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Chapter 4
Spiritual Authority
vs. Civil Authority
The doctrine of the Nicolaitans is something Jesus says that He hates
(Revelation 2:6,15). In the Greek, Nicolaitan means “conquer” (Nikao)
“the people” (laos). This false doctrine attempts to divide the body of
Christ into some form of a clergy/laity system. It is a false spiritual
authority that usurps the headship of Christ. It will effectively cut off
God’s giftings by cutting off and dividing God’s people. It dismembers
parts of God’s Body by not allowing the giftings that God gives to each
body member to function. But a correct understanding of how spiritual
authority works apart from civil authority will help to expose this false
authority, which has been masquerading as truth since the third century.
Jesus said, “ALL authority has been given to Me in heaven (spiritual
authority) and on earth (dominion authority)” (Matt. 28:18). So there
are two types of authority currently at work: spiritual and dominion.
Spiritual authority comes from God, while dominion authority is
delegated authority given by God to Adam (mankind): “Then God said,
“Let Us make man in Our likeness; let them have dominion over the
fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the
earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth… fill the
earth and subdue it; have dominion…” (Genesis 3:26-28). Notice that
it was never God’s original intent for mankind to rule over other men
and women. This corrupted type of dominion authority became “civil
authority” after the fall when sin entered the picture. It is important to
differentiate between dominion authority which is from God, and civil
authority which is the corruption of dominion authority where men
started self-government apart from God to dominate and control others.
Civil authority is what is currently operating in the kingdoms of man
and this authority allows footholds for the demons and principalities of
darkness. Civil authority and occult religion are the corruption of
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