View source for Wicked

[[File:prayerland.jpg|300px|thumb|right|This originally appeared as the article [http://newswithviews.com/Gregory/williams119.htm HEAL OUR LAND] by Brother Gregory Williams, December 19, 2010, NewsWithViews.com]]

The people were said to be wicked<Ref name="ra">{{07451}}</Ref> in the day of Noah<Ref>Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually.</Ref> because it was filled with violence<Ref name="chamac">{{02555}}</Ref> which would end in its destruction.<Ref>[[Genesis 6]]:13  And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence<[[02555|chamac]]> through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.</Ref>

[[Nineveh]]'s wickedness<Ref name="ra">{{07451}}</Ref> came up to God<Ref>[[Jonah 1]]:2  Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.</Ref> where it would be ''overthrown''.<Ref name="haphak">{{02015}}</Ref> The word for “Wickedness” often means “moral and social sins"   which includes ''violence''.<Ref name="chamac">{{02555}}</Ref> "rather than [[idolatry]]" according to some Jewish commentators. But idolatry is covetous.<Ref>[[Colossians 3]]:5  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; [[fornication]], [[167|uncleanness]], [[pathos|inordinate affection]], [[evil]] [[lust|concupiscence]], and [[covet]]ousness, which is [[idolatry]]: 6  For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7  In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.</Ref>

And men were wicked<Ref name="ra">{{07451}}</Ref> and sinners<Ref name="chatta">{{02400}}</Ref> in [[Sodom]]<Ref>[[Genesis 13]]:13 But the men of Sodom [were] wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.</Ref> and their sin was that they failed to [[02388|strengthen]] the poor.<Ref>[[Ezekiel 16]]:49 Behold, this was the [[iniquity]] of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
: [[Leviticus 25]]:35 And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve(Same as strengthen) him: [yea, though he be] a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.</Ref>

In the Old Testament God promises to heal the land of Israel if they will turn from their wicked ways.<Ref>“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will [[forgive]] their sin, and will heal their land.” [[2 Chronicles 7]]:14</Ref>

What were those wicked<Ref name="ra">{{07451}}</Ref> ways? 

Were they the wicked ways of those who followed after [[Nimrod]]?<Ref>[[Nimrod]] the Hunter.  Nimrod to Now, Video Series</Ref> 

Were they the wicked ways when the [[voice]] of the people went against the advice of Samuel in [[1 Samuel 8]] and rejected God by electing Saul? 

Were they the wicked ways of [[Herod]] and the [[Pharisees]] in Judea when they were told to repent by Jesus Christ? 

Do men continuously turn to ways that are contrary to the way of God and salvation? 

Have we strayed from that narrow way today?

“But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the [[Nicolaitan]]s, which I also hate.” [[Revelation 2]]:6

What were the deeds of the “[[Nicolaitan]]s”? 

Are they the [[wicked]] ways we are to turn from?

[[John the Baptist]] called the people to [[repent]]ance which meant turn around and go another way. Was that because they were going a different way, a wicked way? 

The secret of the Nicolaitans is key to healing the land and returning to liberty under God in the [[world]] today, but the truth has not been without disputation.

Beda Venerabilis, a monk at the Northumbrian monastery in the 7th century said Nicolas allowed multiple spouses. This idea probably led to [[Thomas Aquinas]] of the 13th century suggesting the error concerned polygamy or having common wives. Eusebius (c.263 - 339) suggests that the sect of the [[Nicolaitan]]s was short-lived which would have to be true if there ever was a particular group or sect going by that name. 

Some say the sect was named after “Nicolas the deacon”<Ref>Hippolytus of Rome c. 170 – c. 236, The Refutation of All Heresies or Philosophumena., VII, chapt. xxiv. [[2 Peter 2]]:3</Ref> or named after the bishop “Nicolas of Samaria” who was in the company of Simon Magus. It is true that Irenaeus, Epiphanius, and Theodoret mention the [[Nicolaitan]]s but there is no clear evidence that it was a particular group headed by a heretic named Nicolas.

But earlier comments of Hippolytus of Rome (c 170 – c 236) and later Victorinus of Poetovio (writing in 270AD) suggest that the heresy involved the idea of “fornicators and eaters of things offered unto [[idols]].” This is probably near the truth and may be one in the same thing.

Since it was the “deeds” and the “doctrines” of the Nicolaitans that we should be concerned with, we do not need to know who they were but what they were doing.

“Having eyes full of [[adultery]], and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;” [[2 Peter 2]]:14-15

What are the [[covetous practices]] and [[wages of unrighteousness]] of [[Balaam]]? 

Peter states that through covetousness and feigned words the people will become [[merchandise]]. He also warns that men will promise you liberty but that you will be again entangled worse than before because you would turn from the [[The Way|righteous ways]] again.<Ref>[[2 Peter 2]]:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in [[bondage]]. 20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the [[world]] through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it], to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in [[the mire]]." [[Galatians 5]]:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not [[entangled]] again with the [[yoke of bondage]]."</Ref>

What was the connection between the doctrine and deeds of the [[Nicolaitan]]s and [[Balaam]]? 

