^2:6 `Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

`Yet this you do have, that you HATE the DEEDS of the NICOLAITANS, which I also HATE.

What a negative complement!!! BUT when the love (even first love) is gone, the only thing left is hatred.

The meaning of the word Nicolaitans is "consume or conquer the people". The Nicolaitans may have been a devisive sect of that day about whom we have no record. Or it may refer to church leaders who consumed or conquered (controlled) the people. In other words, these probably were false prophets/teachers/apostles.

John, the author, warns about these in 1 John 4:1-3. Furthermore, John indicates that deception is the great trademark of the Devil - 2 John 6-10. The church at Ephesus was aware of these false prophets and had "hated their deeds" but not the people themselves.