This meditation is part of an ongoing series.
For those who haven't read Part 1 yet, I’ve included a link below.
https://idea5936.tistory.com/entry/The-Final-Revelation-Given-to-John-–-Opsarionὀψάριον
"The Final Revelation Given to John – Opsarion(ὀψάριον)"
Today, I want to share with you a meditation on opsarion (ὀψάριον), something the Holy Spirit has personally impressed upon my heart.Unlike common theological perspectives or familiar sermons, I have laid down every theory I had previously accepted
gotokingdom.com
Meditation on John 21:9–12
“When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ None of the disciples dared ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the Lord.” (John 21:9–12)
1. The 153 Large Fish: “Great Nations, Multitudes”
In the original Greek, “large fish” is translated as “μεγάλων ἰχθύων” (megalōn ichthyōn), meaning “very large fish.”This signifies vastness and magnitude. The number 153, when interpreted through gematria, holds symbolic meanings:
- 100: Fullness, maturity, and completeness.
- 50: Pentecost, Jubilee—symbolizing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, freedom, and redemption.
- 3: The perfect number of God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)—the Trinity, perfection, and unity.
The spiritual significance of the 153 fish symbolizes the salvation of great nations and multitudes in the end times, representing the fulfillment of God's perfect creative providence.
2. Opsarion (ὀψάριον): “Small Fish”
In John 21:9–10, the term “fish” refers to “opsarion” (ὀψάριον), a Greek word meaning “small fish,” “dried small fish,” or “fish prepared as food.” Opsarion alone is not complete and is typically eaten with bread or as a side dish. The bread on the charcoal fire symbolizes the resurrected Jesus, who, though He poured out water and blood on the cross, now has a resurrected body.
“I am the bread of life.” “My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.”
In the end times, the smallest ones who become one with the Lord (the bread) are the opsarion. The spiritual meaning of opsarion symbolizes the smallest ones who are specifically prepared and united with the Lord.
Notably, opsarion refers to small fish that fishermen, after catching, deem of little commercial value. Very small ones are released back into the sea. However, those that are too small to sell but too large to release, often injured during the netting process, are left on the shore. Jewish law dictates that such fish be left by the sea, where the poor or unclean sick individuals, unable to work, would come and take them for food.
When the disciples came ashore, Jesus was already grilling opsarion. These were likely the opsarion left behind by those who had finished fishing earlier. Revelation 6:9–11 speaks of souls slain for the word of God and their testimony, crying out for justice. They are told to rest a little longer until the number of their fellow servants and brothers to be killed as they were is completed. These souls are under the altar, having been offered as burnt sacrifices. The opsarion Jesus was grilling represents the righteous who were martyred first.
The revelation of opsarion in John 21, received by Apostle John, pertains to the ministry of the last remaining ones.Initially, there were seven disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, representing the seven churches in Revelation. Their adversary is the red dragon with seven heads and ten horns (Revelation 12:3). Before Jesus appeared to the disciples, they caught nothing all night (John 21:3), symbolizing the time when the red dragon attempts to devour the child born of the woman (Revelation 12:4). Apostle John explains that the mystery of the seven stars in Jesus' right hand represents the seven churches. Thus, the one-third of the stars dragged down by the red dragon signifies the churches of the nations.
Though the red dragon seems victorious, the church built upon the rock, held in the Lord's powerful right hand, emerges. Jesus instructs them to cast the net on the right side of the boat (John 21:6), resulting in a massive catch of large fish. This demonstrates the Lord's power manifesting in a great harvest, overcoming the red dragon. There is a war in heaven; Michael and his angels fight against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fight back but are defeated and cast out of heaven (Revelation 12:7–9).
Now, the opsarion comes into focus. Among the disciples in the boat, only Peter jumps into the water and reaches the shore first. In the seven churches, Antipas of Pergamum was martyred first, symbolizing the martyrs who fulfill their final mission. Imagine the scene: some disciples are still in the boat, while Peter is on the shore. Jesus is already grilling opsarion on the beach. If Peter represents the first martyr among the opsarion, the connection becomes clear.
