George H. Warnock — Prolegomena
b7 — Crowned With Oil
Revelation of God (Urim and Thummim)
Urim means “Lights” (flame, luminous, shining, glorious). Thummim means “Perfections” (complete, accomplish, make an end, come to the full, be made perfect). Both words are plural, denoting corporate expression of God’s light and glory in a people united with Christ.
“URIM: ‘Lights’, from a word that means a flame, something luminous, glorious, shining. THUMMIM: ‘Perfections’, from a word meaning to complete, accomplish, make an end, come to the full, be made perfect. Both words are in the plural; and the objects are two in number, which is a number of the corporate relationship in the body of Christ: the part and the counterpart, the right hand and the left, the right eye and the left—and so forth. In Urim and Thummim we have Light—God’s Light that comes to fulness, to perfection. We have a corporate expression of the Light and the Glory of God in fulness of manifestation.” (Warnock, Crowned With Oil, chapter 6, § Urim and Thummim)
Interpretation: Urim and Thummim are not mere Old Testament objects but types of the full revelation of God’s character and will through the Spirit in a body of believers.
Scripture and Revelation
Scripture is complete but needs illumination by the Spirit as believers walk the pathway of life. Specific moments of decision or conflict require explicit words not found in the Bible.
“We have the word of God as our chief and only rule of faith and practice. But that Word must be illuminated by His Spirit as we walk along in the pathway of life. Also, there will be many times when we will need a very explicit word for particular moments of decision, or some grievous area of conflict, that the Bible was never intended to give us. It does not take from what is written, nor add to it. But we are a people of the Way, just as Israel was.” (Warnock, Crowned With Oil, chapter 6, § Urim and Thummim)
Interpretation: Warnock distinguishes general revelation through Scripture from specific, situation-bound revelation by the Spirit (Urim-type). Scripture remains the foundation, but the Spirit gives application and direction.
Epistemology — the Spirit as Source of Knowledge
The natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God; they are foolishness to him. Only the Holy Spirit can bridge the gulf between Creator and creature.
“The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. We are totally helpless, brethren, to come to a knowledge of the truth and of the scriptures except as God reveals it to us by His Spirit. He speaks from the realm of the Spirit, into the realm of the earthly and the carnal.” (Warnock, Crowned With Oil, chapter 1, § Shall we Spiritualize or Carnalize the Word?)
Special Revelation through Prophets (Samuel)
Samuel wore the linen ephod; Urim and Thummim were established in his heart so that God’s word through him was as valid as any message given by Urim and Thummim.
“Samuel, as a young child in the Tabernacle was ‘girded with a linen ephod’ (1 Sam. 2:18; also vs. 28). The ephod seemed to be that specific garment of the priesthood that gave validity to this high calling. And as Samuel grew older the Urim and Thummim was established in his heart so well that God ‘did let none of his words fall to the ground’ (1 Sam. 3:19). The clear word that God spoke through Samuel was as valid and true as any message God gave to any of the former priests in Israel by Urim and Thummim.” (Warnock, Crowned With Oil, chapter 6, § Urim and Thummim)
“All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD” (1 Sam. 3:20). (Warnock, Crowned With Oil, chapter 6, § Urim and Thummim)
Interpretation: The transition from physical Urim and Thummim to prophets with Urim in their hearts shows God moving revelation from objects to persons — a transition toward the New Covenant.
Special Revelation through David (ephod as consultation)
David, though a king, functioned as a priest and consulted the ephod for explicit instructions in warfare and conflict.
“When David stood in need of direct, explicit instructions from God, as to his own preservation, and as to the battles he must wage, he had access to ‘the ephod’. God honored his prayers and gave clear direction as to the way he should go. God warned him that Saul would come down to Keilah searching for him, and so they must leave (1 Sam. 23:9-13). Again, when the enemy had smitten the camp where David and his men were living, and took away much spoil, David asked God what to do, and God told him specifically: ‘Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all’ (1 Sam. 30:8).” (Warnock, Crowned With Oil, chapter 6, § Urim and Thummim)
Interpretation: Beyond Scripture, God gives explicit revelation for concrete situations — a pattern Warnock applies to present-day guidance by the Spirit.
John the Baptist as Urim-bearer (last Old Testament prophet)
After 400 years of silence, John the Baptist arose with a clear word from God in the wilderness, a distinct voice amidst highly organized political and religious systems.
