What if one of the greatest scientists in history had foreseen the date of the Apocalypse? This isn’t science fiction but a prediction left behind by Sir Isaac Newton more than three centuries ago. According to his calculations, the world as we know it could come to an end in 2060.
Newton and His Apocalyptic Prophecy
You know him for the apple and gravity, but Sir Isaac Newton had another, far more esoteric passion—biblical prophecies. Yes, the father of modern physics was also a devoted reader of sacred texts. And according to his calculations, based on the Book of Daniel, the Apocalypse will arrive in 2060.
In a letter written in 1704, Newton was remarkably precise. He estimated that a cycle of 1,260 years, starting with the Holy Roman Empire, would end in a world ravaged by wars and plagues before Christ would establish a thousand-year reign of peace. But he wasn’t just making wild predictions. He himself wrote:
“It may end later, but I see no reason for it to end sooner.”
This statement was a direct response to the doomsday predictions that were already circulating in his time. Newton, ever the meticulous thinker, wanted to counter the sensationalist forecasts with what he saw as a more calculated and reasoned approach.
A Prophecy That Still Fascinates
Three centuries later, this famous letter continues to spark debate. Preserved at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, it remains a subject of fascination among theologians and scientists alike. The question remains: Was Newton serious about this, or was it just an intellectual exercise?
Scientist or Mystical Philosopher?
Newton was much more than a scientist. As Stephen D. Snobelen, a historian of science at King’s College in Halifax, points out, “There was no impermeable barrier between religion and what we call science today.” In other words, Newton saw no contradiction in seeking truth in both science and scripture.
And his obsession with theology didn’t stop at the Apocalypse. The man who revolutionized physics also left behind a staggering number of theological and mystical writings—enough to fill about 150 novels! One of his major concerns? The restoration of the Temple of Jerusalem, which he believed would be a key event before the Second Coming of Christ.
2060 Is Approaching—Should We Be Worried?
As we inch closer to 2060, it’s hard not to look back at Newton’s prophecy with curiosity. Was it just the theological musings of a 17th-century genius, or did Newton foresee something beyond his time?
One thing is certain—whether as a pioneer of physics or a mystic philosopher, Isaac Newton continues to fascinate and intrigue. And while his scientific legacy remains his greatest contribution, his vision of the future is far from forgotten.
