Newton's prophecy: what the scientist said about the end of the world and when it will happen

Sir Isaac Newton, a world-renowned physicist and mathematician who developed the laws of motion and gravity, made calculations back in 1704 that suggested the world could end in 2060. He wrote these conclusions on a piece of paper along with mathematical calculations more than 300 years ago.

This is reported by the Daily Mail. Newton believed that the apocalypse is connected to biblical prophecies, in particular, the Battle of Armageddon, where the forces of good (led by God) will meet the forces of evil (led by the kings of the Earth). He based his calculations on biblical texts, in particular the Book of Revelation and the Book of Daniel.

How did Newton calculate the date?

The scientist applied the so-called "prophetic principle," according to which one biblical day is equal to one year. Starting with the period of "1260 days" mentioned in the Bible, Newton looked for a significant historical event that could serve as a starting point for the calculations. He chose the year 800 AD, the year the Holy Roman Empire was founded. Adding 1260 years to this date, he got 2060.

"Time, times, and half of time make 42 months or 1260 days, which corresponds to three and a half years if you count a year as twelve months and a month as 30 days," Newton wrote in his 1704 letter.

Newton also warned against excessive speculation about the end of the world, because, as he noted, "Christ will come like a thief in the night," and no one can know the exact date.

Was Newton confident in his calculations?

Despite his calculations, Newton doubted that 2060 was the exact date of the end of the world. "It may happen later, but I see no reason why it should happen sooner," he wrote.

He also warned that failed predictions could undermine the credibility of biblical prophecy: "I do not say this to say when the end will come, but to stop the reckless speculation of fantasists who often predict the date of the end of the world and thereby discredit the sacred prophecies when their predictions do not come true."

How did Newton combine science and religion in his work?

Newton did not limit himself to the study of physics and mathematics, but also actively explored theology. He sought to decipher biblical texts, trying to discover hidden patterns in them. However, his approach to predicting the future was not based on complex mathematical calculations, but on simple arithmetic operations.

According to Professor of the History of Science Stephen Snoebelen, Newton was not a "scientist" in the modern sense of the term, but rather a "natural philosopher" who sought to connect science, history, and religion.

Despite his authority in science, Newton based his predictions on biblical texts rather than scientific facts. His desire to determine the time of the end of the world was more related to theological reflection than to scientific research. Nevertheless, the very fact that one of the greatest scientists tried to calculate the date of the Apocalypse gives this topic a certain mystical appeal.

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