "s" being in both words the nominative case ending, which is retained only at the end of the word to denote the case, while "a" short and "o" short are contracted into "a" long.
A still further transferred use of LAOS is found in the name Lao(s)diceans (or Laodikeus, Strong's Concordance Number #G2994), compounded with DIKE or DICE as the Greek "k" is the equivalent English "c." Thus, in the name Laodiceans, we have LAOS, meaning the people, and DICE, meaning judgment or vengeance, i.e., the people of my judgment, or of my vengeance. Also the Greek word la(ic)os, which means "laymen," of which LA-OS is the root and stem, which selfsame word, with the "o" short contracted to "i", to which root and stem the plural definite article TON is joined to form LAITON, which is a Greek phrase meaning "the laity." TON is the third and last word entering into the construction of the proper name Nicolaitan. TON, in which Omega, the long "o", is contracted into long "a", thus making the word TAN which is the genitive case plural in all the genders of the definite article 'the.' We therefore have, without the legal Greek construction, the English hyphenated word NIKOS-LAOS-TON, but which, with its lawful contractions, becomes the English translation found in Revelation. What is the real-world meaning of the word? In its native tongue and its ecclesiastical setting the term Nicolaitans means the bishops and prelates of the Church have gained a triumphal victory or conquest over the LAITON, the laity. Members are compelled and forced to submit to the arbitrary dominion of men who have become that thing which God hates: "The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:  Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; NOR AS BEING LORDS OVER THOSE ENTRUSTED TO YOU ('lords over [God's] heritage' in the KJV Bible), but being examples to the flock;" (1Peter 5:1-3). Exactly what the Nicolaitans were teaching and preaching can be found in religious and secular dictionaries. When we look for the definition of the term "hierarchy: the power of dominion, government by ecclesiastical rulers" we find the following, which is offered as evidence: "If anyone shall say that there is not in the Catholic Church a hierarchy established by the divine ordination, consisting of bishops, presbyters and ministers, let him be anathema, Council of Trent (translation) XXIII 6." (Century Dictionary) In other words, let anyone who has the audacity to say there is not a hierarchy, not a collection of human beings who have been given the power by other men of dominion, as ecclesiastical rulers over churchmen who are declared God's heritage, let that man be ACCURSED --- let death and hell and the devil get him. Surely, the thing in which that ecclesiastical company is glorying is their shame! Webster's dictionary defines the word "episcopal" as "the power of government, belonging to, or invested in, bishops or prelates. Government of the church by bishops." It also states "in episcopacy, the order of bishops is superior to the other clergy, and has exclusive power to confer orders." In this definition it is affirmed that a certain portion of presbyters (elders) were even "in apostolic times superior in authority to ordinary presbyters," and also mentions the fact that episcopacy recognizes "episcopal rank" which is created by the institution thus governed; all of which affirms that any church in which episcopal government obtains is practicing the very carnal and fleshly iniquity of creating "Superiors" in what should be a holy brotherhood. The use of this appellation makes INFERIORS out of brethren who are in the selfsame clergy. How can RANK and HIERARCHY destroy a church? The approbation of "ordinary elders" demands a set of elders who are extra special, thus creating "rank" (caste) in the otherwise Divine brotherhood, all of which DESTROYS holy fellowship, creates division and strife, and fosters envy. No marvel that our Lord should hate a thing like that, condemn it, and demand that those who are guilty repent. But will they, who follow the ways of the Nicolaitans, repent? Yes, some will when the tribulation is on. Others, however, will stick to their ecclesiastical crowd, vainly imagining that their boasted "superiority" will carry them through that time of the greatest trouble the world has ever known, or will know. They must go down with the rest of the hosts of Antichrist. One of the most unfortunate features of all this is that there are those in the Church who do not hold to their doctrine yet still dominate the laity by lording it over them! the above: Written by:  J. H. Allen   Why do Protestant churches wear the clerical collar of the Roman Catholic church, proudly”                                              I have been in assemblies where all the protestant clergy (?) were wearing the clerical garb of "Mystery Babylon" with apparent self-esteem and spiritual superiority, neglecting the clear teaching of scripture. If Jesus were to walk into those types of assemblies, or the apostles were to take part in those meetings, they would not be recognized at all as having any spiritual authority… because of their clothing!   Heb 13:2  Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Please-    Jas 2:1  My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. Jas 2:2  For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; Jas 2:3  And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Jas 2:4  Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?  This is exactly the practice of some protestant churches.  Brothers lording over brothers contrary to scripture.  It is not limited to an understanding of social standing/ money.  It is about being swayed by outward appearances and the "church" has fallen under the influence of "Mystery Babylon" without careful examination.  Those who practice this will undoubtedly defend their tradition with heartfelt self-rightousness.  That doesn't make them right. In the media- what church is instantly recognized by the collar?  What church do people instantly assume the clerical collar wearer belongs to?   Of course Roman Catholicism.  To deny this is foolish.  To defend the habit on grounds of tradition or any other argument doesn't change that simple truth.  If you wear that collar, you are associated with Rome.  If you doubt that, you are deceiving yourself. 1Th 5:22  Abstain from all appearance of evil