If anyone desires to "divorce Baal" they need to understand who or what he is. [[Balaam]] is from the Hebrew word ''"Bal"'' or ''Baal'' ( BeitAyinLamed), meaning “lord” or “master”<Ref>These three letters Beit, Ayin, and Lamed can be translated man, man given, husband or captain but always in the sense of owner, lord, master, even ''having dominion over''. If you add letters it becomes Lord of the covenants or fortune or if you add a Heh it becomes mistress, female owner as a sorceress.</Ref> and ''"am"'' references the Hebrew word for “people.”<Ref>{{05971}} </Ref> It is an expression of superior rank over the people, which is contrary to the directive of Christ, the King, who came to set men free, and God's desire to rule us in our hearts and minds.

[[Baal]] is thought to be the ruler of the demons<Ref>[[Matthew 12]]:24, [[Mark 3]]:22, [[Luke 11]]:15</Ref> and is considered to be another name for Beelzebub. Baal-hamon was the Ruler of Multitudes who sought dominion over all the things of the earth by becoming the ruler over men. Another name was Baal-berith who bound men with covenants, i.e., contracts. To be the ruler of contracts is to be the supreme judge of all contracts.

This is a governmental position and those who had the authority to be the “Ruling Judge” of contracts, agreements and disagreements were called “[[gods]]”. “'Ba-al' can refer to any god and even to human officials”<Ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ba'al</Ref> The gods of the Old Testament and the “[[gods|gods many]]” of the New Testament spoken of by Paul were just that, human officials, magistrates and judges.

These men, which by nature are no [[gods]], obtained power over the people because the people made contracts<Ref>[[Exodus 23]]:32 “... make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.”</Ref> with them, often to obtain some sort of benefit.[15]<Ref>[[COg|The Covenants of the gods]]</Ref> From [[Cain]] to Lemech, from Nimrod to Pharaoh, from Caesar and the Pharisees, even to this modern time, men have sought to rule over their brothers by force. For that force to be legal there must be consent in the form of a contract whether implied, constructed or executed. These agreements<Ref>[[2 Corinthians 6]]:16</Ref> that were often with what the Bible calls unbelievers were like a marriage or covenant with these other gods many of men. Those who entered into those agreements, often through application for [[benefits]] were considered fornicators or adulterers.

[[Balaam]] told the Moabites and Midianites, who surrounded Israel, that they could bring Israel down by getting them to sacrifice to [[idols]]<Ref>Acts 15:29, 21:25, 1 Corinthians 8:1...10;10:19...28, Revelation 2:14...20</Ref> and to commit fornication.

The phrase “things offered unto idols” is derived from the Greek word ''eidolothuton'' (Νικολαΐτης).<Ref>[[1494]] eidwloyuton eidolothuton AV-things offered unto idols 4, things offered in sacrifice to idols 3, things sacrificed unto idols 2, meats offered to idols 1; 10 1) sacrificed to idols... 1a) it was either eaten at the feasts or sold in the market</Ref> There does not seem to be any reference to ''eidolothuton'' being used anywhere else in Greek literature.<Ref>There is some question about its use in 4 Maccabees 5:2 and its appearance in Sibylline Oracles 2:96 seems to be the result of its use in Acts.</Ref> It appears the word was coined by Paul as a polemical term derived from the Greek words for ''sacrifice'' and gods. It appears to be “the negative counterpart to [[Corban]].”[21]<Ref>Tyndale Bulletin 44.2 (1993) 237- 254. Not so Idle thoughts about Eidolouthuton. By Ben Witherington III</Ref> In Mark, according to Jesus, the [[Corban]] of the [[Pharisees]] ''made the word of God to none effect''. But originally [[Corban]] was the ''contribution'' or [[freewill sacrifice]] of the people in society to take care of the needy in their community.

It becomes evident that Nicolaitan and Balaam are two different word forms of the same idea when we come to the knowledge that Nike is the Greek word for “conqueror” with ''nikos'' meaning “victor” or “conquer”, and laos is a word that also means “people.” Both, Nicolaitan and Balaam, include the idea of rank, lordship, and submission to an exercising authority by the people.

These words express the simple idea that authorities like [[Nimrod]] of [[Babylon]] may obtain power over the people because the people apply to these men who call themselves benefactors but who also exercise authority one over the other. This power is not granted by God, but men are allowed by God to reject Him and give power over themselves to men, relinquishing rights by the consent and through the voice of the people.

This power to exercise authority often includes the “power” to judge or rule over men, but goes beyond the natural right to judge crimes of brutality and robbery. We are talking about systems where men force other men to bow and serve with their labor. Systems where men act as ''[[gods]]'', judging and making laws that men must pay homage, homage, giving fealty or allegiance.


