What does the disciples catch of 153 fish represent?

In John 21, Jesus appeared for the third time after his resurrection to 7 of his disciples who were fishing at a distance of 200 cubits from shore, when they caught 153 fish on the right side of the boat by obeying the Lord's instructions.


So is this account of the 153 fish just another miracle of Jesus, or is this story a preordained prophecy?

In this narrative of Jesus third appearance to his disciples there are several details that may seem to be insignificant and meaningless, however these minor details are veiled clues for the 2,000 year gospel age that will followed by Israel's salvation at the end of the tribulation.

The disciples who were fishing at a distance of 200 cubits (John 21:8) from shore when they caught 153 fish on the right side of the boat, is symbolic for the 2,000 year gospel age when Christians will become fishers of men with the net of the gospel, that results in a huge catch of souls for the kingdom of God, Matthew 4:19, 13:47-48, Habakkuk 1:14
Matthew 4:19 And he (Jesus) said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

Matthew 13:47-48 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net (of the gospel) that was thrown into the sea (of sinful mankind) and gathered fish (people) of every kind. (48) When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good (the righteous) into containers but threw away the bad (unbelievers).

Habakkuk 1:14-15 You make mankind like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler (no relationship with Jesus as Lord). (15) He brings all of them up with a hook; he drags them out with his net (of the gospel of salvation); he gathers them in his dragnet; so he rejoices and is glad.

Matthew 25:33 And he will place the sheep on his right (153 fish caught on the right side of the boat), but the goats (unrighteous) on the left.

Jesus appearance for the third time to his 7 disciples who at first failed to recognize him, is prophetic for the Lord's return in the third millennium from the cross at the end of the 7 year tribulation, when a spirit of grace will be poured out on partially blinded Israel who will finally recognize Jesus as their suffering Messiah who was pierced for their sins, John 21:4, 14, Romans 11:25, Zechariah 12:9-10.

When John recognized it was the Lord, he told Peter who immediately tied his outer garment around his waist since he was stripped naked for work, and he jumped into the water as he rushed to be with Jesus on shore, John 21:7.


I believe Peter who was half naked when he eagerly came to Jesus in this 7th verse, is symbolic for the 7th year of tribulation when a remnant of Israel will earnestly come to Jesus in their spiritual nakedness, seeking God's forgiveness for their sins so they may be clothed in Christ's righteousness by faith, 2 Corinthians 5:2-4.

The beginning light at daybreak when Jesus appeared to his disciples, represents the first light of God's salvation for Israel when the will Lord return in the brightness of his glory to defeat the Antichrist at the end of the tribulation, Matthew 24:27, Zephaniah 1:14-15.


2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Isaiah 33:2 O LORD, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm (of strength) every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble.

Psalms 80:19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!

Jesus morning light of salvation for Israel at the end of the tribulation's darkness is also revealed in the story of Israel coming out of the Red Sea in victory with Moses, when the Lord destroyed Pharaoh's army in the morning watch.

Exodus 14:24 And in the morning watch (near daybreak) the LORD in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic,

John 21:8-11 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits off. (9) When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. (10) Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." (11) So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.

So why do the scriptures bother to mention that a 153 fish were caught? What could this number represent? Below are few possible meanings for the 153 fish.

Gordon Stanger, August 20, 2019
As others have pointed out, there are two 'great hauls of fish' in the gospels, in Luke 5 and John 21. They are like bookends to Jesus's ministry. The Luke incident is at the start of Jesus's ministry, when he brings the good news of salvation to the Jews. The second is after Jesus's resurrection at the end of his Earthly ministry.

But why 153 large fish? The number 153 only occurs in one other Biblical setting (2Chronicles 2:17), Solomon's census of 'foreigners' in Israel available to help in building the temple at Jerusalem. That's a foreshadowing of building God's spiritual kingdom. Actually the census numbered 153,600.

The point is this number references Gentiles. The first haul of fish symbolized 'fishing for Jews to be brought into God's kingdom'. The second symbolized 'fishing for Gentiles.' Jew first, Gentiles later, is a recurring New Testament theme.

