Murder

Proverbs 6:17 also tells us that God hates "Hands that shed innocent blood." Catholicism began growing in the early church, as people began strugling for leadership positions in a new religion that was on its way up. Without church buildings, early Christians met in a variety of houses and locations, presided over by a bishop. Soon, people began using the office of bishop as a tool to rule over all the Christians in a geographical area. Persecution began when the government united with these bishops as a tool for both state and church to control people. Eventually, Catholicism provided so many martyrs that God described it as "drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus" (Rev.17:6).

Modern Nicolaitans aren't allowed to practice bloodshed to build their power. They rely on lying and plotting, which God also hates. The only real persecution they can offer today is slander, keeping their opponents out of leadership positions, and driving people out of the church. They sometimes try to turn family members against each other in order to retaliate against Christians who oppose their sins.

And in Revelation 2:6, God praises the church at Ephesus because "... you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate."