In the January 2000 issue of Israel Today, a magazine published, obviously, in Israel is the story of the “Hill of Evil Counsel”. This hill is south of the Old City of Jerusalem and south of the Mount of Olives. It has had its name since the time of Jesus.

It is interesting how traditions continue to hold true. White or light traditionally indicates good. Black or darkness traditionally indicates evil. The Hill of Evil Counsel traditionally has been the location of anti-God or anti-Israel forces, and it continues to this very day.

In the time of Jesus, the Hill of Evil Counsel was where the homes of two High Priests were located. Hannas and his son-in-law Caiphus lived there. It was Caiphus who led the Sanhedrin when it demanded the death of Jesus.

Prior to the time of Jesus this same hill was home to Antiochus Epiphanes IV. It was he who in 165 B.C. foreshadowed the anti-Christ by desecrating the Temple of God. Historians report that he sacrificed a pig on the altar of the Lord’s Temple.

In 1920 the Hill of Evil Counsel became home to Government House, the headquarters for the British in Palestine. Despite the Balfour Declaration, the British were not very supportive of the Jews. The Jews suffered at the hand of the British. The Jews were not allowed to have any weapons, not even pistols or revolvers. In 1948 when Israel became a state, the British withdrew from what they called Palestine and left all of their weapons, tanks and artillery, to the Arabs!

As you know, the land is properly known as Israel. It was Israel until the Romans deported the Jews in 135 A.D. The Romans shipped the Jews to slave markets all over the Roman Empire and then renamed the land of the Children of Israel. They named the land for the enemy of the Jews, the Philistines. In Latin “Philistine” is Palestine. In their own language today the Palestinians call themselves “Philistines”.

Who lives on the Hill of Evil Counsel today? The United Nations has an administrative compound on the hill. In the future will the United Nations fill the role of an anti-God or anti-Israel oppressor?

As of today, September 16th, the United Nations will begin to discuss Palestinian “statehood” on Tuesday, September 20th. I do not know what will be the outcome, but I will not be surprised if it is not good for the Land of Israel. The United Nations is not, but should be, aware that the Lord is very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion (Zechariah 1:14, 8:1). Zion is the “apple of His eye.” (Zechariah 2:8)

Men think that they are in control. They are wrong. Our Lord God is in control. May His name be praised always!