I would like to add a few of my own thoughts to what Gordon Stanger said regarding the 153,600 Gentiles.

The 153 fish caught at a distance of 200 cubits from shore is symbolic for the 2,000 year harvest of Gentile saints that will end at 6,000 years from Adam when the tribulation begins in the 7th millennium.

And this appears to be deeply hidden in the census of 153,600 Gentiles who helped build Solomon's temple in Jerusalem, that I believe is a spiritual picture for Christians who help build God's heavenly temple of living saints, 1 Corinthians 3:16. God's numbers in scripture are mysterious and yet precise in what they mean.

The above phrases that have a gematria of 153 and the disciples catch of a 153 fish, is symbolic for those who have been caught out of this sinful world with the “net of the gospel,” and have become the “sons of God” (153) through faith in Jesus who died at twilight on “Passover” (153) and rose three days later on the 17th of Nisan, Lev 23:5.

I believe the numbers 1 through 17 that add up to the 153, represent the great catch of saints who are saved by faith in Jesus who was resurrected on the 17th of Nisan.

Those who are born-again through faith in Christ's resurrection on the 17th have also received one or more of the 9 gifts of the spirit, and 9 (or 1+5+3) x 17 = 153, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11.

The number 13 in scripture represents rebellious mankind while 5 stands for grace. Therefore 1(5)3 which is 5 surrounded by 13, symbolically speaks of rebellious sinners (13) who are saved by God's grace (5) when they accept Jesus in their heart by faith, Genesis 13:13.

The following video reveals deeper insights regarding the disciples catch of 153 fish and how this number is related to Ezekiel 47:10.


Another interesting numerical mystery is the integers of numbers that are divisible by 3 when cubed and added together will eventually equal 153. In other words one third of all numbers will eventually equal 153 with this mathematical formula. For example,

So is it possible one third of all numbers that will eventually equal 153, is symbolic for one third of Israel who will eventually be saved at the end of the tribulation that's represented by the disciples great catch of 153 fish?

Zechariah 13:8 In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive.
In a previous study for the possible time-frame of the tribulation, I discussed the story of Aaron who was 83 when he and Moses first told Pharaoh to let Israel go before the 10 plagues of judgment devastated Egypt, that's prophetic for the beginning of the tribulation when the two witnesses will begin to confront the Antichrist at 83 years from (Israel's birth in) 1948 in 2031, Exodus 7:7.

Psalms 83 that mentions 10 nations who form a covenant to destroy Israel is also prophetic for 83 years from 1948, when the 7 year false peace covenant will be confirmed when the tribulation begins in 2031, Psalms 83:4-5, Daniel 9:27.

Its also important to understand the 7 years of tribulation is commonly known as Daniels 70th week of transgression for Israel, Daniel 9:24.

• Therefore when you add 83 years (from Israel's birth in 1948 that reveals the beginning of the tribulation in 2031)
  
• to Daniel's 70th week of transgression for Israel (the 7 years of tribulation),
  
• it equals 153 (83+70), a number which possibly represents the end of the tribulation in 2038 when a remnant of Israel will be saved by faith in Jesus.

Richard Bauckham said in John 20:31, the total gematria value of the words believe, Christ and life equals 153. And the gematria for the miraculous signs Jesus did is 17 in John 20:30.

John 20:30 and 20:31 (30) Now Jesus did many other signs (17) in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; (31) but these are written so that you may believe (98) that Jesus is the Christ (19), the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life (36) in his name.

The gematria of 153 that's hidden in the words believe, Christ and life mysteriously connects John.20:31 to the story of the 153 fish that's symbolic for a great catch of saints when a remnant of Israel will be saved at the end of the tribulation.

And you can be sure that Jesus who was resurrected on the 17th will perform numerous signs (17) in the tribulation, so people may believe (98) in Christ (19) and have eternal life (36) in his name.

Therefore John.20:31 could be a clue for the beginning of the tribulation in 2031.

