I've found some information that may see the story of Balaam in fuller light. See what you think!

Scholars don't really know what the name "nicolaitians" refers to, some assuming there must have been a man "Nickol" starting a new gnostic doctrine. But what if the word is an "untranslated" Greek word, not the name of the originator?

The word, Nicolaitans, means to be victorious over the people, that is, to conquer the people or laity. It is a combination of two Greeks words: nikos, to conquer and laos, the people or laity.

We can understand the term, this way: "Nicolaitan" derived from nikao, to conquer; and laos, people; meaning, The religious leaders (the Balaams) gain power over the laity, with the aid of king "Balak" in the form of Roman Emperors..

There are students of Revelation that identify this "evil" as:
Nicolaitanism is the subjugation of the assembly or "the laity" by a hierarchical order who lord it over the assembly as if it were their own possession.

There is actually very little historical evidence for a sect called the Nicolaitanes. Most references were simply attempts at trying to identify Revelations use of the term, not really accounts of a historical group. Gnostism, of course was a problem back then, but does it connect?

The spirit of Nicolaitanism was already brewing in the early Christian church -- with some wanting preeminence over the laity . That which was mere "deeds" in Ephesus (Rev. 2:6), became "doctrine" in Pergamos (2:15), The Roman Catholic Church clasping hands with the Roman emperors, the bishop of Rome being honored, elevated, and given the Lateran Palace by Constantine, and the seeds of nicolaitanism began to take deep root. The preeminence of the clergy lording it over the laity. Today the world is ready to accept the Roman Pope and be subject to him looking to him, not to Christ, as the author of law and grace and deliverance.
It didn't take long for false worship to be made the "norm". A new holy day to begin its determined push against the true, to denigrate God's holy Sabbath. A whole panorama of paganism, given a pious coating was introduced.
Christianity became respectable in the world, but it was stumbling into false worship and ceremony . Bishops and prelates vied for positions of power in the church. This resulted a low moral state. These leaders engaged in and permitted indulgence in sin.

This is a really interesting view of the Nicolaitans, Dedication. To conquer the laity (lead them into spiritual immorality with a false church and to idol worship), the Woman/Balaam taught (rides) the Beast/Balak. This would indicate the formation of an image to the Beast.

Nicolaitans, according to what I have found, held to an idea, that we shouldn't be so strict that we don't compromise a little with the pagans. It was a compromise, from following Christ whole heartedly , with also joining the pagans in their activities, mingling with them, lessening the differences between them, even making peace with them by joining them in their temples to offer a sacrifice. It was appealing to new Christians, as they often found themselves in conflict with family and former friends, when they accepted Christ. Nicolaitans said, don't worry so much, you can be a Christian and still do those pagan things with your friends and family. You don't have to separate yourself from that.

Nicolaitans are church leaders who seek a truce with the world under the guise of inclusiveness and compromise. The idea that they should show respect and inclusiveness with pagan practices by joining them on occasions in their activities, and that this will make Christianity more accepted in society and they will see believers as part of the larger group.

So, just sprinkle a little incenses on the altar in front of the idolatress idol, if that's what government wants in order to accept you in society, why make a big issue? That, they reasoned, doesn't mean you aren't still following, and serving Christ.

But it went even much further than that. The paganism and idolatry that Christ's believers had been called to turn their backs on, and separated themselves from, was now being presented as something one can still do, and was even desirable, while also worshipping God.

In essence Nicolaitanism was "the mystery of iniquity".
Yes, it's aim was to conquer and subdue the laity.

Nicolaitanism, with it's doctrine, was at the root of paganism entering the church, merging pagan gods, and renaming them with the names of "saints" who supposedly were departed people who had been very good in life, and one could now pray to them. It was also at the root of the popular pagan Sunday replacing God's Sabbath, thus attempting to remove themselves from any connection with the Jews, and their scriptures.