Nicolaitans is a compound word: Nikos: victory, triumph, dominance over the slain. Laos: someone who triumphs over the people. The significance of Nicolaitans is that the bishops and prelates of the Church are dominant over the church members, because they have been obliged to submit to the arbitrary and absolute rule, including their teaching, of the pastors, which God hates. This counteracts to 1 Peter 5:1-3 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed. Tend the flock of God that is your charge, not by constraint but willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly, not as domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock. Let that be a lesson to pastors who beat themselves on their chest, dominate their churches, set a bad example for the church members, and do not respect the commandments of Jesus and the Bible.