Isaac Newton

Isaac Newton, despite his extensive contributions to science, was deeply religious and spent a lot of time studying the Bible. In fact, he spent more time on theology than he did on science.

His prediction of the world’s end did not come from his scientific understanding but rather his interpretation of the Bible, specifically the books of Daniel and Revelation. Newton believed that the Bible contained hidden codes and prophecies about the world, and he dedicated considerable effort to deciphering these codes.

In his work “Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel, and the Apocalypse of St. John,” Newton suggested that the world would not end before 2060, based on his interpretation of these biblical texts. However, this was not a firm prediction of the apocalypse but more of a suggestion that it wouldn’t happen before that date. Newton wrote, “The End of the World is not yet, but prophecies signify it is near.”

“Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel, and the Apocalypse of St. John” is a posthumously-published work of Isaac Newton that showcases his deep interest in religious texts and his belief in hidden prophetic messages within the Bible. Here’s a brief summary:

The book, essentially divided into two parts corresponding to the Old and New Testament prophetic books respectively, looks into an analysis of various prophecies in these texts, aiming to both historically situate them and identify the remaining unfulfilled prophecies.

1. Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel: The first part of the book interprets the prophecies in the Book of Daniel. Newton seeks to date and explain the visions in Daniel, identifying historic events that align with these prophecies. Much of this involves the interpretation of the symbolism in Daniel’s prophecies, with references to beasts and horns that Newton aligns with empires and kings.
2. The Apocalypse of St. John: The second part of the book addresses the Book of Revelation (also known as the Apocalypse of St. John). Newton attempts to interpret the intricate imagery and symbolism of Revelation, a book known for its complex and vivid descriptions.

Newton applies the same methodical approach he used for the Book of Daniel, working to correlate the apocalyptic imagery with historical and future events. His interpretations often highlight the corruption of the Church and the eventual triumph of true religion.

Throughout the book, Newton showcases his belief that the Bible, when correctly interpreted, provides a precise account of past and future history. He did not believe the end times were imminent in his era but suggested the world would not end before 2060, based on his analysis of the prophetic texts.

It’s important to note that Newton’s religious and prophetic works are very different from his scientific works. They reflect his personal beliefs and interpretations, which were highly influenced by his religious convictions and the context of his time. His approach to biblical prophecy does not reflect modern scholarly interpretation and is not generally accepted in contemporary religious or academic circles.

Isaac Newton, who is commonly known for his revolutionary work in physics and mathematics, was indeed deeply interested in fields considered esoteric today, particularly alchemy and biblical prophecy. His interest in these areas was a product of his time, when the boundaries between what we now call science and what we would consider superstition or mysticism were not as well defined.

1. Alchemy: Newton’s fascination with alchemy is well-documented, with thousands of pages of his notes on the subject still surviving. Alchemy in the 17th century was not just the quest to turn base metals into gold (although that was part of it) but also a complex philosophical and spiritual system. Newton was drawn to this field, perhaps because of its potential to unveil the secrets of the universe. His experiments with alchemy also contributed to the development of chemistry. One example is his work on the phenomenon known as “Starkey’s star” or “Philosopher’s Tree,” an intricate dendritic structure formed during chemical reactions, which fascinated many alchemists of the era.
2. Biblical Prophecy and Numerology: Newton spent a lot of time studying the Bible, particularly the books of Daniel and Revelation, seeking to uncover hidden messages or prophecies within these texts. He was convinced that the Bible contained a coded message that, when deciphered, would reveal the future of humanity. This led him to work on chronologies of Biblical events and to predict, as mentioned earlier, that the world would not end before 2060.
3. Theology: Beyond prophecy and numerology, Newton also looked into more standard theological questions, attempting to reconcile different interpretations of Christian doctrine and criticizing what he saw as corruption in the Church.

In Newton’s era, the line between what we consider science and what we view as mysticism or pseudoscience was not as sharply drawn as it is today. To Newton, his investigations into physics and his explorations of alchemy or theology were all part of the same quest to understand the universe and its laws.

The “Philosopher’s Tree” or “Starkey’s star” is a phenomenon that is understood in modern times through the principles of chemistry and physics, specifically in the area of crystal growth in supersaturated solutions.

The formation of the Philosopher’s Tree involves the precipitation of a metal salt from a solution. For instance, suppose you dissolve a metal such as silver, copper, or mercury in nitric acid, creating a solution of the corresponding nitrate. If you then add a source of a different ion to the solution—say, a chloride ion—this can cause the metal ions to precipitate out of solution as the insoluble metal chloride.

If the conditions are right—concentration, temperature, and so forth—this precipitation can happen in a slow and controlled manner, leading to the growth of intricate, branching structures as the metal chloride crystals form. These branching structures, known as dendrites, resemble miniature trees or bushes, hence the name “Philosopher’s Tree.”

The formation of these dendritic structures can be understood in terms of the physics of crystal growth. When a crystal grows in a supersaturated solution, small irregularities or impurities can act as a nucleus, or starting point, for crystal growth. As the crystal grows, more irregularities may form, each becoming a new point of growth, leading to a branching, tree-like structure.

In other words, while the Philosopher’s Tree was seen as a mystical sign by the alchemists, we now understand it as a natural result of the process of crystal growth.

It’s also worth noting that Newton’s interest in these esoteric subjects was not widely known during his lifetime, as many of these beliefs and practices were considered heretical by the Church. Much of this side of Newton’s life came to light only after his death when his private papers were examined.