“About 400 years had gone by since Malachi had come to the nation with a clear word from God. Then God raised up the greatest prophet He had ever given to Israel. Jesus said that of all born of women, ‘There hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist’ (Matt. 11:11). Never was there greater apostasy in Israel than when John arose in the spirit and power of Elijah, and sounded forth the call to repentance. All men who had understanding knew that John was established as the prophet of the Most High God. Luke in his narrative tells us about the very highly organized political and religious world that formed the setting for the sudden appearance of this great prophet.” (Warnock, Crowned With Oil, chapter 6, § Urim and Thummim in John the Baptist)
“Right here in the midst of gross apostasy that we read these words, ‘The word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness’ (Luke 3:2). Out there in the wilderness God began to send forth a clear Word from His heart: ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand’.” (Warnock, Crowned With Oil, chapter 6, § Urim and Thummim in John the Baptist)
Interpretation: John is the transitional figure — the last Old Testament Urim-bearer who prepares the way for the incarnation of the true Revelation (Jesus).
Jesus as the Word — Incarnation of Truth
Jesus is not merely a speaker of true words but the incarnate expression of the Word of God. He came to reveal the Father, not Himself.
“John was but a Voice in the wilderness. Jesus was Himself the Word, the incarnate expression of the Word of God. He did not come to change the real meaning of scripture, but to bring to light its true meaning. For in His humanity He was Himself the Word—not only because of what He said, but because of what He was—the very expression of God’s heart walking in human form.” (Warnock, Crowned With Oil, chapter 6, § Urim and Thummim in the Son)
“He came to reveal not Himself, the Son, but to show forth the Father. The Son was the shining forth of the Father.” (Warnock, Crowned With Oil, chapter 7, § John Seventeen)
Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth
The Holy Spirit takes the place of Jesus on earth, testifies only of Christ, and leads believers into all truth. This is the fulfillment of Urim and Thummim in the New Covenant.
“The Holy Spirit will not fall short in His ministration of truth to His chosen ones. ‘He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you’ (Jn. 14:26). And He would reveal other things to them as they needed it, and as they were able to receive it. ‘I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth’ (Jn. 16:13).” (Warnock, Crowned With Oil, chapter 6, § Urim and Thummim in the Son)
“The Holy Spirit is faithful to testify only of Christ. That is why He came into the earth. He came to take the place of Jesus, the faithful and true witness, who is now on the throne. And because the Spirit is faithful to testify only of Christ, God’s servants in the earth who love Him will also faithfully ‘bear witness’ to the truth.” (Warnock, Crowned With Oil, chapter 6, § Urim and Thummim in the Son)
“The Holy Spirit will speak only what He hears. ‘He shall not speak of (from) Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak; and He will shew you things to come’ (Jn. 16:13). The Word from the throne will be accurately and precisely declared in the earth, because the Spirit is under obligation to speak only what He hears.” (Warnock, Crowned With Oil, chapter 6, § Urim and Thummim in the Son)
Interpretation: The Spirit of Truth is the New Testament fulfillment of Urim and Thummim — revelation of God not via objects or ephods, but via the indwelling Spirit in believers.
Theology vs. Technology
Warnock warns against trusting human methods (technology, mass media, church growth programs) over the guidance of the Spirit.
“We have many good translations that are useful to us in breaking down the barriers that exist between the original scriptures and our modern day languages. And we are thankful for those translators, ancient and modern, who are honestly trying to express the thought of scripture according to the original intention of the writers. But let us never forget that there remains an insurmountable language barrier between the Creator and the creature; and that only the Holy Spirit can bridge that vast gulf.” (Warnock, Crowned With Oil, chapter 1, § Shall we Spiritualize or Carnalize the Word?)
“We are not saying we should not use our modern methods of travel and communication. We are in a modern world, and we use what God has provided, as He may see fit. But we are simply saying that our technology and our modern methods and aids to evangelism have no real bearing on the effectiveness of the gospel of the Kingdom.” (Warnock, Crowned With Oil, chapter 2, § The Church of Christ is self-propagating)
Authority of the Spirit vs. Scripture
Scripture alone is insufficient without the indwelling Spirit who unlocks its meaning.
“Those who say such things ignore the fact that the New Covenant itself must be ministered to the hearts of men by the same Spirit who caused the scribes to write it. It must be a ‘ministration of the Spirit’ (2 Cor. 3:3-8). God’s people, even though they have received the Spirit, must have a further enduement of ‘the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him’, the ‘eyes’ of their understanding ‘being enlightened’—if they are going to hear, and see, and know what God is saying—and experience and appropriate what God is doing.” (Warnock, Crowned With Oil, chapter 6, § Urim and Thummim in the Son)