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Published by permission of the Great Commission May 1995
Where is Satan's seat?
"He that hath an ear let Him hear"
It is where the Nicolaitan spirit, the Jezebel spirit, "the way of Balaam" is thriving at: The Church in . . . ? Your hometown?
Rev 2:13 I know thy works and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: Rev 2:15 So hast thou (the Church in your hometown?) also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, (spirit of control, denial of the priesthood of the believer) which thing I hate.
The name "Nicolaitan", refers to those who, while professing themselves to be Christians, lived licentiously (lewd, not avoiding the appearances of evil, ungodly). What in Ephesus was "practices" became in Pergamum a "teaching". Rev. 2. They have also been linked to a type of heresy taught by Balaam, a compromise with worldliness and worship given only for greedy gains. Num. 25:1, Pet. 2:15.
Numbers 11:14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. 15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness. 16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. 17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone. 24 And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle. 25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.
*26 But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp.
*27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. (always some good Church goer to keep everyone posted on everything that happens)
*28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord, Moses, forbid them. (always some jealous, zealous assistant, who has placed himself in charge of the administration of law and order . . . keeping the leader bombarded with ideas and plans that he must get accomplished)
29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them! (Amen . . . forbid not prophesying . . . that is what he said . . .
Amen!)
Joshua was zealous to follow his (man) leader's instructions even if it meant overlooking what God was doing because it was not of the prescribed order. He was thinking that it was rebellion and "flesh" and that they should be forbidden from operating in the gifts and calling of God. The two did not conform to the ideas of men but had the approval of Moses, who was not jealous or envious of what God was doing with the two that prophesied without ever attending the seminar and teachings on the Gifts of The Spirit.
This Nicolaitan spirit is a controlling spirit operating through the "so-called Pastors", and leaders appointed by them . . . from their denominations, seminaries, and "excursion groups" to the cities of manifestations . . . "happenings" under the control of the "elders that were in the right tent."
Luke 9:49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us. The beloved disciple, was envious, and trying to tempt Jesus into forbidding others because they were not part of the vision, following the ways of "our bunch." Another example of the "controlling spirit" was exemplified in who was to have what office and where they were to be seated in the Church . . . Luke 9:46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. 47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, 48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. A similar spirit is evident in the brother of the prodigal son . . . jealous that his brother has been forgiven and restored to a position that might equal that of his own "control" (longitude, longevity, length of service type mentality as the only consideration not latitude, right-standing (righteous) relationship). Another example of the deceitful attempts to control the Holy Spirit was evident when Peter tried to forbid Jesus from going to the cross . . . Matt. 16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. (certain men . . . a Judaizing spirit . . . you must do it the way our Church does it . . . it's still in the pews of the Churches today)
This "certain men from Judaea" spirit as with the Nicolaitan spirit attempts to take control of the laity, the flock of God and compel them to obey ordinances, rituals, fleshly external requirements. They base righteousness on an outward conformity to the standards their "stock-herding shepherds", denominations and Churches have set for them to follow instead of faith in Jesus Christ and Loving God with all your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself. They put performance ahead of relationship.
The Nicolaitan spirit expresses itself as a professional manager of the physical (flesh), everything done in order by the ones only designated by the hierarchy. This spirit has absolute, unchallengeable control that manages the very life (Spirit) out of the Church. This spirit's purpose is to control by forbidding expressions, manifestations, operations of The Gifts of The Spirit by the people until they have been trained so that the order of worship in the Church is under complete control by the (appointee of man's call or elected by popularity) clergy (Pastor or his song leader, who, has no anointing and can't resist preaching between songs as a means of "elite" control).
The Church, as Paul wrote, had a flow of the Spirit and was operating in the Gifts by even the very immature and yet he still said: 1 Thess. 5:19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. The Apostle Paul also wrote (what a Spirit filled controlled order of a New Testament Church worship service should be like) to the Corinthians: 1 Cor. 26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. 27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (This could be a standard Church bulletin for every service . . . only the names of the people and the Gifts manifested through them could be printed in at the conclusion of the (Spirit led) service . . . it would do away with preplanned programs of no anointing, the usual three songs, announcements, prayer and passing of the money plates, a three-point message and a closing and then an "invitation" song of three stanzas of Almost Persuaded or some contemporary overhead song that no one knows except the entertainer of the hour and his loud blaring musical brigade.)
