A Review of George Warnock’s

From Tent to Temple

By Steve Eastman

             Solomon’s temple was an impressive work of architecture.  After all, God Himself had inspired the “blueprint”, and this structure was doubtlessly one of the features of Solomon’s kingdom that so impressed the Queen of Sheba.  There are many prophecy-watchers today who are longing for the newly constituted Sanhedrin to build another temple on the original site. George Warnock argues persuasively that God has another habitation for His presence under construction that is much more glorious than Solomon’s temple, but made without hands.  Warnock also shows how all the previous tabernacles and temples point to the final one.

             One of the most important articles in Moses’ original tent or tabernacle was the ark of the covenant.  Warnock points out that it symbolized the presence of God.  Not only that, but God’s presence did manifest, at least at times, between the two carved and gold-covered cherubim on top of the ark.  After Moses went in to commune with God, his face was left shining.  Warnock draws a parallel with the New Testament scripture, II Corinthians 3:13, which says, ”But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”  Interesting enough, the Greek word for “changed” is metamorphoo, from which we get metamorphosis.  Metamorphoo is also used to describe the transfiguration of Jesus.  In Romans 12:2, the same Greek word is translated “transformed”. Warnock describes a scientific study that shows silkworms only change into butterflies when a hormone from the brain stimulates a hormone producing-center in the thorax.  That process has unmistakable similarities to God’s word in the mind and heart transforming His people.

             Warnock spends an entire chapter on the tabernacle of David.  That term is almost a spiritual catch-phrase today, but few actually know its scriptural roots.  The Philistines had captured the ark of the covenant.  After one botched attempt at recovery, in which the sons of Abinadab tried to carry it back on a cart, instead of on poles as God required, David brought the ark to Jerusalem and where he pitched a tent for it on Mount Zion.  The only time sacrifices or offerings are mentioned in connection with this tabernacle was at its dedication.  It became David’s personal place of worship.  Moses’ tabernacle remained at Gibeon, without the ark.  Turning to the New Testament, Warnock quotes  James referring to a  prophecy of Amos (Acts 15:16-17), “After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David … that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles ….”  In other words, the tabernacle of David points to expansion of Zion.  It now includes worshipping Gentiles.

             The original tabernacle of David was followed by Solomon’s temple.  Warnock analyzes the various groups of leaders and servants in both the temple and Solomon’s kingdom, setting the stage for his discussion of the overcomers of Revelation, which he sees a firstfruits company. He also analyzes articles and features of the temple.  Of particular interest is his discussion of the brazen pillars, Boaz and Jachin.  The names translate as  “In Him is strength” and “He will establish”,  respectively.

             Warnock looks at four other temples—the temple of Ezekiel’s vision, Zerubbabel’s temple, Herod’s rebuilt temple and the temple which is Christ’s body, the church.  He states that Ezekiel’s temple was never built as envisioned, but some commentators see it as representing the church, the same as the last temple.  Warnock views Ezekiel’s description of the cherubim with four faces--lion, ox, eagle and man--as pointing to the body of Christ, which he describes as a corporate four-faced man.  He looks at the temples of Zerubbabel and Herod in passing.  The last chapter concludes that, “Christ will receive unto Himself a glorious church—not having spot, wrinkle, or blemish  … or any such thing.   And God will have found that habitation for Himself for which His heart has longed through times eternal.

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