February 18, 2025
Editor’s note and Forward: Bible students have long acknowledged that the blessings of national riches given to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 17:1-7) were fulfilled thousands of years later in the rise to international prominence, of the British Empire and United States of America.
It has also been an assumption that those blessings could be removed by God for disobedience (Leviticus 26:14-39), and that process of punishment has been in place for decades.
But is it possible that other factors are in play? WNPR is committed to reviewing these prophecies in future articles, but in the meantime, please note this important historic and prophetic review by Victor Kubik, United Church of God Minister and Council member, Philanthropist and veteran world traveler.
The Panama Canal’s Storied History
By Vic Kubik
President Donald Trump has expressed intentions to reclaim the Panama Canal, a strategic waterway constructed by the United States in the early 20th century. This move has reignited discussions about the canal’s complex history and its geopolitical significance.
My interest in the Panama Canal began in high school when I researched its construction. The project’s complexity and the monumental effort required were captivating. Managed by the United States, the canal’s construction relied on tens of thousands of workers, including many Chinese laborers, who endured harsh conditions. Panama was part of Colombia and with U.S. support, Panama gained independence in 1903, facilitating American oversight of the canal’s construction.
The canal’s construction involved two main phases:
The French Effort (1881–1889): Led by Ferdinand de Lesseps, the French initiated the project in 1881. De Lesseps, who had successfully overseen the construction of the Suez Canal, attempted to apply similar engineering methods in Panama. However, challenging terrain, engineering difficulties, and high worker mortality from diseases like malaria and yellow fever led to the project’s abandonment in 1889.
The American Completion (1904–1914): The United States took over the project in 1904, implementing advanced engineering solutions and extensive disease control measures. This phase culminated in the canal’s official opening on August 15, 1914, marked by the transit of the SS Ancon. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers played a pivotal role in the project’s successful completion.
After declaring independence from Spain in 1821, Panama joined Gran Colombia, a republic that included present-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama. When Gran Colombia dissolved in 1831, Panama remained part of the Republic of New Granada, later known as the Republic of Colombia, until its U.S.-backed independence in 1903.
The Panama Canal Zone, established under the 1903 Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty, was a 553-square-mile area over which the United States exercised jurisdiction from 1903 to 1979. This zone spanned the Isthmus of Panama, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Control of the canal was transferred to Panama on December 31, 1999, following treaties signed in 1977.
In recent years, concerns have arisen over Chinese investments in strategic properties near the canal, leading to debates about regional security. The English-speaking world has historically played a significant role in global affairs, administering strategic land and sea gates like the Suez and Panama Canals. These canals, constructed and managed by the United States, Great Britain, and France, have drastically reduced shipping times by bypassing lengthy routes around continents.
As an amateur radio operator, I frequently communicated with fellow operators in the Canal Zone, who used the call sign prefix “KZ5.” These connections included military personnel, civilian workers, and local Panamanians. In 2017, I visited the canal in person while traveling to Brazil. Staying near the Miraflores Locks, I observed ships passing through—an awe-inspiring sight. Recent expansions have introduced new locks to accommodate larger vessels, incorporating water-recycling systems to conserve resources.
Passage through the canal is costly, with most ships paying between $600,000 and $700,000 in tolls, and tankers often paying up to $1 million. Approximately 20 ships traverse the canal daily. Specialized crews board each vessel to navigate it through the locks, ensuring precise passage through this narrow waterway.
Under President Jimmy Carter’s administration, the Panama Canal was handed over to Panama, despite the U.S. previously holding rights to the Canal Zone. Ironically, despite having built, operated, and maintained the canal, the U.S. Navy, one of the canal’s largest users, is still required to pay high tolls for its naval vessels. Recently, political tensions surrounding the canal have resurfaced. President Trump suggested that the canal should be returned to U.S. administration, prompting Panama to consider reducing or even eliminating fees for U.S. Navy ships. The canal remains an economic lifeline for Panama, contributing significantly to its GDP. However, it was the United States that freed Panama from Colombian rule and constructed this remarkable engineering marvel.
Reflecting on the canal’s strategic importance and the immense value it provides in global shipping, it’s notable that such critical infrastructure was entrusted to English-speaking nations for so long. This contrasts with Russia, which, despite once controlling vast territories, lacked significant sea gates. While Russia has some of the world’s longest rivers, they mostly flow north into the Arctic Ocean, limiting their effectiveness for global trade. To gain access to the Baltic, Russia had to fight Sweden for the land where it built St. Petersburg. Even then, ships must navigate narrow straits to reach the Atlantic. Similarly, in Ukraine, the port of Odessa provides Black Sea access, but vessels must pass through the narrow Bosporus and Dardanelles straits—once controlled by the British, now under Turkish sovereignty.
Examining these geopolitical realities reveals the strategic importance of controlling land and sea gates. The descendants of Abraham were given prime locations on Earth, seemingly for a divine purpose—to be a light and example to the world. Though they have often faltered in this mission, they were still granted these promises. (Genesis 24:60)
As we approach the latter years of this civilization—before its ultimate redemption through the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God—we can reflect with gratitude and awe on what God has done and what He will yet do for the world. The Bible will gain even greater relevance as we consider Israel’s historical and prophetic role. How wonderful it will be when these people receive God’s Holy Spirit and are finally used to teach the world His ways, His laws, and build prosperity and everlasting peace.
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World News and Prophecy Review thanks Vic Kubik for this insightful article on the historical and prophetic ramifications of the ownership of the strategic “sea gate” in the nation of Panama.
To follow Vic and his philanthropic foundation, LifeNets, please visit: Vic Kubik’s Website
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