This Nicolaitan spirit today manifest itself with control over who can operate in the Gifts and Callings of God. This spirit takes over the rights and privileges and does away with the "priesthood of the believers" and turns control over to ordained (controlled) clergy only, as evident in the Catholic Church, only the Bishops and Priest have the authority and ability to impart the Holy Spirit, to work miracles, or function in any spiritual position because they are holier than the ordinary believers. In the Protestant and Charismatic Church the Pastor (dictator, appointed or hired by deacons and elders elected by a popularity vote) and his designated staff controls who may operate in the Gifts of The Holy Spirit or even in the basic forms of evangelism, praying in public, etc. You must prove you have been counted worthy, before you are allowed to minister. It places requirements to attend classes, seminars or be a member of our Church with ordination papers to back up any claim before they can function in the Gifts such as prophecies, speaking in tongues and interpretation, laying hands on the sick, etc. "Forbid them Lord, they have not been to our disciple training, they did not get our books and tapes with instructions. They did not journey with us to that "far away city" where the great manifestations are happening . . . so, how can they know" But, The Spirit fell on the two outside the order . . . and Moses was not jealous but delighted that they were part of the Ministry . . . and accepted as Prophets.
If the order is valued more that the flock's desire to worship in the Spirit and in Truth, then the desire for control will bring death to the people, the worship, the Gifts. The scriptural Spirit and Truth Church (Spirit filled New Testament Church as prescribed by the writings of the Apostle Paul) will come about when the five-fold ministry is functioning as it is designated in Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Now to the other side of the aisle:
What opens the door for the Nicolaitan spirit, the "certain men from Judaea" spirit? It arises in response to a Jezebel spirit that will not submit to order or correction, who hates leadership, and attacks all (especially those Pastors that are not truly called by God, but are hirelings) in position of authority. Because Jezebel is so rebellious and frightening (remember
Elijah) then the divisive, deceiving nature of the spirit of control by "certain men", the Nicolaitan spirit seems to be orderly and godly. Because (it recognizes if the authority in the Church is fleshly, carnal or if it is under the anointing of The Holy Spirit) of the subtle, advancing dangerous nature, it deceives with its self-centered righteousness (1 Cor. 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?) and causes the leadership (so-called Pastors without the anointing of God and the Gifting that comes with the calling) to come into partnership and gives control of the Church to the dominating spirit.
Because the Jezebel spirit is so rebellious it attacks the Pastor (and the spirit knows if there is an anointing for the office there or not or if the so- called Pastor is a hireling and if there is a weakness for sin, lustful desires, pride of position and it gets him to yield to seduction as Ahab did to Jezebel. There has to be an Ahab, that yields to being seduced, in order for Jezebel to operate. Because of the onslaught by the Jezebel spirit, by challenging his authority and threatening to expose his hidden sin, he falls into the trap of trying to defend his office by whatever means necessary . . . (not realizing that God is the protector of every calling when there is a humble repented life) . . . and usually while this attack is going on, the spirit of "the way of Balaam" has begun a great prayer meeting with all the zealots, who go whichever way the ball bounces to always be on the team in office and this has opened the door and welcomes in the counterfeit order that substitutes for divine authority, the subtle, deceiving, "everything decent and in order", the Nicolaitan spirit of control, in the guise of rescuing and protecting leadership. (it destroys the "sheep's rights" . . . the priesthood of the believers)
The only way Jezebel can be confronted is in open prophetic confrontation as did Elijah with the prophets of Baal, not through political manipulation or "management control." This type confrontation (the five-fold ministry) will keep freedom and liberty with accountability . . . "Choose you this day, whom ye will serve."
The effects of this spirit of control are manifested throughout the flock, the congregation, by the quenching of the Spirit, causing hindered prayers, lack of anointed worship, no reaching out, no growth of the local Churches, the people are depressed, very little or only "controlled" by clergy fellowship activities, a second class type feeling, inadequate to meet the expectation and standards of the clergy, an unwillingness to offer oneself for service to the needs of the Church, a rating of the members with emphasis on grades, according to their performance and activities in the many programs of the Church, a judging of those who don't fit in to the spot that clergy want to fit them to help them meet their quotas and goals, the separation by classes, a distinction between the lay and the clergy, the secular and the sacred, a critical attitude towards those who do not conform to standards of expectations by the "management team", a competitive spirit between the heads of the various ministries, turf wars, (because there is no five-fold ministry but, only a "stock herding shepherd", so-called Pastor?) What department does it fall under? Who does this sheep answer to? The flashy, (worldly sounding and look-a-like) entertainers that set themselves up as the stars of the ministry, causing hostility, bitterness, jealousy as each sheep tries to establish itself into the "pecking order".
Where is Satan? ....he was in the Garden of Eden deceiving Eve then . . .
Where is Satan? ....he was in the Garden of Gethsemane (rock-a-bye babying) lulling the disciple to sleep then . . .
Where is Satan? ....he is busy organizing religious activities in the hometown Churches today!
"He that hath an ear let Him hear"
Christian Outreach Bill Eaton, Director