Gibraltar: more sabre rattling.

Tensions are escalating between Gibraltar, Spain and the U.K. over the future of this key piece of real estate. The U.K. has controlled Gibraltar for 300 years under the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht (Daily Mail, July 29, 2013), and as recently as 2002, Gibraltar residents rejected a return to Spanish rule (ibid.). However, the Spanish recently began searching all cars leaving Gibraltar, causing six-hour traffic jams, and restricting movement of many Spanish citizens who work and/or live in Gibraltar (ibid.). Spain’s Prime Minister also threatened to close Gibraltar airspace and impose an entrance and exit fee of €50 to and from the peninsula—an action that would breach EU rules of freedom of movement (Deutsche Welle, August 5, 2013). Referring to the Spanish threats, Gibraltar’s non-British chief minister stated these words “are more reminiscent of the type of statement you would hear from North Korea than from an EU partner” (ibid.).

Bible prophecies have long warned the relationship between nations of the final Beast power would be like “iron and clay” (Daniel 2:41-44). Prophecies also indicate that Israelite-descended nations like Britain will not be part of the final Beast power, but will be taken into captivity by it (Isaiah 5:9, 13-15; Jeremiah 30:3-15)! While God promised the descendants of Abraham and Jacob would be given possession of the “gate of their enemies” if they obeyed (Genesis 22:17; 24:60), those gates will eventually be lost as a result of disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:47-57). Gibraltar is one of two sea gates remaining in Israelite hands, but it may soon go! For more on this topic, read our informative article, “Sea Gates in Peril.”