Researchers have uncovered a prophecy about the end of the world among the notes of Sir Isaac Newton (1643 – 1727), renowned for his groundbreaking work in physics, mathematics, and astronomy.
The scientist who formulated the law of universal gravitation calculated over 300 years ago when he believed the apocalypse would occur. In 1704, he wrote that the world as we know it would cease to exist in 2060. This ominous warning was left alongside a series of mathematical calculations on a sheet of postal paper.
Why Did He Choose This Year?
Isaac Newton based his prophecy on a Protestant interpretation of the Bible. It is known that he was intrigued by descriptions of the end of the world and the battle of Armageddon between the forces of good and evil. According to the Scriptures, this battle will mark the end of the world and usher in a new era, as noted by the Daily Mail.
To determine the date of the apocalypse, Isaac Newton turned to his favorite mathematics and analyzed dates from biblical history. He chose the year 800 AD as a reference point for his calculations, the year when Charlemagne was crowned as the emperor of the restored Holy Roman Empire. Newton calculated that 1260 years would pass between this event and the end of the world. Therefore, he believed the apocalypse should be expected in 2060.
However, researchers of Newton’s texts have also found written evidence of his doubts regarding the accuracy of this prophecy. The scientist notably remarked, “This may end later, but I see no reason for it to end sooner.”
What Does Modern Science Think?
Stephen D. Snobelen, a professor of the history of science and technology at the University of King’s College in Halifax, Canada, noted that Newton’s prophecy did not involve complex mathematical calculations. According to the professor, it was more about simple arithmetic that “a child could perform.”
Mr. Snobelen also shared that while Newton attempted to predict the future, he was hesitant to name prophetic dates and worried that “the failure of false human prophecies based on divine prophecies would discredit the Bible.” It may seem somewhat strange today that such a celebrated scientist was so concerned with biblical prophecies. However, as Professor Snobelen explained, “Newton was not a scientist in the modern sense of the word. Instead, he was a natural philosopher.”
“Natural philosophy, practiced from the Middle Ages to the 18th century, involved studying not only nature but also God’s intervention in nature,” the researcher added. According to him, “for Newton, there was no insurmountable barrier between religion and what we now call science. Throughout his long life, Newton worked to uncover divine truth—whether in Nature or in Scripture.”