And just 7 verses later in John 21:7, Peter came out of the water half naked to be with Jesus at the break of dawn, which may be a picture for Israel coming to Jesus by faith to be saved from their sinful nakedness in the morning watch at the end of the tribulation.

If you add the first 7 verses in John 21 to John 20:31 it equals 2038. Which could be the year when Israel will trust in Jesus as their suffering Messiah at the end of the tribulation.
John 21:9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.


What does the 154th fish on a fire of coals represent?

A few prophecy teachers believe the 154th fish on the fire is symbolic for Israel's affliction in the tribulation, while the bread is symbolic for the gospel that will be given to Israel when their partial hardening will end, Romans 11:25.

In the following scriptures the Lord puts Israel through the fire of affliction in the tribulation to refine and purify their hearts so they will repent and call upon the name of Jesus so their sins may be forgiven.

Zechariah 13:8-9 In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. (9) And I will put this third into the fire (of the tribulation), and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'They are my people'; and they will say, 'The LORD is my God.'"

Isaiah 31:9 His rock shall pass away in terror, and his officers desert the standard in panic," declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

The book of Lamentations has 4 chapters with 22 verses and 1 chapter has 66 verses for a total of 154 verses. Lamentations describes the Lord's harsh judgment on idolatrous Israel as they were being taken captive into Babylon for 70 years.

I believe the 154 verses in Lamentations and the 154th fish on the fire, are symbolic for Israel going through the refining fire of judgment during the 7 years of the tribulation, when God is calling his people to come out of spiritual Babylon.

Another interesting detail is the gematria for Israel is 541, which has the same 3 digits as the 154th fish on the fire. So is this another numerical clue that's implying the 154th fish on the fire represents Israel (541) in the tribulation?

In the following articles I examine the scriptures that seem to be pointing to the years of 2031 to 2038 when God's tribulation judgment will soon take place.
Is the year when the tribulation ends written in scripture?
Part 2, 2 days (2,000 years), 7th hour, 38
Part 3, 2-38
Part 4, Genesis 14:14, 17:17, Exodus 7:7, John 5:5
Part 5, Psalms 83 & 90

The Ominous Sign of Four Blood Moons in 2032 and 2033
Four Blood Moons in 2032 and 2033 Part 2, 85 Priests are put to death

Is Jonah's warning for Nineveh prophetic for today's wicked generation?

Rachel after 7 years of barrenness gave birth to Joseph when Jacob was 90

Israel's Second Passover will be fulfilled at the end of the tribulation.

Joseph in prison "two whole years" is prophetic for a 2,000 year gospel age

Why did God want to kill Moses when he lodged on his way to set Israel free from slavery to Pharaoh?
Why did the blind man see men like trees walking when Jesus touched him

Why was Jacob called Israel when he struggled with God?

Kenneth Heck said:

The number of 153 is one short of 154, which factors into 7 times 22. There were 7 disciples involved in this story. 22 represents the number of letters in the Jewish alphabet at that time. Fish have been traditionally regarded as brain food. So, what these 7 disciples obtained was the full comprehension of Jewish spiritual literature, primarily the prophecies of the coming Messiah. Unfortunately, due to our fallen human nature, they were not able to be truly perfect in this regard; they were deficient to a small degree, represented by the one missing fish. The remaining five disciples were perhaps given other spiritual gifts of equal value.

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I did not have enough room in the article for this thought I had regarding 7x22 that equals the 154th fish on the fire so I will add it here.

154 is 7 x 22. And the Tav is the 22nd and last letter in the ancient Hebrew alphabet that's represented by a cross which has a gematria value of 400.

The last letter Tav is prophetic for when Jesus said it is finished and then died on the cross at 4,000 years from Adam when he fulfilled the covenant of the law.

7 x 22 represented by the 154th fish on the fire of coals with bread, may be symbolic for Israel's salvation when they will believe in the bread of the gospel of Jesus death on the cross for their sins, represented by the 22nd letter Tav, after 7 years of refining fire and affliction in the tribulation.