THE 153 FISHES AND THE UNBROKEN NET

THE 153 FISHES AND THE UNBROKEN NET

Perfect symmetry of Form is typical of Regenerate

 and

 perfected Nature

 and

 the means whereby

 geometrical perfections can be expressed

 in literary form is by the use of number.

 But the numbers related to geometric form 

are mainly incommensurables

 and 

for the purpose of the Gematria 

a whole-number convention has to be achieved

 whereby each value shall be rationally represented

 and with approximate truth

 One of these integrating numbers is

 153

the number of "the Fishes"

in "the unbroken net"

 in the "miracle" recorded in St. John xxi.

 This number was held by the Fathers 

to signify the Number of the Elect

 And

 it is a very important example 

of the general method

 of the Gematria

 since it stands for the harmonising of the Root

 or the

 Generative Power of THREE

 with Unity

 For the benefit of readers who may be interested

 we propose shortly to explain 

this ‘mystery’ 

on its mathematical side

 Numbers under 100 are easy to use in calculation

 and afford a convenient foundation 

for the building up of larger series 

by process of addition or multiplication

 Hence some number or numbers less than 100

 which might stand for this quantity

 would be a desideratum

 There are three or more of such numbers

 and three in particular which give a very close

 approximation to the truth 

 so close as abundantly to satisfy the purpose

 of the Gematria

 The first of these numbers is 

26

 which is the equivalent in Gematria 

of 

the Hebrew Tetragrammmaton hvhy IHVH - Jehovah 

 or more properly Jahweh

 The second is 

71

 the foundation of the Greek Tetragram

 ΘΕΟΣ = God

 which has the number 284

 or 4 × 71

 The third and most perfect 

is formed by the union of the two foregoing

 26 + 71 = 97

and this is the foundation 

of

 the "mystical"

 Greek Tetragrammaton

 ΙΕΟΥ = 485 or 5 × 97

26 is 15 × √3

 71 is 41 × √3

 and 

97 is 56 × √3

 so that 

15 : 26

 41 : 71

 56 : 97

where the sum 

56 + 97 = 153 

are all expressive of the ratio 1 : √3

All these numbers are the foundation 

of series having accordant meanings 

in the Gematria

 and 

by their union other concordances are framed

 97 + 56 is 153

 and

 this is one of the principal numbers of this order

 It symbolises Unity 

plus the generative power

 of the Three

 Eight being the number of the "Saviour"

 and 153 that of the saved

 the process of 'salvation' 

is accomplished by the Net

 which as 

ΤΟ ∆ΙΚΤΥΟΝ = THE NETWORK

 has the number 

8 × 153 = 1224

 which number 

1224

 = mnemonic

 ΙΧΘΥΕΣ = the fishes

may also claim

 And

 it is the number 

of 

′Ο ΠΑΤΡΙΚΟΣ ΛΟΓΟΣ

  The Word of the Father

The Net of Salvation

 is also figured 

as the Walls of the Heavenly City

 a foursquare figure 

 ΤΑ ΤΕΙΧΙ = the Walls = 1224

 and 

within the square lies the citadel

 a circle of the same breadth 

whose measure is 

the measure

 of 

the New Jerusalem = ′Η ΚΑΙΝΗ ′ΙΕΡΟΥΣΑΛΗΜ = 961

 which is Heaven = ο ουρανος = 961

The 

ΙΧΘΥΕΣ ρνγ

PISCES rng

 are thus

 1377

 equal to the Net 

and as

1377 / 9 = 153

equal to 

the 153

 and

 this is the number in Gematria of 

the Α⋅ Ω with the ΠΝΕΥΜΑ

 and of 

the ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ ΚΟΣΜΟΥ

As children, learn good manners.

As young men, learn to control the passions.

In middle age, be just.

In old age, give good advice.

Then die, without regret.

This rationalising 

of irrational quantities

 and integrating 

of fractional numbers

 appears to be 

generally regarded

 in the Teaching of the Cabala

 as a type and symbol of Salvation

 And the relation 

found to subsist 

between certain words

 such as

 ΣΩΤΗΡ - Saviour

 and ΙΧΘΥΣ - Fish

 which is typical of 

a very numerous class

 

and

furnishes an excellent demonstration of the fact

 The two words are 

found to have numbers related

 as 2 : √3

 or as the diameter of a circle

 to the side of an equilateral triangle

 within that circle

 Reference to Euclid, Bk. I., prop. 1

 will shew that the latter line

 lies within the intersection of two equal circles

 and is the measure of the ‘Vesica’ 

formed by their intersection

 The historic and traditional importance of this Cabala

 coupled with the extraordinary nature 

of the Gematria found to be connected with it

 call for special mention. 

