Here is the link I just read yesterday about 153.

 

http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/may2008/diane51.htm

 

153 appears explicitly in John 21:11.

 

Joh 21:11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

 

But another place is:

 

Ezr 10:35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh,

 

That seems like a rather "boring" part of scripture, but it is the only verse in the bible that has the smallest gematria.  What you don't see is the reference Ezr 10:35 if you look up the same number in Strong's, you find another "small" surprise.

 

Strong's # H1035 = Bethlehem (meaning House of Bread)

 

Bethlehem is the "least" among the princes of Judah.

 

Bethlehem is the place of the ashes of Jacob's life. It is where Rachel died and it was called Ephrath, meaning double ashes. But it was here that God sent a Savior to the world. Jesus could have been born anywhere, but it was here that God chose to honor the tears and broken heart of Jacob.

 

Gen 35:19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which [is] Bethlehem.

 

If you take that reference, and look up the Strong's number, you will see even more:

 

H3519 = Glory

 

Furthermore, you will see this metaphor used by David:

 

Psa 102:9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,

 

But here is the promise:

 

Isa 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

 

Blessings,

 

Wade Balzer

wbalzer@newjerusalem.org