“But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching.” Revelation 2:14-15
Balaam was a prophet of God. (Numbers 22-24) He knew truth but was not wholly committed to it. “What sorrow awaits them? For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion.” (Jude 11) Balaam lusted after the profit of deceit. He didn’t directly curse the Children of Israel, but taught Balak how to put a stumbling block before them so that they would behave in a way to bring a curse upon themselves. Balaam understood the weaknesses of Israel and how to exploit them, for his own benefit and financial gain. Because of this, Israel fell into sin and the judgment of God. Balaam didn’t want to appear as if he was an ungodly person – so he gave a false impression. Balaam thought he could get away with his deceitfulness.
Balaam and the Nikolasim were self-centered people. They wanted to do what was right in their own eyes, instead of bringing every thought captive to the will of God. “We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5) They saw people as instruments, to be used, to bring glory and honor to themselves rather than glory and honor to God.
This congregation has some positive things attributed to it. Their downfall was that they didn’t confront the negative influence; these self-centered people were having on the weaker minded people within the congregation. Rebuke for compromise. In spite of these many tokens of faithfulness in a time of temptation and trial, the Lord indicated that all was not well with the church at Pergamos.