Testing Christian Nationalism from a Covenant Lens
- Charles
- Jul 25
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 26
"But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate." – Revelation 2:6
Covenant Identity Against Tribalism and Power
When measured through the covenant lens, Christian nationalism reveals itself as another attempt to bind the Kingdom of Heaven to the systems of men. It mirrors the tribal exclusivity of the ancient tribe of Judah, who equated covenant blessing with national identity and ritual observance. Covenant identity, however, predates every tribe and every nation. It reaches back to Adam, Noah, and Melchizedek, showing that the royal priesthood and the Constitution of Heaven—the Ten Words written on hearts—cannot be confined within borders or legislated by governments.
Christian nationalism also mirrors a deeper spiritual problem identified by Yeshua (Jesus) in Revelation: the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which He explicitly says He hates. Nicolaitanism represents the merging of spiritual authority with hierarchical control, turning covenant faith into a system of power and domination. It creates an elite class that mediates access to YHWH and demands conformity to its structure. Christian nationalism, when it ties covenant faith to national allegiance and cultural identity, risks stepping into this same error. It replaces the priesthood of all believers under Yeshua with a state-sanctioned version of faith that rewards loyalty to the system over covenant fidelity.
The Kingdom of Heaven vs. Civil Religion
The Kingdom of Heaven is not an earthly nation. Its Constitution is not written in any human charter but inscribed by the Ruach HaKodosh on the hearts of those sealed in the New Covenant. Christian nationalism seeks to legislate righteousness, but covenant theology reminds us that righteousness flows only from the inward writing of the Ten Words.
This is where the shadow of Nicolaitanism becomes clear. When national power merges with faith, it creates a top-down system where allegiance to the state is equated with allegiance to YHWH. This is the essence of what Yeshua condemns in Revelation: a system that elevates human authority over covenant relationship and turns faith into a mechanism of control. Covenant identity can never be imposed; it can only be written by the Spirit.
Constantine and the Birth of a Nicolaitan System
The era of Constantine provides a historical example of how quickly this error can take root. Before Constantine, followers of Yeshua lived as a persecuted covenant people, carrying the Ten Words in their hearts and thriving without national power. When Constantine merged the faith with the empire, the Kingdom “not of this world” was absorbed into the structures of civil religion.
This was not covenant restoration; it was the birth of a Nicolaitan system. Access to YHWH was mediated through imperial authority and church hierarchy. Allegiance to the state-church replaced covenant faith. Those who clung to the appointed times of YHWH or honored the Sabbath according to the Ten Words were branded enemies, accused of Judaizing, and subjected to persecution. The very signs of covenant loyalty were turned into crimes under a system that appeared faithful on the surface but operated as a tool of control.
Medieval Europe and the Persecution of Covenant Faith
The Middle Ages deepened this pattern. Throughout Europe, accusations of Judaizing or clinging to the Hebrew feasts often led to imprisonment, beheading, or burning at the stake. Keeping the moedim of YHWH or honoring the Sabbath, not Sunday was treated not as covenant faithfulness but as rebellion against the established religious and national order.
This is the fruit of Nicolaitanism: the replacement of the Kingdom of Heaven with a state-church hierarchy that polices access to YHWH and demands allegiance to itself. Christian nationalism risks recreating this dynamic when it equates covenant loyalty with loyalty to a nation, creating a new form of ritualized exclusivity. It is another layer of tribalism, another system where power dictates righteousness, and another version of what Yeshua declares He hates.
Covenant Identity Predates and Outlasts Every Nation
To expose the error of Christian nationalism, covenant theology returns to the origin of identity. Before Sinai, before Judah, before any nation, there was covenant. Adam carried it in the garden. Noah preserved it through faith. Melchizedek embodied it as king and priest long before Levi or Judah existed. The New Covenant in Yeshua restores this eternal reality by writing the Ten Words on hearts, not in law books or national charters.
This identity cannot be tribalized, politicized, or legislated. Christian nationalism, like the tribe of Judah in Yeshua’s day, risks mistaking cultural and national exclusivity for covenant faithfulness. And when it merges faith with national power, it drifts toward the very system Yeshua rebuked in Revelation—the deeds of the Nicolaitans that He says He hates.
Counsel for Covenant Followers
For covenant followers confused by Christian nationalism, the call is to return to the Kingdom that transcends every system of men. Do not mistake cultural Christianity or patriotic ritual for covenant identity. Anchor yourself in the Constitution of Heaven, the Ten Words written on your heart by the Ruach HaKodosh.
Be wary of any movement that defines faith through allegiance to a nation or a cultural group. This is the pattern of Nicolaitanism and the error of tribalism. Covenant identity is not exclusive to any flag, culture, or political movement. It is born of faith in Yeshua, sealed by His blood, and marked by the inward writing of the Ten Words.
Live as a royal priesthood restored in Yeshua, carrying a covenant that predates Sinai and will outlast every nation. When national movements attempt to merge the Kingdom with earthly power, remember the words of Yeshua: “You hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” Refuse to trade the eternal Kingdom of Heaven for any system of men. Remain sealed in the New Covenant, bearing the true Constitution of Heaven written on your heart, and walk as a citizen of the only Kingdom that cannot be shaken.
Inductive Study:
Observation Questions
What does Yeshua say about the deeds of the Nicolaitans in Revelation 2:6?
How does this passage describe the heart of the Ephesian believers?
What is the difference between “deeds” and “doctrine” as used later in Revelation 2:15?
In what ways does Yeshua connect love, obedience, and discernment in Revelation 2:1–7?
Interpretation Questions
What were the Nicolaitans doing that Yeshua hated, based on historical and scriptural context?
How does the merging of faith with human power structures reflect Nicolaitan tendencies?
Why is Yeshua’s hatred of the Nicolaitan deeds significant for understanding covenant identity?
How do the Ten Words written on hearts contrast with externally enforced systems of control?
Application Questions
In what ways can Christian nationalism risk replicating the deeds of the Nicolaitans?
How can covenant followers today discern between cultural Christianity and true covenant identity?
What practical steps can you take to ensure your faith is rooted in the Kingdom of Heaven rather than national or tribal identity?
How does understanding the Ten Words as the Constitution of Heaven protect you from Nicolaitan systems?
📥 Download the Inductive Study Companion
To deepen your understanding of this teaching, download the companion worksheet and answer key:
Instructions:
Use the worksheet as a printed or digital guide to reflect on each question with Bible in hand.
After completing your responses, consult the answer key for insight, clarity, and further scripture references.
Share with your study group, congregation, or discipleship partner for deeper dialogue.
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