CABALA OF THE FISH 

ΙΧΘΥΣ = 1219 Icthys = the Fish

Icthys

is well-known as a frequent symbol

 of the Christian Faith

 occurring in early inscriptions

 As a natural type

 it has an allegorical meaning

 which may be rendered thus

 The Fish, though living in the salt sea

 is not penetrated by saltness

 Even so

 "Jesus" incarnate in a world full of sin

 is Himself free from sin

 and His followers are also made free

 those who are caught up

 in His net 

being saved from the salt waters

 The Gematria of the Icthys

 has survived in the Sybilline Acrostic

 Ιησους Χρειστος Θεου ′Υιος Σωτηρ

 the initials of which spell 

the mnemonic

ΙΧΘΥΣ = 1219

 And in the orthodox Gematria

 it is now clearly seen 

to have a prominent place

 and its teaching 

is reinforced

 in the language of geometry

 and mathematical symbol

 There can be no doubt 

that it is the same Mystery 

of the Icthys 

which is traditional 

in "sacred" art and architecture

 in the form of the Vesica Piscis

 In this geometrical guise 

it is everywhere met 

with in ecclesiastical buildings 

of the mediaeval era

 both as latent in the plan 

and 

proportions of Christian Temples

 and apparent in the ornamental detail

 where it is often associated with 

sculptured figures of Christ 

or of the Virgin

 The Vesica, as the diagram shews

 is formed by the intersection 

of the arcs of two equal circles

 and it contains a double equilateral triangle

 AEBF

 the figure of the Rhombus

 The proportions of breadth to length

 of Rhombus or Vesica

 are as One to the Root of Three

 and here we are again 

in the presence of the same geometrical teaching

 of the genesis of the Logos 

from the One

 the "Father"

 the Mystery of the "Virgin Conception" 

and 

Birth of the Logos of Truth

 The Vesica by its measure of length

 is the Ιχθυς

the mnemonic for

1219 

in GeΩ matria 

and the Diameter of the circle

 has a corresponding measure of 

1408 = Σωτηρ 

the mnemonic for

Saviour

 And 

the logical 

ratio

1408 : 1219

 expresses with universal arithmetic accuracy

the ratio 2 : √3

 since 1408 × .866 = 1219.328

 Either arm of the Cross 

formed by these two lines

 will thus be 609.66

 integrated in GeΩ matria as

 610 = Ξυλον 

Mnemonic for

 The Wooden Cross

 These numbers 

give us the foundation 

of a whole geometric series

 whose GeΩ matria is found

 to be no less harmonious

 This we will now place before our readers

 The first terms we find to be

 Παρθενος = 515

mnemonic for

 the "Virgin"

 and

   ′Η καταβολη η παρθενια = 704 

Mnemonic for 

the "Virgin Conception"

 which is also

  η καταβολη αλιθειας

mnemonic for

the Conception of Truth 

 and 

η ουρανια αλιθεια

mnemonic for

the Higher Truth Itself 

 AND

 704 is half  1408 = σωτηρ

mnemonic for

savior

 and

 is thus the radius of the circle

producing the "fish"

 And 

this is the geometrical Unit

 and will figure in our series as 

1 = UNITY

             Now παρθενος = 515

      + η καταβολη αληθειας = 704 *

===============================

                                 ′Ο Λογος εκ πατρος = 1219 which is Ιχθυς

* Representing 10,000 / (9 + 3√3) i.e. 704.4... etc.

Hence we now have 

the first four terms 

of a mathematical series 

with an accordant teaching in GeΩ matria

 and a geΩ metrical illustration

 and

 these we may express as follows

     (1) 704 × 1.00 = 704 η καταβολη αληθειας 

(2) 704 × 2.00 = 1408 ΣΩΤΗΡ = Saviour

 ΕΙΣ ΘΕΟΣ ′Ο ΜΟΝΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΛΗΘΙΝΟΣ

IN "GOD" THE ONLY TRUE ONE

                 (3) 704 × (√3 - 1) = 515 ΠΑΡΘΕΝΟΣ = the Virgin

              (4) 704 × √3 = 1219 ΙΧΘΥΣ = The Fish

   also ′Ο ΛΟΓΟΣ ΕΚ ΠΑΤΡΟΣ

 Καταβασις Θεου

 ′Ερµηνεια κυριου

 η γυνη = 469 + ο υιος = 750

 = παρθενος + η καταβολη αληθειας 

                              = 1219

And from these we may proceed to develop: 

