Sir Isaac Newton is widely remembered as one of history’s greatest scientists, best known for his laws of motion and work on gravity. However, less commonly discussed is the fact that Newton spent decades studying theology, biblical texts, and historical chronology. A large part of his writing was not about physics or mathematics, but about religion and the interpretation of ancient scriptures. One such document, written in 1704, has gained renewed attention because it contains a calculation that appears to point to the year 2060 as the end of a historical era.The document is often described as a “letter,” but it is more accurately a handwritten theological manuscript. It was never published during Newton’s lifetime and was not meant for public circulation. The manuscript is part of Newton’s private papers, written in his own hand, and preserved today in an academic archive. In this text, Newton applies numerical interpretations to passages from the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation, using a method common among scholars of his time.Importantly, Newton was not predicting the destruction of the Earth. Instead, he was attempting to calculate the possible end of what he believed to be a corrupt or unstable phase of human history. He also warned against setting exact dates or making dramatic claims. His work was cautious, mathematical, and rooted in historical interpretation rather than prophecy in the modern sense.
Did Isaac Newton predict the world’s end in 2060
In the manuscript, Newton focused on the biblical phrase “time, times, and half a time,” which he interpreted as three and a half years. Using the prophetic method known as the day-for-a-year principle, Newton treated each day mentioned in scripture as representing one year. This converted the period into 1,260 years.Newton then selected a historical starting point: AD 800, the year associated with the consolidation of power under the Holy Roman Empire. By adding 1,260 years to this date, Newton arrived at the year 2060.The exact wording from Newton’s manuscript reads:“And the days of short lived Beasts being put for the years of lived 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.”This passage is frequently quoted in modern reports, but it is important to note that Newton did not describe this date as the end of the world.
Newton’s warning against false predictions
In the same manuscript, Newton made it clear that he was not encouraging people to predict the end of time. He explicitly criticised those who repeatedly set dates and caused fear when their predictions failed. His calculation was meant to show a possible limit to a historical period, not to announce a catastrophic event.Newton’s own words show restraint and caution, emphasising that the date could occur later, but that he saw no evidence for it occurring earlier.
Where the original manuscript is kept
According to reports, Newton’s 1704 manuscript is preserved as a primary historical source. It is part of the Yahuda Manuscript Collection, which contains many of Newton’s unpublished theological writings. These documents are housed at the National Library of Israel.The text has been transcribed and verified by historians through The Newton Project, an academic initiative that digitises and publishes Newton’s original writings for scholarly study.
