The discrepancy between the Lord's vision of a perfect Church, and the actual condition of the seven churches of Asia, is astonishing. How shall we move from Laodicea to her who is without spot or wrinkle? How do we get from here to there? Or perhaps the true Church is found within the churches of today?

Do the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation imply that if we do not "overcome" we will not receive the rewards to the overcomer, the rewards we ordinarily associate with being a Christian? If such is the case, what does it mean to overcome? And what if we do not overcome? Shall we be given to eat of the Tree of Life in any case?

We have written in other places about our view of the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation, about the rewards to the overcomer.

As we understand the rewards to the overcomer they are increments of personality. While some of them, such as governing the nations of the earth with a rod of iron, will be fully realized at the coming of the Lord, we believe the rewards (including the rod of iron and the authority and competence to govern) are being developed in us in the present hour.

Perhaps the rewards to the overcomer are steps to the Throne of Christ. We notice that the concluding reward is to sit with Christ in His throne (Revelation 3:21).

Another thought has to do with Paul's seeking to arrive at the resurrection out from among the dead. Maybe we could view the several rewards as steps toward the first resurrection (Philippians 3:11).

In any case, the rewards to the overcomer set forth in the second and third chapters of Revelation need the serious consideration of Christians during the closing years of the twentieth century.

There is quite a difference between Jesus' vision of His Church and the condition of the seven churches of Asia.

As to Jesus' vision of His Church:

To make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5:26,27—NIV)

A radiant church.

Without stain.

Without wrinkle.

Without any other blemish.

Holy and blameless.

There is to be a perfect Church!

But will it be perfect by imputation (ascribed righteousness and holiness) or by transformation (actual righteousness and holiness)?

The Bible states that Jesus is our sanctification.

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. (I Corinthians 1:30—NIV)

Theologians may ask, "The Lord Jesus Himself is our perfection. What further need have we of perfection? The Church already is perfect by identification with Him!"

Such is the current teaching.

But this is not what the Bible teaches.

Ephesians states the Bride will be made holy "by the washing with water through the word," not by identification with Christ.

To be continued.