(5) 704 × ½(√3 = 610 Ξυλον = The wooden Cross = Arms of the CrosS 

(6) 704 × ½ = 352 ′Η οδος = The Way = Type of Christ

 (7) 704 × (√3 + 1) = 1923 = ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ′Ο ΛΟΓΟΣ 

 This is the figure of the Cross in the Vesica

 the union of the 1219 and 704 

And the 1923

 as the union of the One with the Power of Three

 symbolised by the two geometric measures

 has exactly the same intention

 as the 153 of the Miraculous Draught 

 as we have already shewn

 For that number 

stands for the same mathematical relation

 viz. 97 : 56

 And 

on the larger scale

 of the Icthys 

GeΩ matria we find that the "Lord's"

 Draught of Fishes is 

ρνγ′ του κυριου = 1923 

= the mnemonic for 

the lord's prayer

and

 the figures of the Fish

 and of Baptism

 give us again

 the number of the Logos

 for

     

       ′Ο Ιχθυς = 1289 

   + Βαπτισµα = 634 

=================

                   1923

We can now go further

 with our series

 The next term 

is the measure 

of the whole cross

 AB + ED

(8) AB + ED = (2 + √3) × 704 = 2627 

′Ο ΑΡΙΘΜΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΙΑΣ. 

 ΕΝ∆ΥΜΑ ΤΗΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΙΑΣ. 

Λογος του Θεου Κυριου.

 ′Ο Λογος εκ πατρος⋅ σωτηρ.

 Μεγασ λογος του Θεου πατρος. 

(9) AEF = the triangle or

 CEFD = the Length of the Greater Rhombus

 = 704 × 3.00 = 2112

 ΑΠΟΡΡΟΙΑ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ

 Ιησους το ∆ικτυον =

mnemonics for 

The mystery of Christ

 Jesus the Net 

Το δικτυον εστι λογος

 Μεγασ ιχθυς Εµµανουηλ

mnemonics for

The net is a word

 Big fish Emmanuel

The greater rhombus is 

the type of the Net = Το δικτυον  containing the Vesica of the Icthys 

                    

     (10) AEBF (Rhombus) = 704 × 4.00 = 2816 = ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ′Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΛΗΘΙΝΟΣ.

 (11) AEBF (Vesica) = 704 × 4π/3 = 2950 = ′Ο ΑΡΙΘΜΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ.

 Ενδυµα του Χριστου

 ′Η τραπεζα του σωτηρος

 ′Η γεωµετρια σωτηρος 

The Spherical Triangle on AEF

 which has the same measure 

as the semicircle on ED

 or as a circle of which EF is the diameter

 in one of the most important of the series and is expressed thus:

(12) AEF (Spherical) = 704 × π = 2213 = ′Ο ΛΟΓΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΚΥΡΙΟΥ

mnemonic for

The Word of the Lord

As 1219 is the length of the Vesica

 it is also that of the base of the equilateral triangle ABD

 

Two sides of this triangle 

are raised upon the third

 which is ′Ο Λογος εκ πατρος

The Word from the Father

 and 

the value of the two is thus expressed:

 (13) AD + BD = 704 × 2√3 = 2438 = ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ′Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ.

 (14) All three sides: AD + AD + BD = 704 × 3√3 = 3657 = ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ′Ο ΙΧΘΥΣ ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ′Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ

 ′Ο ΛΟΓΟΣ ΕΚ ΠΑΤΡΟΣ

All the foregoing are linear measures

 but those of area appear equally to give interesting results

 (a) Area of Triangle on base, 704. 704² × ¼√3 = 2146 ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ′Ο ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΟΣ

                                                                JESUS ​​THE WORKER

 (b) Area of Rhombus or Double Triangle, expressed as 4291.2 

 4291 = ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΕΣΤΙ ΣΩΤΗΡ 

JESUS ​​CHRIST IS SAVIOR

 4292 = ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΥΙΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΠΑΝΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΡΟΣ 

