The prophetic nature of the number ―153‖On the shore here at the Sea of Galilee, Y‘shua gave these professional fishermen a spiritual lesson about
fishing. It is the remarkable depiction of His plan to spread the Gospel.
Here in the passage, the Sea of Galilee is called by its Gentile name, ―the sea of Tiberias‖ (John 21:1). This
foreshadows the going forth of the Gospel into the Roman Empire and the Gentile world at large.
The brief description of fishing at night is a remarkable symbol of things to come. Then and even today, it is
not uncommon for fisherman to spread their nets at night, using lantern light to attract their fish.
Why 153? Why that number?
The Bible never wastes important information. Numbers in particular are loaded with meaning. 1 is the
Creator; 2 is division; 3 the Godhead; 4 the kingdom; 5 is grace; 6 the number of man; and 7 the statement
of completion, etc, etc. But 153, what is this number?
There are 153 kinds of fish, meaning that all kinds of men are enclosed in the Gospel net. There were also
153 nations at that time – representing the entire earth. Also, the sum of all the digits up to and including the
number 17, beginning with 1+2+3..., and so on up to 15+16+17=153. This emphasises the number 17.
Amazingly, the Old Covenant ―sons of God‖ contains the same mystical number. In the case of ―sons of God‖
in Hebrew ̳b ̳nai ha‘elohim‘, the letters of the Hebrew numbering adds up to exactly 153! This expression is
nothing less than ―the number of the sons of Elohim‖. Since we are called ―joint-heirs with Christ‖ in Rom
8:17, we are also to be seen as the sons of YHWH.
Furthermore, amongst the multitudes who received direct blessing from Y‘shua, there are recorded exactly
153 individual cases.
It is also interesting to note that the word ―Zion‖ is used 153 times in the KJV Bible.
28:17-18 Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth
―(17) And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. (18) And Jesus came and spake
unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.‖
―I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came
to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory,
and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting
dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.‖ (Dan 7:14)
The authority of Y‟shua(16) ―Then the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
(17) And when they saw him they worshiped him: but some doubted.
(18) And Jesus came and said to them, saying, All authority is given to me in heaven and in earth". (Mat
28:16-18 Para)
The English word ―authority‖ in verse 18 is translated from the Greek word 'exousia' which means 'ability to
perform an action'; 'the right, authority, or commission conferred by a higher court'; and it denotes external
power. The Father has delegated to Y‘shua the authority and power over all the physical and spiritual
dimensions of existence in order for him to carry out the work that he has been charged with throughout the
Kingdom of YHWH. Only the Sovereign Father is above Y‘shua in authority and power, because the Father
is the Sovereign in whom and from whom all authority and power resides and emanates.
The Father has given Y‘shua all authority and power (1 Pet 3:22); the authority comes from the Father. In
other words, Y‘shua is second in authority to Avinu the Father and he is directly responsible to him for all
things. The Father has authorised Y‘shua with full discretionary use of his spirit-power, but other physical and
spirit-beings (good and evil) are limited in their use of his power.
Note: It is quite impossible to properly appreciate the significance of the words ―all power‖. Yes, Y‘shua is
omnipotent. He has unlimited power of every kind. All power! Just pause and think awhile about that
staggering statement. Also remember that it extends to heaven and earth and all creatures under the earth.