[[Nicolaitan]]s were not followers of a man but of a ''doctrine''. They were the people “who were charged with holding the error of [[Balaam]], casting a stumbling block before the church of God by upholding the liberty of eating things sacrificed to [[idols]] as well as committing fornication.” They were snared by their own appetite for [[benefits]] provided not at the expense of their leaders but at the expense of their neighbor. The people were devoured in the civic pot of their own flesh.[25]<Ref>“...This city shall not be your caldron, neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst thereof; but I will judge you in the border of Israel...” [[Ezekiel 11]]:3, 11. [[Exodus 16]]:3; [[Proverbs 1]]:10, 33; [[Micah 3]]:1, 4; [[Zechariah 14]]:21</Ref>

The things sacrificed to [[idols]] were the welfare programs provided by and administered through the civic altars of those various governments. One could become eligible for those [[benefits]] by an application for membership. This application often included an agreement to serve and contribute regularly to those incorporated altars of the state. There usually was an oath required, under the penalty of the courts who administered those systems.

Both God’s Kingdom and the kingdoms of the [[world]] had their temples and their ministers (clerks, bureaucrats, [[clergy]], or administrators) who managed the institutions or altars of contributions. Judea had its [[Corban]] and [[Rome]] had its Qorban. Both began as [[freewill offerings]] and degenerated into compelled obligations of a [[contract]].

Distinguishing the Nicolaitan or [[Balaam]] system of lords and laity, master and subject, from the liturgical ministers and laity established by [[Moses]], [[John the Baptist]], Christ and His Church is fundamental once the mechanism is revealed. Some systems of faith and allegiance have a top-down administration that exercise authority one over the other, but the ministers of God turn the [[world]] right side up through a system that operates according to the perfect law of liberty by [[faith]], [[hope]], and [[charity]].

The error or stumbling block is to imagine that there is a God-given right to take from our neighbor through legal systems of social [[welfare]]. God hates these systems<Ref>The Nicolaitan who God hates [[covet]] their neighbor's goods.</Ref> which operate by [[force]] under the guise of charity, especially when they encourage the people to covet their neighbor's goods in a system that compels contributions under the pretense of social [[welfare]]. This socialistic sin of the Nico-Laity or the error of Bal-am stems back to the original error of mankind.

'''“Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of [[Cain]], and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.”''' '''[[Jude 1]]''':11

This verse is explained with the following verse:

“These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds [they are] without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;” [[Jude 1]]:12

If we are to distinguish between the ways of Balaam and the Nicolaitan and the ways of Christ, and turn from our wicked ways and heal this land, “We must learn to distinguish between charity and socialism. Charity is good, socialism is evil. (Pr. 14:30, 31, 19:17) [[Charity]] is for the helpless poor while welfare makes the poor helpless. (Ga. 2:10)”<Ref>Evangelical Bible College of Western Australia Commentary. Revelation by Dr Peter Mose [Book 97-2] July 2004.</Ref>

'''“Liberty is not collective, it is personal. All liberty is individual liberty.”'''<Ref>John Calvin Coolidge, Jr., 1872 – 1933, 30th President of the United States.</Ref> You cannot secure liberty or happiness without virtue in the people and it is not virtue to [[covet]] your neighbor's goods.

Through social compact people entangle themselves as little more than human resources of the state.<Ref>[[2 Peter 2]]:3 “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”</Ref> Praying for the benefits of their civil feast their covetous practices produce the [[wages of unrighteousness]] and all are captured in the net of their own making, which is a [[foolish]] rejection of God.<Ref> Ex. 20:17, 1 Sa. 8; 13:13, Ro. 7:7, 13:9, Col. 3:5, Heb. 13:5, 2 Pe. 2:3-14</Ref> “It is impossible to introduce into society a greater change and a greater evil than this: the conversion of the law into an instrument of plunder.”<Ref>Frederic Bastiat, 1801 – 1850, French theorist, political economist.</Ref> “All [[socialism]] involves slavery”<Ref>Herbert Spencer, 1820 – 1903, an English philosopher.</Ref> " Redistribution is immoral... it allows one person to treat another as no more than a means...”<Ref>The Kantian ethic of capitalism. Harold B. Jones, Jr.</Ref> a human resource.

It is not loving your neighbor and God hates that. Like Cain, the people bludgeon their neighbor to satisfy their own lusts, wants and desires. The welfare state is the enemy of religion.<Ref>State Welfare Spending and Religiosity, A Cross National Analysis by Anthony Gill and Erik Lundsgaarde.</Ref> When pure religion<Ref>[[Pure Religion]]</Ref> diminishes, socialism flourishes. “[[Socialism]] is the religion people get when they lose their [[religion]].”<Ref>Richard John Neuhaus, 1936 – 2009, prominent American clergyman.</Ref>


== The word wicked ==


A common word translated ''wicked'' in the Old Testament is "ra"<Ref name="ra"></Ref> which is more often seen as the word ''evil''. Other words containing "ra" like "rasha"<Ref>{{07563}}</Ref> are translated wicked more than 250 times. Other words have more to do with wicked plans or thoughts such as ''zimmah'' <Ref>{{02154}}</Ref>

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