Posted: 02/16/2005 at 11:04am | IP Logged

A Review of George Warnock’s
Crowned with Oil

by Steve Eastman

        Jesus spoke in parables, simple stories of natural subjects that illuminate a spiritual truth.  In a similar way our heavenly Father uses types and shadows from the Old Testament to illustrate new covenant realities.  God gifted George Warnock with an insight into these matters.  Crowned with Glory is a demonstration of revelation knowledge as God’s humble servant examines what it means to be a priest in the context of the Kingdom.

        Early in the book Warnock calls upon I Corinthians 15:46 to justify his approach.  “That was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.”  He reminds the reader that, “… the heavenly Jerusalem is much more real, much more glorious, much more enduring than the earthly one ….”  While not denying there is a kingdom yet to come, Warnock contends that the essence of that same kingdom is here in the earth now.  “And if we do not find ourselves reigning in life now, how vain and senseless to think we are going to reign with Him later on.”

        Before considering the consecration of Old Testament priests, Warnock takes a brief look at Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins.  As he says, the light from the lamps of the foolish appeared as illuminating as the light from the lamps of the wise, but it did not last.  “Are you trusting in the fact that you have received of His Spirit, and have gifts of the Spirit, and have certain manifestations and blessings and power in your life?  Or are you pursuing a life of total abiding union with the Lord?”  Warnock argues that if the purpose of ministries and church structures is not to help us grow up into Christ, even unto the fullness of God, sooner or later our lamps will run out.

        Turning to Leviticus, the book pictures the consecration of Aaron and his sons.  They were stripped of their garments, washed with pure water and clothed with new garments intended to show forth the glory of God.  The new clothing included the breastplate of judgment and a headpiece engraved with the words, “Holiness to the Lord.”  The high priest carried the twelve tribes of Israel upon his heart as symbolized by the twelve stones of the breastplate.

        The breastplate also included the Urim and Thummim.  The literal translation is “lights and perfections”.  Warnock sees them as precious objects speaking of the high priest’s ability to hear a word from God.  Although the scriptures of Moses were written down, the people of God still needed explicit words for unforeseen circumstances.  In time the Urim and Thummim were lost but their significance was transferred to the ephod, a garment that the prophets were known to wear.  For Warnock, the Urim and Thummim speak of the presence and need for prophecy in new covenant times.  Although he doesn’t use the term, the use of “rhema” words would be consistent with his interpretation.

        During consecration, the priests were anointed with oil.  Warnock sees significance in the 5 ingredients mentioned in Exodus 30.  He says myrrh speaks of the bitterness of suffering. Jesus suffered but his true joy sprang from His abiding relationship to the Father.  The second ingredient, cinnamon, speaks of standing upright.  Warnock bases this interpretation on the root meaning  of the word.  The third term, calamus, is translated as reed, cane or branch.  Warnock pictures a reedy stalk with life flowing through it and compares it to Paul’s expression of an earthen vessel containing treasure. The fourth ingredient, cassia, is the bark of a shrub.  Warnock gives the root meaning as shriveled and says it speaks of bowing in worship and humility.  The last ingredient, olive oil, is widely recognized as representing the Holy Spirit.  All five ingredients are mingled together according to the art of an apothecary.

        Warnock ends  Crowned with Oil with an appeal.  “You will only know the truth, and walk in the truth, as you make the Lord Jesus to be Lord of your life, and learn to trust His Spirit to lead and guide you into all truth.”  That doesn’t come by studying “how to books” but by abiding in Him and being united with Him (according to John chapter 17).  He intends for us to be a kingdom of priests.

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