CHRIST, SON OF THE ALL-MIGHTY

(c) Area of the Spherical Triangle, by convention

 = 3946 = ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ′Ο ΥΙΟΣ ΑΛΗΘΗΝΟΣ

JESUS ​​CHRIST THE TRUE SON

(d) Area of the Triangle ABD

 This is most nearly expressed in hundreds

 by the digits 644 which is the number of 

 Mnemonic 

Emmanuel

 644 = ΕΜΜΑΝΟΥΗΛ 

(e) Area of the greater Rhombus

 1288

or by another convention 1289 

 1288 = ′Η ΘΕΟΤΗΣ ΙΗΣΟΥ = 

mnemonic 

The Divinity of Jesus 

 1289 = ′Ο ΙΧΘΥΣ =

mnemonic

 The Fish 

We have set out this series in some detail

 since there is a cumulative value

 which tends to strengthen the proof

 But what has been shewn

 does not exhaust the possibilities 

of this true Cabala

 It is clear however

 that the symbol refers

 not only to the Christian Faith

 and

 to its Members

 but

 by this body of geometrical teaching

 to its Founder as well

 as the Word of Truth 

proceeding from

 the "Father" 

and 

through the "Spirit"

Thus in the "secret" communications 

of the pre Christians 

who were the egyptians

that developed the arithmetic

and geometry thousands of

years before

"christian" 

was ever coined

as a mnemonic

for anything

the Sign of the Fish

 was used as a token

 of brotherhood 

the brotherhood of man

and as a credential 

And its number 

is that of the Author

 and

  ′Ο ΛΟΓΟΣ ΕΚ ΠΑΤΡΟΣ

THE WORD FROM PATROS

 and

 ΤΟ ΩΜΕΓΑ 

THE OMEGA

At the close of what may be termed 

the first great encyclical letter to the Gentile converts

 and to all whom it might concern

 which we have in Acts xv

 appears the word ΕΡΡΩΣΘΕ = Farewell

ἔρρωσθε (errhōsthe) is the second-person plural perfect

 mediopassive imperative of the Ancient Greek 

verb ῥώννυμι (rhṓnnumi), meaning "to be strong"

 or "to be in good health".

 In classical and Koine Greek,

 it was used as a standard closing formula

 in letters, roughly translating 

to "farewell" or "goodbye"

 This word, behind its simple and obvious significance

 would "hide" a further meaning

 which might quite readily carry with it 

the testimony to the authenticity of the letter

 for the number of

 ΕΡΡΩΣΘΕ is 1219 = the Sign of the Fish

 and 

of the Saviour = ′Ο ΛΟΓΟΣ ΕΚ ΠΑΤΡΟΣ 

THE WORD FROM PATROS

We must now take leave of our readers

 Enough, we trust, has been said

 to make clear the purport

 and the trend of what has been detailed here

 The triple chain of correspondences

 first:  the harmony of number and meaning

 in groups of words on individual numbers

 second: the harmonic sequences of numbers

 built upon the Roots 

which are the Formative Principles in Nature

 and

 third: the answering sequences of meaning

 in the GeΩ matria 

which appear so consistently 

to explain and elucidate the "doctrines" of the "Church"

 proclaim the fact 

that here we have before our eyes

 the operation of the Law

the universal laws of GeΩ matria

 not Chance

 and 

that no casual or superstitious fancy

 but a high degree of Knowledge and Intelligence

that obviously posessed by the Egyptian builders

 laid within the "Sacred Books" this unseen foundation

 But we do not miss the real significance

 of that which this teaching implies

 When we contemplate the Symmetric Forms

 with which it deals

 forms composite 

yet moulding their many parts

 into perfect wholes

 everywhere the Great Law holds

 the Law of the perfect union 

of the Lesser in the Greater

 and

 the Greater with the Lesser forms

 which are the perfect miniatures of the Greater

 So we see the great Figure of the "Church"

 which is the congregation of units

 whose being is patterned on the Universal Truth

 mirrored as fidelity to "her" Form

 and 

thus sharing the eternal or aeonial

 Life of the great Exemplar

 As Stones of the living Temple

 each one fits and fills his niche

 and the Temple is not perfect 

until 

All the Stones are in their appointed place

 and the "Lord" has made up "His jewels"

 In coming face to face 

with the reality of this teaching

 the disciple loses sight of fancied isolation 

and knows that he is One

 with "his Master"

 and with all his Fellows

 and that 

all are members one of another

 since each is necessary to the whole

 And with this truth 

it may be that the future of "Religion"

 among the nations of the Earth is bound up

in 

GeΩ matria