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Letter penned by Isaac Newton in 1704 predicted when the world would end

By T.K. Randall
February 14, 2025 · Comment icon 152 comments

Newton devoted time and effort into calculating the date of the apocalypse. Image Credit: Bonhams
The celebrated scientist believed that the world would end on a specific date - and it's coming up soon.
Newton, who famously came up with the theory of gravitation after he saw an apple fall from a tree, also formulated the laws of motion and helped to refine the scientific method, among other things.

He is still widely considered to be one of the most accomplished and influential scientists in history.

Less well known, however, was his work on establishing the precise date of the end of the world.

Newton was a Christian and a large amount of his writings concerned theology (and even alchemy), representing a body of his work that is rarely referenced relative to his scientific accomplishments.

As part of this, he became fascinated with biblical visions of the Apocalypse and in particular the Battle of Armageddon which would see the forces of good (led by God) pitted against the forces of evil (led by the kings of Earth), thus marking the end of the world and the beginning of a new era of peace.
In a letter he wrote in 1704, Newton outlined the conclusion of his efforts to calculate the precise date of this battle by using historical dates as well as dates from scripture.

"So then the time times and half a time are 42 months or 1260 days or three years and an half, recconing [sic] twelve months to a yeare [sic] and 30 days to a month as was done in the Calendar of the primitive year," he wrote.

"And the days of short lived Beasts being put for the years of lived [sic] kingdoms, the period of 1260 days, if dated from the complete conquest of the three kings A.C. 800, will end A.C. 2060."

"It may end later, but I see no reason for its ending sooner."

According to science historian Stephen D. Snobelen, however, Newton was ultimately "wary of prophetic date-setting" and was "worried that the failure of fallible human predictions based on divine prophecy would bring the Bible into disrepute."

Source: Mail Online | Comments (152)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #143 Posted by Bendy Demon 1 month ago
I have found that evidence can also be proof. For example...let's say someone broke into my home and stole stuff. The evidence of a broken window, things strewn all over and missing items is not only evidence but proof that there was a break-in. Depends on a situation I suppose.
Comment icon #144 Posted by Will Due 30 days ago
  I think that qualifies you to work for DOGE.    
Comment icon #145 Posted by cormac mac airt 30 days ago
Nope, acting like a kindergartener who didn’t get a star for the day because he acted out is what you do. Quit throwing a tantrum and grow up.    cormac
Comment icon #146 Posted by Will Due 30 days ago
  Practice what you preach.    
Comment icon #147 Posted by XenoFish 30 days ago
No one has to accept your religious/spiritual beliefs Will. None of us are lessers for not accepting them either. You having faith in your thing is fine by me. So long as you don't preach down to me, or threaten others with it.
Comment icon #148 Posted by Abramelin 30 days ago
You should check a dictionary.
Comment icon #149 Posted by Essan 30 days ago
For this particular location,  and within the very, very, short geological time period concerned, it's absolutely out of the question - assuming we're not invoking giant space gods who can do anything they like without recourse to the laws of physics.
Comment icon #150 Posted by Essan 30 days ago
But the UB is a work of fiction.    And the "Garden of Eden" is as real as the giant's castle at the top of Jack's beanstalk.    
Comment icon #151 Posted by Bendy Demon 29 days ago
What are you talking about? Evidence does not lead to a belief, evidence leads to a eventual conclusion. Investigators of a crime (for example) are not interested in beliefs, they are interested in evidence that leads them to the conclusion of a crime and evidence is like a trail of crumbs that leads the investigation to the point of origin of said crime. Proof has to be arrived at, it is not handed to you on a platter hence this is why evidence is such a valuable tool that leads to proof. I do not understand your resistance to the value of hard evidence.
Comment icon #152 Posted by Abramelin 29 days ago
What?? You're suggesting it's not real?? Ok. Now I'm p!ssed.  


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