Thank you for your extended answer to my question; it helped very much.
Before we lose focus, however, let’s make sure of the original context of your assertion. At the time, you were attempting to defend Pastor Wilson’s imprecatory theology and you premised your argument thus: “The Book of Revelation is vey [sic] revealing indeed in this respect.” Further, you supported your proposition by alleging, “Jesus says twice in this book that He HATES the Nicoliatans [sic].”
However, in response to my inquiry you have modified your position by stating, “Actually, Jesus’ exact words are that He hates the DEEDS and DOCTRINES of the Nicolaitans, which is certainly not the same thing as saying that He hates the Nicolaitans,” though you did not modify your conclusion. Nevertheless, you are correct. Hatred for a person’s deeds is not the same as hatred for that person. Not even close. For example, I hate your DEEDS and I hate your DOCTRINE; but I do not hate you.
This is important for three reasons. First, Scripture declares, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Rev. 22:18, 19)
Ms. Tanaka, please notice that this text pronounces a curse — an imprecation — on anyone who adds to or takes away from the words of the Apocalypse. I call this to your attention because you added to the Book of Revelation when you wrote, “Jesus says twice in this book that He HATES the Nicoliatans [sic].” You added an object — the Nicolaitans — an entire body of people, to the Lord Jesus’ hatred. And you aggravated your offense by deliberately taking away words from the Book of Revelation; you took away the words DEEDS and DOCTRINE.
The second reason this is important is because you added to and you took away from the Word of God in an attempt to defend Pastor’s Wilson’s theology of hate. To be sure, you dripped with venom when you wrote, “Jesus says twice in this book that He HATES the Nicoliatans [sic].” Unfortunately, your proof text did not justify your hatred; it only pronounced a covenantal curse upon you and justified your eternal condemnation. Think about it, Ms. Tanaka. A plain reading of the text means that you added all the plagues of the Apocalypse on your head and at the same time you took away your part from the book of life.
And the third reason this is important is that according to your hermeneutic, if you do not repent of your deeds and your doctrines, i.e. your theology that permits interpolation of the Word of God, then the Son of God will hate you, if He does not already. You wrote, “we can safely say that unless the Nicolaitans repent of their deeds and doctrines, they are most assuredly hated by God, even as they suffer torment in Hell while waiting for the final judgment at the end of history when they shall be cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity.”
Yes, Ms. Tanaka, “The Book of Revelation is very revealing indeed in this respect,” and I just thought you would want to know what it reveals. May it lead to a change in heart.
Thank you,
Dougs’ Hero
From: “Taro Tanaka”
To: Vision2020
Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 5:53 AM
Subject: Separating the Princess from the Schwaller: Not yet
Ternier Hedenkoff wrote:[[ can you please show me where in the Book of Revelation that “Jesus says twice in this book that He HATES the Nicolaitans.” ]]
Actually, Jesus’ exact words are that He hates the DEEDS and DOCTRINES of the Nicolaitans, which is certainly not the same thing as saying that He hates the Nicolaitans. However, we can safely say that unless the Nicolaitans repent of their deeds and doctrines, they are most assuredly hated by God, even as they suffer torment in Hell while waiting for the final judgment at the end of history when they shall be cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity. One of the things that will be burned up in the Lake of Fire is the absurd notion that God hates only sins but never hates the sinners who cling to those sins out of their hatred toward Him.
First of all, the Bible says God will “render to every man according to his deeds” (Rom 2:6, quoting Psalm 62:12). Second, from the context, the Nicolaitans are clearly Christians who have apostasized or who are in the process of apostasizing. Third, the Bible clearly states that God hates certain people; some of these are named individuals and some are unnamed persons who happen to fall into certain categories of people that God says He hates. Fourth, we will fail to understand God’s hatred properly if we assume His hatred is essentially no different from our hatreds. We know our own frailties and it is all too clear that the hatreds engaged in by men are encumbered by sinfulness; however, it is crucial to recognize that God is never unrighteous in any respect, including in the hatred He harbors toward certain things and certain individuals.
I hope this helps!
Sayonara
