Sir Isaac Newton, renowned for discovering the laws of gravity, predicted the world would end in a time not too distant from our own, according to a letter he wrote over 300 years ago.
Dated 1704, the letter reveals Newton’s belief that the apocalypse would occur in the mid-21st century. The scientist, also a theologian, based this prediction on his interpretation of the Bible, using mathematical calculations drawn from biblical texts.
Biblical numbers and calculations
Newton’s fascination with both science and religion led him to study biblical history closely. He used numbers from the Book of Daniel and Revelation – 1260, 1290, and 2300 – which he interpreted not as days but as years. These numbers, according to Newton, marked significant moments in the timeline of the end times.
Choosing 800 AD as a key historical point, Newton identified the founding of the Holy Roman Empire as the beginning of the church’s decline. From this date, he added 1,260 years to reach the year 2060, which he believed would mark the end of an era.
Warnings of plagues and war
In his letter, Newton described the end times as a period marked by war and plagues. However, he cautioned against assuming that 2060 was the absolute end, writing that it could happen later but not earlier. He expressed concern that frequent, incorrect predictions of the apocalypse would undermine the credibility of the Bible’s prophecies.
🚨NEWTON PREDICTS WORLD ENDS IN 2060 (MARK YOUR CALENDARS!)
Newly examined 1704 letter reveals gravity pioneer calculated apocalypse using biblical mathematics.
Newton tied end times to Holy Roman Empire's founding.
Sir Isaac Newton:
"It may end later, but I see no reason… pic.twitter.com/hUJmygPlJD
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 14, 2025
“This I mention not to assert when the time of the end shall be, but to put a stop to the rash conjectures of fanciful men who are frequently predicting the time of the end, and by doing so bring the sacred prophesies into discredit as often as their predictions fail.”
Modern insights from scholars
Newton’s cautious approach to prophetic date-setting has drawn attention from modern scholars. Professor Stephen Snobelen, a historian of science at the University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, highlighted Newton’s concerns about failed predictions tarnishing the Bible’s reputation.
Part of a letter from 1704 to a friend in which Isaac Newton calculated a world changing event in 2060.
Newton’s previously inaccessible manuscripts were discovered by Harvard University professor Stephen Snobelen, who began the initial studies on the documents. pic.twitter.com/WvhFwEdYN3
— Brian Roemmele (@BrianRoemmele) October 13, 2022
Snobelen emphasized that Newton did not believe in the literal end of the world. Instead, Newton saw 2060 as the conclusion of an old age and the beginning of a new era, often referred to as the Messianic age in Judaism or the Millennium in certain Christian beliefs.
This period, according to some religious traditions, would usher in a time of peace and divine rule rather than destruction.
Newton’s letter remains a subject of interest not only for its historical value but also for the insight it provides into the mind of one of history’s greatest thinkers. His blend of scientific inquiry and religious belief reflects a complex approach to understanding the world, making his 2060 prediction a topic of ongoing fascination and debate.
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