“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury because he knows that his time is short.” (Revelation 12:11–12)
Do you see? What do you think? This moment signifies the fulfillment of the plea from those under the altar for their blood to be avenged. They are told to rest a little longer until the number of their fellow servants and brothers to be killed as they were is completed (Revelation 6:11).
Let's continue. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards (John 21:8).
In Greek, “about a hundred yards” is “ἀπὸ πηχῶν διακοσίων,” meaning “about 200 cubits.” A cubit (πηχης, pēchēs) is approximately 45 cm, so 200 cubits equal about 90 meters. This distance is also referred to as “fifty fathoms,” with one fathom being roughly 1.8 meters.
I pondered why Apostle John specified “fifty fathoms” instead of simply stating 200 cubits. Perhaps there's a hidden meaning. Jesus is on the shore, preparing breakfast over a charcoal fire, while the disciples are in the boat, 50 fathoms away. Peter stands between them, symbolizing those who dwell in the heavens (Revelation 12:12).
Jesus is in heaven, and Peter represents those dwelling there, having been martyred for their testimony. The remaining disciples, still in the boat, are associated with the earth and sea, facing impending woe. Remember, the disciples are still hauling in the fish.
Why are the disciples still in the world? They must proclaim repentance to the nations, like Jonah did. Jesus said that no sign would be given to a wicked generation except the sign of Jonah. Just as Nineveh repented, the nations will experience a great harvest of salvation, like the 153 large fish caught in the“A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.”(Matthew 16:4)
“The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah.” (Matthew 12:41)
Apostle John's mention of “fifty fathoms” signifies the proclamation of the 50-year Jubilee, which is also the Day of Atonement. The final saints, along with the two witnesses, will understand these end-time events. The ministry of the two witnesses has begun, and the Lord's time is being fulfilled.
Jesus remained in the tomb for three days and nights, fulfilling the sign of Jonah. Why did Jesus stay in the tomb for three days? To taste death for everyone, as stated in Hebrews 2:6. Jesus died to atone for the sins of all people and remained in the tomb for three days. The number 6, being a multiple of 3, represents humanity.
Jesus, in His first coming, fulfilled the ministry corresponding to the number of man—six—to redeem all who were under Adam, those who had not attained perfection. Just as He filled the six empty stone jars at the wedding in Cana, He provided salvation from sin for all mankind.
However, when Christ returns, He will not come to save from sin. This time, He will come in righteousness, to save the righteous, apart from sin. These are the firstfruits, those who have been redeemed from among mankind (both the righteous and the wicked).
They are those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes, those who have been redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb (Revelation 14:4).
Thus, the mission of the two witnesses is to demonstrate the salvation of the righteous as a sign.
"But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them" (Revelation 11:11).
"In that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven" (Revelation 11:13).
Jesus was dead for three days, but the two witnesses are said to be dead for three and a half days. The righteous are those who have been perfected and will enter into the seventh-day rest.
Three and a half doubled is seven (3.5 × 2 = 7)—the number of completion, the number of blessing, the Sabbath.
Another important point is that three and a half days represents the midpoint of the seven-year tribulation. Jesus also referenced and warned using the prophecy in the book of Daniel:
"So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains" (Matthew 24:15–16).
After the resurrection and ascension of the two witnesses, the great tribulation will begin in earnest. However, there will still be those who give glory to the God of heaven. These are the ones who must now keep their faith even at the cost of their lives.
"Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commandments and hold fast their testimony about Jesus" (Revelation 12:17).
This final battle of the saints is a war against the two beasts, one rising from the sea and the other from the earth. It is a battle in which the saints must remain faithful even unto death.
"And I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' 'Yes,' says the Spirit, 'they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them'" (Revelation 14:13).
Thus, the apostle John interwove the revelation of Jesus who appeared at the Sea of Tiberias with the revelation of Jesus who appeared on the island of Patmos, keeping it hidden as a mystery.
The opsarion are those who testify of Jesus Christ unto death, keeping their faith to the end. Through their sacrificial offering, the harvest of the grape clusters—those left behind—will be completed.
At that time, the two beasts, the harlot, and the false prophet will face judgment:
"So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of God’s wrath. And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia" (Revelation 14:19–20).
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless the precious servants of the opsarion, whom He is seeking even now.
