LONDON: A centuries-old prediction linked to famed British scientist Sir Isaac Newton has resurfaced on social media, sparking fresh debate about claims regarding the end of the world in the year 2060.
Newton, widely regarded as one of the fathers of modern science for formulating the laws of motion and gravity, also wrote extensively on religious subjects. In his private manuscripts, he studied Biblical texts, particularly the Book of Daniel, which mentions a period of 1,260 days.
Historical records show Newton interpreted the 1,260 days as 1,260 years and began the calculation from around 800 AD, a period he associated with religious corruption in the church. Based on this interpretation, he suggested that a significant religious transformation could occur around 2060.
However, scholars emphasize that Newton never definitively predicted the destruction of the world in 2060. Instead, he believed the date might mark the end of one religious era and the beginning of another, and he even wrote that the event could occur later rather than earlier.
The discussion first gained wider public attention in 2003 after an academic journal referenced Newton’s writings, and it has periodically resurfaced online since then.
Religious scholars also point out that, according to Islamic teachings, only Allah knows the exact timing of the Day of Judgment. Past doomsday predictions throughout history have repeatedly proven incorrect, experts say.
